Down at Accra’s Ghud Park, the community platform and brand Free The Youth kicked off the year on a high, throwing a ten-year anniversary event, dubbed the FTYRAVE, with a stacked lineup of performers and MCs, including A$AP Ferg, Maphorisa, and Amaarae, to name just a few. The event was the latest from the collective that has been building a youth-centric community in Ghana since 2013. This time, the group started the year with a day-long rave complete with local sports tournaments and a turnout that only a decade of momentum and consistency could generate.

The collective was founded by Jonathan “Joey Lit” Coffie, Kelly “Kurlz” Sekfafor Foli, and Richard “Kweku Maposh” Ormano on a drive to give Ghana’s youth their own platforms. Over the past decade, FTY has put these values into action across music, fashion and sport, creating spaces for young people to participate on their own terms. Along the way, the collective has worked with Jordan Brand, a long-term partner that has backed their vision through resources and collaboration – all while keeping their footing firmly in the local scene. Here’s what went down.

THE LINEUP BROUGHT THE HEAT 

Down at Ghud Park, the main stage thumped with back-to-back performances from some of Ghana and the diaspora’s most electric acts. Headlined by A$AP Ferg, the lineup included big names like hip-hop duo R2Bees and Amaarae, while local stars including Sarkodie, Joey B, Stonebwoy and King Promise kept the energy moving across the crowd. DJs and MCs also showed up, from Skyla Tylaa to MC El Chapo, keeping the momentum going and the dancefloor packed.

THE COMMUNITY SHOWED UP AND OUT

From the early hours, the event was packed with faces both familiar and new, drawn together by a decade of Free The Youth shaping local culture. From local vendors to partygoers letting loose, the community was out in force. The turnout was a testament to a community that has grown alongside the platform, coming together in one space and carrying the energy forward into the future.

FREE THE YOUTH x JORDAN AJ 1 FRIENDS & FAMILY

Spotted among the sea of feet on the dancefloor was a limited run of Air Jordan 1 x FTY trainers. To mark its decade-long partnership with Free The Youth, 175 pairs were shared among friends and the community – a gesture celebrating the people who’ve been part of the collective’s journey from the start.

MOVEMENT WAS THE THEME

Everybody (and we mean everybody) was moving. While the crowds were busy jumping near the stage, skateboard jams, basketball competitions and constant movement carried the rest of the day. With local players flocking to the park, it felt like the culmination of the connections the platform has built over time – rooted in street culture, sport and youth communities. After all, culture forms best through shared space and motion.

Head to the gallery above to check out more images from the event.