The Black Star Festival, a dynamic celebration of African culture, creativity, and heritage, has officially been launched in Accra with a passionate call to uphold and promote Ghana’s rich cultural identity.
The launch ceremony took place at the Accra Tourist Information Centre (ATIC) on Tuesday, June 17, 2025, drawing participation from high-profile stakeholders in the arts and culture sectors, including the Executive Director of the National Commission on Culture (NCC).
This grand festival forms a key component of President John Mahama’s visionary “Black Star Experience” — a flagship cultural initiative that seeks to position Ghana as the creative and cultural hub of Africa. The experience builds on the legacy of previous national initiatives such as the “Year of Return” and “Beyond the Return,” integrating them into a forward-looking strategy for cultural tourism, economic opportunity, and identity preservation.
In his keynote address, Mr. Wakefield Ackuaku, Executive Director of the NCC, underscored the significance of this moment. “The Black Star Experience didn’t come from a vacuum. It builds on past successes and is a strategic effort to push Ghana’s cultural agenda into the global spotlight,” he said.
The Black Star Festival is spearheaded by GD Visionary Group Ltd in collaboration with the NCC. It aims to provide a multifaceted platform to celebrate African excellence in music, visual arts, fashion, culinary arts, film, and business. With the U.S. edition slated for Washington D.C. from September 26 to 28, the Ghanaian edition is expected to follow in October.
Activities lined up for the three-day festival in the U.S. include street carnivals, film screenings, fashion showcases, food fairs, theatrical performances, and a prestigious gala night. Ghana’s own version is expected to mirror these festivities while incorporating local traditions and showcasing the country’s vibrant creative ecosystem.
President of GD Visionary Group, Mr. Joseph Marteye, emphasized the festival’s broader goal. “This is more than an event. The Black Star Festival is a movement. It seeks to reconnect the African diaspora with their roots while positioning Ghana as a global hub for cultural diplomacy and tourism,” he said.
Board Chairman of GD Visionary Group Ltd, Mr. Humphrey Quaye, expressed optimism about the festival’s ability to attract diasporans for both cultural discovery and investment opportunities in Ghana.
Renowned artists including Ibrahim Mahama, Kwame Akoto-Bamfo, Betty Acquah, Samuel Lovi, and Serge Attukwei Clottey are expected to headline the U.S. edition with thought-provoking visual artworks that reflect Ghana’s historical journey and modern narrative.
As Ghana prepares to take centre stage on the global arts and culture calendar, the Black Star Festival marks an exciting chapter in the country’s cultural evolution — celebrating its identity, inviting the diaspora home, and driving national pride.
