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In the wake of in excess of fifty issues navigating the international Black diaspora, this marks a final dispatch. The experience was deeply fulfilling, with sincere appreciation directed to all the engaged audience.

Exploring Accra Cultural Week

Experiencing the showcases, presentations and acts of Accra Cultural Week, observers witness how superior art nourishes and constructs a country’s past and character. The focal point was without doubt the artist's stunning [Dis]Appearing Rituals: An Open Lab of Now for Tomorrow, which displayed his groundbreaking afrogallonism for all to see: a concept that transforms plastic containers into captivating creations, mosaics of metallic tones. The show was designed as a testament to the strength of this area, a historical neighbourhood of Accra.

This area – largely home to the Ga people, a fishing community – is furthermore where a great number of returning Africans arrived from South America and made their home in the 1830s. Known as the Tabom community, they brought Portuguese language and customs.

In every part of Jamestown, one observes a blend of architecture. You'll find Franklin House, with its distinct European-style masonry and curved entrances. Another landmark is the iconic Jamestown Lighthouse, erected in the 1800s and subsequently sporting its distinctive red-and-white-striped appearance.

Customs of Remembrance

Furthermore striking about Jamestown is the ever-present presence of memorial notices. Everywhere you turn, whether plastered over alleyways or on sizable signboards, one finds service information and phrases of farewell. In Jamestown, similar to the rest of Ghana, funerals are large-scale communal events.

In Clottey’s spectacular show, the entirety of the visual and auditory essence of Jamestown are evoked – especially in the immersive shoreline installation. Within it, visitors are calmed by the recording of crashing waves with sand at your feet, while beach huts, hanging fishing nets and representations of vessels honour its spirited, generational seafaring tradition. However experiencing this gallery, one cannot help but think of the piles of textile waste that threaten the beauty and serenity of the shoreline.

Apart from the Centrepiece

The festival program included additional highlights. Within an raw space at the University of Ghana, creator Sylvester showcased a deeply moving minimalist collection, an incredibly moving, minimalist exhibition that featured sculptures and paintings produced in concert with artisans.

And then there is the prestigious art award for Ghanaian women creators. It included the first solo show of a recent laureate, whose work references familial archival records to craft a visual impression of life in the nation's recent history. The event also crowned a latest winner, whose multidisciplinary work is intensely invested in the weaving practices of women in a specific region.

A Permanent Legacy

While the overseas community has increasingly been drawn home to the region during the winter months, more and more are considering visiting for the cultural season to engage with the area's artistic calendar. From Accra Cultural Week and other major events, what emerges are creative communities that are not merely emerging or “upcoming” but have built up an whole universe that is here to stay.

In the end, the experience leaves one with a vision of Accra that serves as a manifesto for environmental protection and the keeping alive of heritage. It is a compelling homage to resilience in all its manifestations.