Accra’s lively Chale Wote Street Art Festival returns on August 18 for its 15th edition, bringing both economic opportunities for local vendors and bold expressions of cultural storytelling.
Hundreds of food sellers, artisans, and small business owners are setting up across Osu for the week-long celebration. Organizers have kept fees affordable and structured by product type to encourage grassroots entrepreneurship.
Festival co-founder Anny Osabutey highlighted its dual role as both marketplace and artistic platform, noting that it draws thousands of tourists whose spending directly supports local livelihoods. He urged vendors to work only with official festival teams, warning them against unauthorized intermediaries. Organizers have also addressed past challenges such as power outages with backup electricity and tighter vendor management.
This year’s theme, “The Orbs Beneath the Nile Lead to Kongo,” focuses on Africa’s liberation struggles. Original murals, performances, and installations will explore identity, memory, and resistance. “We’re moving away from recycled work toward narratives of identity and collective memory,” Osabutey said. While Ghanaian and international artists will interpret the theme, sponsorship from the corporate sector remains limited. However, crucial venue support continues to come from the Ghana Tourism Authority.
From its early days in Jamestown, Chale Wote has grown into one of West Africa’s most celebrated cultural events. As the festival unfolds next week, it reaffirms its purpose: boosting Accra’s economy while reimagining African stories for a new generation.