UEW Showcases Student Artworks At 2026 SoTL Africa Conference

The creative voices of University of Education, Winneba (UEW) students were involved in the 2026 Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SoTL) Africa Conference, held at Ashesi University from Friday, 28th to Saturday, 29th August, 2026.

As part of a conference presentation titled “SANKOFA: A Decolonial Framework for Art Education and Curatorial Practice,” art educator Ebenezer Kow Abraham exhibited works by 13 Level 300 students, demonstrating how African Indigenous Knowledge Systems can enrich art education and student learning.

The presentation explored the Akan philosophy of Sankofa, commonly understood as the importance of returning to one's roots to retrieve valuable knowledge for the future as a framework for teaching drawing and curatorial practice. The study involved students in the Independent Studies in Drawing course at the University of Education, Winneba who were encouraged to investigate local histories, cultural symbols, indigenous materials and their own artistic identities.

The exhibition showcased a diverse range of artworks inspired by African cultural heritage including pieces based on Adinkra symbols, chalewote (slippers), calabashes, indigenous stories, “Ghana must go”, textile patterns, and historical narratives. The works demonstrated what the study described as "reclaiming cultural identity," "material sovereignty" and critical engagement with colonial influences in art education.

Conference participants responded enthusiastically to the exhibition, praising the creativity and cultural significance of the students' work. One visitor particularly commended an installation featuring slippers arranged on the floor to represent the concept of Sankofa. He noted that the display effectively communicated the exhibition's central message.

The exhibition also sparked broader conversations about the role of African knowledge systems in contemporary education and artistic practice. Reflecting on the display, one visitor remarked that the exhibition highlighted "the need to decolonise art" and underscored the importance of embracing Africa's Indigenous Knowledge Systems (IKS).

The positive reception echoed the core findings of Abraham's research, which argues that students learn more meaningfully when cultural knowledge is positioned as an academic resource rather than as supplementary content. The study found that students moved from merely reproducing artistic conventions to becoming active producers of knowledge grounded in their own cultural experiences.

The Sankofa framework demonstrated how African philosophies can serve as powerful pedagogical tools that nurture creativity, confidence, critical thinking and cultural awareness among students.

The exhibition's success at the SoTL Africa Conference reinforces the growing recognition of African-centred approaches to teaching and learning. It highlights the important role art education can play in preserving, celebrating and advancing Africa's rich cultural heritage.