research & publishing
 

hidden histories







Research & Book design, 2021
Sika Kɔkɔɔ is a book that documents Kwabena’s first experience with his fatherland Ghana. It showcases the contemporary Ghanaian culture, alongside its immense heritage. Sika Kokoo means red money in the Ghanaian Twi language, but translates to gold in English. In Akan culture, gold is considered an earthly counterpart to the sun and the physical manifestation of life’s vital force: Kra (the soul).

Golden objects of the Akan Art have a lot of symbolism and portray different proverbs. With this in mind, the photographs in the book were matched with different gold items from the Akan people. The interplay of Akan Art, Adinkra symbols, proverbs, and images, as well as considerations of the printing process (gold ink) and the design of the book, opens up many experimental possibilities within the story and meaning that are specifically for this artist’s book.

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©Mirelle van Tulder
Chief Tropical Officer