Asantehene worried over brain drain in African contemporary arts - Adomonline.com

Speaking at the homecoming of the 32 looted royal artefacts by the British, the Asantehene noted that although a significant number of African artists are celebrated globally, their handiworks are elusive in most museums in Africa.

“There are many galleries springing up in modern African cities and there are reviews of contemporary African art in major media, including CNN, Bluesbury, CBS, and SABC of young African artists who have graduated from art schools within the continent and abroad.

“What can we do to save some of the creative energies of especially contemporary artists is some of the exhibition of objects that we’re taking forcibly at war and sometimes at peace

To promote indigenous production of some contemporary relics, the Asantehene has requested the institution of an annual competition among artists in Ghana.

“I asked the Manhyia Palace Museum to design a project to support traditional arts in Ghana and we’ll be collaborating with the KNUST College of Arts and some of our partners including the British Museum, the Victoria and Albert Museum, a British Airways and IAG cargo to support this in 10 years from 2025.

“The works of major finalists will not only be purchased for the upcoming contemporary court Art Museum, so we can help retain some of the creative products in this country

I’ll be meeting some of these Ghanaian artists, painters, goldsmiths, and see how we can collectively work with some of the royal or traditional art groups,” he revealed.