Larry Otto – The Artist Alliance Gallery
Beginning in 1993, the Artists Alliance Gallery of Accra has been dedicated to the individuality of the Ghanaian painter and sculptor. Originally founded by Mr. Otto Sr., the gallery is now managed by his son, Larry Otto.
As Larry puts it simply, the Artists Alliance Gallery offers art lovers and buyers the opportunity to meet the artists, learn about the creative process, and purchase artwork directly from the creator.
Mr. Otto Sr. is a painter himself, and keeps a small studio at the gallery where he paints and occasionally mentors young artists. As painting and sculpture are not by any means large industries in Accra or West Africa, the Artists Alliance Gallery is a rare foundation for embracing the art trade, traditional Ghanaian influence, and African culture all around.
David (Kwaku) Boamah – THREAD Foundation
Meet David (Kwaku) Boamah, an artist by trade, and non-profit director by passion. David is a simple man with huge ambition.
Currently living in Ntonso Craft Village, Ashanti-Region of Ghana, since 2007 David has been working to bring relief to the children of the village. Not just in the form of monetary support, but also through empowering the youth to learn traditional crafting techniques as a source of income.
Through textile production, weaving, Adinkra stamping, and storytelling, David enhances cultural understanding of natural resources that have been used to create beautiful art for centuries.
THREAD Foundation provides education and training to local students after school to support sustainable development and equip the next generation of community leaders with the skillset they will need in the future.
A. B. Crentsil – Ghanaian Music Legend
Ghanaian music legend A.B. Crentsil’s voice echoes throughout a small radio station room. His speaks the message of thanking the Almighty for the life you have been given, despite the struggles you may face.
As others around him join in song, you hear he sings not simply for himself, but for an entire nation.
Continuing the Ghanaian tradition
Alfred Benjamin Crentstil (A.B.) is considered one of the big three contemporary Ghanaian vocalists, specializing in Ghanaian highlife.
Highlife is a music genre originating in Ghana during the 20th Century and the colonial period. Culturally, it is widely considered as the most traditional form of music throughout the country. A.B. Crentstil said highlife is the music that represents the entire nation and its people.
“When burger highlife came and everybody loved it, we all joined the train because we also wanted to make some money,” Crentstil said. “But one that I realized is that highlife will always be the original form of music for Ghanaians and we will always come back to it.”
Today, Ghana’s most popular genres of music include American hip-hop, pop and country. This shows a heavy influence of Western music culture. But as the western music continues to grow, the traditional music dies, particularly in the younger generations.
“If you don’t take time, it’s getting lost,” Crentstil said. “It will get lost. We cannot stick to this foreign music, we cannot for the county. We want to stop imitating foreign music and stick to our highlife.”
With more than 20 years in the music industry, Crentstil dedicated his career to continuing the tradition of Ghana and telling the country’s story through his music. Proverbs and moral lessons play a large role in the art of Crentsil’s storytelling, but reporter Ama Akuamoah said for her, listening to his music is like listening to the stories of those who came before her.
“If you look at the Ghanaian culture context, a lot of things we say are based on storytelling,” Akuamoah said. “So, proverbs are captured in songs. You hear him say something in songs and you get to express life during the time of our grandparents and parents. Actually for younger people like myself, who were not born during the time of his music, it is very good for us to hear music from that era. If you look at Ghanaian music or Ghanaian highlife music, a lot of it is about story telling. If you listen to AB Crenstil’s songs, there is a moral to the song. He is telling a story.”
History, family and marriage
Alfred Benjamin Crentsil Jr. was born in 1943 in Prestea, Ghana. Growing up, he went to Takoradi Methodist Primary School and Rev Cleveland Middle before leaving school to work under his father at Ghana Railways. While still in middle school, Crentsil’s mentor Mr. Thedoh introduced him to guitar and vocal performance.
“I was living in Takoradi, I was schooling and I started music there,” Crentsil said. “Gradually, I graduated and became an electrical apprentice, but eventually I just put aside the electrician kind of business and jumped into music and became a professional musician.”
Crentsil met his future wife Elizabeth in 1969 and the two married in 1971. Together, Crentstil and Elizabeth had eight children, two of which entered the music industry, following the footsteps of their father. Elizabeth said the children were surrounded by music, which became a positive influence on how they grew up in Ghana.
According to Business Insider, the divorce rate for entertainers and performers is 28.49 percent. The Huffington Post cites busy schedules, higher temptation risk, cultural and age difference and narcissism as the top contributors to a high divorce rate among celebrities.
Crentsil and his wife, Elizabeth, have been married for 46 years.
“Marriage is all about patience,” Elizabeth said. “As a musician, he is always going to be on the road. But if you don’t trust your partner enough that he is on the road, he is going to be faithful to you, then you don’t have the peace of mind to confidently raise your family.”
Elizabeth said this was a challenge she never faced because she trusted her partner. She said she trusted he would remain faithful to her and their family while he toured with his music.
In addition to their 46 year marriage, Crentsil celebrates the love he has for his wife through his music. She is an influential factor to his song writing, as her name is mentioned throughout his music.
“A lot of the music that he makes and there is a very famous one named Adjoa-Adjoa and that is my name,” Elizabeth said. “A lot of the music he makes, he mentions my name and that makes me feel special.”
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