"My Kind of Town": Reflecting on the Sights, Sounds, and Soul of GhanaFest Chicago
By A Concerned Ghanaian · 26 July 2026 · Culture
I write to you giddy with pride after this year's GhanaFest in Chicago, an event so lively it nearly needed its own visa. It brought together people across generations, backgrounds, and social standing, all under the shared umbrella of our heritage, proving once again that "my kind of town" away from home is, and remains, Chicago.
The day opened on a sacred note, with prayers and the pouring of libation. In a moving display of tradition, the Ga Adangbe community sprinkled kpekple on the grounds, echoing the sacred Homowo rites to bless the land and invite prosperity upon the gathering.The moment you stepped onto the grounds, the aroma of smoky jollof, grilled tilapia, sizzling suya, and fried plantains hit you like a warm hug from an auntie who thinks you've lost weight, instantly setting the tone for the day.
Speaking of vendors, I had a rather cheeky run in with a Nigerian vendor named Olary. The man had the nerve to offer me a guinea fowl if I'd admit Nigerian jollof beats ours, right after we so graciously let him set up shop at our festival. The impudence of a dying cockroach ! I looked him dead in the eye and reminded him that back home, we don't even bother eating those birds sometimes; we let them fly straight across the border to Burkina Faso, and that my allegiance to Ghana is not for sale, not even for poultry, in Chicago.
For a couple of years now, a solemn cloud had hung over our community here, with friends mostly reuniting at funerals rather than festivals. So this year's GhanaFest felt like a long overdue exhale, joy and laughter instead of black cloth and long faces.
The cultural showcase did not disappoint. Colorful displays, drumming, and durbars representing Ghana's many tribes reminded everyone that our diversity is a feature, not a bug. Okuapemman also paid a heartfelt tribute to Duke, a true pillar and chief who passed this year, adding a moment of real weight and reflection to the procession. Business mogul and former presidential aspirant Dr. Paa Kwasi Nduom also graced the event, mingling with the community like a man who still hasn't ruled anything out.
Some attendees noted the grounds felt smaller and tighter than previous years, with less room to roam. Still, spirits stayed high, especially among the children, who were thoroughly delighted by bubble machine guns filling the air, paired with flashing disco lights as the musicians played, pure magic, if a little sticky underfoot. As always, the Ghana Nurses Association of Illinois was on hand, generously offering up their seasoned professionals to look after the health and wellbeing of attendees throughout the day.
Our old friend "Ghana Man Time" made its usual appearance. Program delays dragged well into the evening, and by the time pre show artiste MoBeats had warmed the stage for Kofi Kinaata, most of the children and teenagers were ready for bed, not a concert. Still, when Kinaata finally took the stage, he closed the night in style with his signature "Taadi vibes" for those of us who held the line.
On the organizational front, credit where it's due: the new ticketing and wristband system was a genuine upgrade. Non reusable wristbands meant everyone paid their fair share, no more passing wristbands back over the fence to a waiting cousin. Kudos to Kakape and the organizing team, and to all the predecessors who built the foundation that makes GhanaFest Chicago the institution it is.
Not everything ran smoothly, mind you. The National Identification Authority managed to disappoint scores of Ghanaians who had registered and paid online, hoping to finally collect their Ghana Cards, only to leave empty handed. Their grand solution was a single machine, flown all the way from Ghana, and by evening they were reduced to hunting for stray light sources just to take people's photos. One machine. One country's diaspora. You do the math.
Even so, the community's spirit refused to be dampened. GhanaFest reminded us all of who we are when we gather to celebrate rather than console, and for anyone hoping to see us falter, well, in the words of MoBeats, they should go and "drink Coartem"?
So long,
Ato_KD