The historic town of Tutu in Ghana’s Eastern Region has opened the “Tutu Wɔ Bi Ka” Heritage Centre. The launch marks a new step in cultural preservation and international collaboration. It also represents a milestone in the Unfolding Cultural Heritage (UCH) project, a Ghana-Italy initiative.
The UCH project preserves and reimagines intangible heritage such as oral storytelling, drum language, and folklore. It uses art, research, and community collaboration to keep traditions alive. Funded by Regione Puglia, Italy, and coordinated by ArtLife Matters Ghana, the project links Ghanaian communities with international partners. Together, they ensure heritage remains a living resource for future generations.
With support from Ramdom and the Library and Museum Centre of Lecce, Italy, the project in Tutu placed strong emphasis on community participation. Local elders, artists, and researchers worked hand in hand to collect, archive, and reinterpret traditions.
Features of the Tutu Wɔ Bi Ka Heritage Centre
- A trilingual picture book (Akuapem Twi, English, Italian) with stories of a missing hunter, drum language, and a historic map of Tutu.
- Field recordings and community soundscapes, available onsite and online at www.artlifematters.org/uch/tutu
- Three colorful murals that highlight Tutu’s cultural identity.
Eric Agyare, Director of ArtLife Matters, explained the centre’s vision:
“Heritage lives not only in monuments, but also in stories, rhythms, and memory. This space allows the past to meet the present and gives local voices room to reach a global audience.”
Luigi De Luca, Director of the Library and Museum Centre in Lecce, also stressed the importance of collaboration:
“Unfolding Cultural Heritage shows how art can connect continents. By exchanging tools and stories, we are not just safeguarding culture, we are reimagining it together with the communities who live it daily.”
The centre will serve as both a cultural hub and a living archive. In addition to exhibitions, it will host workshops, research exchanges, and digital documentation projects. These activities will help keep Tutu’s traditions dynamic, relevant, and accessible.
According to project partners, this model could inspire other rural communities. By linking oral traditions with digital platforms, Ghana can connect generations while strengthening cultural identity.
Kizito Amartey, from the National Commission on Culture (NCC), captured this vision well:
“This is more than preservation. It is cultural sustainability. It prepares future generations to embrace their roots while engaging with the wider world.”
Through the UCH project, Tutu now stands as a clear example of how communities can reimagine tradition. Rather than freezing culture in time, the initiative keeps it alive as an evolving practice that strengthens resilience and identity.
The Unfolding Cultural Heritage project receives funding under Regional Law 20/2003 – “Partnership for Cooperation” – Public Call 2024 by the Puglia Region, Department of Economic Development, Section for Research and International Relations.