Statement of Intent: Dankyi Mensah
Globalization and Change: An artist reflection on the Kumerican Trend
As an artist interested in documenting developments of the contemporary urban, social and political landscape in Ghana, one cannot help but notice the exaggerated influence of urban American pop culture in Ghana’s second largest city Kumasi. On Instagram, twitter feeds and in WhatsApp chats, the term Kumerican is trending.
What exactly does Kumerican mean?
For some it reflects Globalization and influence of American culture in particular when many teenagers are seen imitating elements of American lifestyle where they talk, dress and even act like Americans. Kumerica is made up of two words, Kumasi and America – and when fused together becomes “Kumerica”.For others, it is a challenge to Ghanaian culture.
Why adopt a foreign culture in the land of the Ashanti’s known for their vibrant rich culture?
As an artist, I see Kumerican phenomenon as Art! My intent is to analyze and interpret what the Kumerican phenomena means within the contemporary urban landscape of Ghanaian social culture. With this project I want to analyze the cultural intersection of Kumasi and America and see what makes KUMERICAN unique.
Is it just about dressing and lifestyles? For instance, why will an individual wear temperate clothes in the hot tropical region like Kumasi. What about the songs, the videos, the flags and other symbols like the gold chain and rings in forging this new “Kumerican” identity. And, which America is Kumerica referring to? Urban Black America? Or some other America. These are some the issues that I want to probe through my art.
In documenting these phenomena through art, I will hope to contribute to preserving the urban life art histories of Ghana.
Size: 38 by 22 inches
96.52 cm by 55.88 cm
The work is signed on the back