Circum-Alert: Taking Accra By Storm, Chale Wote Style!

Posted by Jemila On Monday, July 11, 2011


A free urban arts festival, the Chale Wote Street Art Festival could soon be the in-thing on the GH street arts scene. Co-sponsored by ACCRA [dot] ALT, The French Embassy (in Ghana) and Institut Francais, the first edition of the soon-to-be annual international festival will take place on July 16, 2011 in the Jamestown community of downtown Accra from 10am till 10pm. The event is the brainchild of Mantse Aryeequaye (an independent filmmaker) and Dr. Sionne Neely (a researcher and writer); both coordinators of ACCRA [dot] ALT.  In the words of the organizers, its purpose is “to promote the exhibition of alternative art in Ghana and to nurture an appreciation for different kinds of art among Ghanaians.”
The first time I read about the Chale Wote Street Art Festival, I thought: interesting name. The second time around during GhanaBlogging’s July meetup over the weekend, I got a peek at the schedule of events and thought, interesting concept/project!  Now, after some musing over what this festival could mean for Ghana’s arts and culture/tourism scene, I’m thinking 100% innovation. Why such an endorsement? Well, for one thing, we don’t seem to have as many cross-generational, hip, artsy events in Accra (or Ghana for that matter). Sure we have 100 and something festivals but those are traditional. Not that I have anything against traditional festivals. I just think they tend to be more (ethnic) group-based.

Innovative how? Well take the name, “Chale Wote”, which means “Man, Let’s Go”. I don’t know the exact origins of the term, but in Ghana it has been assigned to the flip flops or plastic slippers that, I’d bet my weekly fufu on, graces every Ghanaian’s feet at one point or another. Symbolically, chale wote emphasizes the undeniable link between Ghanaians irrespective of our different backgrounds, whether rich or poor, educated or not, from north or south, we all wear it. If you ask me, I think it's a pretty appropriate name  considering the  festival will involves a series of arts-oriented activities and projects - spoken word, painting, a "Funky Fishnet psychedelic fashion show", an array of biker/rollerskater/skateboarde stunts, kite making a la Ghana-style, experimental theater, t-shirt construction and trash sculpture workshops for kids from JamesTown schools, and many others – all within walking distance. Yes, you read right. You can literally shuffle your chale wotes from one interesting activity to the next since it will all be held from the Lighthouse in James Town to the old Kings Way Building close to High Street; probably what would qualify as the “original” Accra or downtown. How neat is that? 

What makes it great? Well, in comparison to countries like Senegal which have a very strong (urban) arts scene – probably due to the fact that tourism is one of the key revenue generators – Ghana’s arts scene is generally untapped or rather, not deeply explored. As the co-sponsors are French institutions I’m beginning to wonder if it might be a “French” thing as well. The French do have a massive appreciation for the arts, right? (Think Musee de Louvre, La Tour Eiffel etc) Secondly, most Ghanaians tend to stay within their little bubbles and don't really explore the depth of history, culture and insight that abounds across the different parts of Ghana. Think I'm making too much of a bold statement? How many have been anywhere beyond Kumasi to say, the northern region? Bon, this festival is a unique opportunity to “travel” and experience just that - and right in Accra too!  Finally, it’s encouraging and support home grown artistes, or if you’d like a more technical term, Ghana’s human resource base.
I don’t know about you, but just thinking of the event which the organizers have dubbed as a “Do It Yourself” festival brings colour, excitement, creativity and vibrancy to my mind. I mean, with acrobatics, graffiti painting, fashion, musical performances from artistes like Trigmatic, Yaa Pono and Mutombo, and  let’s not forget FOOD, it’s got passion written all over it. Besides, with all the rain we’ve had these couple weeks – not that I’m complaining - it’s about time we breathed in some novelty. (Fingers crossed that it doesn’t rain on the D-day) So there!  Something to mark your calendars for. See the full schedule below. Hope you make it and let us know how it goes! Quick recap:
Date: Saturday July 16, 2011 
Time: 10am to 10pm
Partners: Dust Magazine,  Ga Mashie Development Agency, JustGhana, The Foundation for Contemporary Artistes, Attukwei Art Foundation, Pidgin Music, Redd Kat Pictures, The WEB
Live music performances: Trigmatic, Yaa Pono, Mutombo, Artistes from Skillions Records, E.L., C-Real, Scizo, Delasi, and many more.
Fee FREE!!! (You have absolutely no excuse for being a no-show!)
Contact: www.facebook.com/ACCRAdotAlt | accra.alt@gmail.com. | Tel: (+233) 0279942414




Chale Wote Street Festival Schedule

Photo Source: Chale Wote Street Festival Event Page, Accra [Dot] Alt Facebook page


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Poetry/Prose: Brace Yourself

Posted by Jemila On Friday, July 08, 2011

When it's this quiet, you know someone or something is up to no good. 
Plotting and scheming and devising plans anew, all for the amusement of what it/they can do to you.

It's like an airplane ride. 
You get on, make yourself comfortable, listen to the safety instructions – or not - and let your thoughts wonder far beyond the height of clouds upon which you ride.

The pilot's voice comes onto the PA system; introduces him/herself as well as his co-fate holders. 
You hear it, but you don't really listen, because if anyone ever asked you anew, you'd never even be able to recollect the first letter of his/her first name.

And so you begin.
Some turbulence here, a couple of cumuli nimbus clouds there, wait is that a bird or a plane gliding next to me? No sir, simply your imagination running wild upon the pasture of sky.

Doze in, doze out, icky airplane food, yet you gobble it all down.
And the musings. Oh my, those musings.Such injustice they do to the very plane ride you're on. 
From Hong Kong to Dubai to Cape Town and the Alps. All in but a jiffy of a second.

Finally, mercifully - you never really can tell - comes the sleep.
Deep yet right on the surface, with the neck, arm and leg cramps to show what a valiant attempt you made. 

All that is fine, all that is expected, until...
...Well, the nothingness.

The split second when your eyes meet and you take in the essence of an entire being.
 The "oops" right before you find yourself kissing the ground involuntarily after breaking yet another heel of shoe.
The hour transitioning night into day when even a pin drop would sound like a million cymbals to the ear 
That eerie stillness when everything you ever knew is lain before you and then quickly taken away, and in its place...
“Go into brace position!” the air hostess announces in semi-panic, semi-control.

And there you are. Caught in a frenzy as  the entire universe rushes in. 
Wooooosh! Overload of information, of possibilities, of uncertainties untold.

Hi there, square one! Everything begins anew
From  certainty to wonder, from knowledge to speculation.

They do say the hour is darkest right before the dawn. 
Like it or not partner, you've been selected for this particular ride. 

Now, fasten your seat belt and brace yourself.

Photo 1


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Poetry/Prose: Dream Suspended

Posted by Jemila On Saturday, July 02, 2011

Why have you deserted me?

You mean why have you deserted you?

No, I mean you abandoning me.

I didn't. You did.

Why does this conversation sound so familiar?

Because we've had it many times before.(See here) Honestly, I've lost count how many.

So you see, you keep deserting me. Where'd you pick up such a nasty habit?

Where'd you learn to lie?

And now she calls me a liar. Great.

Well, what would you call trading in your own essence, dreams, beliefs, [insert whatever else], for an impression of who or what you should be?

Acting? No, I got it: impressionism?

Very funny. I'm not laughing.

Okay, so maybe I took a slight detour on the road to...wait, where was I heading again?

I see we might have a slight case of amnesia as well.

Very funny. I'm not laughing either.

Well at least we agree on something.

Yeah, so back to the question. Why have you deserted me?

I'm right here aren't I?

Yes. But only because I asked.

Exactly. I never left. You never asked. or rather, you stopped asking the moment you thought you'd mapped out the grand plan.

I got on the high horse again, didn't I?

Sure did.

Damn, not again.

Don't be too hard on yourself. You got caught up in the euphoria of the moment and never came down. Big deal. Everyone does that from time to time.

I guess. So, what now?

I think you already know.

Fine, I'll drop the act, I'll cut the crap, now what?

What did you learn?

Sorry, but did I sign myself up to a college course without realizing?

Funny. Jokes on you. While you were off playing host to everyone's suggestions on what you should be doing, who you should be being and how you should be living (your life if I might add), what did you learn along the way?

That it's possible to lose myself?

Go on..

That skipping out just as I'm at the juncture of realizing a dream or finally getting it, doesn't earn me brownie points for trying?

Hmm, that's a good one. I'll have to add that to my repertoire.

And, I guess also that the longer I abandon my mission, my dream, my passion, the longer I will be deserted; away from my internal fountain of life?

Bingo! You just hit the jackpot. Unfortunately the global recession is still on, so there'll be no cash prize. Just a re-cognition of who you are.

Bon, so what now?

Well, first of all... Take off that hideous wig, shall we? It's most unbecoming of you. And I mean that literally.

LOL. Done.

Perfecto. Now, let's walk. Together, hand-in-hand. And if at any point  you feel my fingers slip away, rest secure in the knowledge that I'm mere steps behind you, egging you on. And all you have to do is call.

Riing, rring

Whatever are you calling me for?

Nothing. Just making sure the lines are open.

For you my dear, always.

--
Photo Source: http://static.desktopnexus.com/thumbnails/103332-bigthumbnail.jpg


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