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Article: Hippies of Elmina.(social history)
- Article from:
- African Arts
- Article date:
- June 22, 2005
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2005 The Regents of the University of California. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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As you enter the Ghanaian fishing port of Elmina, between the pounding surf and the majestically looming St. George's Castle (built by the Portuguese in 1482) lies a huddle of clapboard kiosks mostly proffering petty goods and "small chop." Among these is the studio of Fante artist Donatus Archibald Acquandoh, a wiry, bearded man in his mid-fifties, universally known in Elmina and beyond as "Hippies" (Fig. 1).
[FIGURE 1 OMITTED]
The artist has painted the name "HIPARTS" on the the front of his studio, and he signs some of his works with this moniker. You will find him at his beach studio or in a spacious room with an open verandah on the upper story of ...