Zongofest launched in Accra
Out-dooring of chiefs; historical story-telling; horse-riding and processions; traditional clothing, fashion and food exhibitions; dancing contests and traditional games are some of the components of this year’s Zongofest which was launched in Accra last Thursday.
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With a goal to celebrate, showcase and promote the culture and traditions of the Zongo people, Zongofest 2017 is scheduled for the Nima Highway on Saturday, July 1.
The launch attracted representatives from the various Zongo communities and some traditional leaders. It ended with a focus to make Zongofest an attractive brand.
Mr William Boateng, Director of Monitoring and Planning at the National Commission on Culture (NCC), chaired the event. He said the festival would provide a platform for chiefs, opinion leaders, women and the youth to display their creativity in art and craft, food, culture and business and also highlight the success stories of the people.
The Zongo communities have mostly been notorious for their violent nature but Mr Boateng hoped they would take the opportunity to rebrand themselves with the establishment of Zongofest.
Madam Alima kalla Alice, Ag. Director of the Community Youth Cultural Centre (CYCC) at Maamobi in Accra said the festival would be held concurrently in the various Zongo communities across the country.
The Zongo communities are heterogeneous localities in Ghana mostly inhabited by Muslims from various ethnic groups.
In an interview on the sidelines of the launch, the Chairman of NCC, Mr Socrates Safo, said the Zongos have very rich culture and tradition with huge untapped potential for tourism. He was confident that with the advent of Zongofest, the communities would put their acts together properly to benefit from the variety of opportunities available to them.
Some of the key stakeholders and partners for Zongofest 2017 are the NCC; Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture; Ministry of Zongo and Inner city Development; Zongo Business Incubator (ZOBI); Yaasalam Opportunity Center; Afro Arab Group; SOLID Multimedia and Xylophone Media.