Woven in Wa
Why Woven in Wa seeks to celebrate tradition while embracing change. Sarah Jones speaks to its founder Odile Tevie and artist Frederick Bamfo
Against their earthy background, the vibrant, striped fabrics sing out joyfully through the camera lens. It is no surprise that the female weavers of Wa are so proud of their craftsmanship.
Odile Tevie, founder of Nubuke Foundation, is a driving force behind the Woven in Wa project which seeks to raise the status of this skilled craft. Odile says, “We work to highlight and bring focus to the existing rich weaving tradition. Weaving is the mainstay of many creative individuals and artisans in Ghana.”
She tells me that the striped fabrics are synonymous with the Upper West region, differing from the more intricate designs of the Asante and Volta regions. And the aim of Woven in Wa is to celebrate the rich heritage of the weaving tradition in Wa and help to ignite the industry through collaboration with contemporary artists.
The art of strip weaving and its cultural importance is itself part of the tapestry Ghanaian identity. “Woven strips are embedded within historical and cultural significance, used to tell stories and to commemorate historical events, and are worn in family, community and national celebrations,” Odile says.
The difference with fabrics woven in Wa is that the weavers, who have earned a living from their trade for many generations, are mainly women.
One of them, Rosemary Kavening, is the President of the Nadowli Women’s Weaving Association. She is passionate about sharing best practices and works to bring new members into the network. She has been weaving for over the years and frequently creates new designs.
Another, Joyce Dassah, is a master weaver who employs up to 15 apprentices in her workshop in Nadowli. She serves customers in Accra, Kumasi and Techiman. Talata Tutigah is also a master weaver who has been weaving for 22 years. Frustrated that places for weaving lessons in her school were reserved for men, she seized the opportunity to learn as soon as she had the opportunity. She now works full time as a prison officer where she teaches weaving to the inmates. She feels a duty to teach and support those who are unable to access formal training. For the weavers, this is both an artistic passion and a crucial income to support families.
The purpose of the Nubuke Foundation, and the recently-developed Woven in Wa project, is to celebrate Ghanaian culture and to improve collaboration with other artists. Odile says, “We work to highlight the existing rich weaving tradition and bring it to the foreground.”
Traditional artisans face barriers to progression, for example, lack of business knowledge, limited access to technology, and problems with supply, to name a few. Odile also explains there has been resistance to modernised approaches.
“Intentionally or unintentionally there has been a reluctance to fuse the knowledge, craftsmanship and embedded meanings into contemporary practice,” she says. The foundation aims to build links between contemporary artists and traditional artisans. “Artists are increasingly willing to expand their palette, bringing fresh and existing ideas and mediums into their work.”
Frederick Bamfo is a multi-disciplinary artist who is part of this collaboration. He tells City Life Accra: “I was attracted to the colour scheme of the tapestry of the traditional weavers and the concepts that they convey.”
His designs celebrate the weaving tradition that is so integral to Ghana. “Weavers’ patterns reflect the collective legacy of our African lineage. The legacy is anchored by the spirit of communal labour, collaboration and sharing.”
His installations reflect his aspirations: “I hope my work can bring people from all sets of life together to perform a collective task through collaboration and co-production. People from diverse cultures, ages, heights and skin colours are allowed to participate without any exclusivity.”
By blending disciplines such as architecture, painting and sculpture, Frederick’s artwork breathes new life into the possibilities of weaving.
The Woven in Wa project has expanded in its scope. As Odile explains, it began as a collection of images, stories and interviews which were gathered for a practical purpose.
“Our goals are to provide creative design support to the weaving associations, to promote the Woori festival as an important hub to connect weavers and patrons, and to connect the community to the creative voices. We want to establish the centre as a platform for showcasing the fibre and textile artists in Ghana.”
For visitors, it provides an illuminating insight into the weaving tradition and its aspirations for the future. You can even visit the website to create your own design if you are feeling creative.
The annual Woori Festival, held in Wa, was established in 2021. Held over three days, it includes an art exhibition, fashion show, poetry, music and film screenings. The general public is invited once again in March 2024.
Nubuke Foundation is a visual art and cultural institution based in East Legon, Accra, Ghana.
To learn more about Woven in Wa visit: https://woveninwa.org
To see Frederick Bamfo’s work visit studios in Kumasi (Santasi) and in Cape Coast (Apewosika). Instagram: @frederick_bamfo_artist.
