This past weekend, the stretch from High Street through the Old Kingsway building to the Light House, James Town, held a vibrancy that could’ve only brought hope to a culturally rich yet depleted town. The Fourth Annual Chale Wote Street Art Festival, which took place from August 23-24 was a collaborative effort between Accra dot Alt, Foundation for Contemporary Art (Ghana), No Limits Charity and others.
The festival, which is arguably the first and largest of such festivals in Ghana if not the entire Sub-Saharan region, brought together over 150 Accra-based artists who showcased their work through various incredible art forms including street painting, graffiti murals, dance flash mobs, live music performances, extreme sport stunting, fashion, spoken words, experimental theater, visual art installations and more.
Obaasema magazine was present at Chale Wote this year. We designed three vision boards entitled “The Ideal Woman Vision Board” which translated the concept of Obaasema via images and texts that unearthed inspiration, integrity and a call to action for women. The vision boards became a springboard for discussions about personal definitions of an ideal woman and what the visuals meant to African women. Check out Obaasema TV this week for a broadcast of the interviews.
The Chale Wote Street Art Festival has clearly transited Accra on a journey to becoming an incredible art city in Africa – the excitement that accompanies the journey is what makes it even more inspiring.