Chale Wote Street Art Festival 2023: Hundreds participate in the launch and procession
Hundreds of patrons thronged the streets of Osu for the launch of the 13th edition of the Chale Wote Street Art Festival.
The event began on Monday, August 21, with a procession from Independence Square into the Osu Township.
The pouring of libation to pave the way for the procession was also not left out of this year’s event.
The procession, which served as the opening of the week-long festival, started with the pouring of libation at the Osu Klottey Shrine to seek spiritual guidance throughout the procession and the week.
The libation, according to an organising member of the Chale Wote Street Art Festival, Anny Osabutey, was relevant because the festival has flip-flopped from Jamestown to the Osu community, and so they needed permission from the gods.
“He spoke about the fact that everything that would be a misfortune should be far from us. That is, blessings should come through whatever we’re doing, and we should go in peace and come back in peace,” he said.
After the libation was poured, the procession officially began with rituals performed at vantage points.
The opening has always attracted people from all walks of life, but for some people, it was their first time witnessing the procession.
Nii Lomotey, an artist has participated in the festival for some years now but has not gotten the opportunity to join the procession.
This year, he decided to skip lectures just to witness the procession.
He considers it the most vital aspect of all the festival’s activities, and so he needed to partake in order to strengthen his spirituality.
“I always miss it because I’m also a student. But this year, I’ve actually pushed my lectures aside, and I said I want to be part of it because this is something important with regard to the Chale Wote that we always do, and I said this year I won’t miss it for anything. So, I’ve missed lectures just to be here,” Nii Lomotey stated.
Some Ghanaian celebrities, including Mzbel, also participated in the 13th edition, and it was her first time.
The 2023 Chale Wote Street Art Festival has just kicked off, and this year it will be held at the Black Star Square and its environs.
There will be several other activities, including exhibitions of arts, film screenings, fashion parades, and musical performances.