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Following more than fifty editions exploring the international Black diaspora, this marks a final piece. The tenure was incredibly gratifying, with immense gratitude extended to every one of the attentive readers.

A Look Inside Accra Cultural Week

Attending the exhibitions, presentations and shows of Accra Cultural Week, one sees how superior art nourishes and constructs a nation's heritage and essence. The focal point was without doubt Serge Attukwei Clottey’s stunning a profound exploration of ritual and time, which showcased his pioneering afrogallonism in full view: a philosophy that converts water vessels into captivating creations, tapestries of metallic tones. The exhibition was created as a testament to the strength of this area, a venerable neighbourhood of Accra.

This area – largely home to the Ga ethnic group, a seafaring people – is also where numerous formerly enslaved people came back from Brazil and established themselves in the 19th century. Known as the Tabom people, they brought Portuguese tongue and customs.

Throughout Jamestown, visitors encounter a fusion of architectural styles. You'll find Franklin House, boasting its unique European-style construction and door arches. One can also see the famous beacon, constructed in the 1871 and later sporting its recognizable striped appearance.

A Culture of Celebration

Equally striking about Jamestown is the ubiquitous sight of obituary announcements. Wherever you look, be it affixed to walls or on big billboards, there are funeral details and expressions of farewell. In Jamestown, as throughout Ghana, funerals are significant community celebrations.

In this impressive show, all of the sights, sounds and religious textures of Jamestown are present – particularly in the engaging Jamestown nshonaa work. Within it, you’re soothed by the recording of ocean surf with beach material on the floor, while beach huts, nets and depictions of vessels celebrate its spirited, generational fishing community. Yet standing in this gallery, it's hard to ignore the piles of textile waste that mar the beauty and tranquillity of the region.

Apart from the Centrepiece

The festival program included additional highlights. Inside an raw space at the local university, creator Sylvester presented On the Other Side of Languish, an emotionally powerful, stripped-back exhibition that displayed sculptures and paintings made in partnership with metalworkers.

And then there is the competition for female artists for Ghanaian women creators. It showcased the first solo show of a recent laureate, whose work references historical documents to craft a depiction of life in Ghana after independence. The event also crowned a new champion, whose multidisciplinary work is deeply concerned with the weaving practices of women in a specific region.

A Lasting Legacy

Although the global African community has more and more been attracted back to west Africa in the winter months, more and more are contemplating journeying earlier in the year to engage with the region’s festival period. Between Accra Cultural Week and similar gatherings, what is evident are cultural ecosystems that are not merely new or “rising” but have built up an complete landscape that is enduring.

Finally, the journey offers a vision of Accra that feels like a statement for conservation and the safeguarding of heritage. It is a compelling homage to resilience in all its expressions.