The Younger Generation Or Akyiremma 2022

Cornelius Annor painted "The Younger Generation" in Ghana, using oil paint to create this intimate portrait of a family. The title "Akyiremma" suggests this is a picture about the future and its inheritors. This image creates meaning through its depiction of contemporary Ghanaian life. The father’s suit and tie, along with the children’s smart attire, connote a rising middle class. The wax print fabric of the father’s trousers, also known as Ankara, is particularly interesting. The patterns have symbolic meanings, often used to communicate messages, and signify status. The family portrait is a popular format in Western art, and here it's been re-imagined, and updated. Understanding this artwork requires attention to the social and economic transformations in Ghana and Africa more widely. Historical research into Ghanaian fashion and popular culture can help us decode the values and aspirations represented here.