Ghana’s vibrant traditional festivals—once the heartbeat of community identity and storytelling—are facing a quiet crisis. According to cultural advocate and digital strategist Jonilar, many indigenous communities are losing grip on the very traditions that define them.
“Festivals are not just entertainment,” Jonilar wrote in a recent Facebook post dated October 15. “They are a celebration of our indigenous cultural heritage and a gateway to understanding our history—migration, paramountcy, food, music, dance, fashion, regalia, beadwork, and other identity markers.”
Yet, despite their rich significance, Jonilar warns that the essence of these festivals is fading. In many areas, there are no clear plans to preserve or project local history to future generations. The result? A growing disinterest among youth and a shift toward one-day events that lack community ownership.
“Most festivals have become one-day events organised by high-profile personalities or government bodies,” he noted. “They don’t benefit the community and are not sustained.”
Jonilar, who has long championed creator rights and cultural documentation through his platform Jonilar.net, expressed a personal desire to reconnect with festivals that are deeply rooted in local efforts. For him, it’s not just about attending—it’s about rediscovery.
“I want to attend festivals that are community-driven,” he emphasised. “Where I can discover, reconnect, and celebrate my cultural roots through fashion and other expressions of identity.”
As Ghana continues to modernise, voices like Jonilar’s are calling for a renewed commitment to cultural preservation—one that empowers communities to tell their own stories, on their own terms.