Sparked by the 10th International Conference for Carnival and Masquerade Arts held in Ghana 2023, 2025 brought an exciting wave of progress for our work in Winneba.
The conference, delivered in partnership with Mas Africa, brought together 20 creatives from both the Winneba township and the University of Education, Winneba—half of them community members. For the first time, all five masquerade groups in the area collaborated closely, creating a sense of unity that has long been hoped for. The group also had the rare opportunity to work with two highly respected UK artists, Clary from Mahogany Carnival and Carl Gabriel. Their guidance has inspired the creatives and helped lay the foundations for a sustainable, long-term artistic community.
One of the most memorable moments was the community’s naming of Clary as “Abena Ebuebue.” In Akan tradition, “Abena” is a name given to a woman born on a Tuesday, while “Ebuebue” means “Open, Open.” The name reflects the new possibilities that have opened up for the creatives—possibilities that have already taken shape in the formation of the Ebuebue CG Unity Project (with “CG” honouring Carl Gabriel). This new hub is dedicated to developing large-scale costumes and structures, and planned for five creatives to travel to the UK to prepare for the Adinkra 2025 Carnival and other major festivals in Ghana.
The momentum continues to build. Costumes created during the 2023 collaboration were showcased once again at the Winneba Fancy Dress Festival on 1 January 2025, where the group’s work has now become a regular feature of the annual parade. Their presence at the festival grounds each year is a testament to how deeply their creativity has taken root. Mas Africa is also running workshops in local schools and community spaces, nurturing the next generation of young creatives and strengthening the cultural ecosystem around masquerade arts.