Tattle – December in Ghana, when every day is Friday night!…By PaJohn Dadson
Tattle – December in Ghana, when every day is Friday night!…By PaJohn Dadson
Friday night has finally called. To say it has arrived and will be staying for the next 21 days!
Now picture this. It’s Saturday dawn. You’ve been out all night with friends, dancing, drinking, moving from one bustling club to another. Because of an early morning family commitment, your friends with whom you have been carousing have to retire early. You are dropped off at your house, say your farewells and before you open the gate to enter the house, another set of friends with whom you have been chatting earlier online, drive by and pick you up out again for the next phase of partying. Who’s checking the time, it’s 4am!
Eventually retiring home at 8am, long after the sun has arisen, you only take a nap, get a shower, a change of clothes and roll out again for afternoon rendezvous with your friends, to be seen at flowery sundown events and begin the night routine all over.
Welcome to ‘December in Ghana’, you’ve just had a “detty” December moment, which for the next three or so weeks is going to be simply that; it’s one big party after party and party!
This, the most anticipated time of year when our communities come alive with vibrant “colour and celebration” like never before.
Accra is happening so fast! If you have the stamina and deep pocket, you may survive, because it will be Friday night everyday!
This year in particular, events officially listed in the Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA)-approved calendar have quadrupled, especially in our capital Accra, where there are literally a jam-packed plethora of events such that everyone feels as overwhelmed as they are spoiled for choice.
Visiting friends and family living abroad and curious diaspora “Africanists” pour into town to celebrate this annual spread of festivities, making Ghana a hotbed destination for the end-of-year!
To borrow the words of the Hon. Dzifa Gomashie – our dynamic Minister for Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts: “From concerts and art exhibitions to culinary fairs and traditional festivals, ‘December in Ghana’ tells the story of who we are: a proud, hospitable and creative people.” You are home, Akwaaba.
I’ll be listing my selection of activities, events and experiences I recommend – as always. Do pick up a copy of B&FT or visit thebftonline.com every Friday and keep abreast with “what’s hot and what’s not around town” with Bentsifi. WhatsApp 0244697046 to point you in the right direction. Alternatively, go to @visitghana for the full hog of listings.
Celebrating the spirit of December
I have learnt a lot about humanity supporting my charity of choice, Little Angels Trust (LAT), which works to support children with terminal and mental illnesses. For over 23 years, we have done our bit, feeding over 20,000 kids and raising money for their healthcare, hospital bills and such! Humbling experiences, but after surviving a medical emergency myself this year, all my perspectives changed again, prompting me to a promise to “be present” whenever I get the chance to live!
We inaugurated the LAT’s ‘HEARTS OF GOLD’ Pre-Christmas Charity Gala to celebrate the spirit of the season. This year I attended the dinner as my own personal “Thanksgiving celebration.”
The elegance and aura of the night was just so heartwarming and intimate, particularly when the ‘String Ladies’ – as I call them – from the Moet String Ensemble started performing, playing the cello and violin! And what beautiful rendition of current pop songs they gave us in such classical vein. It added a whole new dimension to the evening’s encounter. It was so refreshing and too much fun.
LAT timings too added a clear sense of order to proceedings. Everything was on point! The food, served promptly as the strings melodiously resounded throughout the room; the champagne, the desserts, ooh! the desserts! Labadi Beach Hotel outdid itself!”
I can’t begin to tell you how sublimely beautiful the ladies sounded. Apparently, they are part of a multi-genre string ensemble made up of 5 violinists, 2 double bassists, 1 cello, 1 keyboardist, 1 saxophonist. Female-majority, only one violinist, the keyboardist, cellist and 1 double bassist are males.
They had an aim to form the group to play popular genres through classical instruments; they just hit it off!
And they have a passionate business manager alongside 5 others on a staff roster who administer affairs! Really charming indeed. They made the evening absolutely fun.
This December, do the unexpected in all white flowing robes
Just imagine this. You blink, and you see yourself in the midst of hundreds of people – all dressed in crisp white flowing robes, floating, smiling. You are all dressed up to the nines, as you arrive at a secret location for a chic picnic en masse – at the global culinary phenomenon with “joie de vivre”, but at this session right here in Accra that comes with a whole load of local flair! Hello…
You are not yet in celestial realms but something close enough! You are at Diner en Blanc, which is hosting this season’s “La Vie est Bella” – Life is Beautiful – encounter where all “Enjoyment Presidents and Ministers” are registered to attend and “be present”!
You’ve come this far, you have resilience and tenacity. Celebrate it! Do it for you, with friends. Celebrate friendships, the ones that count! And celebrate yourself, here, tonight. For only you know how you have manoeuvered to be in this present moment!
On the 27th, that’s where I’m going to be. At this event I can recount to my younger kith and kin. Boy, o’boy! I can’t wait. See you there, go to accra.dinerenblanc.com and click ‘Attend Diner en Blanc’ and make sure you get to have some of the “bragging rights” in the evening of your life, as you recount with relish how you too stepped up the swag when you got to celebrate life at Diner en Blanc in Accra.
Afrikiko wraps Bella Afrik this December
It is by far one of the many places in the capital where you are sure to find the vibe and energy of Accra! Afrikiko is still going strong after four decades in operation; and I couldn’t be more impressed and proud of Madame Awurafua, who owns and runs the entire enterprise of this entertainment complex!
She has been careful to bring in other reputable establishments, and has always been very deliberate in its ability to reinvent the place. It is actually quite remarkable what she’s done to her place and that kind of thing doesn’t just happen but through incredible determination and intentional dedication.
It is at Afrikiko that you will find superb restaurants and cafés, including Bella Afrik – definitely one of the most “high vibe joints” ever to be in Accra! Every night is a total treat with a frenzied party, cleverly choreographed by the staff who so randomly start banging on pots and trays to create such an atmosphere that is unexpected and definitely unforgettable experience!
Often a live band plays and the entertaining atmosphere is so on point!
This December, you want to visit Afrikiko, and definitely do @bellaafrik, which restaurant also serves a delicious menu.
It’s December, colour it, gift it!
Let me suggest this simple activity book for your Yuletide gift basket – Kati Torda’s new book, which serves as a perfect gift for everyone. It is a colouring book which is filled with illustrations of a variety of beads, inspiring people, particularly children, to learn about beads and their origins while having great fun creating the beautiful colouring of the various types. It is a wonderful must-have that can also be used as a reference point for the one cultural element that binds us together as Ghanaians!
Get some @suntrade_beads. It’s the Beads from the Market colouring book. While there, you can go treasure hunting for some gems and unique curios and craft items that can also make it in your Yuletide gift bag! Make someone happy!
