Ghanaian contemporary artist Ibrahim Mahama has been decorated with the insignia of Chevalier de l’Ordre des Arts et des Lettres, one of France’s distinguished cultural honours.
The honour was presented by the Ambassador of France to Ghana, Her Excellency Diarra Dimé-Labille, at a ceremony held at the Residence of France in Accra, in the presence of Mahama’s family, friends and representatives of Ghana’s artistic and cultural community.
Awarded by France’s Ministry of Culture, the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres recognises individuals who have distinguished themselves through artistic or literary creation, as well as those who have contributed to the influence of the arts and literature in France and around the world.
The Ambassador of France to Ghana, H.E. Diarra Dimé-Labille, in her address, explained that the august event sheds light on the profound impact Mahama has made through his works. According to her, his achievement was one she had anticipated for some time.
Speaking about what she identified in Ibrahim Mahama’s work, she said, “What makes your work so powerful is I saw the way you look at Ghana and its history, its transformation, its contradiction and the traces that history leaves behind. You have often chosen to work with things that others might overlook or abandon.”
Receiving the insignia, Mahama expressed gratitude to his family and everyone who has contributed to his achievement.
Reflecting on his journey, the artist stressed the importance of driving impact-driven initiatives towards Ghana.
“When you get the opportunity to travel outside the country. We as Ghanaian people have to come and make the impact here in Ghana.”
He applauded the efforts being made towards supporting the creative arts in Ghana but noted that there is still more work to be done.
Mahama further emphasised that the recognition goes beyond him, describing the feat as a “win for the creative arts industry in Ghana.”
The honour also comes just days before Mahama heads to Paris to begin installing The Harvest Season (Le Temps des récoltes), his major exhibition at the Fondation Cartier pour l’art contemporain, running from October 22, 2026 to February 28, 2027.
The exhibition will mark Mahama’s first exhibition in Paris and will present his work on an unprecedented scale in France.
In keeping with his collective approach to art, Mahama has also invited nine artists and collectives to feature alongside his work. They include Dorothy Akpene Amenuke, Gideon Appah, James Barnor, CATPC, Courage Dzidula Kpodo, Zohra Opoku, Postbox Ghana, Tjaša Rener and Feda Wardak.
The French Embassy says their inclusion highlights an important part of Mahama’s journey, where international recognition is closely tied to collective creation, transmission and creating platforms for other artists and generations.
With the honour coming just weeks before the opening of his major Paris exhibition, the occasion also celebrates the growing artistic and cultural ties between Ghana and France, with Mahama emerging as one of the leading figures of Ghanaian contemporary art.
The distinction recognises Mahama’s exceptional international career and an artistic practice deeply connected to Ghana’s history and transformations. His work often reactivates materials, objects and infrastructures inherited from Ghana’s industrial, colonial and postcolonial history to explore themes of memory, labour, circulation and transmission.
Beyond his individual artistic career, Mahama has also invested in creating opportunities for other artists and younger generations. Through the Savannah Centre for Contemporary Art (SCCA), Red Clay and Nkrumah Volini in Tamale, he has helped establish spaces for artistic production, research, archives, education and knowledge sharing.