Asantehene Honours 10 Renowned Artists at Inaugural Artist Laureates

Kumasi, Ashanti Region - 24 May, 2025 - The Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, paid tribute to 10 renowned artists at the Manhyia Palace in Kumasi on May 23, 2025, as part of the inaugural Artist Laureates program.

The ceremony, themed "Our Old Masters," honored the artists' significant contributions to African art and history, with the aim of inspiring a new generation of artists.

The 10 awardees include Professor Ablade Glover, Professor Ato Delaquis, El Anatsui, Francis Kwatei Nee-Owoo, Frances Ademola, Peggy Appiah, and Kwame Akoto, among others. This decade-long initiative, launched in collaboration with UNESCO, seeks to recognize industry leaders and motivate professionals in traditional and digital arts.

In his address, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II highlighted the pivotal role art has played in shaping Ghanaian societies, citing its significance in pre-colonial times and its continued impact today. He noted that art was used by Ghana's first president, Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, as a tool for national unity and identity.

“Art as we know it played a critical and functional role in the formation of societies and among virtually all the ethnic groups in Ghana from pre-colonial times through the cultural imperialism that followed and our terms of a nation from 1957.

“Our first president, Dr Kwame Nkrumah, used it to unify this country and supported some of the great artists we came to know and who defined vision for us, the symbol of our new independence,” he said.

Source: Lead News Online