President John Dramani Mahama has highlighted the role of cultural heritage in strengthening international relations during a visit to an exhibition showcasing Ghana’s iconic kente textile in Moscow, Russia.
The exhibition, titled Woven Meanings, was held at the All-Russian Museum of Decorative Arts, where it presents the history, craftsmanship and cultural significance of kente to Russian audiences.
The exhibition forms part of the International Festival of African Culture and Cinema, Africa: Together into the Future, and is also included in the cultural programme of the Third Russia-Africa Summit.
Organised with the participation of the Centre for Public Diplomacy, with assistance from the Russian House of the Centre for Public Diplomacy in Ghana, the initiative seeks to promote cultural exchange and deepen people-to-people relations between Ghana and Russia.
During his visit, President Mahama toured the collection, which features various kente designs and a traditional weaving loom of the type still used by artisans in the Kumasi area.
Among the exhibits are a kente cloak associated with Ghana’s first President, Dr Kwame Nkrumah, and another belonging to President Mahama, highlighting the textile’s place in the country’s cultural and political history.
Speaking at the exhibition, President Mahama said cultural understanding was essential to building lasting relationships between countries, beyond formal diplomatic engagements.
“Although we have established intergovernmental contacts and relations between our two countries, the strongest and most enduring ties are those between people. And these ties can only be strengthened through an understanding of each other’s cultures,” he said.
He thanked the organisers and their partners for bringing the exhibition to Moscow, particularly for making explanatory texts available in Russian to help visitors understand the significance of the exhibits.
Director of the All-Russian Museum of Decorative Arts, Tatyana Rybkina, disclosed that the exhibition had attracted more than 11,000 visitors in less than two weeks, reflecting the interest it had generated among the Russian public.
Dmitry Savelyev, First Deputy Chairman of the State Duma Committee on International Affairs and Director General of the Centre for Public Diplomacy, also highlighted the historical ties between Ghana and Russia, particularly the educational connections established during the Soviet era.
The exhibition further explores the relevance of kente in contemporary fashion, design and cultural expression, while showcasing the patterns, colours and symbolism that distinguish the traditional Ghanaian textile.
The presentation in Moscow forms part of broader efforts to promote Ghanaian culture internationally and strengthen cultural and humanitarian exchanges between the two countries.