Back to Your Village Festival: A feast of food, music and heritage

The 2026 Back to Your Village Food Festival delivered a rich, multi-sensory celebration of Ghana’s food, music, and cultural heritage, transforming the Efua Sutherland Children’s Park into a vibrant village of tradition and togetherness.

Organised by Channel One TV and Citi FM, the two-day festival held on March 28–29 drew large, enthusiastic crowds eager to reconnect with their roots while indulging in an array of authentic Ghanaian delicacies from across the Northern, Central, Western, and Southern zones.

From the moment patrons stepped onto the grounds, they were immersed in a carefully curated village experience, complete with communal dining spaces, traditional games, live drumming, and the nostalgic presence of indigenous cookware such as grinding stones and earthenware bowls. It was not just a festival, but a journey back home.

Despite a brief morning downpour on the second day, the energy never waned. Vendors reported brisk business and described this year’s edition as one of the most successful yet. Patrick Kekeli Agbeko, Manager of Tipsy Alley, noted that the turnout on Day Two was even stronger.

“Every year we are able to get people to be tipsy to eat the good foods around, and that keeps us coming back,” he said.

Other vendors echoed similar excitement. Sarah Dovlo of B.B Nector Fruit Drink reported soaring sales, while Eliane Kumoji, founder of Pork Rack, observed that the second day outperformed the first. Benedicta Apena of Eslyn Local Kitchen and Pub described the experience as “great, not just good,” affirming her commitment to return next year.

Even niche food vendors made a strong impression. A millet-based kenkey, inspired by a diabetic-friendly family recipe, drew significant interest, highlighting the festival’s blend of tradition and innovation. Grace of Sunshine Foods summed up the spirit of the event: despite the rain, “the music has been lively and has never stopped.”

Patrons were equally captivated. Elsie Fayinka praised the diversity of food and entertainment, while Kwabena Brew Hammond relished the opportunity to sample dishes from different “villages” in one location. For returning guest Solomon Abbey, the live music was the heartbeat of the festival. “When the live band takes over, it’s great. It brings unity and a sense of home,” he shared.

Music and performance were central to the festival’s magic. Day One saw the Kwan Pa Band deliver a captivating fusion of traditional and contemporary sounds, while the Edzordzinam Fafali Borborbor Band ignited the crowd with high-energy Borborbor rhythms from the Volta Region. On Day Two, the atmosphere soared even higher with performances from the Just Groove Brass Band and the F33hi Ensemble, who began their set in the afternoon and kept patrons and vendors energized with authentic Ghanaian sounds well into the evening.

Across both days, spontaneous dancing, drumming, and singing transformed the festival grounds into a living cultural stage, as patrons abandoned their seats to fully embrace the experience.

A major highlight was the lively inter-bus cook-off featuring the Heritage Caravan 2026 caravanites, where participants proudly represented their buses in a spirited culinary showdown, adding an extra layer of excitement and friendly competition to the festival.

At its core, the Back to Your Village Food Festival continues to serve a deeper purpose, promoting local cuisine, preserving cultural identity, and creating meaningful connections between generations.

With strong support from sponsors including Ecobank, Gino, Didi Shito, Munchee Biscuits, Jibu Water, Twellium Industrial Company Limited, the National Petroleum Authority, and Everpack, the 2026 edition proved once again that when food, music, and culture come together, the result is pure joy.

As the curtains fell, one thing was clear: this was more than just a festival, it was a celebration of home, and many are already looking forward to the next journey back to their village.