Edem Fest (Edem Festival), the massive homecoming music festival anchored by rapper Edem, will return in 2023, expanding into multiple days festival, the organizers announce.
The announcement was contained in a Friday press statement that was released across the musician’s social media pages.
The festival was canceled following the 2019 edition due to COVID-19 concerns and its subsequent effects. Prior to that, the event had been hailed as one of the most anticipated annual music events in one of Ghana’s rich cultural heritage regions, Volta Region, promoting local tourism and significantly contributing to the region’s economic growth.
Unlike previous editions, next year’s festival will be restricted to VIP and general admission ticket holders as it prepares to return as a full-fledged multiple-day festival filled with an array of exciting activities. “The upcoming installment will be a paid event to secure the future of the event in the region,” the organizers said.
“I appreciate the overwhelming love and support by my fans and my region,” Edem expressed his excitement for Edemfest. “Ever since our break in 2019, I have been bombarded with messages to bring it back, and to show my love for my Fans as well as my region, Edemfest is back and it is going to be bigger than it was. I ask fans and the region to continually support the festival by paying to attend in their numbers, I miss Edemfest and I can’t wait for it in 2023.”
Though the exact venue and date have yet to be announced, the organizers state that “preparations and planning have already begun ahead of the festival to be held in the beautiful coastal town of Keta.” Meanwhile, Edem and his team will embark on a series of activities that will serve as a prelude to the main festival celebration in 2023.
Previous Edem Fest editions have featured popular musicians such as Kofi Kinaata, Stonebwoy, Kwaw Kese, Sarkodie, Obrafour, and more.
Born Denning Edem Hotor, the Accra-based Ewe artiste has epitomised creative leadership and initiative, artistic originality, and constant evolution. He did not only spearhead the use of the Ewe language in mainstream music but globalized it.
In 2006, he released his first radio hit single “Witine Woshi”, which translates as “we came and they ran”. It gained much popularity in his region and added to his underground reputation. That year, he got together officially with The Last Two Entertainment Group, headed by the hit maker Hammer, where he worked alongside Obrafour, Tinny and Kwaw Kesse.
