8 Named 2026 Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu laureates

Eight artists, comprising five Ghanaians, two British and a Seychellois, have been selected to receive this year’s Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu II Art Awards in various categories. 

They are the Founder of the Savannah Centre for Contemporary Art, Red Clay and Nkrumah Violin in Tamale, Ibrahim Mahama, an installation artist and painter based in New York, Yaw Owusu, a painter, Victor Butler, and another painter, Larry Otoo.

The rest are a portrait artist, Afia Prempeh; the first contemporary artist from Seychelles, Leon Raddegonde; African Curator at the British Museum, Julie Hudson, and a curator, Osei Bonsu.

The awards, instituted by the Manhyia Palace Museum in collaboration with UNESCO, celebrate excellence, innovation and contributions to contemporary art while promoting the country’s cultural heritage on the global stage.

The official announcement of the winners was made at the launch of the second edition of the awards in Accra yesterday.

During the event, a collaboration agreement between UNESCO and the Manhyia Palace Museum was signed to deepen cooperation in promoting artistic excellence and safeguarding cultural heritage.

Activities for the occasion 

The awards ceremony is scheduled to take place in Kumasi, with a laureates’ dinner on May 14, followed by the main event on May 15 at the Osei Tutu II Auditorium at the Manhyia Palace. 

Activities planned as part of the awards include exhibitions of the laureates’ works at the Osei Tutu II Auditorium and the Golden Bean Hotel, each running for two weeks.

The programme will also feature the unveiling of a commemorative booklet and exhibition in honour of Hungarian artist, Helene Urszenyi-Breznay, known for her historic works depicting figures such as Kwame Nkrumah and Martin Luther King Jr.

Selection process

The Director of the Manhyia Palace Museum, Ivor Agyeman-Duah, said the selection of the artists followed an independent process involving both Ghanaian and international jury members to ensure credibility and global relevance.

He explained that the awards were recognised not only for artistic production but also for curatorial practice and museum development.

UNESCO

Speaking at the launch, the UNESCO Representative to Ghana, Edmond Moukala, described the awards as a global benchmark for integrating culture into sustainable development.

He said the initiative, championed by Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, reflected a strong commitment to empowering artists, especially youth and women, while preserving Ghana’s cultural heritage.

Mr Moukala noted that the collaboration with the Manhyia Palace Museum demonstrated the evolving role of museums as active contributors to the creative economy rather than static repositories.

He added that the awards aligned with UNESCO’s 1970 Convention against illicit trafficking of cultural property and the 2005 Convention on the promotion of cultural diversity, ensuring Ghanaian art is protected, documented and globally recognised. 

Ministry’s support

Speaking on behalf of the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts, the Director for Culture and Creative Arts, Divine Kwame Owusu-Ansah, gave an assurance that the ministry would give unflinching support to the awards ceremony.