Vida Adutwumwaa Boateng, a representative of Ghanaian dancehall artiste Stonebwoy, has addressed concerns over the decision to stage this year's BHIM Festival at a smaller venue. In an interview on Hitz FM, she explained that the move should be considered in the context of Stonebwoy's broader plan to bring live entertainment to audiences across Ghana. The BHIM Festival, traditionally held at the Accra Sports Stadium, will this year take place at the University of Ghana Sports Stadium.
The University of Ghana Sports Stadium has a capacity of around 10,000, significantly less than the 40,000-capacity Accra Sports Stadium. Vida argued that the decision to change venues is part of Stonebwoy's Torture Experience initiative, designed to bring live entertainment directly to people in different regions. This initiative aims to reduce the need for fans to travel long distances to Accra to experience Stonebwoy's performances.
The Torture Experience has already visited the Volta Region this year, as part of efforts to extend Stonebwoy's reach beyond the capital. Vida stated that the plan is to take the experience to other regions from next year. By doing so, Stonebwoy's team hopes to change the pattern of fans traveling from across Ghana to attend the BHIM Festival in Accra.
Traditionally, fans from across Ghana, including the Northern Region and Kumasi, often travel to Accra to participate in the BHIM Festival. Vida explained that Stonebwoy's approach is changing this pattern by bringing the experience closer to fans in their respective communities. The December festival in Accra will still be a major celebration.
Vida rejected suggestions that moving to a smaller venue amounts to a step backwards. She emphasized that fans in regions already visited by the Torture Experience could reasonably choose not to travel to Accra for the December event. This is because they would have already enjoyed a Stonebwoy-led entertainment experience in their own region.
The comments come amid debate over the decision to stage this year's BHIM Festival at the University of Ghana Sports Stadium. Some have questioned whether the move to a smaller-capacity venue signals a reduction in the festival's scale. Vida maintained that the regional events should also be considered when assessing the team's overall direction.
Vida's remarks frame the venue change not as a retreat from the BHIM Festival's ambitions, but as part of a wider strategy to broaden access to Stonebwoy's live performances. The Accra event will remain a central fixture on his entertainment calendar, while the Torture Experience initiative continues to bring live entertainment to different regions.
Key points
- Stonebwoy's team changes BHIM Festival venue to University of Ghana Sports Stadium, amid debate over scale.
- The Torture Experience initiative aims to bring live entertainment to different regions, reducing the need for fans to travel to Accra.
- Vida Adutwumwaa Boateng rejects suggestions that the venue change amounts to a step backwards.
