Entertainment
Chale Wote Street Art Festival moves to Black Star Square
Chale wote street art festival
The 13th edition of Chale Wote Street Art Festival will be held at the Black Star Square near the Osu Castle in Accra.
Africa’s most vibrant street art festival opens on Monday, August 21, to Sunday, August 27. This 2023 Chale Wote Street Art Festival is a celebration of over a decade of offering some of the most iconic public art interventions by African artists as well as co-creations with collaborators across the world.
Black Star Square, the adjoining streets and the Osu community will witness artists creating some of the most innovative contemporary works of art in Africa.
All programming throughout the festival week will be held within the Osu municipality.
According to the organisers, the new festival perimeter will feature open-air mural exhibitions by leading Ghanaian and international artists, showcasing work inspired by the rebellion of enslaved Afro-Brazilians in 1835, Salvador Bahia, and their glorious return to present-day Ghana, Togo and Nigeria.
The story is performed as a musical theatre piece called “Memory Movement Freedom” by multiple community-based performance, dance troupes and brass bands.
For their participation this year, Ghanaian art collective AFUABE will create live murals detailing the former Gold Coast’s long history of resistance against colonial invasions.
Other shows will include performance art, graffiti, 4 music stages with 120 musicians and bands, labs, salons, design, photography, processions, street theatre and the SHIKA SHIKA Art Fair that will host independent artists at the Christianborg Castle.
The art fair supports and showcases dynamic presentations and works from intergenerational artists working outside of gallery spaces.
The castle gardens will also host the Chale Wote Film Labs and knowledge-sharing salons from August 22 to 24. The salons will offer hands-on digital art and photography training sessions for visiting creators and the general public.
Screening at the Film Labs are 17 films from Ghana, the Caribbean. Europe and Africa. Visitors can book walking tours to visit historical sites and buildings with fascinating stories within the Osu community. The world-famous Highlife Cafe’ opens at the Black Star Square for the first time alongside the Accra Cookout serving the city’s favourite dishes and obscure delicacies
Award-winning Ghanaian musician, Michael Owusu Addo, affectionately called Sarkodie has described his annual event, Rapperholic concert as bigger than just a music event, highlighting its significant economic impact.
In a post after a successful Rapperholic edition in Kumasi, the rapper noted that the concert stimulates economic activity across Kumasi, Accra and the wider Ghanaian economy.
According to him, this is driven through tourism, hospitality, transportation, food, fashion, media, advertising, employment and the creative supply chain.
“The economic value of this concert extends far beyond ticket sales. It includes visitor spending, revenue for local businesses, temporary jobs created, suppliers paid and the future tourism and commercial opportunities generated by the event,” he stated.
Sarkodie called on government and the private sector to seize the opportunity to build an ecosystem where Ghanaian entertainment generates measurable economic value, supports businesses, creates jobs and attracts visitors.
“Let’s invest in our creative economy. The potential goes far beyond the stage,” he added.
By Edem Mensah-Tsotorme
Multiple award-winning dancehall artiste Emmanuel Andrew Samini popularly known as Samini is set to return to his Dansoman base with the much-anticipated Samini Experience on December 24.
The musician, who has nurtured top talents from the community in the past, says this year’s edition will be held in collaboration with the Dansoman Homecoming Carnival, to make the event bigger.
Speaking to the media at Kegali Hotel during a press launch on Friday, October 16, Samini said activities including a clean-up exercise, health walk, Children’s Day and games will take place from December 18 ahead of the main event.
According to him, the choice of Dansoman is to give back to the community where it all started.
He added that the event was also aimed at nurturing future talents by giving them a platform to showcase their abilities.
He disclosed that some music legends from Dansoman and other big names in the music industry will be on the bill to thrill patrons.
Samini also revealed that the Dansoman Exhibition streets will be blocked to make way for the unforgettable night of music.
He expressed appreciation to the Ablekuma West Municipal Assembly for their collaboration to ensure the success of the programme.
By Edem Mensah-Tsotorme
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