Ghanaian multidisciplinary artist Sela Adjei opened his most significant solo art exhibition dubbed the ‘Zadokeli’ at the Museum of Science and Technology at Accra on Thursday 26th May 2023.
As part of the efforts to promote and celebrate the Ghanaian Artists, the ‘Zadokeli’ Exhibition which was hosted by the Grin Studios featured over 60 works from Sela Adjei.
Sela Adjei’s new work for this exhibition was inspired by his father Dr. Mawuli Adzei’s forthcoming poetry anthology, also entitled ‘Zadokeli’, and the unfortunate incidents that befell humanity, particularly, Black communities, during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The exhibition was graced by many top dignitaries and Diplomats.
As a collaborating artist, spoken word poet Elikplim Akorli known by his stage name The God of Poetry thrilled the guests with spoken word performances off his new album.
A number of selected paintings (Black Power Series) complemented by Elikplim Akorli’s spoken word poetry formed a virtual component of the exhibition in order to reach a wider global audience.
Zadokeli was officially launched by Prof Obadele Kambon with African prayers.
The word “zadokeli” in Ewe, means “eclipse of the sun”.
During the global pandemic in 2020, six eclipses occurred within the year including four lunar eclipses across the world, with one total and one annular solar eclipse in addition.
The first eclipse of 2020 occurred between January 10 and 11, foreshadowing a dark year ahead.
In the Ewe worldview, an eclipse, whether solar or lunar, is of deep spiritual significance. Thus, in the event of an eclipse, traditional priests, priestesses, and diviners seek answers and offer prayers. These holders of esoteric knowledge engage with the divinities to ‘restore’ normal cosmic order through propitiation rites.
Adjei’s role here is as an artist drawing links between the 2020 eclipse and the rise in anti-Black violence and injustice and positions him among the far-seeing priests and diviners who seek answers in an effort to ‘restore’ both cosmic and social order. Thus, through his new collection of paintings, Sela Adjei visually expands the discussion of analogizing the Black predicament with a recurring image of a gloomy eclipse.
Zadokeli is made up of over 60 large-scale paintings which have never before been displayed in public and are curated by Edwin Otta and Michael Nii Dodoo Darku. A book containing critical essays reflecting on the various issues captured in the Zadokeli collection was released at the exhibition. The book was edited by G. Edzordzi Agbozo, PhD (University of North Carolina Wilmington, USA) and Niklas Wolf, M.A. (University of Zurich).
The contributing scholars include Asana Greenstreet, M.A. (Royal College of Art), Matthew Francis Rarey, PhD (Oberlin, Ohio, USA), Elikplim Akorli, M.Phil, Damawa L. Jallah, Alan Dunyo Avorgbedor, PhD (McGill University’s Peter Guo-hua Fu School of Architecture), Kwabena Agyare Yeboah (University of California, Santa Barbara), Kate Wand, MFA, Nii Kotei Nikoi, PhD (College of Wooster, Ohio, U.S.A.), and Fidelia Ankomah, M.Phil (University of Cape Coast, Ghana).
For more information about the Zadokeli Exhibition, visit: www.gringhana.com/grin-blog/zadokeli
Story by: Emmanuel Romeo Tetteh (#RomeoWrites) / Ahotoronline.com
