NADFFA 2027 launched in Accra to celebrate African cinema, cuisine and culture

The Nollywood–Africa in Diaspora Film & Food Festival and Awards (NADFFA) 2027 has officially been launched in Accra, setting the stage for a Pan-African celebration of cinema, cuisine, culture and creative excellence.

The festival was unveiled at a Corporate and Media Launch held on Thursday, October 29, 2026, at the W.E.B. Du Bois Centre for Pan-African Culture in Cantonments, Accra.

The event, which attracted more than 250 distinguished personalities from Ghana, Nigeria and the Diaspora, was held under the theme, Uniting Cultures. Celebrating Excellence.

The initiative is led by its Chief Executive Officer, Head of Diaspora Affairs and Brand Ambassador, Ms Ramatu Gumah.

Addressing guests, Ms Gumah explained that although Nollywood features in the festival’s name, NADFFA has a broader Pan-African vision aimed at creating a homecoming experience for Africans in the Diaspora through film and food.

She noted that the initiative would also serve as a platform for economic promotion, investment networking, corporate visibility, tourism development and cultural diplomacy.

The launch featured cultural performances from soldier Kofi San, Ras Caleb Appiah-Levi, Gumahlites Damba Dancers and celebrated Ghanaian songstress Sherifa Gunu.

The ceremony was chaired by H.E. Rev. Dr Lilian Sally Addo, Global President of the International Youth Network for United Nations Security Council Resolution 2250.

The Special Guest Speaker was H.E. Mrs Fidelia Graand-Galon, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Suriname to Ghana, Kenya and South Africa.

Other speakers included Mr Gideon Aryeequaye, Executive Secretary of the Creative Arts Agency, and Ing. Dr Bright Sogbey, President of the Africa Development Council (ADC).

The event also attracted prominent figures from the creative arts and corporate sectors, including Alhaji Abubakar Sanusi Yakubu, National President of the Actors Guild of Nigeria, and Dr Lucky Enehita Inegbehehi, Managing Director of the Edo State Management Board in Nigeria, who served as the Special Guest of Honour.

Nollywood actor Yemi Blaq was among the personalities present, alongside Ghanaian screen icons Kofi Falconer, Adwoa Smart, Pascaline Edwards, Eunice Banini and Kwame Brother.

Other special guests included Mr Romaric Ababio Dankwa, Convener of the Ghana Digital Trade Summit and Executive Chairman of Seedway Group, as well as Mr Mohammed Zafar Yab Anjum, Director of KNZ Enterprise/BQA Cosmetics, a co-sponsor of the event.

Members of the African Ancestral Wall, NADFFA and PanAfrica-Ghana teams were also present. They included Mr George Walton Robertson, Mr Isaac Kofi Arthur, Christabel Nana Akosua Yeboah, Mr. Ampong Derrick-Macbell, Janet Akosua Adepa Amissah, Destiny Zan, Abdulai Ali Jajah (B-BABS), Babylow Darrick, Kofi Adam Bukari, King Benjah, Kromah Mishkini of Massboss Entertainment, Ajah Cletus, Putogo (Comedian), Autentiq Gh, Min. Rebecca and Mr Qizill.

Victoria Agblanya of DELVIC Travel Quest also attended, alongside representatives from the Turkish Embassy, NIB Bank, PanAfrica-Ghana and other organisations.

The programme was hosted by Chief Sir Chike Vitalis Okafor (Odui of Umudioka) and Ms Anita Barakat, Founder of the Rediscover Africa Organisation, USA. The opening prayer was delivered by Shieck Husein Hassan Yeboah.

During the launch, the organising committee announced March 12 to 14, 2027, as the official dates for the main festival activities.

The two-day Film and Food Festival will take place on Friday, March 12, and Saturday, March 13, 2027, at the forecourt of the State House in Osu, Accra.

Activities will run from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm each day and include film screenings, food presentations, culinary exhibitions, cultural displays, masterclasses and business networking sessions.

The festival will conclude with the NADFFA 2027 Awards Night on Sunday, March 14, at the Mövenpick Ambassador Hotel in Accra.

The awards ceremony, scheduled to run from 7:00 pm to 1:30 am, will honour outstanding film personalities and creative legends from Africa and the Diaspora.

The organisers expressed appreciation to the media organisations, corporate bodies and institutional partners who supported and participated in the launch.

Among those acknowledged were Studio 502, GBC/GTV, UTV, Atinka TV, TV3, GHOne TV, Onua TV, Max TV, Kessben TV, Bullet TV, Woezor TV, Graphic Showbiz, The Spectator, KPD Online, Kessben 92.9 FM and PBSA.

Other acknowledged partners included the W.E.B. Du Bois Museum Foundation, Africa Development Council and PanAfrica-Ghana.

The organising committee has called on corporate organisations, media partners, creatives and members of the Diaspora community to support, sponsor and become partners in the Pan-African initiative.

The festival is expected to provide a platform for showcasing African creative talent, promoting the continent’s culinary heritage and strengthening cultural connections between Africans on the continent and those in the Diaspora.