Accra is preparing to host one of the biggest cultural events of the year as The Second Coming of Nkrumah – The Musical makes its global premiere on December 29 at the Accra International Conference Centre (AICC).

The production is headlining this year’s African Festival (TAF) and is already being tipped as Africa’s strongest contender for Broadway and West End–level theatre.

With Ghana positioning itself as Africa’s cultural destination through the fast-growing December in GH and Detty December movements, this premiere is expected to attract thousands of patrons from Ghana, the diaspora, and the Caribbean.

Aside from Nkrumah’s Musical, The African Festival returns with a world-class line-up, including Don Quixote Africa, and a star-studded concert, a major highlight of December in GH.

Ghanaian-born music on a global scale

The Second Coming of Nkrumah is written and directed by award-winning playwright Latif Abubakar, and brings to life the symbolic return of Dr Kwame Nkrumah to lead Africa through a new era of economic liberation.

The musical combines Afrofuturist storytelling, high-energy African choreography, multimedia spectacle, and live African orchestral performance. It has already recorded more than 10,115 paying audiences during earlier preview shows and is endorsed by UNESCO, PwC, and the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts.

Producers say the show is built to become Africa’s first global theatrical franchise, with future tours planned across Africa, Europe, North America, and Asia.

The African Festival: A 3-Day Cultural Experience

The global premiere forms part of the 2025 African Festival, happening from 28th to 30th December, one of the most anticipated events in the year-end entertainment calendar.

This year's line-up is:

28th December, Don Quixote Africa, an African interpretation of the well-known Spanish play by Latif Abubakar.

29th December is the world premiere of The Second Coming of Nkrumah-The Musical by Latif Abubakar. Each of the plays has two major showings at 4 pm and 8 pm at the Accra International Conference Centre.

30th December - The African Festival Concert, starring legendary icons: Yvonne Chaka Chaka from South Africa, 4-time Grammy Award nominee Rocky Dawuni,  Bessa Simons of the iconic Osibisa band, Legendary highlife musician Amadzeba Nat Brew, Wiyala and Adaha Band. The concert gate opens at 7 pm and the show starts at 8 pm

December in GH & Detty December Festival Attractions

The African Festival has been designed as a major tourism and cultural attraction for the December festive season, especially for: Visitors from the Diaspora, Caribbean travellers, families, corporate groups, cultural Tourists, etc.

The AICC precinct is set to become a fully-fledged festival city with:

Camel rides & Sahara-themed installations

Life-size replicas of African monuments (Pyramid of Giza, Mandela Capture Site)

The Den of History storytelling arena

Food courts, craft markets & children's fun zones

Live art installations and cultural exhibitions

Partners & Sponsors

The 2025 festival is powered by Globe Productions in partnership with the Ministry of Tourism, Culture & Creative Arts, Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA) and sponsored by ECOWAS Bank (EBID), MoMo, Embassy of Spain-Ghana and Joy Entertainment

Industry analysts say the strong institutional backing positions the event as one of the most strategic cultural investments of the festive season.

Ticket Information

Tickets for all three days are now on sale and selling fast at GHS 300 per day and GHS 750 for all three days. VIP tickets go for GHS 500. Buy tickets by dialling *447*1092# or visiting www.theafricanfestival.com. Ticket Hotline: 0571 900 900

Why this event matters

 Ghana has become a major destination for end-of-year cultural tourism. With increasing diaspora traffic and the global popularity of Detty December, the country’s creative economy is witnessing unprecedented attention.

The African Festival, anchored by the global premiere of The Second Coming of Nkrumah, is positioned as one of the top cultural events for December in GH, offering visitors and locals a rare combination of entertainment, heritage, innovation, and Pan-African pride.

As Accra gets ready for another festive season, all eyes will be on the AICC, where a new chapter in African theatre and continental storytelling starts.