Chale Wote Festival 2025: “The Orbs Beneath the Nile Lead to Kongo”

For over a decade, the Chale Wote Street Art Festival has been a bold celebration of art, performance, and community—a living canvas in Accra’s historic Jamestown neighborhood. In 2025, from August 18–25, the festival explores a profound theme: “The Orbs Beneath the Nile Lead to Kongo”, reflecting on colonial legacies, social hierarchies, and cultural intersections rooted in Congo’s history. Expect a sensitive yet visceral artistic journey that traverses installation, visuals, performance, and discourse. beyondtours.org+10travelafricamovement.com+10accradotaltradio.com+10

Table of Contents

Festival Theme & Artistic Vision

Each year, Chale Wote pushes boundaries by curating a theme that sparks dialogue through creative expression. The 2025 edition centers on legacies of imperialism in Congo—through perspectives of conflict, consumer culture, and historical lineage. As described by Travel Africa Movement:

“This year’s theme […] will feature interdisciplinary artists whose work examines the universal effects of imperialism in Congo.”
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Artists are encouraged to weave African and Afro-diasporic histories into their installations, murals, performances, and fashion—creating not only art, but cultural reflection.

Festival Schedule & Flagship Events

Chale Wote 2025 spans an immersive 8-day festival in August, kicking off with community rituals and culminating in a vibrant weekend of performances and exhibitions in Jamestown and Independence Square. Key events include:
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Twins Procession (Aug 15): Traditional parade of twins dressed in vibrant regalia, celebrating Ga mythology and cultural identity.
Day of Remembering (Aug 18): All-white procession to honor ancestors and life cycles—an emotional public affirmation of history and continuity.
ShikaShika Art Fair (Aug 18): A curated space for emerging and established artists to display street art, prints, and installations with direct community engagement.
Film & Salon Sessions (Aug 19–20): Screenings, panels, and performances featuring filmmakers, cultural thinkers, and creatives.
Krobo Glass Workshop Tour (Aug 21): A rare peek into the glass-blowing craft of the Krobo beadmakers in Odumase using recycled materials.
Grand Finale Weekend (Aug 23–24): The heartbeat of the festival—street exhibitions, mural reveals, dance, music, food vendors, and the Gbagbasete procession exploring post-colonial futures.
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Who Takes Part

Chale Wote brings together a diverse creative community: over 200 artists, performers, muralists, photographers, DJs, designers, and academics—both local and international. Attendance regularly hits 100,000+ people, turning Jamestown into a dynamic open-air studio.

Participating artists are selected through calls held in mid-year, paying attention not just to visual talent, but ability to reflect the year’s theme.
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Why the Festival Is a Cultural Powerhouse

Public Access & Civic Engagement
No tickets, no VIP areas—just art in the open for everyone.
Platform for Political & Cultural Reflection
Themes tackle impactful issues like colonial legacies, environment, memory, and identity.
Economic & Tourism Impact
Attracts creatives, tourists, and press from across Africa and abroad, fueling local businesses, galleries, and cultural tourism.
Creative Ecosystem Growth
Launches careers, fosters collaboration, and raises awareness about Ghana’s regional cultural leadership.

Voices & Highlights from the Street

One local painter shared:

“Chale Wote is where the street simply becomes the canvas.”

Another festival-goer noted:

“This year’s Congo theme felt different—more urgent. There was poetry, protest, and a powerful stillness in the white procession.”

Attendees commented on prominent installations—giant murals depicting Congolese colonial archives and performance artists embodied ancestral figures during the “Day of Remembering.” Community workshops engaged residents in collaborative murals and open dialogue around history.
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Planning to Attend? Here’s What You Should Know

Dates: August 18–25, 2025
Locations: Jamestown, Osu lanes, Independence Square
Cost: All events free to the public
Participation: Artist calls open June–July; early application is key for curated projects
Health & Safety: Be ready for large crowds, stay hydrated, and wear comfortable shoes for street processions.
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Final Thoughts

Chale Wote 2025 is more than just an arts festival—it’s a cultural statement. By blending grassroots creativity, deep historical questioning, and community involvement, it reaffirms Ghana’s position as a space for cultural dialogue, resistance, and imagination.

With its theme rooted in colonial reflection, ancestral memory, and Afro-futurist possibility, this year’s edition invites everyone to participate: artists, local residents, tourists, and digital audiences around the world.