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Following more than fifty issues navigating the worldwide Black diaspora, this signifies a last piece. The experience was profoundly fulfilling, with immense gratitude directed to every one of the attentive readers.

Inside the Accra Festival

Attending the exhibitions, presentations and performances of Accra Cultural Week, it becomes clear how exceptional art nourishes and constructs a country’s heritage and identity. The focal point was certainly the artist's remarkable a profound exploration of ritual and time, which put his innovative afrogallonism for all to see: a concept that converts yellow jerrycans into captivating art pieces, tapestries of golden hues. The show was designed as a testament to the resilience of this area, a venerable quarter of Accra.

The community – mainly inhabited by the Ga community, a seafaring people – is furthermore where numerous freed slaves came back from Brazil and established themselves in the 19th century. Called the Tabom, they carried with them Portuguese tongue and customs.

In every part of Jamestown, one observes a mix of architecture. You'll find Fort Vicentia, with its characteristic European-style construction and curved entrances. Another landmark is the famous beacon, built in the 19th century and later given its recognizable red-and-white-striped appearance.

Customs of Mourning

Equally striking about Jamestown is the pervasive presence of funeral posters. Everywhere you turn, whether plastered over walls or on larger hoardings, there are funeral details and terms of farewell. In Jamestown, as throughout Ghana, funerals are large-scale community celebrations.

In this breathtaking exhibition, every aspect of the sensory and spiritual landscape of Jamestown are evoked – especially in the enveloping shoreline work. In this space, one is relaxed by the recording of the sea with sand at your feet, while shacks, draped nets and representations of vessels celebrate its vibrant, multigenerational fishing community. But experiencing this gallery, it's hard to ignore the piles of textile waste that compromise the aesthetics and tranquillity of the area.

Apart from the Main Event

There is a great deal more. Within an raw space at the University of Ghana, artist Sylvester presented a deeply moving minimalist collection, an emotionally powerful, stripped-back show that displayed sculptures and paintings produced in partnership with metalworkers.

And then there is the competition for female artists for female Ghanaian artists. It featured the first solo show of a prior recipient, whose work utilizes historical documents to produce a visual impression of life in the nation's recent history. The event also crowned a latest winner, whose varied work is particularly concerned with the textile traditions of women in the Volta region.

A Permanent Legacy

Although the overseas community has grown been attracted back to Ghana in the winter months, an increasing number are contemplating travelling some months earlier to experience the region’s artistic calendar. Between this festival and other major events, what emerges are art scenes that are not merely nascent or “upcoming” but have established an whole landscape that is here to stay.

Ultimately, the visit provides a perception of Accra that resembles a statement for ecological stewardship and the keeping alive of heritage. It is a compelling homage to resilience in all its expressions.