Every year on 16th October, the world pauses to mark World Food Day, a day set aside by the United Nations to reflect on hunger, food security, and the systems that sustain us. For us at Duduhgu, this day has always been deeply personal. Since 2020, we have marked it in our own way — by cooking indigenous meals and sharing them freely with children, families, and people in need within our community.

From this humble beginning grew a bigger vision: Kali Bindira Chuɣu, the Traditional Food Festival. It is a celebration of our food, our seeds, and our heritage. More than just a feast, it is a call to remember who we are through what we eat.

This year, the festival returns under the theme: “Reclaiming Our Food, Restoring Our Identity.”

Kali Bindira Chuɣu is more than a food festival — it is a living reminder that food is not just what we eat. Food carries our history, our culture, and the wisdom of our ancestors. It is both nourishment and identity.

At the heart of this festival is the celebration of indigenous seeds, farming practices, and traditional knowledge. We believe that every grain of millet, every yam, every leaf, and every seed tells a story of resilience — a story that connects us to the land, to our forebears, and to each other.

Food is power. It can be used to sustain communities, but also to control them. By reclaiming our indigenous foods and protecting the knowledge around them, we affirm our sovereignty and safeguard our future.

Kali Bindira Chuɣu brings together farmers, cooks, artists, youth, elders, and change-makers to share, learn, and celebrate this vision of food as heritage, as identity, and as freedom.

What’s New This Year (2025 Edition)

The 2025 edition of Kali Bindira Chuɣu unfolds over two days in Tamale, bringing together knowledge, food, and cultural expression.

The first day is dedicated to the Symposium, where speakers and panelists will explore themes around food sovereignty, indigenous seeds, nutrition, and sustainability. The second day crowns the celebration with the Durbar and Feast, a gathering of communities around food, culture, and heritage.

This year introduces murals and street art, where artists will interpret powerful themes such as food sovereignty, seed saving, food as a weapon of control, and the preservation of indigenous knowledge. These works will remain as lasting symbols of our collective struggle and pride.

The festival grounds will also be filled with music and dance performances from traditional cultural groups, reminding us that food and rhythm are inseparable in the spirit of celebration.

What to Expect Each Day

Day 1 – Symposium (17 October 2025)
The opening day focuses on deep conversations and knowledge sharing. Keynote speakers and panelists from diverse fields—food science, indigenous seed systems, sustainable farming, and agribusiness—will present insights tailored to the festival theme “Reclaiming Our Food, Restoring Our Identity.”
Participants will engage in:

  • Keynote talks on food sovereignty, nutrition, and indigenous foods
  • A panel discussion on the future of seeds, climate change, and food systems
  • Interactive dialogue with farmers, chefs, researchers, and innovators
  • Networking sessions that bridge traditional wisdom and modern science

Day 2 – Durbar & Festival (18 October 2025)
The second day is a vibrant cultural and communal feast, bringing together food, art, and celebration. Highlights include:

  • Traditional meals prepared and shared with children and the community
  • An exhibition of indigenous seeds, crops, and rare food varieties
  • A farmers’ market and vendors showcasing only indigenous foods and products
  • Street art and mural workshops exploring food, identity, and sovereignty
  • Traditional Northern music and dance performances throughout the day

This two-day journey blends reflection and celebration, knowledge and performance—anchoring food as both sustenance and identity.

Why Partnerships Matter

Kali Bindira Chuɣu thrives because it is a collective effort. This year, we are honored to walk alongside partners who share our vision of reclaiming food, protecting seeds, and celebrating culture. Our collaborators include CSIR-SARI, RAINS, URBANET, Dagbon Media Foundation, Amaati Company Limited, Ghana Food Movement, e-Brain Solutions, and our committed media partners—Eco-Enviro News Africa magazine, Alisco Media Hub, Sagani TV, and Neesim TV.

Their support strengthens every part of the festival, from amplifying indigenous knowledge to making sure our stories reach the wider world.

Yet, this work is bigger than any single organization. The future of food sovereignty, seed preservation, and cultural heritage depends on more hands joining the movement. We remain open to welcoming more collaborators—institutions, businesses, creatives, and individuals—who are passionate about shaping a food system that is just, sustainable, and rooted in identity.

Social Impact of Kali Bindira Chuɣu

At its heart, Kali Bindira Chuɣu is more than a festival. It is a movement of care, memory, and hope. Each year, we prepare and share traditional meals with street children, reminding us that food is a right, not a privilege. By showcasing indigenous seeds and rare crops, we keep alive the wisdom of our ancestors while encouraging farmers and youth to value what is truly ours.

The festival also sparks conversations that matter—about seed sovereignty, climate change, and the role of food in shaping healthier communities. For young people, it is a living classroom where culture, science, and creativity meet. For farmers, it is a platform that affirms their knowledge and their place at the center of the food system.

Join Us – Be Part of the Festival

Kali Bindira Chuɣu 2025 invites everyone—farmers, chefs, students, researchers, creatives, and families—to gather, learn, and celebrate together. By attending, you not only experience the richness of Dagbon’s food heritage but also become part of a growing community reclaiming food as identity and power.

We also welcome volunteers, sponsors, and partners who want to make a lasting impact. Your presence, your voice, and your support help us build a stronger movement where indigenous knowledge and modern science walk hand in hand.

Come, taste, learn, and celebrate with us on 17–18 October 2025 in Tamale. Together, we reclaim our food and restore our identity.