“We were not made – only to wash dishes launder clothes, mow lawns…”

These words are recited loudly by a girl still in her teens – her passion for women’s rights and more than an uneducated village life is shining through her speech. It is a poem called “Freedom” written by the Ghanaian author Aba Oppong and forms part of a series of workshops by two Danish volunteers from “100% for the Children”.

Moderated by Camilla Olesen and Kristoffer Bressum, who employed their university background in literature to create a project titled ”Poetic Empowerment: Youth in Dialogue”. It aims at establishing an intercultural exchange between Danish and Ghanaian youth through the use of poetry.

The project involves teaching children how to take notice of themselves by writing literature while encouraging them with the fact that they can learn about other cultures by reading foreign poetry.

During the workshops, participants first get to describe themselves by writing letters to Danish students before using their voice to produce poetry. The workshop places maximum emphasis on creativity emphasize, which is often neglected in education.

“Writing and reading poetry may teach them how to think beyond themselves, but also get to know themselves better – indeed, it has the potential to create independence and expand their consciousness” said Olesen.

With Catholic Action for Street Children, Rural Education for Empowerment Programme as partners and support from Civilsamfund I Udvikling in Denmark, the primary goal of the workshops is to give the young boys and girls tools to use their own voices and become empowered to tell their personal stories through poetry.

“Their poems will be distributed in a poetry collection printed by a Danish university press. The assembled collection will be brought back to the partners as an educational material with a purpose of further using poetry and creative writing to continue the empowerment of young and youthful voices”, added Bressum.

“Poetic Empowerment: Youth in Dialogue 2017” is a project that focuses on character building and intercultural communication between Danish and Ghanaian youth.

The aim is to enhance the youngsters’ awareness and understanding of issues regarding gender, identity and equality through seminar-sessions of reading and discussing poems and novels by Ghanaian and West African authors.

It will focus on how poetry can be creatively used to empower individual and collective voices by also carrying out a workshop in creative writing with a specific goal of making the youth produce a selection of personal material.

By John Owoo

(In Accra – Ghana)

A team from the University of Glasgow (Scotland) led by Prof Alison Phipps, Chair in Refugee Integration through Languages and the Arts at the University of Glasgow alongside affiliates from the University of Ghana and the Islamic University of Gaza are currently in Accra for a series of seminars and workshops.

Dubbed “Idioms of Distress, Wellbeing and Resilience”, the researchers, which include Prof Kofi Anyidoho of the University of Ghana (Legon), will examine the way in which people express their distress and develop ways of coping with anguish in many different languages.

They will examine Arabic from the Gaza Strip and the on-going siege, to the languages of refugees and displaced people / ethnic groups in Northern Uganda, young refugees in Scotland, artists as well as people enduring the loss of their cultural heritage in Zimbabwe and elsewhere.

Words, proverbs and phrases have been collected in these different contexts and the common themes and important differences have been analysed. This will help with more accurate diagnosis of the forms of trauma or distress while providing a vital well of support from indigenous knowledge that are readily available.

As well as publishing academic findings the team are also working with Noyam African Dance Institute (Dodowa), under the leadership of Nii Tete Yartey, to explore sounds, music and languages for expression in dance. These dance pieces help reveal a world of assistance and substances beyond that of the medical or clinical setting.

Gameli Tordzro and Naa Densua Tordzro are leading the artistic work, which includes a production focusing on the distress caused by separation of families and people by borders – not only refugees but also for others caught in the web of entanglements which is the experience of visa application and refusal processes.

In addition, the team will present a documentary about their work with Noyam. This includes recording the experiences of young Noyam dancers who recently visited Scotland to perform as headline acts at the annual Solas Festival, as well as the inaugural lecture of the UNESCO Chair at the University of Glasgow.

African Arts has come a long way from its previously ascribed tribal or primitive perceptions. As narratives continue to change, established and emerging artists from across Africa are very conscious of global affairs.

As interests towards African Arts continues to grow, Lucie Chang Fine Arts and Mwimbi Fine Art Gallery will showcase three young artists from Zimbabwe currently at the forefront in contemporary visual practices entitled “Bridges” from Wednesday July 19.

The three emerging artists from Zimbabwe are Tafadzwa Gwetai, Franklyn Dzingai and Anthony Bumhira. The exhibition will show their latest works, which come in the form paintings and screen prints.

The role played by artists is to partake, create dialogue and initiate conversations pertinent in our times. Although, the artworks in this context are specific to a country and region, the exhibition creates a Bridge for opportunities between Africa and Greater China.

Opportunities to learn, exchange ideas, share experiences and commonalities. Each artist presents us with a Bridge of his own in the form of education, tradition, culture, religion, citizenship, past and present, as they unpack and interrogate these common themes, guests are invited to walk through these Bridges and explore a multitude of lens. Chang Yue Lucie and Lee Garakara are curating the exhibition.

Three emerging artists from Zimbabwe – Tafadazwa Gwetai, Anthony Bumhira and Franklyn Dzingai will be showcasing their works. Tafadzwa Gwetai paints with mediums such as oils, mixed medium and found objects. Gwetai explores the human condition and how mankind has redefined themselves and their basic existence.

He reintroduces and redefines mathematics with science and logic to create a new language – a language that challenges the very core of industry and its relevance to mankind. He views our existence as having been transformed into a virtual reality based paperwork and documentation.

Existentialist philosophy such as that of Rene Descartes and Plato who challenged the existence of man and founded the concept of ‘I think therefore I am’. This influenced his line of thought to that of challenging the purpose and meaning of mankind’s existence. Franklyn Dzingai specialises in printmaking.

He prefers using cardboard for printing relief using the reductive method. Collage and drawing are often incorporated into his prints. His prints are typically vibrant in colour and ornate in design. He sources his images from books, magazines, newspapers and family photos.

Themes such as social interactions and personal memories are found in his prints. Anthony Bumhira, the youngest of the three artists but already has works in the permanent collection of the National gallery of Zimbabwe and around the world.

Exhibition Details

Exhibition Title: Bridges

Venue: Lucie Chang Fine Arts,
No.26 Tai Ping Shan Street, Sheung Wan, Hong Kong

Date / Time:
 19/7/2017 – 18/9/2017 (Monday to Sunday 10am – 7pm) 18/7/2017 (Tuesday) 6:00pm

About the Organizers:-


Lucie Chang Fine Arts


Lucie Chang Fine Arts is founded by Lucie Chang, who has a rich background of Chinese contemporary arts within the art market with experience and expertise being transformed into her latest venture, encouraging aesthetic, spiritual, and social dialogues and diversity of art forms and offering a space for contemporary dialogues and social engagement.
Lucie Chang Fine Arts has stable collectors resource; currently the collectors mainly are from Hong Kong, Shenzhen, Beijing, etc. Lucie Chang Fine Arts has good connections with academic institutions and Art centers in Hong Kong, the future exhibition program will cooperate with the Oil Painting Department of Guangzhou Academy of Fine Arts and OCT Shenzhen, Lucie Chang Fine Arts not only pays attention to the continuous art works presentation, but also attaches importance to the exhibitions of which are good curated works, will be valued by academic institutions, art gallery and curators.

Lee Garakara and Mwimbi Fine Art Gallery

Lee Garakara was born in Harare, Zimbabwe. He attended and lectured at the Centre for Visual Arts, University of KwaZulu Natal (South Africa) from the period 2001 to 2009. After pursuing his post graduate studies, Mwimbi Fine Art Gallery was born out an urge to support the development of African contemporary Arts by realizing projects internationally. Mwimbi Fine Art Gallery is now based Hong Kong and aims to showcase contemporary African art of the highest form possible. By forging cross-cultural ties between Africa and Asia, Mwimbi Fine Art Gallery aims to engage with communities in ways that have yet to b explored. Through collaborations with industry professionals and institutions, Garakara aims to explore the elusive link between contemporary Art, African Art and its wider audience. Garakara is currently serving as curator and advisor for Mwimbi Fine Art Gallery and Mwimbi Consulting Hong Kong.

About the Supporter: Leap Initiative Philanthropies

The exhibition is supported by the Leap Initiative Philanthropies based in Hong Kong. With strategic partnerships and collaborations, the foundation aims to preserve and promote African Arts and culture within and outside Africa. The foundation is a non-profit organization that supports programs focused on emerging artists throughout the continent of Africa, Europe and Asia. As projects are realized, the foundation support structure also comes in the form of much need resources such as expertise, advisory and networking.

By John Owoo

(Alliance Française – Accra)

An evocative exhibition of various shapes, forms, patterns and symbols that hypnotize contemporary mythology by multi media artist Efo Sela Adjei is closing at the Alliance Française in Accra.

Adjei’s works on display are characterized by dark and often thick backgrounds with hues of blues, greens and pinks alongside whites that sometimes serve as outlines, which often stand out while ensuring a sparkling effect.

His rather hazy images confront and collide with each other as they congregate to powerfully herald intense representations and sketches of his inner soul and spiritual consciousness.

Titled “Lomnava Exhibition”, his extremely distorted human figures appear to float in weightlessness while emphasizing the paradoxes and contradictions of harmattan love, sexual fantasies and covetousness.

Beyond the obvious cultural syncretism, Adjei’s works offer several planes of interpretation – optical illusions, philosophy of romance, sanctity, eroticism, spiritualism and an ingenious sexual indulgence.

Undeniably – Adjei’s work reflects a subtle mediation between his different personalities – his inherent qualities, the spiritual forces that surround him and his views on diverse issues that compel him to react with his brush.

Talented poet Elpklim Akorli performed a number of his poems while inventive dancer / choreographer Sena Atsugah led a group of dancers in a magnetic performance that mesmerized art lovers at the opening.

Efo Sela Adjei has exhibited in the United Kingdom, Italy, the United States and several venues in Ghana.

By John Owoo

(In Accra – Ghana)                      

A new dance / video art production titled “bodyRealities – cityCodes” – which deals with the complex structures of Accra and its inhabitants – will in September 2017 premiere at the Tanzfaktur, which is located in the German city of Cologne.

Featuring Ghanaian dancers Mark Lomotey / Alfred Quarshie and produced by DIN A 13 Dance Company (Germany), it examines the impact that places, landscapes, locations as well as personal experiences have on individual body memories and how these spaces are reflected in physical movement.

The piece further scrutinizes the human body as a living sign of its culture and architectural habitat – what we do with our bodies, how we deal with it, how we use it, what attitudes we exhibit from it, how we evaluate it, how it feels and what significance we attribute to it – are shaped by the society and culture we live in.

Together with German filmmakers Miriam Jakobs and Gerhard Schick, choreographer Gerda König managed to trace these contexts in parts of Sri Lanka in 2016. Currently, the research has led the artistic team to various parts of the Ghanaian capital, Accra.

In Accra, they found rural structures in informal settlements and slums that extend along a river front, a railway track, a street with high-rise buildings where the values and products of globalization seem unattainable for a majority of the population behind these shiny glass façades.

The attempt to understand a city and its people inevitably leads to a confrontation with past and modern-day slavery – undeniably, the consequences of colonization and globalization. Accra is indeed a melting pot of the past and present consisting of different ethnic groups, languages and cultures.

The sociology of the human body, as a sub area of sociology, deals with the interpenetration of body and society. Although the body is part of nature and as such subject to its laws, the way in which this natural side of the body is perceived, valued and lived depends on the epoch, culture, and society.

The basic goal of the sociology of the body is to work out how the human body is to be understood as a social phenomenon. Consequently, the project analyzes the processes in which the body becomes the product and the producer of society.

DIN A 13 Dance Company is one of the few dance ensembles comprising dancers with different bodily capabilities. By means of continual artistic and conceptual development of their productions, DIN A 13 has managed to become one of the globally leading mixed-abled dance ensembles.

The artistic approach taken by the company is marked by the exploration and visualization of the quality of movement inherent in “differing bodies” whose diversity forms the basis for the choreographic work.

Gerda König challenges viewing habits and normative ideals found in contemporary dance while enriching it through new impulses. Consequently, assumed frontiers and evaluations between special bodily dispositions and a dancer’s peak performance become dissolved in choreographic pictures, posing questions and inviting one to enter into an artistic dialogue.

She perpetually searches for contrast and provocation in her choreographic pictures, mirroring the human tension between inner and social conflicts. The unexpectedness of another body becomes the aesthetic experience whose expressiveness shows new benchmarks of quality.

“bodyRealities – cityCodes” is being sponsored by Landschaftsverband Rheinland, German Ministry for Family, Children, Youth, Culture and Sports of the country Northrhine Westfalia, the Cultural Office of the city Cologne, Aktion Mensch, Art Foundation NRW, Kämpgen Foundation, Beatrix-Lichtken Foundation, Goethe-Institut Ghana, iDAS nrw and Fonds Soziokultur, npn.

Pictures:- David Schmenger

By John Owoo

(At The University of Ghana – Legon)

Dr. Frank George Bernasko, a medical officer with the Presbyterian Hospital in Akyem Agogo last week won the 2017 edition of Falling Walls Lab, which was held at the University of Ghana, Legon.

Founded by the Falling Walls Foundation with support from A.T. Kearney in Central Europe, the competition aims at connecting aspiring innovators, discover and develop talents, support interdisciplinary dialogue / international cooperation, and develop new ways of scientific communication while building up new and strong networks.

Dr Bernasko presented a cost effective system that will be mounted on the surface of the sea and effectively tap energy from both incoming and receding waves to generate and supply electricity to local communities at moderate charges.

Eric Opoku Osei from the University of Ghana (Legon) and Dr. Nii Amu Dodoo from the Kwame Nkumah University of Science and Technology (Kumasi), took the second and third positions at the keenly contested competition, which involved twenty-two participants from diverse tertiary institutions and organizations throughout the country.

Presentations include solutions to water pollution, manufacturing trucks with local content to clean open drains, use of folklore to contain sanitation problems, effective dissemination of research findings, fresh water governance and use of simple equipment to curtail malaria infections.

Others are ending the perennial leakage of examination papers, global warming, plastic bag pollution, youth unemployment, adulteration / unsustainable use of plants for herbal medicine and alcoholic beverages, domestic violence and the eradication of illiteracy and superstition.

In a message to the participants, Bernhard Ables, Deputy Head of Mission at the German Embassy in Accra, said it is time to break down walls through science, politics, arts and diverse areas of endeavors adding that this is significant as the fall of the Berlin wall is in its 28^th year.

Members of a jury that vetted the presentations include Prof. Nana Aba Appiah Amfo (Dean, School of Languages – University of Ghana), Prof Mansa Prah (formerly of the University of Cape Coast), Prof. Felix Asante (Director, Institute of Statistical, Social and Economic Research – University of Ghana) and Maximilian Butek (Country Director, Delegation of German Industry and Commerce in Ghana).

The rest are Dr. Wazi Apoh (Head, Department of Archaeology and Heritage Studies – University of Ghana), Dr. Francis Boateng Agyenim (Director, Institute of Industrial Research), Dr. Rosina Kyeremanten (Director, ARPPIS – University of Ghana), Director – Association of Ghana Industries) and Dr. Godfrey Mills (Head, Department of Computer Engineering – University of Ghana).

The programme was organized and supported by the Falling Walls Foundation (Germany), DAAD Information Centre and the Goethe-Institut – both in Accra.

By John Owoo

(At the Goethe-Institut in Accra)

Dancehall artist Blaq Originata last week drew wild cheers from students celebrating the 10^th edition of the National German Cultural Festival, which ended last week at the Goethe-Institut in Accra.

Accompanied by six tactful dancers, the young musician worked his way into the hearts of over 500 students, with a charismatic stagecraft and poise that swayed them. In the process, several students and teachers joined the dancers on stage as Originata’s voice soared through the rather warm air.

With a combination of dancehall, highlife and hiplife, Originata treated the audience to memorable tunes and robust tempos as a lot of varieties in terms of emotions and themes echoed musically and lyrically throughout the performance.

“Blaq Originata is an up and coming musician with a mission – this is the second time I have seen him on stage. Each time he manages to pull crowds onto the stage, either to join in singing or dancing”, said Yaa Oppong Manu, a student in Accra.

Through swift and subtle movements, the dancers engaged the audience in a dialogue as movement after movement attracted copycat actions by the students, who cheered and called for more performances by the dancers.

Indeed, it was a show with rhythm – the singing and dancing appeared to converge and rise into the atmosphere as agile bodies from the talented young dancers moved with controlled intensity and in complete harmony.

“It was raw fun – we enjoyed every bit of the concert since we identify ourselves with the music. The crowd actually went wild with joy as the band unleashed uplifting sounds on them”, added Eric Adepa, a student in Kumasi.

Earlier, the students engaged in a creative competition, which was won by the Goethe-Institut in Accra. They showcased their artistic creations on a futuristic concept through music, theatre and dance to cheers from their peers.

Opening the festival, the German Ambassador to Ghana H.E. Christoph Retzlaff called on students to take serious the study of languages in order to reap its numerous benefits as they begin their careers in various disciplines.

He charged the students, who were drawn from various parts of the country to concentrate on their books, follow their dreams and aim for the very best after their graduation from universities and other academic institutions.

Germany he stated is a country of science and technology and has very good relations with Ghana adding that there are scholarship and fellowship schemes available for qualified Ghanaian students and urged the students to take advantage of them.

The ambassador revealed that although the German language is not officially on the curriculum of most schools, there are several clubs throughout Ghana that are teaching German with the support of the Goethe-Institut in Accra thereby ensuring the growth of teaching of the German language.

Titled “Die Zukunft Beginnt Jetzt” (The Future Starts Now), the festival was opened by the German Ambassador to Ghana HE Christoph Retzlaff. Goethe-Institut in Accra, Ghana Association of Teachers of German and the German Academic Exchange Service organized the festival.

By John Owoo

(In Tunis – Tunisia)

A refreshing duet by Tunisian guitarist Rami Zoghlemi and singer Sabrine Jenhani swayed a capacity crowd at the Palais Des Congrès in Tunis through melodies that appeared to be in similar ranges yet sustaining in momentum.

Performing on the 5^th day of Carthage Music Festival, Jenhani sang with amazing depth and sensibility through profound lyrics and restrained compositions as wild guitar lines from Zoghlemi traversed the auditorium.

Vocalist Emma Lamadji from the Central African Republican band Free River, who is noted for a formidable voice, appeared to sing from the bottom of her heart and soul as cheers and applause flowed from the audience, who exhibited intense excitement.

She drew more appreciation as she ignored technical challenges and continued to sing while light beams ricocheted on the stage and auditorium as jazzy rhythms flowed from the obviously experienced instrumentalists.

At the Avenue Bourgiba, which is located in the center of Tunis, Gambian / British kora sensation Sona Jobarteh exhibited her ability to flow with all kinds of styles as she established immediate communication with the audience.

The first female kora player to come out of a renowned griot family, she wooed the crowd with a charismatic voice, memorable tunes and robust tempos as a lot of varieties in terms of tonalities, emotions and themes echoed musically and lyrically.

Comprising a group of zealous musicians, Tunisian band Ghoula, which was formed by composer Wael Jegham, equally enchanted the rather youthful audience with uniform instrumentation alongside dreamy sounds.

With members from Morocco, Senegal, Côte d’Ivoire and Mozambique, Jokko Band turned the evening into a memorable one with diverse instruments from several cultures, which generated deep interest from the crowd, who were obviously transported to various countries and cultures in sub Saharan Africa.

Sybel, Tunis Air, Ben Jemåa Motors, Travel Todo, Institut Français, Access World, Samaris Events, Bitaka Group, Teskerti, RFI, TUNIS Visions, RFI, Media Net, Cult Art, Africable, Femmes, Sonlines, Silo and many others are supporting the festival, which ends today Saturday April 15.

Photo Credits:

Wiem Ben Amor

Amina Barhoumi

Eya Zgolli

Najjar Hella

Snoussi Lidhieb

Ines Rezgui

Elyes Aouinet

By John Owoo

(In Tunis – Tunisia)

Diverse music styles and dramatic fusion of rhythms continue to characterize the ongoing Carthage Music Festival in Tunis as music enthusiasts and critics savor recent artistic creations from various parts of Africa.

Cheering crowds at the Palais Des Congrès were thrilled with a rather compelling performance by Egyptian group Hawas through an equable presentation of tunes akin to folk songs accompanied by slow rhythms.

Despite an uncanny problem with vocals, the band, which comprise artists from diverse musical backgrounds nonetheless shifted into high tempo and treated the audience to a variety of communicable tunes.

Tunisian band Sanaat mounted the stage with infectious and contagious lyrics laced with contemporary issues that charmed the audience, who cheered, applauded and demanded more from the group.

Cine Vog, which is located near the rocky beaches of Kram, a town in the Tunis Governorate, hosted a brief but mesmeric concert that ignited the hall with rapid changing paces while showcasing their mastery of instruments.

Comprising several hip-hop stars from the suburbs of Tunis, El Banda band immediately attracted the attention of young members of the audience with messages that they identify with as they danced and applauded.

Violinist Zied Zouari presented himself as an inter generational artist with a successful fusion of Nubian, Bedouin rhythms with hip-hop, electro, dub and beat box thereby satisfying all age groups in the crowd.

Sybel, Tunis Air, Ben Jemåa Motors, Travel Todo, Institut Français, Access World, Samaris Events, Bitaka Group, Teskerti, RFI, TUNIS Visions, RFI, Media Net, Cult Art, Africable, Femmes, Sonlines, Silo and many others are supporting the festival, which ends on Saturday April 15.

 Photo Credits:

Wiem Ben Amor

Amina Barhoumi

Eya Zgolli

Najjar Hella

Snoussi Lidhieb

Ines Rezgui

Elyes Aouinet

By John Owoo

(In Tunis – Tunisia)

Morrocan group Aywa, last night set the Palais des Congrès in Tunis ablaze with a magical performance that engaged the constant attention of the audience, who chanted and sang alongside the charismatic artists.

Performing at the 2017 edition of Carthage Music Festival, the group showcased a magnetic stage presence while a variety of instruments worked beautifully with the talented singer Abdil Smaali.

Through a shrewd mixture of various rhythms including jazz, rock and funk with Moroccan rhythms, the group consolidated its popularity with the fans as they moved closer for a sustained dance in front of the stage.

“The concert was an electrical one – the audience had a wonderful time with the musicians, who appeared to be equally enjoying themselves. Their highly charged rhythms and poise of the singer added to the fun”, said Yozri Lakkani, a teacher in Tunis.

It was a curiously entertaining evening as Tunisian heavy metal group Nawather moved on stage. Despite a cool blend with oriental music, part of the audience appeared fazed while others cheered the group.

Nevertheless, they played as if they are the last standing band in a war zone – drowning intense heavy metal in the theatre as a lady vocalist crisscrossed the stage at regular intervals while reminding the audience of how potent they can be.

“It was raw fun – we enjoyed every bit of the concert since we do identify with the music. The crowd actually went wild with joy as the band unleashed uplifting sounds on them”, added Sarah Abdel, a student in Tunis.

In an earlier concert at the famous Avenue Bourgiba, located in the centre of Tunis, Egyptian group Fayrouz Karawya treated an enthusiastic crowd to an amalgam of jazz and traditional rhythms that drew cheers from members of the audience.

Sybel, Tunis Air, Ben Jemåa Motors, Travel Todo, Institut Français, Access World, Samaris Events, Bitaka Group, Teskerti, RFI, TUNIS Visions, RFI, Media Net, Cult Art, Africable, Femmes, Sonlines, Silo and many others are supporting the festival, which ends on Saturday April 15.

Photo Credits:

Wiem Ben Amor

Amina Barhoumi

Eya Zgolli

Najjar Hella

Snoussi Lidhieb

Ines Rezgui

Elyes Aouinet