The Masquerade
The Fancy Dress Festival (known as Kakamotobi in Ghana)
Have you ever been to a masquerade festival before?
Kakamotobi is a masquerade festival that began almost a century ago in Ghana. It was initially celebrated to laugh at the colonial masters. It has now become a part of our culture.
Photo Credit: @mydivathings
Winneba, in the central region of Ghana, is where this festival is held. Winneba used to be the capital city of Accra. Winneba is a two hour drive away from the current capital city Accra.
The Masquerade Festival (Kakamotobi) is held yearly between Christmas and New Year in Winneba, Ghana. What started as a subversive depiction of colonial life has now become a beloved cultural event.
When Ghana gained independence in 1957, the then president Kwame Nkrumah, endorses and promoted the Fancy Dress festival in Winneba. Children wear colorful outfits and masks and dance along with their parents. Nobody is left out.