It’s Dirty December and All Roads Lead to Accra, for the 3rd Year…
- mothertongueswahil
- Feb 2, 2023
- 3 min read
In December 2019, up to 1.5 million people visited Ghana to be part of the “Year Of Return'' celebrations. This included the likes of Ludacris, Boris Kojo, Jidenna and Tina Knowles (Beyonce’s mum). I was amongst these pan-African enthusiasts, who’s FOMO did not allow to miss the fun of celebrating all things African- and boy did it deliver!
The Year of Return was a campaign declared by Ghana in 2019 to encourage descendants of enslaved Africans to reconnect with the land of their ancestors. It was also the year since the last slave boat docked in Virginia, United States of America, 400 years ago. The campaign generated a whopping 1.9 billion USD, and changed the face of Ghana as the top African tourist destination!
Photo Credit:Year of Return 2019.
Detty December Ghana is now a whole brand and in its third year (unfortunately not in a row because our friend Ronna COVID-19), with a huge line up of events such as Afrochella and Afro-nation Ghana festivals. I attended the Afrochella festival in 2019 (at El-Wak Stadium), and was in utter awe glaring at all the beautiful African prints, face tribal paints and jewellery. I, ofcourse, came very prepared (see photo below).
Afrochella brings together all things Ghanaian culture: music with line ups such as Burna Boy, StoneBwoy, Tiwa Savage; food, fashion and art! I also attended the Afronation Ghana festival, the world’s biggest afrobeats festival located at Laboma beach, with the likes of Wizkid and Burna Boy. This year, they are moving the function to Marine Drive Black Star Square and bringing big stars- Uncle Waffles, Asake, Major League DJz, Oxlade and Rema!
Although a trip to Ghana in December is purely for vibes and festivals, it is also important to become aware of Ghana’s tremendous history in the Atlantic slave trade and fight to freedom. At the west side of Ghana, the Gold Coast (named from its vast quantities of gold) is where you find the coastline of majestic castles and fortresses. These castles, including Cape Coast Castle and Elmira Castle, were where ivory, gold and slaves were traded the early 1500s up until the first half of the 1800s, when slave trade was abolished.
Ghana then also became the first African country to gain independence, and for this you must visit the Independence Square or Black Star Square in Accra. The Independence Square was built by Ghana’s founding leader, Kwame Nkrumah, after Ghana became the first colonised African country to gain its independence on 6th March, 1957.
Although it wasn’t my first time back in Africa as a diaspora, Ghana and the Year of Return celebration had a bigger impact on me than my experience than traveling to Tanzania and Rwanda earlier that year. I had never been to a country outside my home country that was so proudly black and so proudly African! The sight of seeing happy black people, singing, dancing, dressing up, eating and living their best life was therapeutic. I really applaud Ghana for creating this wave in the content and continuing to invite its diaspora into the continent for yet another year of celebrations being African.
You can also purchase the online digital itinerary “Detty December in Ghana 8 days plan” with links to restaurants, Airbnb and budget suggestions.
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