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After more than fifty editions delving into the worldwide Black diaspora, this marks a concluding column. The experience proved deeply gratifying, with great thanks offered to every one of the dedicated readers.

Inside the Accra Festival

Attending the exhibitions, presentations and performances of the festival, it becomes clear how the finest art feeds and builds a nation's past and essence. The centrepiece was without doubt Clottey's exquisite a profound exploration of ritual and time, which displayed his innovative afrogallonism for all to see: a concept that converts plastic containers into captivating creations, tapestries of golden hues. The show was created as a tribute to the endurance of this area, a historic area of Accra.

Jamestown – largely home to the Ga ethnic group, a community of fishermen – is also where a great number of formerly enslaved people came back from Brazil and made their home in the 19th century. Called the Tabom people, they introduced Portuguese language and culture.

In every part of Jamestown, visitors encounter a blend of building designs. You'll find Fort Vicentia, featuring its unique European-style construction and curved entrances. One can also see the iconic Jamestown Lighthouse, constructed in the 1800s and later featuring its recognizable banded appearance.

Traditions of Mourning

Equally striking about Jamestown is the pervasive presence of funeral posters. Everywhere you turn, whether covering walls or on larger billboards, there are funeral details and terms of farewell. In Jamestown, similar to the rest of Ghana, funerals are major communal events.

In this breathtaking exhibition, every aspect of the sensory and spiritual landscape of Jamestown are evoked – notably in the enveloping Jamestown nshonaa piece. Within it, visitors are calmed by the recording of the sea with granules on the floor, while beach huts, draped nets and depictions of vessels honour its dynamic, long-standing seafaring tradition. However experiencing this exhibition space, the mind turns to the piles of cast-off garments that threaten the aesthetics and peace of the area.

Beyond the Headline Act

The festival program included much more. Housed in an raw space at the local university, creator Sylvester exhibited a deeply moving minimalist collection, an incredibly moving, stripped-back show that featured sculptures and paintings made in partnership with artisans.

And then there is the prestigious art award for female Ghanaian artists. It featured the debut presentation of a recent winner, whose work draws on familial archival records to create a artistic representation of life in post-independence Ghana. The event also announced a new champion, whose varied work is deeply invested in the craft techniques of women in Dabala.

An Enduring Presence

Although the global African community has grown been attracted back to Ghana in the colder season, more and more are considering visiting for the cultural season to immerse themselves in the region’s festival period. Between Accra Cultural Week and other major events, what is evident are creative communities that are not merely new or “rising” but have forged an entire world that is permanent.

Ultimately, the visit provides a perception of Accra that resembles a manifesto for ecological stewardship and the preservation of heritage. It is a resonant homage to adaptability in all its expressions.