Ankos Festival, Ghana

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What is Takoradi Street Carnival?

The Takoradi Street Carnival, also known as the Ankos Festival, is an annual celebration held in the African country of Ghana. Its festivities mainly feature groups or bands that wear incredible costumes. In addition, these groups demonstrate their skills and competencies through cultural manifestations such as dancing and singing. The festival includes participants of all ages, especially those who are passionate about the culture and arts of the country.

During the celebrations, different groups play a wide variety ofmusical genres to liven up the festivities. In addition, these same groups also perform dance performances to liven up all the people attending the parade. The Ankos Festival is an incredible colorful celebration that enhances Ghana’s varied culture and diverse ethnic groups.

 

 

The Takoradi Street Carnivals have become one of the city’s flagship events. Moreover, they have gained more and more momentum, which has attracted more and more tourists to Takoradi Street.

 

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When is Takoradi Street Carnival

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The Takoradi Street Carnivalis held in the month of December, specifically from 24 to 26. During these days, the festivities are celebrated with large parades of impressive masks that dance to the rhythm of different musical genres played by the bands that accompany them in the celebrations.

 

 

History of the Takoradi Street Carnival

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The Takoradi Street Carnival celebrations grew out of a movement called “The Year of Return” whose purpose is to call on the African diaspora to return to their countries of origin, mostly Ghana, to invest and be part of the country’s growth both economically and culturally. This movement has had a significant impact on the festival which has brought hundreds of thousands of tourists, mostly part of the diaspora from other countries, to congregate in the streets of Takoradi and celebrate the festival.

 

Where is the Takoradi Street Carnival

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TheTakoradi Street Carnivals are held in the town Sekondi-Takoradi in Ghana. The carnivals are held near theTakoradi Market in the town of Amanful.

 

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How the Takoradi Street Carnival is celebrated

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TThe Takoradi Street Carnival is celebrated throughmusic and dance. People celebrate among the streets of the city, dancing to the rhythm of the music and dressed in costumes and colorful costumes. The entire population approaches the streets, while other residents watch from their windows a magnificent colorful show..

If you want to know more about tourism in this country I recommend this guide:.

 

Tips for going to the Takoradi Street Carnival

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If you wish to visit and be part of the carnivals held on Takoradi Street, we recommend planning your trip in advance so that you can secure your travel itinerary and accommodation. Remember also to follow the instructions of different indoles provided by the competent institutions of Ghana and your country of origin.

 

 

Events at Takoradi Street Carnival

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Takoradi Street Carnival focuses on the crowded participation of the different groups that participate in the streets. These groups dance to the rhythm of different musical genres, wearing impressive masks, some of them a bit disturbing. However, some groups also take advantage of the occasion to wear costumes and disguises commemorating traditional carnivals. Some people wear the typical clown costume, while others wear more elaborate costumes or disguises.

 

 

During the carnival you can observe thedifferent groups that celebrate in the streets, some of the groups that participate are usually groups formed in the same city, while others come from other regions of the country or even from other continents. Some of these groups are Ankos, Cosmos, Unity, Iron Fighters and other local groups. In addition, the Takoradi Carnival also has the participation of groups from Canada, China, United States, among others.

 

 

Takoradi Street Carnival Parades

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During the celebrations, the various groups consisting of men, women and children accompany the musical band while performing various dances, both urban and traditional. Participants wear colorful costumes, many of these combine colors such as red, yellow, green, black and violet. These parades are led by a sea of people, who are admired by people in adjacent buildings and houses.

 

Parade route

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The parade route revolving around the main street. People congregate on the street near the Takoradi Market in the town of Amanful where the different groups dance and party.

 

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What to eat at the Takoradi Street Carnival

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During the carnival you can find different typical dishes of the region and the country, some of these are the Fufu with goat which consists of goat meat stewed with fufu, a dough of cassava or sweet potatoes wounded and then processed into a paste of firm consistency. You can also find fried fish with kenkey, a kind of dumpling traditional to the area and part of the African continent.

If you want to explore the different locales the city has to offer, you can eat at Captain Hook’s, Gilou Bar & Restaurant or Eat Alley Eatery, which offer a wide variety of national and international dishes.

 

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Travel Insurance

 

From Carnavalesdelmundo.org we recommend to hire a good insurance to visit this carnival and to know the rest of the country. For being our readers we offer a 5% discount on all IATI insurances. Read more information about all insurance offers here:

 

 

What to see and do inside the Takoradi Street Carnival

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During the carnivals you canwatch the different national and international groups that participate in the carnivals wearing costumes, disguises and masks. In addition, you can also enjoy the ambient music played by the bands that are part of the parade. You can alsoattend the food fairs that are located at different points along the street to learn a little more about the gastronomy of Ghana..

If you don’t want to complicate things, here you can book interesting tours in Spanish in this city:.

 

What to see and do outside the Takoradi Street Carnival

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The town of Takoradi is not very touristy, as it basically functions as a stationary town, however, it has some tourist spots that you can visit if you decide to spend your carnivals in the town.

 

Fort Orange

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It was built as a commercial port in 1642. It was renovated and underwent an extension during the year 1690. Today it functions as a lighthouse.

 

Bisa Aberwa Museum

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It is a museum whose purpose is to represent different figures of wood, cement and clay, as well as the presentation of paintings and photographs of the different iconic characters of Africa. It has in its belonging around 2,200 artifacts and sculptures.

 

Beaches

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Throughout the town you can find different beaches where you can stroll or spend the afternoon. They are beaches with clear waters where you can bring food and celebrate eating some snacks.

Also if you want to visit museums and important buildings in this city we recommend that you book your ticket in advance through Tiquets: .

 

Safety at Takoradi Street Carnival

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Visiting Takoradi Street as well as the city is relatively safe during carnivals. However, some countries consider visiting Ghana as comprising a considerable risk. If you wish to visit the locality, we suggest you contact the different institutions that are in charge of security in your country and in Ghana.

Also, pay attention to your surroundings and keep a constant eye on your belongings to avoid any kind of theft or misplacement. Also, we recommend the following products to keep your belongings safe:

 

 

 

Weather at Takoradi Street Carnival

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The weather in Takoradi locality is quite friendly. During the carnival season held in December, the average temperature in the city is 30 degrees Celsius. If you wish to visit the city during this time of the year, be sure to take the necessary precautions for this kind of weather and temperature.

 

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How to get to Takoradi Street Carnival

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How to get there by plane

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The closest airport to Takoradi is Takoradi Airport 2.5 kilometers from where the carnivals are held, making it a fairly accessible location and easy to reach via different means. You can locate the different means of transportation at the airport that can take you to the street where the carnival festivities are usually held.

We recommend buying airline tickets through Kiwi.com or Skyscanner where they are usually cheaper. More information on this link to review Kiwi.com..

 

How to get there by car

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The only way to access the Takoradi Street Carnival is to get from the airport by car, using a cab or private car. The access road to the town is the main road and it will take you about 15 minutes to get to the street where the carnival takes place. If you decide to take a cab, taxi fares can be around $1 to $2 per ride.

 

Where to stay at Takoradi Street Carnival

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Booking.com

 

Best Western Plus Atlantic Hotel

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4-star hotel located 700 meters from the city center. It has an open concept swimming pool, also has a gym, bar and free internet. All rooms have flat screen TV with cable satellite service, bathtubs, private bathroom and toiletries. Also all rooms are equipped with air conditioning and the facilities include a meeting room where you can attend if you must attend to business matters during your vacation.

 

Protea Hotel by Marriott Takoradi Select

4 star hotel located 2.2 km from the city center. Facilities offer a restaurant, open concept swimming pool and different terraces. The hotel also offers airport transfers and free internet throughout the facilities. Buffet-style breakfasts are offered daily.

 

Stellar Lodge

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2-star hotel located 500 meters from the city center. Facilities feature a relaxing open concept swimming pool. All rooms have air conditioning, private bathroom with shower and satellite TV. Facilities include a restaurant and bar serving regional and international cuisine. The hotel has a fully equipped gym and offers airport transfers.

We recommend you use Booking.com to book hotels at a good price, check more information here:.

 

Thank you for reading

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