Music Garnishes Art In The Garden

Two popular musicians Amandzeba Brew and Rex Omar at the weekend entertained a group of art lovers in Accra with a number of tunes from their rich repertoire.

Performing at the residence of the French Ambassador in Accra during a one-day exhibition dubbed “Art in the Garden”, the two musicians powerfully revealed the richness of Ghanaian local rhythms and its potential of finding its rightful place on the world music scene.

Amandzeba and Rex, who have over the past several years worked jointly and severally to promote Ghanaian rhythms, created a sense of re-awakening for local rhythms, which is gradually being embraced by young Ghanaian musicians.

Over one hundred paintings, sculptures, ceramics and bead jewellery by thirty Ghanaian and foreign artists were put on display in the spacious garden thereby creating a feeling of an international art festival.

Artists who took part in the show include Kofi Dawson, Isaac Addico, Nana Amu Fleisher-Djoleto, Anane Asare, Ofei Dako, Adwoa Amoah, Tei Huagie, Komla Lawoe and Oshaba Dakogre from Ghana.

The rests are Teresa Rozkiewicz (Canada), Troare Mohammed, Samuel Tete Katchan (Togo), Joseph Kolawole, Rasheed Olaniyi (Nigeria), Fernand Nonkouni (Burkina Faso), Reginald Goncalves (Brazil) and Hussain Hashim Mozzay (Lebanon).

Indeed, works on show revealed a new relationship between arts and people in general while maintaining a strong physical and psychological presence.

Inspired by diverse influences in Ghana and abroad, the art pieces epitomised energy while some artists showed a strong determination to experiment thus creating works with modernist trends.

Initiated in Accra by Virginia Ryan, an Australian artist/writer, “Art in the Garden” is meant to create extra space for the exhibition of artworks in Accra and its surrounding areas.

The French Ambassador in Accra, His Excellency Pierre Jacquemot, sponsored the exhibition, which was organised by the Foundation for Contemporary Art - Ghana.