Cultural Oneness Festival stages from December 10th to 13th

Every December, Accra comes alive with Detty December. December in GH brings visitors from the diaspora, however the focus of the celebrations. All roads lead to the north as The Taste of Africa hosts the fourth edition of the Cultural Oneness Festival from December 10 to 13 with a variety of activities. These include a colorful durbar of chiefs and people at Buipe, the capital of Central Gonja District, in the Savannah Region of Ghana with a cultural exhibition and fair, a fashion show, Youth Empowerment Forum at the University of Development Studies (UDS). There will also be a tour key historical sites like the  Salaga slave market and the “Palace Experience,” which is a key feature of the festival for participants to visit a royal palace to immerse themselves in traditional customs and history.

The Cultural Oneness Festival is an annual event held in Northern Ghana to celebrate the rich cultural diversity of the northern regions. The festival also seeks to promote unity, cultural exchange, and economic development. According to the Coordinator of the Festival, Tengol Kutuoyelzor Kplemani, this year’s edition is unique in that for the first time, a traditional leader from Kenya is participating in the festival, noting that this is one of the objectives of the festival which is to unite African people using our culture.

The festival is being attended by His Royal Majesty Nabongo Peter Mumia II, King of the Wanga Kingdomin Kenya. Speaking at a press conference, His Royal Majesty said, “My participation in this festival is part of our goal of uniting the kingdoms in African and around the world.” King  Mumia II expressed his strong support for the festival since it’s bringing together the African family both at home and in the diaspora. His Royal Majesty envisions expanding these cultural meetings to other parts of the continent, enabling the African kings and traditional leaders who could not make it to Ghana to join future gatherings elsewhere.

King Mumia II stressed that the ultimate aim is for African kingdoms and cultures to unite both culturally and politically, helping strengthen continental solidarity. He highlighted how the involvement of young people in organizing the event fosters encouragement and belief in their potential to actively contribute to Africa’s future. Their participation creates a sense of hope and partnership between generations, fueling the ongoing work to build a prosperous and united continent. The King of Mwanga is accompanied by Prince Dr Hanningtone Makau Mudenyo aka Adu, advisor to His Majesty and Prince Simon Mukenya Tiemedi-Nabongo a member of the Council of Elders of the Mwanga Kingdom in Kenya.

The President of the Cultural Oneness Festival, Chief Martin Glin who is also Sunn Naa of Tolon, believes thefestival is a unifying platform for African people worldwide with. “Our focus is on empowerment by exploring ways of  creating sustainable sources of income and connecting investors with talent,” he added. This component will be done through seminars and workshops in partnership with the University of Development Studies (UDS) and it is  aimed at equipping the youth with entrepreneurial skills in line with the festival’s objective of economic independence and innovation among the younger generation.

President of the Harlem Tourism Board (HTB), Chief Tony Rogers indicated that the festival presents an opportunity to learn and experience the culture of the land. Vice President of HTB, Chief Kwaku Richard Cox stated, “Harlem’s heartbeat is rooted right here in West Africa. The rhythms, the stories, the resilience, and the brilliance of the African diaspora flow directly from this soil to our streets, our music, our movements, and our identity.” Chief Kwaku Cox spoke about the tremendous opportunity for collaboration in tourism, cultural preservation, entrepreneurship, and educational exchange and expressed the hope that the festival will catalyze new partnerships that expand economic opportunities, uplift youth, amplify Black creativity worldwide, and strengthen the global African family.

A member of the delegation from Harlem, Dr Flora Luyando, expressed her excitement about the festival, saying she is looking forward to the cultural experiences. The Cultural Oneness Festival is a collaboration between Taste of Africa and the Harlem Tourism Board.