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documenting otherwise: memories, ethics, future archives

@documenting.otherwise

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how do we document our histories while preserving context, complexity, language, ownership, and relationship to the people whose lives shaped it?

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hello friends,

@_adomaa and i, @the.nativeson, will be hosting a research and archival lab at this year’s Pa Gya! 🔥 literary festival.

we’re inviting archivists, researchers, cultural practitioners, writers, photographers, filmmakers, visual artists, poets, artists, students, and anyone interested in archives to join us for a conversation on memory, the ethics of documenting, creating access to archives, institutional access, and the future of african archives.

the workshop is free to attend, but capacity is limited to 20 participants. so please fill out the registration form (attached/in our bio) to reserve your spot.

link: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScL930-qUA0LZ9F8_1796hXh7lQGkJEn0S5B-1OKQJIBbqzCQ/viewform

we look forward to having you join us!

at the heart of this gathering is “documenting otherwise: memories, ethics, and the future of african archives,” an initiative that begins an ongoing conversation on how we document, preserve, and make our histories accessible.

it is guided by a question that continues to shape our work “how do we document our histories while preserving context, complexity, language, ownership, and relationship to the people whose lives shaped it?”

this inaugural edition marks the first of many conversations on archives, collaboration, and the possibilities of building sustainable archives for ourselves, our communities, and future generations.

we are interested in exploring how artists, researchers, cultural practitioners, and communities can work together to create archival practices that are thoughtful, accessible, ethical, and rooted in the realities of the people and histories they hold.

as we begin this journey, we are also open to partnerships, collaborations, and conversations with individuals and institutions who share an interest in the future of african archives and the work of preserving our collective memories.

if this resonates with you, we would love to connect and have you be part of the conversation. by @documenting.otherwise

Ghana: Where the Bead Speaks
an essay by Efua Sutherland-Addy, with poetry by Ama Ata Aidoo, designed & edited by Kati Torda Dagadu

monday, 06 october, 2026. i had the honor of meeting Kati Torda Dagadu, the editor and designer of Ghana: Where the Bead Speaks, an essay by Efua Sutherland-Addy, with poetry by Ama Ata Aidoo.

i had the most wonderful time talking with Kati, sharing my research, and, more importantly, listening to her experiences and her lived knowledge of beads. Kati has been a bead historian since moving to Ghana on 23 August 1979, and it was incredible to hear about her journey with beads, her research and documentation, and the amazing work that she continues to do with Sun Trade Beads, @suntrade_beads

Ghana: Where the Bead Speaks
Ghana: Where Textiles Speak

everyone say hi to Kati 🤩

i met Kati at the finissage of Margaret Luttmann’s “Hairstyle Politics” at Annobil Contemporary Gallery, adjiringanor, accra. she shared her contacts with me, and we worked out a suitable time to have a conversation, and i am so grateful that we did.

and as if the conversation, the knowledge, and the generosity of the encounter were not enough, Kati sent me home with goodies: a colouring book she has titled Beads from the Market, and a copy of Ghana: Where the Bead Speaks!

i am truly grateful, Kati. so, so grateful!

i’m going to have so much fun coloring beads! 🤭

Annobil Contemporary Gallery presents Margaret Luttmann “Hairstyle Politics”
Adjiringanor, accra 🇬🇭

Margaret Luttman

Kati Torda adornment

Annobil Contemporary Gallery presents Margaret Luttmann “Hairstyle Politics”
Adjiringanor, accra 🇬🇭

Kati Torda adornment

Kati Torda adornment, with leather works by Jill Quarcoopome

i am grateful to my friend Delali Ayivor, @delali.ayivor , who pointed me in Kati’s direction. i was catching up with Delali the previous week at African Futures Institute, @african_futures_institute , right before the wonderful lecture “Earth and Other Works,” delivered by Professor Lesley Lokko. as soon as i mentioned my project, she told me, “there’s someone you need to talk to!” and guess who that was Kati! and fortunately enough, Kati had a finissage coming up tha by @documenting.otherwise

Ghana: Where Textiles Speak
– Christopher Armoh

Ghana: Where Textiles Speak [issue i]
this issue is a community-based documentation of the names, semantics, symbolism, and cultural knowledge of Ghanaian wax print textiles.

GHANA: Where Textiles Speak © 2026 by Christopher Armoh
is licensed under Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International.
To view a copy of this license, visit
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/

which of these textiles can you name? what is it called in your language?

madina market, accra, 🇬🇭
Nana Yaw Sarpong, contributor.
photographed by christopher armoh, @the.nativeson
tuesday, 26 may, 2026, 10 : 27 am.

makola market, accra 🇬🇭
monday, 6 july, 2026, 2 : 46 pm

issue i - project context

this edition of Ghana: Where Textiles Speak was produced
during the inaugural Custodians of Culture Fellowship 1: The
Community Archivist, hosted by the Si Hene Foundation, @si.hene in accra, 🇬🇭.

cutouts of four Ghanaian women and a man wearing wax print textiles:
can you name any of the textiles? by @documenting.otherwise

i wake with river water in my lungs, but no one believes i am drowning. –excerpts from “afe” by ɛdinam yawo denoo, @the_denoo_edinam
image by : daniel okon, @danielkons
saturday, 01 november, 2025.
meet me there eco lodge, dzita, volta region, 🇬🇭 by @documenting.otherwise

title: a little life after the rain. by @documenting.otherwise

title: so much depends upon a red canoe. by @documenting.otherwise

GHANA: on trotros and taxis
photographed by @the.nativeson with an image from @maamesarchive by @documenting.otherwise

GHANA: on trotros, taxis & vehicles. by @documenting.otherwise

every day in God is every day in victory.
06/09/26. accra, 🇬🇭
audio: turning around by Joe Mettle [@joemettle]
project: GHANA: on trotro, taxis & vehicles by @documenting.otherwise

GHANA: on trotros and taxis.

in Ghana, the gratitude, prayers, advice, encouragement, innuendos, poetry, philosophies, and social commentaries on the back/front of trotro, taxis, private cars, buses, and long vehicles are hard to miss. enjoy these. ✨

accra, 19/08/26.
photographed by @the.nativeson by @documenting.otherwise

“di nokware” [Asante twi]
Translation: “be truthful”
01/09/26. accra, 🇬🇭.
audio: Clement Abekah
project: GHANA: on trotro, taxis & vehicles by @documenting.otherwise

GHANA: on trotros & taxis by @documenting.otherwise