Ghana’s capital, Accra is the host of this year’s FESTAC Africa Renaissance Festival. The launch event, held today at the Ghana Tourism Authority Head Office in Accra, brought together members of the media, stakeholders in the creative arts industry and traditional authorities, marking the beginning of what is expected to be a transformative celebration of African unity, culture and economic empowerment.
Scheduled to take place from 21st to 27th September 2025, the festival will position Accra as the epicentre of a continental renaissance rooted in Pan-African ideals, cultural pride, and sustainable development.
Speaking at the launch, Engr. Yinka Abioye, Chairman of FESTAC Africa, declared: “FESTAC Africa 2025 is not just an event—it is the heartbeat of a rising continent. Ghana stands ready, not only to host, but to unite Africa in spirit, purpose, and pride. From the land of Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, a new Africa shall rise. Ghana is the echo that will unite the continent.”
The selection of Accra holds deep historical and symbolic resonance. The festival’s opening date, 21st September, coincides with the birth anniversary of Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, Ghana’s first President and an iconic Pan-Africanist. The closing day, 27th September, aligns with World Tourism Day, highlighting the potential of culture and tourism as drivers of economic transformation.
The 2025 theme, “Harnessing Health, Culture, Trade, Climate Change, Gender Equity, and Tourism for Sustainable Economic Growth,” underscores the festival’s commitment to a multidimensional African agenda. By integrating cultural celebration with dialogue on health, economic development, gender inclusion, and environmental responsibility, FESTAC Africa seeks to shape a bold and unified future for the continent.
A significant aspect of the event is the opportunity it presents to boost Ghana’s tourism as activities will include scheduled tours to the country’s iconic and tourists’ sites.
Maame Efua Houadjeto, CEO of the Ghana Tourism Authority, reiterated Ghana’s pride in hosting the festival: “GTA is honored to champion FESTAC AFRICA 2025. It will serve as a cultural and economic catalyst, advancing our tourism agenda and showcasing Ghana’s leadership as the cultural heartbeat of the continent.”
FESTAC Africa 2025 extends an invitation to every African nation, its citizens and members of the African Diaspora. The organisers are calling on all sectors—public, private, media and health—to actively engage and contribute to the success of this historic event.
In a significant gesture of compassion and social responsibility, the festival is also calling on the health sector across the continent to participate by offering free health screenings and wellness services throughout the event week. Hospitals, clinics, pharmaceutical companies, traditional health practitioners and wellness institutions are encouraged to play an active role.
“This is more than service—it is leadership through compassion. Let us lead by example and give back to the people of Ghana by ensuring access to essential health services during this historic celebration,” the organisers noted.
The FESTAC Africa Renaissance Festival is a continuation of a legacy born in Lagos in 1977, reimagined for a new generation. It is not merely a festival but a declaration of African excellence, identity, and renewal.
“FESTAC Africa is more than a festival—it is a Pan-African movement of cultural reclamation, honoring ancestral wisdom, economic empowerment, and African pride. Africa’s true power lies not in her minerals, but in her people. Culture is the language that unites us beyond borders. It is how we remember, how we resist, and how we rise. Culture is our compass and our currency.
“We no longer need to seek validation from the West. Let us look inward—to our ancestors, our elders, and our youth for the blueprint of our renaissance. Ghana, with its unmatched leadership in heritage and unity, is the rightful host for this renaissance,” said Engr. Yinka Abioye.
FESTAC Renaissance Festival 2025 is premised on the ethos of impact, changing lives and inclusion and is expected to draw more than 100,000 participants for the week-long celebration.
