Mas Africa in collaboration with Labadi Beach Hotel has launched the Adinkra Carnival in Accraamidst display of colour, creativity, and culture.

There was also a guest performance from Safo NP, a UK-based artist who had composed a song for The Year of Return.

Mas Africa has been involved in carnival for over the past 15 years and manages the African content in the UK Notting Hill Carnival; this attracts over two million people annually and is the second biggest carnival in the world.

They have over the years thought of bringing carnival to Ghana and in 2019 held a mini carnival parade in Kumasi for the Year of Return.

This year, they are geared up to present, the biggest carnival from December 15 to 17, 2022.

Mr. Ansel Keith Wong, the Special Guest of the ocassion and a former Chair of the Notting Hill Carnival Board and Founder of Elimu Mas Band, highlighted the origin of Carnival, the components that made up carnival, from the Masquerade, Music, Arts and innovations.

“We are looking to have artists from across the globe as well as DJs for all genres ranging from Afrobeats through Soca, highlife and dancehall right down to Amapiano,” he said.

There was a catwalk session which showcased both children and adults in spectacular costumes.

The adults had both the usual feathered costumes and some fabric costumes designed by Barbara Nyarko, Maria Joseph and Melissa Simon-Hartman of Trinidadian and Ghanaian heritage.

Textile giant, GTP sponsored Mas Africa with some fabrics to facilitate the creation of the costumes, with performances from the Winneba Noble’s Number one Masqueraders and Takoradi’s Evergreen Brass Band. 

By Alfred Nii Arday Ankrah