Nkabom Literary Art Festival is Ghana’s pioneering literary event established in 2016 by Inkfluent. Nkabom is Ghana’s rooted communal pan-African experience where literature meets art, science, tech, design, performance and more,  aimed at transforming immediate society.

Nkabom 2018

The 3rd edition of Ghana’s pioneering and contemporary literary art festival, Nkabom Literary Art Festival 2018 will be held in Accra, Ghana and Lomé, Togo from August 15 to August 19, 2018, as an extension to pan-African Emancipation Week. The theme is Ɛse Ne Tɛkrɛma , meaning Inter(activity) or Co-existence.

A free thought space where weavers of cutting edge oral and written word, musicians, academicians, artists and influencers from corners of West Africa, and scapes around the world gather to share in an inclusive environment regardless of age, gender, sexuality, religion, educational background, abilities, etc. Diverse languages, multi-media, interactive performances, alternative storytelling, rare archives and open access workshops are welcome.

 

Nkabom 2017

AUGUST 23rd to 26th – ACCRA, GHANA

THEME: UNSCRAMBLING AFRICA

Nkabom 2017 had its theme as ‘Kenten Spaces‘. Kenten means basket in Akan language. The project went out to network poets, novelists and spoken word artists with photographers, DJs, painters, illustrators, theatre artists, musicians, etc such that the inter-weaving of diverse content magnified the perimeters that literature in commonplace is thought to accomplish.

The creative know-how and messages were implanted through workshops with basic school kids at Nubuke and students at University of Ghana, as well as non-traditional spaces in Accra like Republic-Osu and the main street in the centre of Abelenkpe. At the Bermuda Gardens, in Abelemkpe in preparation for “Abelemkpe by Night” we hosted the first ever Grand Slam Ghana and ended up with 3 winners, unintentionally but relevantly establishing the “Poetry and not competition wins at the end of the day” message. At The Republic Bar & Grill, we had a massive blast of poetry dished with jazz rhythms featuring Apiorkor Seyiram Ashong-Abbey of Citi FM/TV, Paul Forjoe Jnr Hondred Percent, Apollo Adultreé , Kwame Write, Václav Šindelář (Slam Champion from Czech Republic), the legendary Jimmy Berkley and Gyedu Blay Ambolley and US based Blood Drum Spirit. An hour before the Republic Show was a superb interview at YFM with Akosua Hanson and BDS band and Professor of African Music, Dance, and Culture- Kwabena Boateng.

‘Unscrambling Africa’ breathes a myriad of cultures and stirs about essential resources fundamental for digital renaissance and oppressive distribution streams. Acute philosophies, coded data, rare science and hatched art. The exchange gives voice to previously muted meanings, measures and mysticism.

It’s a quest and questioning affair, as we unbutton borderlines, bulletins and belief systems. We address inclusiveness, open-mindedness and responsibility from talking drums to Sahara hikes to Mediterranean silt. From Ghana or Naija jollof, diaspora dynamism to coltan trails. Even from Khufu’s pyramid to Xhosa tongue clicks to Akan weights.

Nkabom 2017 engaged multidisciplinary frameworks and furthered the grid of sustainable ideas through workshops, readings, recitals, performances, screenings, digital applications, etc, in collaboration with cultural provocateurs asking the right questions to inspire social change.

Nkabom 2016

Our first experience at organising something bigger than The Write Experience, and building on the context, space, categories and capacity was what resulted in Nkabom Literary Art Festival. The first ever contemporary Ghanaian literary festival pooling young and culminated word crocheters who use ink, voice, music or mixed media to share stories that connect histories, consummate the present to rediscover the future.

On August 13th, at Nubuke Foundation behind Mensvic Hotel in East Legon
at 10:30am to 3pm, we had a Writing + Alternative Publishing Workshop with Mariska Darko and Daniel Kojo Appiah. At 2pm-4pm the same day and at the same venue, we had the Photosentences Workshop (Write Poetry to Street Photography) with Percy Fotombo Osei-Appiah. At 11am-3pm, Paperbag Paint + Words Workshop ensued with Betty Stuemer & Musa Swallah in collaboration with Kwame Aidoo (Using Nkyinkyim symbol to speak about plastic pollution and urban decay). At 4pm-6pm, we had a Music Set with DJ Vimtinz and at 6pm-7pm, Nkabom featured a reading with Martin Egblewogbe hosted by Andy, followed by a 7:30pm-9:30pm Storytelling Set with Sir Black.

August 14th was the first Abelenkpe by Night event at Abelenkpe Taxi Rank featuring Benjamin Lebrave and DJ VimTinz as well as several local lyricists.

On August 15th, we visited Hope for Life, Gbawe for our Persons With Special Abilities Writing/Reading Workshop, implementing our values concerning inclusiveness with different ability persons.

VOCAL from Canada- Northern Griots’ Anthony Bansfield, Dwayne Morgan, Edmond David, Motion, Osei Alleyne & DJ Elloquenz shared a Literary Empowerment Workshop with University Students and the general public on August 16th at SRC Union Hall, University of Ghana, Legon followed by a 5 PM Fokn Talk with Wanlov the Kubolor
and finally Importing Ghanaians Talk with Alba K. Sumprim. The sessions ended with Networking.

At The Republic Bar, Osu on August 17th 8-12 midnight, we hosted Vocal Portraits Live III with VOCAL/Northern Griots plus rooted DJs from compass tips and surprise acts from Vocal Portraits 3 and a talented guest rapper/poet from Togo, Elom 20ce.