Ghana’s creative landscape has been quietly and sometimes loudly remade over the last decade. Diasporans returning to the country (temporarily or permanently), collaborating across borders, and investing time and capital in local talent are reshaping music, film, fashion, visual art and cultural entrepreneurship. Their influence is not simply cosmetic: it’s changing audiences, markets, and how Ghana presents itself to the world.
A short history: from “Year of Return” to an ongoing movement
The 2019 “Year of Return” campaign is a useful inflection point. Promoted as an invitation to people in the African diaspora to reconnect with Ghana, it accelerated visits, collaborations and investments by diasporans into cultural projects from music tours to exhibitions and festivals and helped place Ghana at the centre of many “homecoming” conversations.
Festivals and live events: cultural bridges and global audiences
Festivals such as Afrochella (now Afrofuture) have become key contact points between diasporan creatives and Ghana’s local scene. These events draw thousands of visitors from the diaspora and beyond, exposing Ghanaian musicians, designers and visual artists to international audiences and bringing diasporan curators, promoters and collaborators into local networks.
Music, film and cross-border collaborations
The past few years show increasing examples of diasporan musicians and filmmakers working with Ghanaian artists. Such collaborations expand reach (streams, ticket sales, press) and introduce hybrid styles that blend diasporic influences with Ghanaian sounds and storytelling.
Visual art and fashion: diasporan curators and market access
Diasporan curators, collectors and designers are playing a growing role in bringing Ghanaian art and fashion into global conversations. International exhibitions and residencies are increasingly including Ghana-based artists, and diasporan networks often help open doors to galleries, museums and buyers abroad.
Entrepreneurship: investment, infrastructure and creative services
Beyond collaborations, diasporans are contributing by building infrastructure: studios, co-working spaces, boutique labels, streaming initiatives and creative agencies. These investments often include mentorship, skills transfer and access to overseas markets.
What’s changing in day-to-day creative practice
1. A hybrid aesthetic mixing diasporic influences with Ghanaian traditions.
2. New professional pathways: diasporan networks help artists access festivals, residencies and sync deals.
3. Market diversification: artists now think in streams, festivals and international shows, not just the local gig circuit.
Tensions and challenges
This cultural renaissance is not without friction:
1. Inflation of attention can raise prices and exclude local audiences.
2. Power imbalances arise when diasporan capital dominates decision-making.
3. Authenticity debates emerge around ownership of narratives.
How Dual Citizenship Can Help Diasporans in the Arts
Diaspora Advocacy GH, through its dual citizenship initiative (https://diasporaadvocacygh.org/dual-citizenship-for-ghanaians-and-african-diasporans/), offers services that make it easier for diasporans to integrate fully into Ghana’s social and economic fabric. Dual citizenship enables diasporans to own property, register businesses, vote, access services, and avoid work/residency permit challenges. For creatives, this means more freedom to establish studios, galleries, and production companies, while also having a say in cultural policy through civic participation.
Conclusion
Diasporans are not merely visitors to Ghana’s creative scene they are active participants in a remaking of how Ghana’s culture is produced, packaged and shared with the world. The benefits are real: larger audiences, new revenue streams, and high-profile platforms. But to keep the gains broad-based and lasting, collaboration must be rooted in equity, respect and local leadership. Dual citizenship, as facilitated by Diaspora Advocacy GH, provides a strong foundation for diasporans to anchor their contributions and ensure lasting impact.
