On Wednesday, President John Dramani Mahama travelled to Moscow to visit the Woven Meanings exhibition, a showcase of Ghana’s iconic kente textile at the All‑Russian Museum of Decorative Arts. The display, part of the International Festival of African Culture and Cinema, was organised with the Centre for Public Diplomacy and the Russian House of the Centre for Public Diplomacy in Ghana.
Mahama examined a range of kente samples, including a traditional weaving loom from Kumasi and two historically significant cloaks – one belonging to Ghana’s first President, Dr Kwame Nkrumah, and another owned by Mahama himself. The exhibition highlighted the vibrant colours, intricate patterns and symbolic meanings that make kente a powerful repository of Ghanaian heritage.
Speaking to visitors, Mahama said, “Although we have established intergovernmental contacts and relations between our two countries, the strongest and most enduring ties are those between people. And these ties can only be strengthened through an understanding of each other’s cultures.” He thanked organisers for the Russian‑language explanatory texts that helped audiences appreciate the displays.
The exhibition attracted more than 11,000 visitors in less than two weeks, according to Tatyana Rybkina, Director of the museum. Dmitry Savelyev, First Deputy Chairman of the State Duma Committee on International Affairs, highlighted the historical foundations of Ghana‑Russia relations and the role of education links formed during the Soviet era.
For Ghana, presenting kente abroad demonstrates how cultural diplomacy can create engagement spaces beyond traditional political and economic discussions, fostering people‑to‑people connections that strengthen bilateral ties.
