By Diplomacy Journal Lee Kap-soo
The '2024 Sinchon World Youth Festival' was held in Seodaemun-gu, Seoul, from September 27 to 29, 2024, marking the second such event following last year's success. This festival, hosted by Seodaemun-gu Office, provided a valuable opportunity for young people from various countries to come together, experience each other's cultures, and share new experiences.
A notable highlight of this year's event was the participation of the Embassy of Ghana in Korea. The event was planned and organized by Mr. Akwasi Abayie Adomako, Deputy Head of Mission, and Public Relations Officer Miss Han Yuri ( Esi ) of the Embassy of Ghana, ensuring a well-coordinated and impactful presence.
Ghana’s participation in the 2024 Sinchon World Youth Festival was organized in collaboration with the GHANA EXPORT PROMOTION AUTHORITY, which added significant value to the occasion. The GHANA EXPORT PROMOTION AUTHORITY is an organization dedicated to promoting Ghana's diverse products and services globally.
The superfood 'fonio’, produced in Ghana, was showcased at the Embassy’s booth to create awareness about its benefits to the Korean public. Fonio is a gluten-free grain that is rich in nutrients, long cherished not only in Ghana but across West Africa.
It is known for being rich in protein, fiber, vitamins, and minerals, making it an ideal food for maintaining good health. With its easy digestibility and low glycemic index, fonio is emerging as a healthy dietary alternative for modern lifestyles.
At the booth, various dishes made with fonio were showcased, prepared by renowned Korean chefs, including Master Chef Jang Jin-Nyeong, Chef Lee Sang-Min, Kim Seung-Ri, and Kim Mi-So which drew considerable attention. To introduce fonio to Koreans, it was incorporated into familiar dishes like gimbap, Yubu-bap, and Rice balls, as well as traditional desserts such as tteok (Rice cakes) and Yaksik (Sweet rice with jujubes and nuts), adding a fresh twist to these well-known foods. Additionally, fonio was blended into strawberry jam and other spreads, offering a special experience of enhanced nutty flavor and nutrition.
The booth at the Ghana Embassy provided an opportunity for visitors to directly taste a variety of dishes made with fonio, which received an enthusiastic response. Many attendees enjoyed tasting fonio, experiencing its nutritional value, and gaining a deeper understanding of Ghana's traditional food culture. In particular, fonio's similarity to familiar grains made it feel approachable to many Koreans, and its mild, nutty flavor blended well with Korean cuisine, receiving widespread acclaim.
The promotional event also featured participation from Mr. Sam Okyere, a Ghanaian national who hosted the Global Food Contest at the Sinchon World Youth Festival, further enhancing the positive reception. The Embassy thus spent two days actively promoting the benefits of fonio and sharing Ghanaian culture with numerous visitors.
The '2024 Sinchon World Youth Festival' was not just a cultural celebration but also an opportunity to respect and understand the diversity of cultures and food ingredients from around the world. The promotional efforts at the Ghana Embassy booth were particularly successful in this regard. By introducing the superfood fonio, they not only highlighted an aspect of Ghanaian culture to Koreans but also played an important role in fostering cultural exchange between the two nations.
