The second annual CHALE WOTE Street Art Festival will take place on Saturday, April
14, 2012 from 10am – 11pm in James Town, the vibrant fishing community in central
Accra. This event is powered by ACCRA [dot] Alt, a cultural network based in Accra,
and a host of collaborators across the city including The French Embassy/Institut
Français, Alliance Française, the U.S. Embassy, the Millennium Cities Initiative – Project
Management Unit (AMA), Indomie, DUST Magazine, the Foundation for Contemporary
Art – Ghana (FCA), REDD Kat Pictures, Trashy Bags, Pidgen Music, Studio Kurtycz,
NandiMobile, Dinnie Tech Solutions, Lincoln Community School, Dr. Monk, JustGhana,
The Attukwei Art Foundation, ACT for Change, Anokye’s Sword, InsidetheMoskitoNet,
The WEB (Young Fashion Designers Hub), Ehalakasa Talk Party, among others.
The first edition of the CHALE WOTE Street Art Festival on July 16th, 2011 was the
collective effort of many young people—ranging from artists, musicians and writers to
designers, students and activists—who worked together to produce Accra’s first street art
festival. The one-day festival included street painting, sidewalk painting and chalk art,
graffiti murals, live music performances, a fashion circus, extreme sport stunting,
experimental theater and spoken word, youth art workshops and much more. More than
1,000 people came out to witness this spectacular event. CHALE WOTE press included
post-coverage reports on BBC Radio and BBC Focus on Africa.
The purpose of the festival is to promote the exhibition of alternative art in Ghana and to
nurture an appreciation for different kinds of art among Ghanaians. CHALE WOTE
means “Man, let’s go!” or is a reference to slippers worn on the feet. We use CHALE
WOTE as a way to mobilize excitement for public and alternative art, especially among
young Ghanaians. In 2012, we are expecting more than 2,000 patrons to attend the
festival, which is free and open to the public. Our target audience includes art lovers,
students, artists and musicians, tourists, James Town residents, and everyday people
throughout the greater Accra region.
The 2012 theme for CHALE WOTE is outerspace exploration. Ghana may not have a
space station but we will take the patrons of the festival to another universe where our
imaginations are unlimited. Join the CHALE WOTE Street Art Festival on a space
exploration mission through the streets of James Town for an action-packed program of
activities. We are ever astounded by Ghanaian ingenuity in the arts and welcome some
great performers in 2012: the Winneba Stiltwalkers and Masquerade Troupe; Ian
Quhachi, a graffiti artist from Takoradi and sculpture artist, Kwame Akoto-Bamfo
Eugene, who will create a new installation for CHALE WOTE called “Sidewalk
Swimmers,” a stretch of fabric, chicken wire figures and waste material. In addition, The
French Embassy and Institut Français are supporting CHALE WOTE to host Bivouac, a
spaced-out procession by the “blue people” from Generik Vapeur, a street art company in
France. Over the last decade, the Bivouac show is in frequent high demand to perform
throughout world.
CHALE WOTE demonstrates how innovation can be used to solve community problems
such as improper sewage systems, unemployment and equal access to education. Through
recycling workshops, professional art training, and the employment of local residents on
the day of the festival, CHALE WOTE supports the development of creative responses
by community members to their everyday concerns. Through inspiration, innovation and
a sustained vision, Jamestown residents can nurture their creative capacity for change.
CHALE WOTE also provides networking opportunities to community members to
continue producing interactive art events and programs throughout the year.
The CHALE WOTE Street Art Festival will take place from 10am – 11pm, along a ten-
minute walk from the Lighthouse to the old Kings Way building. The festival will feature
a number of activities for attendees to check out: Acrylic Street Painting, Sidewalk
Painting and Chalk Art, Large Photography Displays (on posts and by projector), Large
Installation Art Exhibits, Graffiti Wall Murals, Live DJ and Music Performance Sets,
Spoken Word and Experimental Theater, a Fashion Circus, Independent Cinema
Screenings, Masquerade Dance and Drama Troupes, Capoeira Demonstrations, a Kids’
Creative Corner, an Alternative Hair Styling Competition, “Trash to Treasure”
Workshops, Stilt Walkers and Acrobatic Troupes, Bike Stunts, Skateboarding and Roller
Skating Performances, and a Craft Vendor and Food Marketplace. There will be detailed
programs available for patrons in English and Ga that will highlight the main zones of
activity, times and locations.
For more information on the CHALE WOTE Street Art Festival, please contact Mantse
Aryeequaye via email at reddkatpictures@gmail.com or phone 0244897948 or Dr.
Sionne Neely at accra.alt@gmail.com or via phone at 0260508908 or Ama van Dantzig at