Bring It Home

Events in Ghana are beginning to look very much like events in the UK, USA, France and Nigeria. While it is a good thing that our events now meet international standards, I am beginning to get bored with seeing the same ideas that I see online being replicated at events here in Ghana.

At a time when the cedi is struggling, and there are calls for Ghanaians to patronise local products, we still prefer event elements – centrepieces, flowers, music, traditions – that are imported from abroad. Yes, I understand that we do not have local substitutes for everything we need for an event. But, we certainly need to start looking out for local alternatives.

I get excited when I see event stylists incorporate some of our local arts and craft (straw hats, earthenware pots, etc) into their work. Imagine what it would look like if cane vases, woven right here in Ghana served as immaculate centrepieces at a wedding reception. How about using brightly coloured tie-dye napkins to add colour to the tablescape at an event? Consider using kente strips as wedding favours. How about getting a live band to play old-school hilife tunes at a party? Also, try incorporating local arts and craft as well as adinkra symbols into invitation cards as well as other event stationery.

I am confident that infusing elements of our culture and local arts and craft into our events would add a special touch to the events industry worldwide. We could even start exporting some of our unique event elements to other countries. How cool would that be?

So next time you plan an event, think of ways in which you can add a special touch of Ghana. Let us share our rich Ghanaian culture with the rest of the world through our events. Let’s bring it home.