Entertainment
Abiriw Music Expo: A Resounding Success In Celebrating Ohum Festival
The picturesque town of Abiriw in the Eastern Region of Ghana recently witnessed the climax of its iconic Ohum festival, an ancient tradition celebrated with much pomp and cultural fervour.
This year’s festivities reached new heights with the inclusion of a mega Abiriw Music Expo, curated by the visionary Frank Kwabena Owusu, popularly known as Franky5.
The event, featuring performances by A-list gospel artists, aimed not only to entertain but also to draw investment and spotlight Abiriw’s abundant tourism potential.
Ohum Festival, a cultural cornerstone for the Akuapem and Okere people, holds great significance as it marks the beginning of the harvest season for new farm crops.
The celebration attracts people from diverse backgrounds, including the diaspora, showcasing the rich cultural tapestry of the region.
Following the traditional Durbar of Chiefs and Traditional Leaders, which highlighted the cultural heritage of the Akuapem and Okere people, the Abiriw Music Expo took centre stage to conclude the festivities. Gospel luminaries such as Piesie Esther, Nacee, Mabel Okyere, Empress Gifty, and Joseph Atarah graced the stage, delivering unforgettable performances that left patrons in awe.
In addition to the gospel performances, the expo featured resounding acts by some of the top highlife musicians, adding a diverse musical flavour to the celebration. Franky5, the mastermind behind the music extravaganza, expressed the importance of incorporating a musical concert into the festival celebrations. He highlighted the support received from the chief of Abiriw, granting permission for the annual event, emphasizing the intention to leverage creative arts to attract investment to the fertile land with immense tourism potential.
Frank Kwabena Owusu stated, “We are trying to use creative arts to draw investment to Abiriw because it is fertile land and has so much tourism potential. From the waterfall and other tourism attractions, people must pass by Abiriw for their holidays to enjoy all these goodies I am mentioning.”
The success of the Abiriw Music Expo underscores the community’s commitment to merging tradition with contemporary expressions of culture. By attracting top-tier artists and creating a platform for cultural celebration, the event not only brought joy to the residents but also positioned Abiriw as a destination ripe for investment and tourism.
As the echoes of the music fade away, the legacy of the Abiriw Music Expo lingers, leaving a lasting impression on the hearts of those who attended and setting a promising precedent for future editions. The town of Abiriw has truly demonstrated that cultural festivals can be catalysts for economic growth and community development, with the arts playing a pivotal role in shaping the narrative of a region with immense potential.
By:JSmart Amenuveve
Entertainment
Maiden AshantiFest held on Easter
The AshantiFest, instituted to mark Easter in the Ashanti Region, was marked a lot of entertaining activities.
According to the Ashanti Regional Minister, Dr Frank Amoakohene, the idea to stage a festival was conceived after a request from some youth at a clean-up exercise.
“The whole concept of the Ashanti Festival is to bring out our various sectors, showcase what we have as a region and see how best we will be able to promote inter-sectorial support for each other,” he said.
The festival, which kick-started on April 12, commenced with a clean-up exercise in all the Metropolitan, Municipal and Districts in the Ashanti Region.
A football game between sports presenters and Kumawood actors sparked excitement in the region, and a boxing night followed at the Parade Grounds of KNUST.
There was also a stage play featuring Kumawoood All Stars in ‘Kejetia vs Makola was a highlight , offering both entertainment and though provoking moments.
At the Food Fair and Bazaar held at the Kumasi Cultural Centre, a variety of indigenous Ashanti food was on display, attracting many patrons within the city.
It offered the stage for other cultures to promote their cuisine. The Ghanaian traditional fabrics and locally manufactured clothing featured prominently at the event grounds.
A Science and Technology Fair was also featured as part of the education activities.
A blood donation exercise featured alongside the health screening exercise, which was also opened to the public.
Among the celebrities that graced the occasion were The CEO of the National Film Authority ,Kafui Danku, Actress Nana Ama Mac Brown, Nana Hayford, Funny Face and Kweku Manu.
Others were Bukom Banku, Vivian Jill, Wayoosi, Oboy Siki, Oheneba Jude and Sumsum Ahuofe.
Source; Myjoyonline
Entertainment
Europe Edition of ‘The Journey” show is impacting lives- Abena Ghana
Ghanaian actress and television personality, Cecilia Gyase Konamah, known in showbiz as Abena Ghana, has disclosed that her Europe edition of ‘The Journey Show’ is impacting lives.
The new edition, which focused on Ghanaians in Belgium, started airing on Friday, April 4, 2025, at 11:30 a.m on Adom TV.
The Journey Show throws the spotlight on the stories of people who have had great life experiences worth sharing to motivate others.
Speaking to The Spectator, Abena Ghana said, she has received a lot of feedback within a short time the new edition started airing.
Abena Ghana further noted that these people are either living abroad or in Ghana preparing to relocate abroad.
“They told us the programme has educated, inspired and motivated them to succeed in their journey abroad. Others were of the view that if they had seen this earlier, their situations abroad would have changed for the better.” she added.
The brain behind the programme, Abena Ghana added that they encouraged her to keep sharing such experiences to serve as a guide to people in their journey of life.
The stories in the Europe edition range from how hard it was for them to travel outside the country, how some of them got their passports as citizens in Belgium and the hustle they went through to achieve all they have now.
“Special thanks goes to Adom TV for being with us all these years, also to all my sponsors on the show, Time Herbal Mixture, Medimafo Herbal Hospital, Givers Clean Care, Nyadua Herbal Mixture, Konamah entertainment and CEO Noks Tv Africa in Belgium for Making this season possible,” she added.
Abena Ghana also expressed appreciation to Queenie Shipping, Dennaac travel consult, Anniluv Shapewear, King Solomon Trading, Macdens electrical in Belgium who made this season possible.
By Edem Mensah-Tsotorme
