Gbese Council Names Naomi Borley Alabi Curator Of Oobakɛ Experience For Newark Homowo 2026

The Gbese Traditional Council has appointed Ms Naomi Borley Alabi as Curator of the Oobakɛ Experience for the Second Homowo Festival and Business Summit in Newark, New Jersey, in the United States.

The festival takes place from 16 to 18 October 2026.

A letter dated 10 August 2026 and signed by His Royal Highness Nii Armah Okpah II, Acting Gbese Mantse and Adonten of the Ga State, conveyed the appointment on behalf of the Council and the festival organisers.

The letter said the appointment recognised Ms Alabi's work as a lawyer and advocate for the promotion, preservation and contemporary expression of Ga culture, heritage and traditional practices, especially among young people and Generation Z.

It added the Council had taken note of her recent conceptualisation and organisation of the Oobakɛ Experience, which presented Ga culture in a contemporary and youth-oriented format while keeping respect for its traditional foundations.

As Curator, Ms Alabi will provide creative and curatorial direction for the Oobakɛ Experience at the Newark Homowo Festival.

She will work with the Acting Gbese Mantse, the Gbese Traditional Council, the Festival Organising Committee and partners in Ghana and the United States to develop a programme.

The programme will showcase Ga culture, traditions, history, arts, music, food, fashion and identity.

It will also create an immersive cultural experience for participants, engage the Ghanaian and African diaspora with a focus on young people, blend traditional Ga expressions with contemporary creative presentations, and project the dignity, values and heritage of the Ga people on the international stage.

The Council authorised her to liaise with the Festival Organising Committee and with cultural, creative, technical and production partners, subject to the guidance and approval of the Gbese Traditional Council.

Her physical presence in Newark is required for the three festival days, together with preparatory and travel days.

The letter described the role as voluntary and non-remunerated, issued in her personal capacity.

It stated the appointment stands independent of her official duties at the Ghana Tourism Development Company Limited and involves no GTDC funds, personnel, assets or other institutional resources.

Nii Armah Okpah II expressed confidence in her creativity, cultural understanding and commitment to Ga heritage, and said her work would help make the Oobakɛ Experience a signature feature of the 2026 Homowo Festival.

A copy of the letter went to Rev. Eric Nartey, Director of Protocol and International Relations at the Gbese Mantse Palace.