Posted on August 25, 2022.

Aptly themed “Stargate to Africa,” the 2022 edition of the Chale Wote street art festival in Accra harnessed the power of storytelling and art to reinterpret African folklore into otherworldly experiences. The weeklong festival came to a close this past weekend, showcasing evocative still and motion art installations punctuated by makeshift boxing arenas and spontaneous performances by dancers, drummers, cyclists, skaters, and a flash mob of stylish patrons. This was scored by thundering muskets, brass bands, and hiplife and Afropop music.

A cross between Burning Man, Coachella, and a biennial art exhibition, Chale Wote attracts thousands of ardent fans who wish to experience unconventional art, music, and live performances. The 2022 edition was a return to the in-person format after it went on hiatus in 2020 and showed virtually in 2021. A true pan-African affair, Chale Wote was a rich display of culture from all corners of the continent. Held in the neighborhood of Jamestown, the festival consisted of a main stage with rotating events and vending stalls lining the principal street. A cavernous wooden installation decked out with vivid murals formed the passageway to the festival. The Ussher Fort, a UNESCO World Heritage site, also served as a makeshift gallery for curated exhibitions, however the open street would see the most dramatic artistic and sartorial expressions. The parade of costumes included the resplendent Egungun masquerades and the regal emissary from Benin City. A procession of two glamorous queens decked in kente and appliqué adinkra cloth and accentuated with hornlike crowns stole the show. Artist and designer Nii Nortey also staged a performance of his alter egos draped in Afro ponchos of iridescent hues and complete with Halloween masks.

Chale Wote manifests in the most audacious street style, where rules are obsolete. The bright sunny afternoon seemed perfect for color blocking and a feast of edgy African prints. Chunky jewelry, body paint, and tattoos alongside dramatic Afro hairstyles referenced Afropunk from the ’80s. Some kept things simple yet impactful, like an attendee who wore high-waist jeans and a bold striped marinière sweater. Fancy a little nostalgia from the ’90s? Look to the streetwear connoisseur wearing a Dada Supreme jacket with baggy jeans by Sean John. There was plenty of glitz too. One patron repurposed old CDs into an oversized T-shirt, while another wore mirrored denim. The grand portal to Chale Wote may be closed now, but memories of the exceptional street style live on. See the best below.

Source: Vogue