The Merian Institute for Advanced Studies in Africa (MIASA) at the University of Ghana has held a one day exhibition under the auspices of its Artist -in- Residence, Katesi Jacqueline Kalange to project traditional basket weaving of the indigenes of Bolgatanga in the Upper East Region of Ghana , where local materials are used by artisans to weave colourful and indigenous traditional baskets and mats which projects the time tested ingenuity of the indigenous people .
The research project funded by MIASA – UG and its German partners was undertaken by MIASA Research Fellow and Artist , Katesi Jacqueline to delve deeper into the traditional art forms and ingenuity of the locals of the Upper East Region of Ghana and how it interrelates in modern times to preserve priceless traditions and customs of the local people in the region and the dissemination of oral history to current generations and generations yet unborn.
The Exhibition which drew a sizeable audience from academics, students, journalists and the general public was held on November 25,2024 at the offices of MIASA on the campus of the University of Ghana.
The project culminated in a documentary of the whole processes of traditional basket weaving of the people of Bolgatanga and the incooperation of recyclable materials of plastics to complement the base materials for producing quality mats and Bolga baskets as well create sustainable ways of making such products to sustain the individuals employed in the local ecosystem.
The project was focused on the theme ” Weaving Our Past, Present and Future”.
Speaking in an Exclusive interview with Radio Univers, the Research artist in the project , Katesi Jacqueline Kalange intimated that African indigenous wisdom was being underrepresented and undervalued in practical terms , and as such she was motivated to investigate the intrinsic values behind the concept of the Bolgatanga baskets over the years in order to sustain the conversations that African art must be infused with modern ways of doing things that generate economic value and create sustainable income for the practitioners of the traditions of the past.
” African art over the centuries has been undervalued and underrepresented in the general scheme of things , and as a strong advocate of preserving indigenous traditions , i was inspired to investigate the loads of indigenous practices and knowledge behind the creative thought process that comes up with the weaving of the timeless Bolgatanga baskets and mats in Northern Ghana .
This motivation as part of my academic and research requirements at MIASA was pushed to go to the field in Bolgatanga , to go engage the local practitioners on how they go about creating that beautiful product from local materials which ends up on the shelves not only in Africa but international art festivals across the globe , which has helped shape my understanding as a visual artist that , we can infuse the modern ways of creating such products using single use plastics in my line of work to generate quality products , which do not deviate from the local norms but are more profitable for the thousands of indigenes who are in the business of commercializing this art form for decades”.
Also, Katesi Jacqueline Kalange reiterated the vexed point of policy makers and educational institutions particularly in Africa taking bold steps to tapping into the indigenous talents of these local entrepreneurs to create conversations and narratives that sell timeless African creative thought process in formalized institutions.
” These beautiful innovations by local artists in the Northern part of Ghana must be mainstreamed by policymakers and the practitioners given both technical and financial support to scale up in order to generate a sustainable ;local economy that passes on oral knowledge forms to both young and old folks, in terms of mainstreaming the innovations into formalized institutions like basic schools and universities on entrepreneurship and the rich potential of such schemes to create value in society beyond just the aesthetic beauty of such products”.
These findings from my research on the field co sponsored by MIASA – UG and its German partners will go a long way to broaden my horizon as an avid researcher in African art and help shape my perspectives on the various ways in which we can use pre existing knowledge in the African cultural and traditional space to change the negative narratives about the continent “.
Katesi Jacqueline Kalange is an artist from Uganda. Her practice lies within a tapestry of sculpture, architecture, research, performance and installation art. It is inspired by the role African indigenous wisdom played and still plays in ensuring a harmonious co-existence between humans and other beings within shared eco systems. It goes ahead to challenge capitalist narratives that view other beings as mere resources to be exploited for man’s benefit. Thereby African indigenous wisdom is presented as a corner stone from which to propel innovations and inventions within our contemporary society today aimed at addressing challenges like inadequate waste management, climate change, unemployment, etc.
