Ghanaian Artists to Embark on Historic UK Cultural Exchange with Briti

In a significant move to strengthen cultural ties between Ghana and the United Kingdom, the British Council Ghana has supported two Ghanaian creatives, Awura Abena Agyeman and Emma Ofosua Donkor, to participate in prestigious international fashion and literature opportunities in the UK in August 2026.

The beneficiaries of this opportunity were Awura Abena Agyeman, Co-founder and CEO of WEAR Ghana and Republic of Africa, and Emma Ofosua Donkor, writer, cultural curator and Founder of the All-African Women Poetry Festival.

Showcasing Ghanaian Fashion on a Global Stage

Through the British Council's Creative Growth Programme, Awura Abena Agyeman participated in Africa Fashion Week London (AFWL) 2026, which took place from 17 to 23 August 2026. The opportunity brought together selected fashion entrepreneurs from across Sub-Saharan Africa for industry networking, skills development, peer learning and market access opportunities. AFWL was recognised as the United Kingdom's largest annual fashion event dedicated to African and African-inspired design.

Awura Abena Agyeman was a fashion entrepreneur and creative industry leader whose brand, Republic of Africa, had become an influential platform for celebrating African identity, creating jobs and promoting home-grown talent. A Mandela Washington Fellow and multiple award nominee, she had been recognised among Ghana's Top 50 Young CEOs and had collaborated with institutions including Harvard Business School and New York University.

Building International Literary and Cultural Partnerships

Emma Ofosua Donkor was selected for Momentum 2026, an international literature delegate programme that took place in Edinburgh during Scotland's world-renowned festival season. Anchored within the Edinburgh International Book Festival, Momentum brought together cultural leaders from around the world to develop lasting partnerships with Scotland's literature sector and the wider international cultural community.

Emma Ofosua was an acclaimed writer, cultural curator, performance poet and literacy advocate. She was the author of I Wish You Courage in the Night Season and Founder of the All-African Women Poetry Festival, a British Council and UNESCO-supported platform that amplifies the voices of women poets from across Africa and the diaspora.

Strengthening UK-Ghana Creative Collaboration

The British Council believed that international cultural exchange played a vital role in supporting the growth and sustainability of Ghana's creative economy. Previous participants in similar programmes had secured international collaborations, funding opportunities, business partnerships, publishing relationships and expanded market access across the United Kingdom, Europe and beyond.

The participation of Awura Abena Agyeman and Emma Ofosua Donkor reflected the strength, diversity and global potential of Ghana's creative sector. Their selection provided individual professional development opportunities and created pathways for wider knowledge exchange, industry collaboration and institutional partnerships that benefited Ghana's fashion, literature and cultural ecosystems.

As Ghana continued to position itself as a hub for creativity and cultural innovation in Africa, the opportunities demonstrated the value of sustained international collaboration in advancing the country's creative industries and expanding global recognition for Ghanaian talent.

Source: JOY