Accra’s Third Obroni Wawu October (OWO) Festival Draws Global Fashion Community to Celebrate Ghana’s Upcycling Legacy
Fashion designers, artists, models, photographers, and thrift vendors from around the world gathered at Accra’s Rawlings Park for the third annual Obroni Wawu October (OWO) festival, honoring Ghana’s thriving secondhand fashion culture.
First launched in 2022, this festival highlights Kantamanto Market, the heartbeat of Ghana’s thrift and upcycling movement, paying homage to the community and its sustainability practices.
Named after the Ghanaian term “Obroni Wawu” — “dead white man’s clothes” — the festival underscores the cultural significance of secondhand imports in Ghana. Organized by the Community Engagement and Community Business Incubator (CBI) teams, in partnership with Kantamanto Market’s leaders, the event aims to celebrate Ghana’s legacy of circular fashion while building connections with other secondhand markets across the Global South.
This year’s Obroni Wawu festival featured a week packed with engaging activities. It began with kayayei (head porter) storytelling, continued with a beach cleanup, the vibrant Kanta Block Party, and concluded with the main OWO Day celebration under the theme, “I Kant, U Kant, We Kant.” Fashion enthusiasts, sustainability advocates, and key stakeholders gathered to honor Kantamanto Market’s role in extending garment life cycles through reuse, repair, and upcycling.
A highlight for many was the marketplace where Kantamanto vendors and upcycle designers showcased and sold their unique, repurposed items. The festival also featured activities like upcycling challenges, the Foose Drip contest, Kanka Talent Show, and live DJ sets. Performances from local musicians, including Pure Akan, Wanlov Kubolor, and Sister Derby, added a festive atmosphere, making the event a vibrant celebration of circular fashion.
Obroni Wawu October has solidified its place as a premier festival for promoting sustainable practices within Ghana’s fashion industry and reinforcing the global value of secondhand clothing.