Chale wote street festival is one of Ghana’s most popular and most celebrated festivals. It began as a community gathering many years ago in Jamestown , Accra with a mission to encourage a sustainable creative industry through local visual arts, music, dance, film, fashion and performances.
The roots for Chale Wote go back to 2009 when Aryeequaye, a filmmaker and producer, and Neely, a researcher and writer, started a monthly gathering for filmmakers, musicians, artists and other creatives in Accra. The objective of these meetings (later known as the Talk Party Series) was for the artists to discuss their work and the changes in Accra’s creative scene. The Talk Party Series, quickly became an outlet for creatives to vent their frustrations and discontent at the repressive environment in which they had to work.
In 2011, Mantse Aryeequaye and Dr Sionne Neely established the festival which had about 400 people attending.
Mantse Aryeequaye and Sionne Neely , Image credit(Rising Africa)
Chale wote which literally means ‘ Friend lets go’ in the Ghanaian language Ga, is organized every year in the month of August after the celebration of the Homowo Festival. It brings to life street painting ,grafitti murals, photo exhibitions, theatre, spoken word, interactive installations , skate shows, a food and fashion marketplace, photography, live street performances , extreme sports and so much more.
Chale wote Street Art , Image credit(Beyond the Return)
For the sake of the art, people normally attend this event dressed in simple, casual, scary and crazy outfits. From the tattered looks to the high up head wraps and so on.
Some scary crazy looks, Image credit ( Getty)
The 2023 edition of the Chale wote street art festival is slated for 25th August, 2023 at the Christiansborg Castle, Osu. The Grand Finale however is from Saturday 26th- Sunday 27th August at the Black Star Square.
This, 2023 cycle of Chale Wote Street Art Festival, according t0 organizers , “is a celebration of over a decade of offering some of the most iconic public art interventions by African artists, as well as co-creations with collaborators from across the world.”
