This weekend, over 200 artists will transform old Accra into a live museum with a long trail of multi-disciplinary art. CHALE WOTE 2014 will open with a heady rush of sights, sounds and vibrant creations by Ghanaian and international artists in James Town.
Festival producers, ACCRA [dot] ALT, are collaborating with REDD Kat Pictures, Foundation for Contemporary Art Ghana, the Accra Metropolitan Assembly, NO LIMIT Charity and Attukwei Art Foundation for this year’s festival.
This is the fourth edition of the festival since it started in 2011.
Last year was a major success because of the collective effort of many young people—ranging from artists, musicians and writers to designers, students and activists. The two-day festival will feature graffiti murals, film screenings, theater, installations, live music performances, a fashion circus, extreme sport, dance, spoken word and art workshops.
The festival drew over 3,000 people last year and a lot more people are expected to attend this fourth edition.
CHALE WOTE 2014 welcomes installation projects by internationally acclaimed participants – mixed media/visual artist Rasik Green [Johannesburg, SA], dance performance artist Yinka Esi Graves, visual and installation artist Charlotte Chapman [UK] and Edwin Sacasa [US] amongst the visiting artists creating at CHALE WOTE this year.
Over the years, Chale Wote has seen a significant increase in international participation. This has facilitated skill and knowledge exchange between Ghanaian artists and their international peers. The festival has also created an interest in Ghanaian art across the continent, which in turn makes Ghana a cultural destination.
Ghanaian visual artists Ibrahim Mahama, Bernard Akoi-Jackson, Adjoa Amoah, Ato Annan, Atukwei Clottey, Adjo Kisser and I.U.B. have some of the most compelling works to be exhibited at the festival this year. Look out for Elizabeth Sutherland’s Dreamscapes , a three-hour performance on both days on the festival grounds.
What else is happening at CHALE WOTE this year?
- More than 200 artists are taking part in this year’s two-day festival. More than 20 Ghanaian visual artists will erect cutting edge exhibitions of their work on High Street.
- Two-day film screenings and digital art installation [23rd and 24th]
- Live music at the High Life Café, DJ Masquerade block party [Sat. 23rd] and beach concert [Sun 24th]
- Interactive procession by the Takoradi Masquerade [Sun. 24th]
- The Accra Cookout – an international food court [Sat 23-Sun 24th]
- The Fashion Marketplace – fashion vendors, street fashion circus, and Photo exhibitions and portrait galleries by Ofoe Amegavie.
- There will also be historical walking tours of James Town on each day of the festival.
The music listing for Chale Wote 2014 is an exciting one featuring heavy hitters with gummy bass and larger-than-life-call and response rhythms that will rock out Accra.
Be in James Town August 23rd and 24th for the biggest street art festival this side of Africa.
The Fourth Annual CHALE WOTE Street Art Festival is supported by ACCRA [dot] ALT, REDD Kat Pictures, French Embassy au Ghana, Accra Metropolitan Assembly and 97.3 Citi FM .
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By: Kojo Akoto Boateng/citifmonline.com/Ghana