Tutu: The historic town of Tutu in the Eastern Region is set to become a beacon of cultural preservation and international cooperation with the launch of the 'Tutu W? Bi Ka' Heritage Centre. This marks a significant milestone for the Unfolding Cultural Heritage (UCH) project, which is dedicated to preserving and reimagining intangible cultural heritage through art, research, and community collaboration.
According to Ghana News Agency, the UCH project is a partnership between Ghanaian and Italian stakeholders, funded by Regione Puglia of Italy. It is coordinated locally by ArtLife Matters Ghana, with Ramdom and the Library and Museum Centre of Lecce, Italy, as lead partners. The initiative aims to connect Ghanaian communities with international stakeholders, ensuring that heritage remains a living and shared resource for future generations.
In Tutu, the project has witnessed strong grassroots participation, with artists, researchers, and community elders working together to collect, archive, and reinterpret local traditions. The Heritage Centre features a multilingual picture book in Akuapem Twi, English, and Italian, narrating the tale of a missing hunter, drum language, and a historic map of Tutu. Additionally, it houses field recordings and community soundscapes, accessible both onsite and online, along with three murals that celebrate Tutu's cultural identity.
Mr. Eric Agyare, Director of ArtLife Matters, emphasized that heritage is found not only in monuments but also in stories, rhythms, and collective memory. He noted that the initiative aims to create a space where 'the past converses with the present', thereby allowing local voices to resonate globally. Mr. Luigi De Luca, Director of the Library and Museum Centre in Lecce, highlighted how art can serve as a bridge across continents, safeguarding and reimagining culture in collaboration with local communities.
The new centre is envisioned as a living archive and cultural hub, hosting workshops, research exchanges, and digital documentation projects to maintain Tutu's traditions as dynamic and accessible. Mr. Kizito Amartey, a representative of the National Commission on Culture (NCC), described the project as an example of cultural sustainability that equips future generations with tools to embrace their roots while engaging with the world.
Project partners believe this model can be replicated in rural communities across Ghana and beyond, connecting oral histories with digital platforms and bridging generations through storytelling. Through the UCH initiative, Tutu has emerged as an example of how communities can reimagine tradition as a living and evolving practice, strengthening identity and resilience. The UCH project is funded under Regional Law 20/2003 - 'Partnership for Cooperation' - Public Call 2024 by the Puglia Region, Department of Economic Development, Section for Research and International Relations.
