Okyeame Kwame to headline GhanaFest in South Africa

The first edition of GhanaFest SA was held in 2011, the brainchild of Kwaku Asare and Mavis Anim of MayMay Production. Since then, the show has hosted many Ghanaian artists with the aim of providing quality entertainment to patrons. Celebrities like Diamond, Guru, EL, Mzbel and Edem have graced the occasion in previous years.

Headlining this year’s GhanaFest will be Ghanaian hiplife artist Okyeame Kwame, who will use the opportunity to promote Ghanaian culture and expand his audience. The singer is known for his ‘OK Stripped’ and ‘Versatile’ shows. The latter is an ambitious mix of music, magic, comedy, dance, drama and poetry. The current edition of the ‘Versatile’ show delves into the issue of begging. The story is told through the eyes of a prostitute, a pimp, a pastor, a police officer, a politician and a professor. Maymay Production's Mavis Anim said Okyeame Kwame was selected to perform at GhanaFest this year because of his dedication to his music and his creativity through his 'Versatile' show.

Besides the performance by Okyeame Kwame and his band, there will also be performances from a Ghanaian group, African Heritage Drum Beat, who will showcase various dances and cultural displays from throughout Ghana. A South African group, African Child Dancers, will also perform at the event to showcase the unity and culture of the two countries.

With the theme ‘Taste and See Ghana’, Ghanafest South Africa seeks to showcase Ghana’s diverse and rich culture to South Africans and others, with the aim of encouraging people to visit Ghana. The event serves to exhibit Ghanaian music and dance, textiles and kente clothing, arts and crafts, cuisine and even games like Oware, Ludo and Ampe. It’s an event for the whole family, where children can enjoy a fun day of face painting, jumping castles, and African culture!

It’s an important cultural event for the Ghanaian community in South Africa, including the growing number of Ghanaians born in South Africa. In an interview ahead of last year’s event, Anim revealed to Mustapha Inusah that their efforts are to bring Ghanaians together, network, and to have business interests in South Africa. “GhanaFest is to unite Ghanaians in South Africa, promote Ghanaian culture, provide avenue of assistance for Ghanaians in need and educate the growing number of Ghanaians born in South Africa who have not been to Ghana before to witness the richness of Ghanaian culture. This is a good attempt to get the Ghanaians together - culture is a uniting cord, GhanaFest will enhance the knowledge of many people of Ghanaian culture,” she said.

Other GhanaFest events are staged all over the world, including the USA, Canada and Malta. For further information contact the Ghana High Commission website, call on (+27)123420559 or email headofmission@ghanahighcommission.co.za