Until June 30, the town of Wa, located in Ghana’s Upper West Region, vibrates to the rhythm of the annual Woori 2024 festival. Under the theme “Weaving a sustainable future for the next generation”, this festival highlights Ghana’s rich weaving and textile heritage, propelling them onto the global art scene to encourage and cultivate sustainable artistic practices in the younger generations to come. Organized by the Nubuke Foundation’s Center for Textiles and Clay in Loho, this annual event promises an enriching experience, showcasing Ghanaian culture, creativity and community activism.
Immerse yourself in a festive and captivating atmosphere conducive to discovering the art of Ghanaian weaving and textiles at the Woori Festival 2024. This not-to-be-missed event offers a variety of enriching programs. Live demonstrations, educational workshops, an art exhibition, film screenings and much more await art lovers and novices eager to learn more about ancestral African weaving and creative techniques. The Nubuke Foundation Center is the perfect venue for this cultural getaway, where tourists, families, artists and art enthusiasts can enjoy an informative and interactive experience.
Focus on Woori Festival 2024 activities
At the Nubuke Foundation Center, a series of workshops and interactive sessions will be led by weaving professionals. These creative enthusiasts will explore a variety of styles and techniques, from traditional to contemporary weaving. Master weavers from various associations and schools will be present, including the Nadowli Women’s Weaving Association, the Tietaa Weavers Association (Nandom), the Methodist School for the Blind and the School for the Deaf, both located in Wa. According to the planned program, renowned experts such as Sharllot Awe, Winifred Naah, Rosemary Kavening, Talata Tutiga, Anna Dakurah, as well as other master weavers from Upper West region weaving associations, will be on hand to share their expertise.
The Woori Festival 2024 will also offer visitors the opportunity to experience live demonstrations of artisans in the midst of weaving sessions. The experience, creativity and know-how of artisans in the creation of Ghanaian textiles will be showcased, giving greater consideration and importance to the work of these experts and to the richness of this ancestral heritage.
From spinning to dyeing, all the delicacy of the design process will be laid bare to satisfy the public’s desire for discovery. Special activities and interactive sessions will also be planned for children and young adults, ensuring their participation and involvement in the festival. The Woori Festival 2024 is a unique opportunity to discover and celebrate Ghana’s rich textile heritage, while offering an educational and entertaining experience for all ages.
To showcase local creativity, an art exhibition was organized as part of the event. A wide selection of textile creations by weavers, fashion designers and tie and dye specialists will be on display throughout the celebration. In addition to these pieces, other textile-related artworks by contemporary Ghanaian artists and emerging talents will also be on display. The exhibition will include sculptures, paintings, digital illustrations and multimedia installations by artists such as Isaac Opoku, Patrick Tagoe-Turkson, Senyati Koakh, Amelia Cherbu and Edmund Anyebuno. This exhibition will offer visitors an immersion in the richness and diversity of Ghanaian textile art, highlighting the talent and creativity of local artists.
The Woori 2024 Festival also includes stimulating and engaging discussion summits in its program. These roundtables aim to highlight artists, cultural historians, fashion designers and environmentalists who will address the role of weaving in Ghana’s cultural identity and its potential for sustainable development.
To provide an immersive and entertaining experience during the evenings of the festival, a series of cultural performances is planned, including music, dance, film screenings and spoken word poetry. These activities aim to celebrate the rich cultural heritage of the Upper West region and Ghana as a whole. The program will include the exhilarating music of Wiyaala, cultural performances by the Kparisaga Bawaa group and the Loho dance group, as well as spoken word artists such as Mwuintombo the Poet and Guo Naa Francis. These cultural events will help enrich the experience of visitors to the Woori Festival 2024 by showcasing the diversity and vitality of Ghanaian culture.
Throughout Woori Festival 2024, visitors will have the opportunity to discover historic sites and leading weaving centers in Wa, where they can enjoy and purchase unique, handcrafted textiles and artworks, directly supporting local artisans and sustainable artistic practices.
More than just a celebration of Ghanaian art and culture, the Woori Festival 2024 presents itself as an enriching platform for dialogue and learning, conducive to inspiration and the creation of unique and uplifting works. The event offers a unique opportunity to discover Ghana’s rich weaving traditions, appreciate their historical significance and explore their contemporary relevance. By showcasing local artisans and encouraging sustainable artistic practices, the festival helps to preserve and promote Ghanaian art and culture for future generations.
