Sika Kokoo by Kwabena Appiah-Nti

In his new book Sika Kokoo, Kwabena Appiah-Nti (Belgian-Ghanaian, b.1994) takes us on an intimate journey through his fatherland Ghana, showing the country and its people through a series of photographs. This visual journal documents the artist’s first physical experience in Ghana, two years ago. It portrays the country’s contemporary culture, but also its immense heritage by means of symbols and ancient proverbs.

Born and raised in a small Dutch town, Appiah-Nti had never been particularly connected to his Ghanaian roots when he was young.

Sika Kokoo means red money in the Ghanaian Twi language, but it’s translated as gold in English. Gold objects possess deep symbolism in the Akan Culture, the people Appiah-Nti’s father is from. Gold is considered an earthly counterpart to the sun and the physical manifestation of life’s vital force, Kra (the soul). Appiah-Nti uses the symbolism to accompany the images throughout the book, building a bridge between the past and the present and demonstrating how relevant the ancient proverbs still are in contemporary everyday life.

Through the use of analogue-style photography, Appiah-Nti creates images that radiate warmth and softness, portraying idealised and dignified images. The subjects in this book are people he met through social media, as well as people he encountered out on the streets. Whether he is portraying women carrying groceries, young boys on skateboards or motorcycle communities, he always aims to represent his subjects in a proud and powerful way. He strives to counter the distorted western view of Ghana by depicting the beautiful and positive sides of the country.