Pilolo Festival launched at Osu

The Pilolo Festival has been launched to serve as a form of re-enacment of slavery in Accra at Osu.

The three-day event created by a team of citizens of Osu aims at bringing focused minds to celebrate the rich history birth in Osu and assist Diasporaians embrace and develop their cultural identity. The tag line of the festival is “our root, our pride”.

The Pilolo Festival also aims at showcasing European Heritage in Osu which is shown based on a myriad of European last names as well as Mullato families that is very prominent in Osu e.g. Ingman, Reindolf, Randolph, Bryant, Malm, Steiner, Berguson, etc. The three day event is also bent on educating the public about one of the overlooked areas of the transatlantic slave trade which is at the Christiansborg Castle in Osu.

Speaking to the founder of Pilolo, Mr. Abraham Victor Steiner, he said, “The Pilolo Festival aims to educate our children about the rich cultural heritage of Osu and the African Diaspora, to help reunite the people of Osu to the Diaspora to help them to embrace their cultural identity and foster ways to empower themselves.”

Mr. Steiner added that, “This festival is an attempt to boost Tourism in Osu and to bring to light that Osu doesn’t end on Oxford street with just restaurants night clubs and bars instead Osu has a rich history and culture as well as world Heritage Homes that will be of interest to Tourist.

The Jirano-Mantse of Osu Alata, Nii Adams Sawse II asserted that the conception that most Diasporaians have been neglected when it comes to chieftaincy is wrong. He added that, "when you take a good look at Osu Alata we don't discriminate, we had a King by name Taylor, he was from abroad but we made him King, our present King is Wellington, so I encourage our fellow brothers not to feel neglected."

The launch was preceded with a tour to the Osu Castle to help Diasporians trace their historical roots. The team also held a concert night on Friday to celebrate Marcus Garvey at Osu night market on Friday night.