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Following more than 50 editions navigating the international Black diaspora, this represents a concluding column. The journey was deeply rewarding, and immense gratitude offered to every one of the attentive followers.

Exploring the Cultural Week

Visiting the exhibitions, installations and performances of this event, one sees how the finest art nourishes and constructs a country’s past and essence. The focal point was undoubtedly Clottey's stunning [Dis]Appearing Rituals: An Open Lab of Now for Tomorrow, which displayed his pioneering afrogallonism on full display: a concept that reimagines yellow jerrycans into mesmerizing works of art, tapestries of yellow, brass and gold. The display was designed as a testament to the resilience of this area, a historical area of Accra.

Jamestown – predominantly populated by the Ga community, a seafaring people – is also where numerous returning Africans returned from South America and established themselves in the 1830s. Called the Tabom community, they carried with them Portuguese tongue and culture.

In every part of Jamestown, you can see a mix of architecture. You'll find Franklin House, boasting its unique colonial-era construction and curved entrances. One can also see the famous beacon, built in the 1871 and later sporting its signature banded appearance.

Customs of Mourning

Furthermore remarkable about Jamestown is the ever-present sight of obituary announcements. On every corner, whether affixed to walls or on larger billboards, you’ll see announcements and phrases of loss. In Jamestown, mirroring customs in Ghana, final rites are large-scale community celebrations.

In this impressive exhibition, every aspect of the sensory and spiritual landscape of Jamestown are captured – particularly in the immersive Jamestown nshonaa piece. In this space, one is relaxed by the audio of crashing waves with granules on the floor, while shacks, draped nets and representations of boats honour its vibrant, multigenerational fishing community. Yet standing in this gallery, it's hard to ignore the mountains of cast-off garments that mar the beauty and serenity of the shoreline.

Apart from the Main Event

Accra Cultural Week also features additional highlights. Within an raw space at the local university, artist Sylvester presented On the Other Side of Languish, an emotionally powerful, austere show that displayed sculptures and artworks made in collaboration with artisans.

And then there is the Yaa Asantewaa Art prize for women artists of Ghanaian origin. It showcased the first solo show of a recent laureate, whose work references personal family archives to craft a depiction of life in the nation's recent history. The event also honored a new champion, whose multidisciplinary work is intensely invested in the weaving practices of women in Dabala.

A Lasting Legacy

While the diaspora has more and more been attracted back to Ghana during the western winter, an increasing number are thinking about travelling some months earlier to immerse themselves in the region’s cultural season. From this festival and other major events, what you’ll find are art scenes that are not simply emerging or “rising” but have built up an whole universe that is permanent.

Ultimately, the experience offers a perception of Accra that serves as a statement for environmental protection and the preservation of culture. It is a resonant tribute to adaptability in all its forms.