The season of summer brings great weather and even better vibes as that's when some of the best events for the black community occur. Here’s a curated list of 6 events in both the USA, Toronto & Ghana we feel should be on your list of things to do this summer.
Ghana
Throughout the year, different regions and tribes in Ghana host a slew of festivals that celebrate hundreds of years of tradition. And even presently, younger generation Ghanaians, especially among the arts scene, have even created their own festivals. Here are three of these events and festivals we suggest you visit:
Asafotufiam is a yearly festival dedicated to warriors and celebrated by the people of Ada in the Greater Accra Region. It’s used to observe the warriors who were victorious and the ones lost during battle. Many re-enactments take place and the festival culminates in a procession of Chiefs throughout Ada. This festival occurs the last Thursday of July to the first weekend of August. If you’re in Accra during that time, we encourage you to make the extra effort to attend.
Chale Wote is now a world renowned event and is yet another festival to put Accra on the map. It is a street art festival hosted by the creatives of Ghana to bring the arts - music, dance, performance, visual art - to the streets of Jamestown. A historic community is brought to life during this festival which has now been added to many international artists' calendars. Be sure to be in Accra between August 12th - 21st to witness the street art festivities.
Homowo is celebrated by the people of the Ga Traditional area and is a harvest festival used to commemorate a period of great famine in the Ga people’s history that ended in a bountiful harvest. Special dishes are prepared, prayers are offered and Ga chiefs process through the streets. It is definitely a sight to see in the Greater Accra Region in August.
North America
Some of the largest black festivals in the world are held in the USA. They’ve become a way to celebrate, uplift and build the black community with everyone having a great time. Here are three events and festivals we would recommend you visit:
Essence Fest is a long-standing event in the USA, that is known to be a “party with a purpose”. According to their host city, New Orleans's website, it “promotes, celebrates, and explores health & wellness, spirituality, beauty & style, food, community & culture, entertainment, entrepreneurship, and much more within the African American community.” This year, they are said to provide bigger performances, delicious food, unforgettable entertainment, career advancement and more!
Check out Essence Fest line up for 2022!
Afro Punk describes itself as “The OTHER Black experience”. The festival is seen “as a celebration of black culture that embraces diverse cultures and connects the African diaspora through music, food, fashion, film, and storytelling.” Thousands are set to gather at their final host location of the summer - Brooklyn - to see the likes of The Roots and Burna Boy among many other performers.
Rolling Loud is said to be the largest Hip Hop festival gathering and with this line-up, we have no doubt. It’s being held in Toronto in from September 9 - 11 with headliners such as Dave, Future and Wiz Kid. The line up doesn’t stop there as there are at least 20 performers on each day. The party also isn't just in Toronto! The organizers host this festival in other major cities around the world such as Miami, New York, Portugal and the Netherlands, all scheduled to take place in September 2022.
After you tick all of these events off your summer bucket list, let us know which one you enjoyed the best!