2025 Francophonie Festival in Accra – “Garden of Poets”

The 2025 Francophonie Festival in Ghana drew to a poetic and powerful close over the weekend as the Embassy of Lebanon hosted an enchanting cultural soirée, “The Garden of Poets,” within its lush gardens in Accra.

The evening was a multi-sensory celebration of Francophone identity, fusing poetry, music, visual art and gastronomy in a moment of cultural communion.

Hosted under the auspices of the Lebanese Ambassador to Ghana, His Excellency Maher Kheir — who also serves as President of the Francophone Ambassadors Group — the event gathered renowned poets, diplomats, and cultural leaders from across the Francophone world.

Literary icons from Lebanon, France, Morocco, Canada, Belgium, Togo, Côte d’Ivoire, Senegal, Luxembourg and the Congo were honoured in a tribute to their enduring contribution to French-language literature.

“The Garden of Poets is not merely a celebration. It is an open space for dreams and creativity — a place to honour the power of free expression and beauty. Francophonie is not just a language; it is a cultural and spiritual space that unites people through poetry, thought, and art,” said Ambassador Kheir in his opening remarks.

He also spotlighted Lebanon’s long-standing literary legacy, invoking the names of Gibran Khalil Gibran, Nadia Tuéni, Salah Stétié, and Amin Maalouf as global voices who elevated the French language to poetic eminence. “Lebanon, my homeland, has always been a beacon of civilisation and culture on the shores of the Mediterranean,” he noted.

Ambassador Kheir praised Ghana for its cultural promise and hospitality, stating, “Ghana is a land of emerging Francophone talents — where the seeds of poetic and artistic brilliance are already blooming.”

Representing Ghana’s Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr. Mike Ocquaye-Asebi, the Director for Multilateral Relations, reaffirmed the country’s commitment to the values of the Francophonie.

He applauded the Lebanese Embassy for its leadership in deepening cultural exchange and underscored the significance of Ghana’s full membership in the Organisation Internationale de la Francophonie, which opens pathways for academic, economic and creative collaboration.

The evening paid homage to some of the most influential voices in Francophone literature, with poetic excerpts and portraits displayed in a visual tribute throughout the garden. These included Léopold Sédar Senghor of Senegal, Bernard Dadié of Côte d’Ivoire, Alain Mabanckou of Congo, and Antoine de Saint-Exupéry of France, among others.

As a lasting symbol of the occasion, Ambassador Kheir unveiled a commemorative plaque in the “Garden of Poets,” joined by members of the Francophone Ambassadors Group. The plaque now stands as a permanent marker of solidarity, art, and shared cultural identity.

The night featured operatic performances, expressive dance routines, an immersive art exhibition, and a rich culinary experience spotlighting Lebanese cuisine.