Ghana will host over 30 African countries in a major celebration of the continent’s cuisine, culture, and diaspora identity dubbed ‘AfroGastro Festival 2025.’
The two-day event is being organised by the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts under the leadership of the sector Minister, Mrs Abla Dzifa Gomashie, and slated from October 17 to 18 at the Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park in Accra.
It will serve as both a culinary showcase and a cultural reunion, aimed at strengthening ties between African-descended communities around the world.
A statement issued by the Head of Public Affairs at the Ministry, Ms Delassie Mabel Awuku, in Accra said the festival would feature a diverse mix of food, music, art, and traditions, reflecting the shared heritage and enduring resilience of African peoples across continents.
She stated that countries participating include Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago, Haiti, Brazil, Colombia, Peru, the United States, Mexico, the United Kingdom, France, Spain, the Netherlands, India, and Lebanon.
Participant countries would join culinary delegations from across Africa, including Nigeria, Kenya, Morocco, South Africa, and host nation, Ghana.
Ms Awuku stressed that each of the 16 regions would be represented with traditional dishes—from kenkey and fried fish in the coastal areas to tuo zaafi and dawadawa-based soups from the north—showcasing the nation’s rich culinary diversity.
Live cooking demonstrations led by chefs and culinary historians will delve into the origins and cultural significance of featured dishes.
In addition to food, the festival will host a vibrant programme of live music, featuring Highlife, Afrobeat, Reggae, and traditional drumming performances.
An Afro-diasporic art exhibition and live mural painting sessions will explore themes of migration, identity, and memory.
Educational panels and workshops will address African food history, culinary diplomacy, and the role of food in diasporic identity.
For younger audiences, the festival will include storytelling, art activities, and cooking classes, ensuring family-friendly engagement and intergenerational learning.
The AfroGastro Festival is supported by a wide range of national and international institutions, including the Ghana Tourism Authority, Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), British Council Ghana, National Commission on Culture, and the W.E.B. Du Bois Memorial Centre for Pan-African Culture.
The statement further indicated that the festival was free and open to the public, and it was part of Ghana’s broader cultural diplomacy strategy.
BY TIMES REPORTER
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