Ghanaian artist Ibrahim Mahama has become the first African to claim the No. 1 spot on ArtReview’s prestigious annual Power 100 list.

The Power 100 list is an annual ranking published by ArtReview magazine that identifies the most influential people and organisations in the global contemporary art world.

Mahama’s achievement marks a landmark moment for Africa’s contemporary art movement and the global creative industry.

ArtReview, regarded as one of the most influential voices in contemporary art, named Mahama the world’s most powerful figure in the field for 2024, an achievement that signals what many experts describe as a significant shift in global cultural influence.

“Quite humbling,” Mahama says of historic milestone

Speaking to The Guardian, Mahama said he first learned about the power list in 2011 while studying at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST). That year, Chinese artist Ai Weiwei was ranked first.

“For me to be part of this, especially coming from a place like Ghana—where for many years it felt like we were not even part of the discourse—is quite humbling,” he said.

Based in Tamale in northern Ghana, Mahama said he hopes his rise encourages young Ghanaian and African artists to “realise that they are part of the contemporary discourse and not just on the sideline.”

A power shift in the global art world

ArtReview’s editor-in-chief, Mark Rappolt, described Mahama’s selection as emblematic of a broader realignment in the art world—one that mirrors shifts in global finance, culture, and influence.

“I think you could also look at that as saying there’s a realignment of where global finance sits,” Rappolt noted, adding that the art world is deeply intertwined with these global changes.

This year’s ranking places multiple African and Middle Eastern creatives in the top 10, signalling growing visibility and institutional influence for artists from regions previously marginalised in the global arts ecosystem.

African and MENA artists dominate top slots

Following Mahama, Qatar’s Sheikha Al-Mayassa bint Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani ranks second, backed by her significant cultural investments and acquisitions. Last year’s No. 1, Sheikha Hoor al-Qasimi of the UAE’s Sharjah Art Foundation, takes the No. 3 spot.

Egyptian artist Wael Shawky appears at No. 4, while the rest of the top 10 includes Singaporean artist Ho Tzu Nyen, American artists Amy Sherald and Kerry James Marshall, writer Saidiya Hartman, UK-based Forensic Architecture, and German photographer Wolfgang Tillmans.

Mahama’s global rise

Mahama’s work, known for transforming found materials—such as train carriages, jute sacks, old hospital beds, and industrial remnants—has attracted major global attention.

Some of his standout recent projects include:

• “Songs About Roses” at Edinburgh’s Fruitmarket Gallery, praised as “extraordinary as a great magic-realist novel.”
• His dramatic 2,000-square-metre pink fabric installation at London’s Barbican Centre, produced in Ghana.
• The opening of the Savannah Centre for Contemporary Art (SCCA) in Tamale (2019), a major arts hub featuring galleries, libraries, archives, and studios.

Critics have placed Mahama in the same league as global heavyweights like William Kentridge and Anselm Kiefer for his ability to confront history, memory, and postcolonial narratives through large-scale installations.

Rappolt notes that Mahama’s community-focused approach reflects a new generation of artists redefining what artistic influence means today: not only producing works of genius but investing in their creative ecosystems.

A global panel decides the ranking

Thirty anonymous art experts worldwide contributed to this year’s Power 100, which has been published annually for 24 years.

Mahama’s rise to the top—powered by both creativity and community impact—cements Ghana’s growing reputation as an emerging force in contemporary art.

Walk past the Kane Kwei Carpentry Shop in Teshie and you’ll think you’ve stumbled into a surreal sculpture garden.

A giant red cockerel. A gleaming silver Mercedes. A proud lion mid-roar. An airplane ready for take-off. Only when you get closer do you realise: every masterpiece is a coffin.

For over sixty years, families here have turned the saddest moment into the loudest celebration of a life well lived.

Twenty-two-year-old Lawrence Anang wipes sawdust from his brow and smiles.
He is sanding the mane of a lion coffin ordered for a departed chief.

“This is not just wood,” he says quietly. “This is the story of a king going home as a king.”

His family workshop, started by his grandfather, is one of the last remaining strongholds of Ghana’s world-famous fantasy coffin tradition. Pilots are buried in airplanes. Cocoa farmers rest inside giant cocoa pods. Musicians sleep forever inside oversized microphones.
Even a fisherman might choose a brightly painted tilapia or a leaping swordfish.

“It’s the last suit you will ever wear,” Lawrence explains. “So it has to fit perfectly — not just the body, but the soul.”

Felicia Okai stands nearby, eyes shining as she chooses between a cocoa-pod and palm-fruit design for her late uncle, a farmer.

“This coffin will make the whole village talk for years,” she laughs. “When they see it, they won’t cry for long. They will remember how he danced at harvest, how he shared every cedi. Death will look like a party.”

The work is slow and sacred.

Each coffin takes up to two weeks. Measurements must leave “breathing room” around the body. The wood — soft poplar or rich mahogany — is sanded until it feels like silk. Then comes the paint, layer after layer, until a fish coffin shimmers like it could still swim.

These coffins don’t stay in Ghana.

They fly to museums in Paris and London, to diaspora funerals in Atlanta and Amsterdam. Lawrence’s brother now runs a workshop in Wisconsin. A single coffin can cost up to $1,000 — more than many earn in a year — yet families save for decades to give their loved ones this final honour.

And when the dancing pallbearers arrive in their flamboyant suits, lifting a giant bible or a bottle of Schnapps high above their heads, swaying to brass-band highlife, even strangers on the roadside start clapping instead of crying.

Lawrence already knows what he wants when his own time comes: a simple carpenter’s hammer, bright yellow, handle polished smooth.

“Because,” he says, touching the lion’s freshly painted eye, “if you want to have fun in the land of the dead, you need to get your coffin right here.”

Editor’s note: Story adapted from a publication by The World. Read original article here.

There is a reason why Ghana has become the go-to destination for travelers looking to experience one of Africa’s most vibrant countries. Ghana is a country ripe with entertainment, tradition, exquisite landscapes and phenomenal food, and if you’re one of many who has developed a fascination with the country, you might want to learn a bit more about its culture. Here are ten things you need to know about Ghanaian culture.

Food

You can tell a lot about a culture by its cuisine. Historically, Ghanaians love to prepare dishes that include a starchy component (fufu or waakye), which typically goes with a soup or stew and protein. Most soups and stews have a tomato base and come with beef, goat, lamb, chicken, shrimp, fish or crab. Some popular stapes are jollof, banku, red red, tuo zaafi, boiled yam with kontomire stew and plantain with egg stew. Most dishes are eaten by hand, and a popular dish like fufu is scooped up in pieces with the right hand and then dipped in an accompanying soup (typically goat soap).

Tipping

While we’re on the topic of food, you should note that tipping is not a requirement in Ghana. In fact, it comes as a surprise when diners tip. Tipping should be at the discretion of the patron, but keep in mind that many servers work on paltry wages so adding a tip is a kind gesture they truly appreciate.

Language

Of the more than 90 languages spoken in the country, English is Ghana’s official language with more than 80% of the population speaking it fluently. English was first spoken when England colonized Ghana (then the Gold Coast) in 1867. Even after the country’s independence in 1957, it continued to use English as its official language to conduct government and business affairs. It is also the standard language used in schools.

Sayings, Gestures & Slang

Don’t be surprised if a stranger hisses or smooches at you while around town. Hissing and smooching is a signal to gain someone’s attention and is not something to take offense to. Other popular phrases include “Chale” (which means “my friend”), “Saaaa” (meaning “really?”) and “Akwaaba” (meaning “Welcome”). A sucking of teeth means a person is frustrated.

Music

Before Afrobeats became a hit music genre across the globe, it was deep-rooted in the country and continues to make a huge impact. Ask anyone about Kwami Eugene, Kidi or Sarkodie and you’re sure to be greeted with a smile since their music adds life to any party or get together. What makes music in Ghana special is that it never loses its heritage. Before Afrobeats became popular, highlife dominated the scene, and up until this day, if a DJ plays icons like Fela Kuti or Ebo Taylor, you can almost guarantee the crowd will hit the dance floor.

Festivals

Festivals have increasingly become a part of the Ghanaian experience, especially during the holidays when many tourists visit. From Afrochella to CHALE WOTE, there are countless festivals that cater to individual tastes. In 2018, festivals attracted more than 30,000 people who all experienced the country’s art, music, food and history. You can view the more than 30 festivals hosted each year here.

Customs

Ghanaians are very, very communal so don’t be taken aback if you’re greeted with hugs and back pats when you meet someone for the first time. It is also not uncommon to see a group of people eating a dish from the same plate together. And unlike in many Western countries, Ghanaians like to be in close proximity of each other rather than needing personal space. Also, when you enter a room, it is customary to greet with either a Good Morning, Afternoon or Evening. Never give or receive money with your left hand and always invite others to eat with you. (They will almost always say “Thank you” – which means “No, thank you”) and then continue to eat your meal.

Fashion

It is no secret that African fabric dominates Ghanaian fashion. From bold patterns to intricate designs, African fabric remains entrenched in Ghanaian culture. Kente cloth, which became popular with African Americans during the Civil Right Movement, is originally from Ghana. Typically, consumers will buy the fabric of choice from a local market, then a tailor will sew their design. Other options are to buy made-to-wear African clothing made of lycra or elastane, which fits all shapes and body types. The latter is especially popular with female pants and dresses.

Religion

Ghana has a huge religious population. A 2018 analysis reported by The Guardian found that of over 106 countries, Ghana and Georgia were the only two countries where people under 40 were more religious than their older compatriots. Christianity remains to be the largest religion in Ghana taking up 70% of the entire population. Following Christianity is Islam, which makes up 25%. Of the 70% who make up Christianity, 18% are Protestant, 13% are Roman Catholic and 5% are Traditionalists.

Tribes…Lots of tribes

There are more than 100 ethnic groups living in Ghana. The Akan tribe is the largest, encompassing approximately 20 million people. The most spoken language of the Akan language is Twi (which comes in four different variations). Other popular tribes in Ghana include Ewe, Fante, Ashanti and Ga.

Article authored by Zaina Adamu. Originally published by Demand Africa. Read originally article here.