Image Credit: @uew_official on X
The University of Education, Winneba (UEW) was lit with creativity as Ebenezer Mensah unveiled his thought-provoking exhibition titled “What If We Had Our Own Spade Card Game?” The project transforms the classic spade card game,popularly known as ‘spar’ or ‘playing cards’ into a rich canvas of Ghanaian storytelling, heritage, and cultural pride.
Instead of the familiar Western motifs, Mensah’s deck pays homage to Ghana’s identity. Adinkra symbols—icons of wisdom and values—take center stage, accompanied by striking images of the Asantehene and the late Asantehemaa, symbolizing continuity and royalty in Asante culture. The redesigned cards challenge the norm and imagine how a centuries-old game could be redefined through African lenses.
Speaking through his work, Mensah highlights the need for creative innovation in preserving cultural heritage. His bold reimagination resonates with a wider movement of using art and design to tell Ghana’s stories in modern forms, proving that even the simplest of games can become a bridge between tradition and contemporary expression.
The exhibition, mounted under the banner of UEW’s vibrant arts society, drew attention not only for its visual appeal but also for sparking dialogue on identity, creativity, and cultural ownership in everyday leisure.
With “What If We Had Our Own Spade Card Game?”, Ebenezer Mensah makes one thing clear: Ghanaian heritage has endless room to play.
Source: Culled from the University of Education, Winneba (UEW) Twitter (X) page (@uew_official).
Editor: Ama Gyesiwa Quansah
