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Following more than 50 editions delving into the global Black diaspora, this signifies a concluding piece. The experience has been profoundly fulfilling, and sincere thanks directed to every one of the dedicated readers.

Inside Accra Cultural Week

Visiting the exhibitions, presentations and acts of the festival, it becomes clear how the finest art nourishes and shapes a country’s history and identity. The highlight was without doubt Clottey's exquisite [Dis]Appearing Rituals: An Open Lab of Now for Tomorrow, which showcased his pioneering afrogallonism for all to see: a concept that transforms water vessels into captivating works of art, mosaics of yellow, brass and gold. The show was conceived as a tribute to the endurance of this area, a historical neighbourhood of Accra.

Jamestown – largely populated by the Ga people, a seafaring people – is furthermore where a great number of formerly enslaved people came back from Brazil and made their home in the 19th century. Referred to as the Tabom people, they carried with them Brazilian language and traditions.

In every part of Jamestown, one observes a blend of building designs. You'll find Fort Vicentia, with its distinct colonial-era masonry and door arches. Another landmark is the iconic lighthouse of Jamestown, erected in the 1800s and later featuring its signature banded appearance.

Customs of Remembrance

Furthermore notable about Jamestown is the ubiquitous sight of memorial notices. Wherever you look, be it plastered over walls or on larger signboards, you’ll see funeral details and expressions of mourning. In Jamestown, similar to the rest of Ghana, final rites are significant communal events.

In the artist's spectacular exhibition, the entirety of the sensory and spiritual landscape of Jamestown are captured – especially in the engaging shoreline piece. In this space, you’re soothed by the audio of crashing waves with granules on the floor, while shelters, draped nets and depictions of canoes pay homage to its dynamic, multigenerational fishing community. But experiencing this gallery, it's hard to ignore the mountains of discarded clothing that compromise the charm and tranquillity of the area.

In Addition to the Main Event

Accra Cultural Week also features additional highlights. Within an incomplete building at the local university, creator Reginald Sylvester II exhibited On the Other Side of Languish, an incredibly moving, stripped-back exhibition that featured sculptures and paintings created in partnership with metalworkers.

Another key element is the Yaa Asantewaa Art prize for female Ghanaian artists. It showcased the inaugural exhibition of a recent recipient, whose work draws on familial archival records to produce a visual impression of life in the nation's recent history. The event also honored a current champion, whose diverse work is intensely focused on the textile traditions of women in Dabala.

An Enduring Presence

While the diaspora has more and more been pulled back to Ghana during the western winter, an increasing number are considering visiting for the cultural season to experience the region’s cultural season. From this festival and similar gatherings, what emerges are creative communities that are not simply emerging or “upcoming” but have built up an entire universe that is here to stay.

Finally, the journey offers a vision of Accra that feels like a manifesto for conservation and the safeguarding of culture. It is a compelling tribute to resilience in all its manifestations.