Otumfuo Osei Tutu II Art Awards to honour eight international artists in Kumasi

The second edition of the Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu II Art Awards will be held on Wednesday, May 13, 2026, at the Otumfuo Golden Jubilee Hall at the Manhyia Palace in Kumasi in the Ashanti Region.

The prestigious event is expected to bring together more than 500 participants, including local and foreign dignitaries, university vice chancellors, artists, curators and representatives of international agencies.

The awards ceremony is being organised by the Manhyia Palace Museum in collaboration with UNESCO and Justice and Repairs to honour eight distinguished international artists from Ghana, Britain and Seychelles for their contributions to contemporary art and cultural heritage.

The initiative forms part of efforts to project African creativity onto the global stage while preserving indigenous artistic traditions.

The awardees include the Founder of the Savannah Centre for Contemporary Art, Red Clay and Nkrumah Voli-ni in Tamale, Ibrahim Mahama, installation artist and painter Yaw Owusu, painters Victor Butler and Larry Otoo, as well as portrait artist Afia Prempeh.

Others are Seychelles’ first contemporary artist Leon Raddegonde, African Curator at the British Museum Julie Hudson and curator Osei Bonsu.

The announcement was made by the Director of the Manhyia Palace Museum, Mr. Ivor Agyeman-Duah, during a press conference held on Saturday, May 9, 2026, at the Manhyia Palace in Kumasi.

He stated that the awards programme would run for ten years with a focus on recognising both local and international artists whose works continue to shape contemporary African art.

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."

“The awards were recognised not only for artistic production but also for curatorial practice and museum development,” he explained.

Mr Agyeman-Duah said the awards sought to celebrate excellence, innovation and artistic contributions while promoting Ghana’s cultural heritage internationally.

“The awards are intended to honour dedication and commitment to the promotion of culture and contemporary art,” he said, adding that the initiative would also inspire many young people to explore opportunities within the creative arts industry.

He noted that beyond recognition, the awards were designed to encourage investment in the arts sector by demonstrating its economic and cultural value.

According to him, the programme aligns with broader efforts by the Asante Kingdom to preserve African identity through visual arts, history, and cultural education.

The Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu II Art Awards were launched in May 2025 by the Manhyia Palace Museum to celebrate both traditional and modern visual arts across Africa and beyond.

The inaugural Kings Art Prize recognised ten legendary African artists and was widely hailed as a major milestone in Pan-African cultural appreciation, reflecting the Asantehene’s commitment to revitalising African artistic heritage and promoting global recognition of African talent.