From Kantamanto to the wider world of fashion and culture, Obroni Wawu October (OWO) Festival celebrates five years of spotlighting the people and creativity transforming secondhand clothing in Ghana. If you’ve ever thrifted a statement piece, transformed an old outfit, or proudly answered “Kanta!” when someone asked where you got your fit, then you’re already part of the culture OWO Festival celebrates. On Sunday, 25 October 2026, from 12 PM to 8 PM, Untamed Empire in Accra will come alive for OWO 2026 – THE UPCYCLING BAZAAR, bringing together fashion, music, shopping, art and street culture for a vibrant celebration of style and self-expression.
At the heart of OWO is Kantamanto Market, one of the world’s largest secondhand clothing markets and a cultural powerhouse that has shaped how generations of Ghanaians dress and express themselves. Every week, millions of garments pass through the hands of traders, tailors, repairers, and upcyclers who give clothing another life while supporting thousands of livelihoods. Inspired by this remarkable ecosystem, The Or Foundation, a Ghana-based non-profit working in solidarity with the Kantamanto community to advance a justice-led circular economy, launched OWO Festival in 2022. Named after the popular Ghanaian expression Obroni Wawu, associated with secondhand clothing, the festival celebrates the people behind Ghana’s thriving reuse economy while challenging perceptions of secondhand fashion. Since its inception, OWO has welcomed over 10,000 visitors, created market opportunities for 155 upcycling businesses and delivered 40 community activations, growing from a community celebration into a cultural platform connecting fashion, entrepreneurship and environmental action. This year’s theme, THE UPCYCLING BAZAAR, puts Ghana’s growing upcycling ecosystem in the spotlight. Think of it as a marketplace meets fashion festival meets cultural playground, where visitors can shop unique thrifted and reworked fashion, discover emerging brands, and experience bold collections on the upcycled fashion runway, featuring designers from the OWO Remanufacturing Training Program and Untamed Empire Creative Collective. Beyond the runway and marketplace, expect live music, performances, creative experiences, and the much-loved OWO Drip Contest, where festivalgoers can show off their best thrifted, pre-loved, and upcycled looks and stand a chance of winning cash prizes.
Whether you’re coming to shop, discover new talent or simply enjoy a great day out with friends, there’s something for everyone. And who knows? Your next favourite outfit might already exist. It just needs you to find it. Beyond the excitement, OWO highlights the creativity, skills and economic opportunities within Ghana’s secondhand clothing industry. By connecting designers and entrepreneurs with new audiences and customers, the festival demonstrates how reuse and upcycling can drive innovation, create livelihoods and inspire a different future for fashion. The celebrations extend throughout October, with community events, Kayayei Night, beach cleanups, a health walk and other activities bringing people together across Accra. The festivities continue with the OWO Day Pre-Party at Shuko, in collaboration with CULTPOP Worldwide, on Thursday, 22 October, ahead of the festival’s grand finale. Presented in collaboration with Untamed Empire, OWO Day 2026 is aiming to welcome 4,000 festivalgoers for its fifth-anniversary edition. You don’t need to be a fashion expert or sustainability enthusiast to enjoy OWO. Come for the fashion, music, shopping, and culture. Bring your friends, your energy, and your best fit! The dress code? UPCYCLED. THRIFTED. PRE-LOVED. Because at OWO, great style is about what you do with what you have. Follow @obroniwawuoctober on social media for festival updates and announcements. OWO IS FIVE. THE CULTURE IS ALIVE. SEE YOU AT THE BAZAAR!
OWO Festival is an initiative of The Or Foundation, organised in solidarity with the Kantamanto community. The 2026 edition is presented in collaboration with Untamed Empire.