Exploring the Ka xoxowo Salon

By Lee GYAMFI

An Edward Afadzi Larbi piece

Glide through the front door of the Ka xoxowo Salon, and twenty-first century Ghana retrocedes. With the very first step, the air shifts — thick with the musk of scented candles, aged paper, polished sculptures, and the faint sweetness of cigars. I Walk Alone by This Is Marijata is playing, from the Wuxexle Radio playlist, curated by none other than V. L. K. Djokoto.

For close to a decade, hanging on the wall upon entry was a Jerry John Rawlings portrait which vibrated with revolutionary rebellion — staring any visitor in the face, and seeming to observe every personality in the room. It has since been replaced by an Edward Afadzi Larbi artwork; echoing a new phase of an elusive sustainable renaissance for the salon. Larbi transforms everyday broomsticks into grandiose pieces of remarkable art.

At the centre of the lounge is the D. K. T. Djokoto & Co library, sheltered by a rustic wooden shelf, a carefully preserved ode to knowledge in its most tactile form. For an intimate reading and one-on-one conversation space, there’s a pair of chairs in front of it, modest in stature, and upholstered in coffee-coloured cotton, flanked by an elephant-styled stool holding black wooden ashtrays, carved into the shape of a crocodile.

1. L. K. Djokoto poses infront of Rawlings portrait

Immersed in the spirit of the salon, one experiences music and intellect in motion. Meanwhile, red cups of sweet Pito animate the atmosphere. The lounge is brought alive by a fraternity of creatives. This time around artistes: Bapi Joss, Kwame Yeboah’s protégé Asiama, Susan Augustt, Ess thee Legend and others — some decades-old conspirators, and others who turned companions for the night.

The Ka xoxowo Salon is redefining what it means to interact with Ghanaian art. With its commitment to showcasing emerging talent, the gallery is an exclusive cultural hub in Accra’s growing arts community. “I aspired to nurture a salon around Pan-Africanist values,” said art-collector-turned-gallerist, V. L. K. Djokoto

One of the most talked-about pieces is a large-scale installation by artist Kofi Gadede, which uses cotton crochet threads glued on canvas. In addition to exhibitions, the Ka xoxowo Salon will also host monthly artist talks, hands-on workshops, and a residency program for underrepresented voices in the art world. Ultimately, the Ka xoxowo Salon is an alternative private live-in art gallery harmonising eccentric personalities in a free-spirited Pan-Africanist residence — owned by D. K. T. Djokoto & Co.

1950. K. T. Djokoto & Co is a distinct A?l? multi-family office, founded in 1950. Their guild of elite advisers has the gilt-edged expertise necessary to provide sincere guidance on real estate, corporate affairs & public relations, arts & culture, and rural development to selected traditional royal houses, blue-chip businesses, ultra-high net-worth individuals, and public institutions. They also offer lifestyle and concierge services to their clientele.

Their clientele includes European Union – Ghana, Hero Moto Corporation, Ministry of Finance – Ghana, Ghana Investment Promotion Centre, Embassy of Morroco – Ghana, and Information Services Department – Ghana.

The post Exploring the Ka xoxowo Salon appeared first on The Business & Financial Times.

Read Full Story