NKYINKYIM: Screening & Album launch

Name: NKYINKYIM: Screening & Album launch
Start: 2025-01-17T17:00:00+02:00
End: 2025-01-17T20:00:00+02:00
Location: Uudenmaankatu 23 F, 00120 Helsinki, Finland

Schedule

Fri Jan 17 2025 at 05:00 pm to 08:00 pm

UTC+02:00

Location

Uudenmaankatu 23 F, 00120 Helsinki, Finland | Helsinki, ES

Myymälä2 gallery is proud to present Nkyinkyim, the new music album by multidisciplinary artist Oteanankanduro (Ato Kwamina Hasford), on Friday January 17th starting at 18:00. The launch will open with the screening of Dua Due by James Marcellinus Wormenor, a short film produced in connection to the album. The event is open to the public onsite at the gallery, and the screening will be followed by a Q&A with guests joining online.
Day 17.1. also marks art’s birthday and we invite friends to gather at Myymälä2 gallery at 17:00 for a spontaneous jam session to celebrate it, after which we will start the screening.
Nkyinkyim is a baby born of strife and resilience, a project blending music and film to celebrate Ghanaian traditions while addressing critical social issues. The album and its accompanying short film delve into themes of identity, struggle, and resilience, intertwining African melodies with powerful storytelling. Spearheaded by Oteanankanduro, a multidisciplinary artist and queer activist, Nkyinkyim not only preserves cultural heritage but also acts as a bold statement against homophobia and social injustice. Through this project, the artist aims to inspire solidarity and amplify marginalized voices and also enstool an audible queer voice in the traditional music scene.
The short film Dua Due, an initiative by James Marcellinus Wormenor, is a powerful production that weaves cultural heritage with modern narratives through storytelling, symbolism, and artistic cinematography. Complementing the Nkyinkyim album, which amplifies Ghanaian traditional perspectives on queerness, Dua Due takes a deeply personal approach. It explores the existential journey of self-discovery, portraying a person metaphorically stuck in a tree as a ghost compels them to confront their true self. This artistic exploration bridges the traditional and the contemporary, creating a profound commentary on identity and humanity.
Partners and support: Myymälä2, Artists at Risk, Platform rf, Microtonal Music Studios, The City of Helsinki, the Arts Promotion Centre Finland. Special thanks to curator Ramiro Camelo and Irina Mutt.

BIOGRAPHIES
The Artist
Oteanankanduro, the healer of snakebites, is a ghanaian multidisciplinary artist and activist in social justice work. He is currently resident in Artists At Risk residency in Finland using the mediums of text, music, film and theater, to call for safety, freedom and justice for the marginalized. He identifies as Experimental, Vocal, Nostalgic and Queer. Learn more here.
Follow: Twitter @Ato_Blinks - Instagram @oteanankanduro - Facebook oteanankanduro
The Filmmaker
James Marcellinus Wormenor is a multidisciplinary artist whose passions span photography, filmmaking, directing, writing, and creative directing. He creates evocative works that move audiences, blending mediums to craft meaningful experiences. Through his art, James seeks to inspire emotion, ignite imagination, and challenge perspectives. His ultimate goal is to create stories that resonate and leave a lasting impact.
The Producer
Adelaide A.A Larbi-Amoah is a music video production manager and choreography director with over six years of dance experience and two years in production management. She holds a degree in Dance Studies and Psychology from the University of Ghana and specializes in contemporary African and Ghanaian traditional dance. Recently, she has worked on projects addressing mental health, women's empowerment, and environmental issues, including Loud Silence and DIVINITY, which was staged at the National Theatre of Ghana. Adelaide also shares her expertise through workshops, performances, and mentoring emerging dancers in the industry.
The Actor/Dancer
George Kwabena Bawuah is a movement artist and professional dancer with over seven years of experience, specializing in krump, Azonto, contemporary African Dance, and Ghanaian Traditional Dance. He holds a degree in Agricultural Engineering from the University of Ghana, where he also studied dance at the School of Performing Arts. Over the years, George has worked on projects addressing environmental and social issues, such as Forest Beat and LOUD SILENCE, and has choreographed for music videos with artists like Wizkid, Manifest, and Fameye. He also teaches dance, heads the Ghetto studio, and is involved in international dance classes, while mentoring the next generation of dancers.
Other Film Credits:
Babami Momofuku (Director)
Kwame Selali (Writer)