In the pre-modern camera era, African cultures like the Akans documented family portraits of the deceased through sculpture, a practice that symbolized ancestral veneration.
However, colonialism disrupted this tradition, leading to its misrepresentation and demonization in many parts of Africa.
Ghanaian artist and educator Kwame Akoto-Bamfo has played a significant role in rekindling interest in traditional African funerary art and customs through his artwork and educational initiatives.
Akoto-Bamfo gained recognition in 2015 through online campaigns and exhibitions, culminating in the display of his piece “Insisu” during Ghana’s 60th Independence celebration in Cape Coast.
In 2019, he founded the Nkyinkyim Museum in Nuhalenya-Ada, 180 km from Accra, as part of his Ancestor Project non-profit organization. This museum has become a space for people of African descent to engage in healing processes through art and education.
The annual Ancestor Veneration ceremony at the Nkyinkyim Museum has been instrumental in reviving African traditional funerary arts and rituals.
The museum’s Sacred Area features 11,111 unique heads and small huts arranged in a circle to protect the ancestors.
Visitors are encouraged to participate in traditional practices like pouring libations and showing respect for the artworks by refraining from taking selfies.
During a recent interview, Akoto-Bamfo highlighted the inclusive nature of the museum’s ceremonies, which now welcome various African ethnic groups and African Americans from the diaspora.
He emphasized the importance of reclaiming African cultural practices and dispelling negative stereotypes associated with traditional systems.
One of the museum’s innovative approaches is the use of griots instead of traditional tour guides to preserve oral traditions and lead visitors through the grounds.
Griots undergo training in oral history and culture, interacting with outdoor sculptures created by Akoto-Bamfo and his team.
In addition to preserving endangered African funerary art forms, the Nkyinkyim Museum is working on translating Ghanaian and African literature into local languages.
This initiative has garnered support from the Adibea Royal Family and other stakeholders who recognize the significance of language in preserving oral traditions.
Akoto-Bamfo’s vision for cultural healing and reclamation aligns with Ghana’s “Year of Return” and “Beyond the Return” initiatives, which seek to welcome the African diaspora back to the continent.
