The Impact of Selorm Hilary Kojo Fiadjoe at the 2025 GUBA Awards
African gallerist, cultural visionary, and environmental advocate Selorm Hilary Kojo Fiadjoe took center stage at the 2025 GUBA Awards in Barbados. This year’s event was particularly significant, marking a historic reconnection between Ghana and Barbados—the first chartered flight carrying free Africans directly from Ghana to Barbados. This gathering stood out as a monumental moment, celebrating shared ancestry and the rekindling of long-standing cultural bonds between Africa and the Caribbean.
A Symbolic Tribute to Heritage
At the heart of GUBA 2025 was Selorm’s presentation, showcasing the work of ENA Gallery artists who captured the essence of this powerful reunion. One standout piece was a mixed media portrait of His Royal Majesty Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, the Asantehene, created by Ghanaian recycled arts specialist Eric Kwadwo Afranie. Using discarded plastics, metal fragments, fabric remnants, and refined waste, Afranie transformed potential environmental hazards into a regal representation of a revered traditional leader.
This presentation occurred at The University of the West Indies, Cave Hill Campus, coinciding with the inauguration of the new Hilary McDonald Beckles Administration Block. The event attracted numerous distinguished guests, further amplifying its importance.
The Baobab Connection
The historical significance of presenting this artwork was deepened by a poignant connection: in 2008, during a previous visit to UWI Cave Hill, the Asantehene planted a baobab tree on campus. Known as the Tree of Life, the baobab symbolizes resilience, nourishment, longevity, and spiritual grounding. By returning with art crafted from recycled materials, Afranie not only revitalized objects that would have contributed to pollution but also embodied a timeless message of growth and unity. The artwork’s placement near the maturing baobab served as a powerful reminder of continuity in African resilience and environmental stewardship.
Textile Portraits Celebrating Icons
ENA Gallery’s contributions did not stop there. The exhibition also featured two textile portraits honoring Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley and global icon Rihanna, crafted by master thread and kente artist Michael Appiah Yeboah, known as Mr. MAY. These intricate handwoven designs blended traditional Ghanaian weaving culture with Barbadian pride, creating visually striking tributes to two influential Barbadian women.
The reception of Mr. MAY’s portraits underscored the importance of cultural sensitivity, technical mastery, and storytelling through fabric. His ability to weave together narratives from both cultures exemplified the interconnectedness of their histories.
Tributes to Icons of Liberty
The exhibition continued to resonate with the audience through the work of Kweku Davinci, another prominent member of the ENA Gallery family. His unique fabric collage artworks of Osagyefo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah and Bob Marley captured the spirits of two pivotal figures in Black liberation and cultural revolution. Nkrumah, Ghana’s first President, and Marley, the Jamaican music icon, are symbols of resistance and Pan African consciousness.
Davinci’s innovative approach, transforming traditional African textiles into compelling visual narratives, deepened the connection between Ghana and Barbados. Each piece not only honored the legacies of these figures but also enriched the ongoing dialogue about shared history and aspirations.
A Hub of African Artistic Excellence
The presence of ENA Gallery at the GUBA Awards reinforced its reputation as a center for African artistic innovation, environmental consciousness, and cultural diplomacy. Founded by Selorm Hilary Kojo Fiadjoe, the gallery is home to a family of multidisciplinary Ghanaian artists who are reshaping perceptions of recycling, creativity, and cultural identity.
Under Selorm’s leadership, the gallery has been instrumental in transforming waste into meaningful art, creating youth employment through recycling-based production, and leading community clean-up initiatives. By promoting sustainable artistic practices, ENA Gallery is not just about art; it is about activism integrated with cultural expression.
Art as a Catalyst for Unity
Selorm’s work at the GUBA Awards transcended mere celebration; it served as a compelling call to action. His artistic contributions highlighted the potential of art to educate, connect, and inspire. Through these exhibitions, audiences were reminded of the strengths, resilience, and shared aspirations of people of African descent worldwide.
The artworks, woven from kente, crafted from discarded materials, and shaped from traditional African textiles, became a bridge linking Ghana and Barbados. Selorm’s participation underscored the need for renewed bonds and friendships as a foundation for future collaboration and understanding.
A Vision for the Future
As the world moves toward a future rooted in sustainability, cultural pride, and global cooperation, Selorm Hilary Kojo Fiadjoe and the artists of ENA Gallery stand at the forefront of this movement. Through each portrait, installation, and recycled artwork, they demonstrate that art is not merely a form of expression but also a vital instrument for unity and healing across continents. In celebrating heritage and confronting environmental challenges, they embody a vision for a cooperative future, enriched by history and creativity.
