Dr. Awal Mohammed, the Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture has refuted reports that the world’s biggest Afrobeats festival, Afro Nation has been taken away from Ghana.
His remarks follow rumors that Afro Nation has finalized preparations to stage a fresh new edition in Lagos, Nigeria for the first time this year.
Dr. Awal stated in an interview on the sidelines of an editors’ roundtable held at the Accra City Hotel on Monday, August 14, 2023, that the concert will still take place in Ghana despite the announcement that Nigeria will hold its version this year.
“Afro Nation has not been taken away from Ghana. We even had a meeting last week. We discussed it. There are certain demands they want and we are trying to look at how to collaborate. It has not been taken yet. But we have alternatives,” he stated.
Afro Nation will be held again in Ghana, “most likely. Very likely. This year, over the next three years,” he noted.
Last year, the second day of Afro Nation 2022, which was intended to cap off the Accra Afrobeats festival, was cut short because to safety concerns.
The incident occurred during the performance of French-Congolese star Dadju, who was one of the event’s headliners. The program had previously featured performances by Camidoh, KiDi, Black Sherif, and Stonebwoy. On the previous night, West African performers Gyakie, Kuami Eugene, P-Square, Tiwa Savage, and CKay, South African amapiano star Kamo Mphela, and US rapper Meek Mill performed.
Nigerian artists Asake and Rema as well as British-Nigerian rapper Skepta, who were expected to close the event, were unable to perform.
