Fashion designers, artists, models, photographers, and thrift vendors from around the world gather at Accra’s Rawlings Park for the Obroni Wawu festival, which celebrates Ghana’s vibrant secondhand fashion scene. The annual event, launched in 2022, pays homage to Kantamanto Market, known as the heart of Ghana’s thrift and upcycling movement. “Obroni Wawu,” a term meaning “dead white man’s clothes,” is used to describe secondhand clothing imported into Ghana. The festival is led by Community Engagement and Community Business Incubator (CBI) teams in close collaboration with Kantamanto Market leaders and associations, aiming to spotlight Ghana’s legacy of sustainability. This event also strengthens ties with similar secondhand markets across the Global South.
DW