The Twin Cities art scene this weekend celebrates Ghana’s Independence Day with a lineup of local and international musical performances. Other events this weekend include a graphic arts exhibition advocating for a ceasefire in Gaza and paying tribute to the Palestinian resistance.
In Brooklyn Park, 16 banners on display will explore Indigenous women’s pivotal roles in shaping history.
Music performances celebrate Ghanaian Independence Day
Shutdown Entertainment, a Pan-African collective uniting communities of African descent through cultural events, is celebrating the 67th anniversary of Ghanaian Independence Day with a weekend of local and international Ghanaian music.
Ghana gained independence on March 6, 1957, following 83 years of British colonial rule, becoming the first sub-Saharan African country to achieve freedom from Britain.
As part of the celebration, Governor Tim Walz is expected to sign a proclamation Friday, spotlighting Minnesotan’s Ghanaian community and emphasizing the state’s diverse population, said Abena Abraham, Shutdown Enteraintment’s event coordinator.
The weekend’s festivities begin with the “Ye Wo Abonten” (We Outside) event on Friday, March 8, at Rumba Uptown. A lineup of DJs will spin Afrobeats and Ghanaian classics.
“Minnesota has a live music scene, and we want to introduce Ghanaian artists into that scene, especially with mainstream radio predominantly playing Afrobeats from Nigerian artists,” Abraham said.
The main event on March 9 at the Granada Theater will showcase highlife music, a traditional genre in West Africa that features rhythmic guitar and brass instruments. The genre often revolves around themes of love, social issues, and cultural identity. Ghanaian artist Bisa Kdei will take the stage to perform highlife music while Kwaw Kese will perform hiplife, a contemporary fusion of highlife and hip-hop elements. Joining these artists are nine national talents, including Ntsang McCormick, Raouf Denio, Udu Chansen, Taweh G Fahnbulleh, and Twin Cities Dance Crew.
The celebration concludes on March 10 with the “Ye Wo Krom” (We are back in town) event at Rumba Uptown, showcasing a compilation of nostalgic and urban Ghanaian hits.
Date: Friday, March 8, to Sunday, March 10.
Time: Friday, 9 p.m. to 2 a.m. for the “Ye Wo Abonten” event. Saturday, 9:30 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. for the main event. Sunday, 9 p.m. to 2 a.m. for the “Ye Wo Krom” event.
Location: The “Ye Wo Abonten” and “Ye Wo Krom” events will be held at Rumba Uptown, 2943 Girard Ave. S., Minneapolis. The main event will be held at the Granada Theater, 3022 Hennepin Ave., Minneapolis.
Cost: Tickets start at $20.
For more information: Visit https://www.shutdownmnent.com/.
Traveling exhibit sheds light on Indigenous history
North Hennepin Community College is presenting the “Warrior Women’s traveling exhibit,” featuring 16 banners shedding light on the often overlooked narratives of over 12 Indigenous women.
The exhibit, curated by the Warrior Women Project, made its debut during the 50th anniversary of the occupation of Wounded Knee, South Dakota, a 71-day standoff in 1973 between members of the American Indian Movement and federal law enforcement agencies.
“Growing up in South Dakota, this was not stuff they taught in school, but why is that?” asked Morgan Catlett-Ausborn, a member of the Women Warrior Project. “We need to learn more about these things, because they have a significant impact on Indigenous communities across the United States and also across the world.”
Each banner features photographs and a QR code directly linking to oral history interviews conducted by Catlett-Ausborn and Wyatt Pickner, exploring the experiences, struggles, and resilience of women involved in the occupation.
“What’s so cool about it is that we have these banners, but we also have a piece where you can actually go and listen to the voices of women telling their own stories too,” Catlett-Ausborn said.
The project’s evolution relies on the continued inclusion of diverse perspectives. Through these interviews, the exhibit pays homage to the women who stood at the forefront of the struggle, including activists Delle Big Crow, Faith Traversie, Madonna Thunder Hawk, and others.
“I want the community to have better access to a more accurate history of what happened,” Pickner said. “Oftentimes we don’t hear that side of the story from textbooks, so I hope that people will engage with the exhibit and build off of it.”
Date: Friday, March 8, to Friday, March 15.
Time: 6:30 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday.
Location: North Hennepin Community College, 7411 85th Ave. N., Brooklyn Park
Cost: Free
For more information: Visit www.warriorwomen.org/wk50.
Graphic artists unite in solidarity with Palestine
Photo of the print, “Palestine will never die,” by Josh Mayfield. Credit: Photo courtesy of the artist Josh Mayfield and Utopix collective. 
Photo of the print, “Artists against apartheid,” by Kael Abello. Credit: Photo courtesy of the artist Kael Abello and Utopix collective. 
Photo of the print, “Nakba 1948,” by Ghalmi Othman. Credit: Photo courtesy of the artist Ghalmi Othman and Utopix collective. 
Photo of the print, “MUJER PALESTINA,” by Pablo Kalaka. Credit: Photo courtesy of the artist Pablo Kalaka and Utopix collective.
Indigenous Roots Cultural Arts Center, in collaboration with Utopix, a platform for digital artists, is hosting “Eyes on Palestine.” The exhibit showcases the work of over 20 artists, designers, and activities from more than 10 countries demonstrating solidarity and resistance in response to the conflict in Gaza.
The exhibit serves as a rallying call for action, prompting viewers to confront their own roles in perpetuating systems of oppression.
Date: Friday, March 8, to Tuesday, March 12.
Time: 8 a.m. to 12 p.m., Monday through Thursday. Evening hours are held on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Location: Indigenous Roots Cultural Arts Center, 788 E. 7th Street St. Paul.
Cost: Free
For more information: Visit www.instagram.com/indigeroots.
