My Bag series

This artwork reinterprets the iconic “Ghana Must Go” bag as a sculptural object, transforming a familiar symbol of movement and survival into a reflective vessel of memory and identity. Wrapped in Akan-inspired patterns, the box-like form references the original checkered plastic bag while replacing its fragility with structure, care, and permanence.
Historically, the Ghana Must Go bag is tied to experiences of displacement, migration, and economic necessity across West Africa and the diaspora. In this work, its function as a container is preserved, but its meaning is expanded. The bag becomes a holder of stories—what is carried, what is left behind, and what is protected during movement. The handle suggests readiness and portability, while the firm edges imply resilience and control over one’s narrative.
By using culturally coded textiles instead of plastic, the artwork elevates an object often associated with marginalisation into one of dignity and cultural pride. It speaks to the realities of migration from Ghana and beyond, where movement is not only physical but emotional and historical. The work reframes the Ghana Must Go bag as a symbol of endurance, adaptation, and the persistence of identity—carrying home not as a place, but as memory, culture, and self.