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After in excess of fifty installments delving into the global Black diaspora, this represents a last dispatch. The experience has been profoundly rewarding, and great gratitude extended to every one of the attentive readers.

A Look Inside the Accra Festival

Attending the showcases, artworks and performances of the festival, one sees how exceptional art nourishes and constructs a nation's heritage and identity. The focal point was undoubtedly Serge Attukwei Clottey’s remarkable a profound exploration of ritual and time, which displayed his pioneering afrogallonism for all to see: a concept that reimagines water vessels into illusory works of art, mosaics of yellow, brass and gold. The exhibition was designed as a testament to the strength of Jamestown, a historical area of Accra.

This area – largely home to the Ga community, a community of fishermen – is additionally where a great number of formerly enslaved people came back from South America and made their home in the 19th century. Known as the Tabom people, they introduced Portuguese language and traditions.

All across Jamestown, one observes a fusion of building designs. Standing is Franklin House, featuring its unique colonial-era construction and door arches. Another landmark is the famous Jamestown Lighthouse, constructed in the 1871 and subsequently given its recognizable red-and-white-striped facade.

A Culture of Mourning

Furthermore striking about Jamestown is the ubiquitous sight of memorial notices. On every corner, whether affixed to walls or on sizable hoardings, you’ll see service information and terms of loss. In Jamestown, similar to the rest of Ghana, final rites are major social gatherings.

In the artist's spectacular installation, every aspect of the sights, sounds and religious textures of Jamestown are present – especially in the engaging shoreline work. Within it, one is relaxed by the recording of the sea with sand at your feet, while beach huts, draped nets and representations of boats celebrate its dynamic, multigenerational maritime community. Yet being present in this venue, it's hard to ignore the mountains of textile waste that compromise the beauty and peace of the area.

Beyond the Headline Act

There is additional highlights. Housed in an raw space at the campus, creator Sylvester exhibited a deeply moving minimalist collection, an emotionally powerful, austere presentation that featured three-dimensional works and artworks created in collaboration with metalworkers.

And then there is the prestigious art award for Ghanaian women creators. It showcased the inaugural exhibition of a recent recipient, whose work draws on historical documents to create a depiction of life in the nation's recent history. The event also crowned a new champion, whose varied work is deeply invested in the craft techniques of women in the Volta region.

A Lasting Presence

Although the global African community has increasingly been attracted back to the region in the winter months, a growing cohort are considering journeying earlier in the year to immerse themselves in the area's artistic calendar. From Accra Cultural Week and similar gatherings, what you’ll find are creative communities that are not merely emerging or “rising” but have established an entire landscape that is permanent.

In the end, the visit leaves one with a perception of Accra that serves as a manifesto for ecological stewardship and the keeping alive of tradition. It is a resonant homage to adaptability in all its forms.