African gallerist, cultural visionary and environmental advocate Selorm Hilary Kojo Fiadjoe, founder of ENA Gallery, delivered one of the most compelling artistic contributions at the 2025 GUBA Awards in Barbados, an event marked as one of the most historically symbolic gatherings of the Pan African world in recent years.
This year’s GUBA Awards commemorated a profound milestone: the arrival of the first chartered flight carrying free Africans directly from Ghana to Barbados. It was a powerful reconnection across the Atlantic that celebrated shared ancestry, unity and the rekindling of long standing cultural bonds between Africa and the Caribbean.
Against this meaningful backdrop, Selorm and his collective of ENA Gallery artists presented artworks that captured the essence of this reunion and drew acclaim from government leaders, academics, cultural authorities and members of the global African diaspora. One of the standout presentations was a striking mixed media portrait of His Royal Majesty Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, the Asantehene, crafted by Ghanaian recycled arts specialist Eric Kwadwo Afranie.
Using discarded plastics, metal fragments, fabric remnants and refined waste, Afranie transformed materials that would have added to Ghana’s pollution crisis into a regal representation of the revered traditional leader. The piece was formally presented at The University of the West Indies, Cave Hill Campus, during the inauguration of the new Hilary McDonald Beckles Administration Block, an event attended by distinguished regional and international guests.
The significance of this presentation was strengthened by a symbolic historical link. In 2008, during an earlier visit to UWI Cave Hill, the Asantehene planted a baobab tree on the campus grounds. The baobab, known throughout Africa as the Tree of Life, symbolises resilience, nourishment, longevity and spiritual grounding. Its ability to endure harsh climates and sustain communities has long made it an emblem of strength across generations. Returning to the campus with an artwork created from recycled materials, objects given new life, served as a poetic reminder of the Asantehene’s enduring message of growth, unity and legacy. The new art presentation, displayed near the now maturing baobab, underscored the continuity of African resilience and the commitment to environmental stewardship.
ENA Gallery’s artistic presence at the GUBA Awards expanded with the exhibition of two textile portraits honouring Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley and global superstar Rihanna. Both pieces were crafted by master thread and kente artist Michael Appiah Yeboah, widely known as Mr MAY. His intricate handwoven designs blended traditional Ghanaian weaving culture with Barbadian pride, creating visually striking homages to two iconic Barbadian women whose influence has resonated worldwide. Mr MAY’s portraits were praised for their cultural sensitivity, technical mastery and powerful storytelling through fabric.
Adding to the collective’s impact, Selorm also showcased two unique fabric collage artworks of Osagyefo Dr Kwame Nkrumah and Bob Marley, created by Ghanaian textile innovator Kweku Davinci, another leading member of the ENA Gallery family. Davinci, known for transforming traditional African textiles into stirring compositions, captured the spirits of two of the most influential figures in Black liberation, global unity and cultural revolution. His portrait of Nkrumah honoured Ghana’s first President and a key architect of African independence, while his depiction of Marley paid tribute to the Jamaican legend whose music and activism became a global symbol of resistance and Pan African consciousness. These fabric collages enriched the visual narrative of the GUBA 2025 celebrations, bridging Ghana and Barbados through art that honoured shared heroes and interconnected histories.
Together, these presentations reinforced ENA Gallery’s growing reputation as a hub of African artistic excellence, environmental consciousness and cultural diplomacy. Founded by Selorm Hilary Kojo Fiadjoe, the gallery is home to a family of multidisciplinary Ghanaian artists, including Afranie, Mr MAY and Davinci, who bring unique skills and perspectives while contributing to a shared mission: elevating African creativity while addressing social and environmental challenges. Under Selorm’s leadership, ENA Gallery has championed the transformation of waste into meaningful art, created youth employment through recycling based production, led community clean up initiatives and promoted sustainable artistic practices across Ghana.
Selorm’s work at the GUBA Awards served as both celebration and call to action. It highlighted the power of art to educate, connect and inspire, showing how creative expression can foster unity across continents while confronting environmental degradation. His participation underscored the renewed bond between Ghana and Barbados, especially in light of the symbolic first charter flight linking the two nations. As audiences experienced the artworks, woven from kente, crafted from discarded materials and shaped from African textiles, they were reminded of the strength, resilience and shared aspirations of people of African descent worldwide.
As the world moves towards a future rooted in sustainability, cultural pride and global cooperation, Selorm Hilary Kojo Fiadjoe and the artists of ENA Gallery stand at the forefront of this movement. Through each portrait, installation and recycled artwork, they continue to show that art is more than expression. It is a bridge, a message and a catalyst for unity and healing across the world.
Photo Credit: Manuel Photography
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