GRi Arts & Culture 05 – 03 - 2003

Exhibition heralds 46th Independence Anniversary

Ghanaian-born writer wins award

Ghanaian heroes need to be honoured - Kufuor

Exhibition heralds 46th Independence Anniversary

Accra (Greater Accra) 5 March 2003 - Exhibition of traditional and contemporary art works depicting the historical transformation of Ghanaian paintings was opened in Accra on Tuesday as part of activities marking the 46th Independence anniversary cerebration.

The paintings, mainly with Adinkra background showcased the Ghanaian and the artists' understanding and interpretation of nature, customs and traditional norms as well as values in modernised world.

The Exhibition dubbed: "The Ghanaian Art Show: Ntonso School," also aimed at debunking values that had disabled Ghanaians from identifying and promoting their innate strengths to enable them to make their mark in the community of nations.

Opening the exhibition, Papa Owusu-Ankomah, the Majority Leader and Minister for Parliamentary Affairs, admonished Ghanaians not to forget traditional values and custom while embracing modernity.

"It is only out of our culture that we can rise from the ashes and doldrums of Colonialism as a nation like a giant and face the world with an African courage," Papa Owusu-Ankomah said.

The Majority Leader said; "after 46 years of independence as a nation, it still appears that in our efforts to be part of modernity, many of us are loosing our identity in terms of our thinking, our speech and dressing".

Papa Owusu-Ankomah also urged African Artists to use the universal language of painting and artistic interpretation of life to portray and market the continent. The 10 paintings at the exhibition included works of Wemega-Kwawu, Frank Asomani, Kwasi Ofosuapea Owusu-Ankomah and Hacajaka.

GRi…/

Send your comments to viewpoint@ghanareview.com

Return to top

Ghanaian-born writer wins award

Vancouver (United States of America) 5 March 2003 - Austin Clarke (born in Barbados) of Toronto has won the 2003 Commonwealth Writers Prize Best Book Award for the Canada and Caribbean region. An international panel of judges announced the award Monday for his novel The Polished Hoe.

The Best First Book Award went to Kwame Dawes, born in Ghana, for A Place to Hide and Other Stories. Each wins 1,000 pounds, about $2,300 Cdn. The two books now qualify for the final stage of the Commonwealth Writers Prize, which will be announced in Calgary on May 8. They join books in each category, selected by the three other international juries, covering Africa; Eurasia; and South East Asia and the South Pacific.

A prize of 10,000 pounds, about $23,000 Cdn, will be awarded to the Overall Best Book, and 3,000 pounds, about $7,000 Cdn, to the Best First Book.

GRi…/

Send your comments to viewpoint@ghanareview.com

Return to top

Ghanaian heroes need to be honoured - Kufuor

Accra (Greater Accra) 5 March 2003 - President John Kufuor on Tuesday stressed the need for Ghanaians to acknowledge and honour their heroes, who had toiled for the socio-economic development of the country.

He said it was through the services and sacrifices of such patriots that the culture of peace and the potential for Ghana's prosperity had been built and maintained.

President Kufuor said this when a delegation from the family of the Nana Kofi Genfi II, a veteran politician and ex-serviceman officially informed him about his death and final funeral rites at his residency in Accra.

A statement in Accra by the Ministry of Information and Presidential Affairs signed by Ferdinand O. Ayim Special Assistant to the Minister, said the Nana Genfi was a beacon of hope to many by his pioneering role in many fields of endeavour.

President Kufuor said the Nana Genfi was a dedicated politician with a genuine commitment to the democratic ideals of the Danquah-Busia Tradition, a brave soldier and successful businessman.

The statement said the Nana Genfi, 90, would be buried in Kumasi on Thursday 6 March. Popularly known as the "Hat Man", he was the only Ghanaian to have entered the Guinness Book of Records as the Largest Hat Collector in the world.

He had a private museum in Kumasi that had 3,150 hats collected from every country in the world. Nana Genfi left behind two wives, 36 children, 150 grandchildren and many great grand children.

GRi…/

Send your comments to viewpoint@ghanareview.com

Return to top