For many, the year doesn’t truly end until “Detty December,” an annual sojourn taken by Black people from around the globe to return to the Motherland to reconnect, party and finish off the year in grand style. For five years, Ghana’s Afrochella festival has led the myriad “Detty December” activities and this year was no different.
Taking place at El Wak Stadium on December 28th and 29th, Afrochella 2022 welcomed over 9,000 revelers from around the world. As far as headlining acts go, the list was nothing short of extraordinary. The likes of Burna Boy, Fireboy DML, and Ayra Starr got the crowd dancing during their performances.
Festival-goers at Afrochella 2022. Photo still from video by Ronald Akwesi Bruce and Chris Baiden.
Beyond the music, the Afrochella festival is a kaleidoscope of cultural sights, colors and cuisine and with it comes a flurry of outstanding street style looks that showcase the creativity and cultural pride of its attendees. From bold prints and futuristic takes on traditional African dress–to intricate braids, accessories and head wraps–the style on display at the annual gathering is a masterclass in Africa’s diversity and fashion ingenuity.
With the shocking announcement by co-founder Abdul Abdulla that 2022 would mark the end of the beloved festival, this year was certainly one for the books. Below, check out some of the inimitable street style at this year’s Afrochella festival as documented by Accra-based photographer, Ernest Ankomah.
