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In the wake of more than 50 installments delving into the global Black diaspora, this represents a final column. The tenure proved incredibly rewarding, with great thanks directed to every one of the attentive readers.

A Look Inside Accra Cultural Week

Attending the exhibitions, installations and shows of Accra Cultural Week, one sees how the finest art nourishes and builds a country’s heritage and identity. The focal point was undoubtedly Serge Attukwei Clottey’s stunning [Dis]Appearing Rituals: An Open Lab of Now for Tomorrow, which put his groundbreaking afrogallonism for all to see: a philosophy that transforms plastic containers into mesmerizing art pieces, tapestries of yellow, brass and gold. The exhibition was designed as a tribute to the strength of the historic district, a venerable quarter of Accra.

Jamestown – largely populated by the Ga ethnic group, a community of fishermen – is additionally where a great number of returning Africans came back from South America and settled in the 1830s. Known as the Tabom people, they introduced Brazilian tongue and culture.

In every part of Jamestown, you can see a blend of architecture. You'll find Fort Vicentia, boasting its distinct Portuguese masonry and door arches. Another landmark is the famous beacon, erected in the 1871 and later featuring its signature red-and-white-striped exterior.

Traditions of Mourning

Equally remarkable about Jamestown is the ubiquitous sight of funeral posters. Wherever you look, be it affixed to alleyways or on sizable hoardings, one finds service information and phrases of farewell. In Jamestown, mirroring customs in Ghana, funerals are major community celebrations.

In Clottey’s impressive exhibition, the entirety of the sensory and spiritual landscape of Jamestown are captured – particularly in the engaging Jamestown nshonaa piece. Within it, you’re soothed by the audio of crashing waves with granules on the floor, while shacks, nets and images of canoes honour its spirited, generational seafaring tradition. But being present in this gallery, it's hard to ignore the heaps of textile waste that mar the beauty and tranquillity of the shoreline.

Beyond the Headline Act

The festival program included additional highlights. Housed in an unfinished structure at the University of Ghana, artist Sylvester exhibited a deeply moving minimalist collection, an emotionally powerful, austere exhibition that included sculptures and canvases produced in partnership with welders.

Another key element is the prestigious art award for women artists of Ghanaian origin. It included the inaugural exhibition of a prior winner, whose work utilizes familial archival records to produce a visual impression of life in the nation's recent history. The event also announced a new winner, whose diverse work is particularly invested in the weaving practices of women in a specific region.

An Enduring Impact

Although the global African community has more and more been drawn back to Ghana during the winter months, a growing cohort are considering visiting some months earlier to experience the area's cultural season. From Accra Cultural Week and regional art fairs, what you’ll find are cultural ecosystems that are not merely emerging or “upcoming” but have built up an whole universe that is enduring.

Finally, the experience leaves one with a image of Accra that serves as a declaration for ecological stewardship and the preservation of tradition. It is a resonant testament to perseverance in all its expressions.