Real Housewives of Beverly Hills star and marketing executive Bozoma “Boz” Saint John arrived in Ghana last month ahead of her traditional wedding to Keely Watson, bringing with her family, friends and several of her RHOBH castmates for what became one of the most talked-about weddings Ghana has seen this year. I was one of the guests at the wedding celebration and I must say it was one of the most beautifully decorated I’ve seen. All the details had one focus; putting Ghana in the spotlight.

The couple held their traditional Ghanaian marriage ceremony on Friday, August 21, at the Accra residence of Ghana’s former President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo. Approximately 250 guests witnessed the traditional ceremony, while the larger reception celebration brought together nearly 1,000 guests.

Several of Bozoma’s Real Housewives of Beverly Hills castmates travelled to Ghana for the celebrations, including Kyle Richards, Kathy Hilton, Dorit Kemsley, Sutton Stracke and Jennifer Tilly. The festivities were also filmed as part of the upcoming season of the show, giving an international television audience an opportunity to see Ghanaian culture displayed on a major platform.

Kente Was the Theme

If there was one visual that defined this wedding, it was Kente.

Guests were asked to wear Kente in whatever style they desired, and the result was spectacular. From traditional draping to contemporary gowns, suits and creative interpretations, everyone seemed to find their own way of celebrating one of Ghana’s most recognizable textiles.

The theme began even before guests arrived in Ghana. The wedding invitations incorporated Kente-inspired elements, setting the tone for what was to come.

And Kente was not limited to the clothing.

Throughout the venue, the décor incorporated details celebrating Ghanaian culture. Large illuminated Adinkra symbols created a dramatic backdrop, while Kente details appeared on lampshades and throughout the design of the space. These seemingly small touches helped create an environment where Ghanaian culture was at the centre of it.

A Star-Studded Celebration

There was certainly no shortage of celebrity sightings.

Nigerian music star Tiwa Savage was one of the standout guests, dressed in a striking Kente gown by fashion brand of the late Ghanaian designer Sadia Sanusi. She later had guests cheering as she danced when her own music came on during the reception.

Other familiar faces included actor and model Yaya DaCosta, former NFL player and media personality Emmanuel Acho, Ghanaian actors Majid Michel and Joselyn Dumas, along with many other personalities from Ghana and abroad.

The music also brought together some of Ghana’s biggest contemporary artists. KiDi, Efya and Gyakie performed during the celebration, adding another distinctly Ghanaian element to the night.

Why the Wedding Was Held at the Former President’s Home

One of the more personal details surrounding the ceremony was the role played by former President Nana Akufo-Addo.

Bozoma has explained that the two have been friends for about a decade. Her father was unable to travel to Ghana because of health challenges, and because the father of the bride traditionally plays an important role in the Ghanaian marriage ceremony, the former president stepped in to represent her father.

The traditional ceremony, dinner and reception were all held on the grounds of his residence.

It added another layer of meaning to a wedding already deeply rooted in family, friendship and Ghanaian tradition.

The Cultural Significance of Kente

For those unfamiliar with Kente, it is much more than colourful fabric.

Kente has deep weaving traditions in Ghana, particularly within communities in the Ashanti and Volta Regions, and is associated especially with Asante and Ewe weaving traditions. It has long been worn for important occasions including traditional ceremonies, festivals, weddings, royal events and other celebrations.

The cloth is woven by hand in narrow strips that are joined together, creating the bold colours and intricate patterns for which Kente is known. Many designs and patterns carry names, meanings, proverbs and stories, making the textile a form of cultural expression and communication.

In 2024, the craftsmanship of traditional woven Kente was inscribed by UNESCO on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, an important international recognition of the knowledge, skill and cultural history involved in its production.

That made seeing hundreds of people gathered together wearing Kente in so many different ways particularly powerful.

Ghana on an International Stage

What stood out to me about this wedding was not simply its size or the number of celebrities in attendance.

It was the way Ghanaian culture took centre stage. From the Kente to the Adinkra symbols, the music, traditional ceremony, food and the overall atmosphere was all Ghana. 

 Seeing how people are responding to it after the ceremony has been such a wonderful thing to witness. The comments are positive and it’s inspired people. 

I predict this will open the doors for people to have their own wedding include culture at the centre.  Ghanaians have been doing this a long time, but I believe the diaspora will soon consider Ghana for destination weddings where they can also embrace the culture. 

And with The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills cameras documenting the experience, millions of people who may never have witnessed a Ghanaian traditional marriage ceremony will potentially get a glimpse of the richness, colour and beauty of the culture.

I was fortunate to attend the celebration myself, and beyond everything people will see in the photographs and videos, I had a wonderful time. I saw so many people I knew but hadn’t seen in a long time, reconnected with old friends and watched people from different parts of the world come together to celebrate Bozoma and Keely.

Yes, it was a glamorous celebrity wedding.

But for Ghana, it was also a cultural moment.

And when hundreds of people stood together wearing Kente each person styling it in their own way the visual alone told a story about Ghana that deserves to be seen around the world.

Watch my video recap on Youtube: