The Centre for National Cultural, Kumasi came alive on Tuesday, April 15 as hundreds gathered for the Ashantifest; a dynamic celebration of Asante heritage, gastronomy, and emerging talent.
The festival, blending tradition with modern appeal, featured a cultural showcase, a competitive food bazaar, and a jama talent hunt—reinforcing the region’s commitment to preserving its identity while nurturing future stars.
A Cultural Extravaganza
The festival’s opening ceremonies dazzled attendees with vibrant displays of Asante culture. Traditional drumming, Adowa dance performances, and storytelling sessions transported spectators through the rich history of the Ashanti Kingdom. Local cultural troupes shared the stage with rising artists, while veteran actors and media personalities, including Nana Ama McBrown and Louis Lamis, cheered on the performances.
“This is more than entertainment—it’s a revival of our roots,” said the Ashanti Regional Minister, Dr Frank Amoakohene.
“We want the youth to wear our culture with pride, not just on special occasions, but every day”, he added.
Cooking Competition: A Call to Embrace Local Cuisine
The cooking competition and food bazaar became a crowd favorite, with teams of students and professional chefs competing to prepare the most innovative yet authentic local dishes.
From Nkontomire stews to Aprapransa, and fufu, the contest highlighted the versatility of Ghanaian cuisine.
Dr Amoakohene however lamented the growing preference for Western food.
“Our local dishes are nutritious, flavorful, and deeply tied to our heritage. If we don’t champion them, who will?”, he quizzed?
Jama Festival
Sports enthusiasts flocked to the Jama festival to entertain themselves. The initiative seeks to connect the Jama group with premier league clubs and Colts teams to revive interest in grassroots football development.
A Sustainable Vision for Ashantifest
The Regional Minister, praised the initiative, stating that Ashantifes has come to stay.
“The concept of Ashantifest is to bring out the talents within the various sectors and create an environment for them to harness their potential. We must all contribute to make it sustainable,” he said.
With its successful debut, Ashantifest is poised to become an annual event, fostering cultural pride.
