Credit: Kekeli K. Blamey
In a landmark celebration of artistic excellence, the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, has honoured ten distinguished artists with the inaugural 2025 Artist Laureates Award during a grand ceremony held at the Manhyia Palace in Kumasi.
The prestigious event, organized in collaboration with UNESCO, recognized the exceptional lifetime achievements of artists who have shaped the narrative of African art and cultural identity.
Among the honorees were acclaimed figures such as Professor Ablade Glover, Professor Ato Delaquis, El Anatsui, Francis Kwatei Nee-Owoo, Frances Ademola, Peggy Appiah, and Kwame Akoto, alongside three other eminent contributors to the continent’s visual and cultural arts landscape.
The awards mark the launch of a decade-long initiative aimed at celebrating trailblazers in traditional and contemporary African art, while also fostering innovation among emerging talents in both traditional and digital mediums.
In his keynote address, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II underscored the enduring significance of art in the socio-political and cultural evolution of Ghana.
He traced its influence from ancient times through colonial periods and into the present-day nation-building process.
“Art as we know it played a critical and functional role in the formation of societies and among virtually all the ethnic groups in Ghana from pre-colonial times through the cultural imperialism that followed and our terms of a nation from 1957,” the Asantehene said.
He further highlighted how Ghana’s first president, Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, leveraged the power of art to foster national unity and identity.
“Our first president, Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, used it to unify this country and supported some of the great artists we came to know and who defined vision for us, the symbol of our new independence,” he noted.
The event also served as a cultural convergence, attracting dignitaries, art policymakers, and enthusiasts from Nigeria, the Republic of Benin, and a delegation from the Republic of Seychelles, reinforcing a pan-African commitment to the promotion of the arts.
The Artist Laureates Award is poised to become a hallmark in the African art calendar, setting the tone for a future where creativity, heritage, and innovation are celebrated and sustained across generations.
