Ford Communications in partnership with Ghana’s Office of Diaspora Affairs will present WoodxWatta – a two-day interactive Jamaican Festival set to take place in the heart of Accra.
This festival, unlike any other, is the ultimate celebration of the direct lineage between Ghanaian and Jamaican cultures. WoodxWatta invites the visiting diaspora and Ghanaian investors to shift their focus to the collaborative future of Ghana and the Caribbean; and unlock industry, trade and investment opportunities between the two regions.
According to the organizers, the festival will feature two-panel discussions focused on culture and business, global networking opportunities, and a proper bashment to close out the “December in Ghana” activities.
Tickets are available now for purchase.
Founder Lakeshia Ford, CEO of Ford Communications, has reimagined the connectivity of Ghanaian and Jamaican culture and industries through this two-day legacy festival. Ford noticed what she calls the “gap and gaze” in Ghana. With the phenomenon of the “Year of Return,” travellers flocked to Ghana for top entertainment experiences. However, Ford and her team realized there remained a limited positioning of the country as a party destination, or an escape, rather than a blossoming ecosystem worth investing in and imagining new futures in. WoodxWatta looks at how Jamaica and Ghana, the Caribbean, and Africa can identify synergies, communicate, and work in harmony to produce solutions to each region’s problems.
Day 1 of WoodxWatta, December 26, takes place at the elevated rooftop restaurant and design hub The Mix GH. Programming includes panel discussions with culture and business visionaries from across the diaspora, live DJs, an interactive Afro-Caribbean brunch and networking opportunities. The discussions will focus on the long term Afro-Caribbean visions of culture, technology, real estate, trade, and mutual investment potential. Day 2, of WoodxWatta, January 4, is an all-out bashment party taking place at the luxury venue The Underbridge in East Legon. More than just a party, this culturally immersive experience will celebrate the possibilities of our shared futures and the collective liberation of the Black diaspora through Dancehall and Afrobeats. Patrons can expect sounds from renowned DJ and producer Blaq Pages and others.
Tickets are available now for purchase via the WoodxWatta website.
“Whether it’s homecoming or December in Ghana, we travel and gather – celebrate and party, but I think a lot is left on the table when we’re not engaging each other on the economic front,” says founder Lakeisha Ford. “WoodXWatta is about deepening and expanding our connection to create the future we want to see for ourselves.”
“There is more than $1 Billion in trade and export potential between Africa and the Caribbean. We are anchored by our cultural connection, but it’s time for emerging markets to start collaborating, economically. This festival is the answer to that call for the Caribbean and Ghana and Africa, at large.”
WoodxWatta is officially sponsored by Zeepay, Travel Deeper, Republic Bank, and Jameson. The festival is endorsed by the Consulate of Jamaica, Ghana Investment Promotion Centre, The Office of Diaspora Affairs, and Beyond the Return with collaborative support from Chambers media and Oaccess Jamaica. Stay tuned for more announcements on lineup, programming and more.
To keep up with all things WoodxWatta, follow @woodxwatta on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter.
About the founder of Ford Communications
Lakeshia Ford, founder of Ford Communications is a communications strategist who is passionate about connecting African businesses to the global market and mobilizing public diplomacy in Africa.
She has spent her professional life working in media and international relations, gaining experience from companies such as CNN International, Viacom Inc., M&T Bank, United Nations Information Centre and the U.S. Department of State (Bureau of Consular Affairs). From her work experience and studying in Ghana, Lakeshia realized that African narratives, if not neglected, were deeply misrepresented in Western media and institutions. The gap led her to move to Ghana and start Ford Communications, a 360 strategic communications agency that provides public relations, brand management and market entry services. The organization uses its core offerings to help local companies gain international exposure and assist international businesses effectively with markets throughout Africa. Through Ford Communications, Lakeshia has worked with institutions and brands such as World Remit, Arsenal Football Club, Patron Silver, The British Council, MTN Ghana, Ghandour Cosmetics and Glam Africa Magazine and organizations like the British Council, the African Union and United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) to name a few and has serviced companies across industries from oil and gas to fashion, with business to business marketing strategies. Check out www.ford-communications.net and follow their socials @fordcommunications
