OTEANANKANDURO
Oteanankanduro, born Ato Kwamina Hasford, is a Ghanaian multidisciplinary artist whose name translates to “healer of snakebites.” As an actor, singer, writer, dancer, and intuitive artist, he merges performance with cultural storytelling to challenge societal constructs and celebrate identity, spirituality, and queerness in the African context.
His artistic practice spans multiple disciplines, from film and illustrations to music and traditional folklore. As a fluent Akan translator, he brings the richness of indigenous language into his works, reinforcing the importance of cultural preservation and evolution. His recent projects explore the struggles and resilience of queer folk genre artists in Ghana, drawing inspiration from the powerful legacies of female-led folk music traditions.
The more prominence and/or acceptance he garners, the more his childhood curiousity is brought to light: “Where are all the people like me?”
Beyond his creative work, Oteanankanduro is a passionate activist, advocating for social justice, mental health, human rights, and environmental protection. He firmly believes that art is not merely a tool for entertainment but an opportunity for positive activism—a medium through which he sparks conversations, challenges norms, and amplifies marginalized voices. His work has been recognized in artistic residencies; the most recent with Artists at Risk (AR) in Finland. He continues to use his creative platform to empower, uncover truth, and inspire.
I am all there is
in one body, one spirit, one soul:
Not man, not woman; not wo-man
Not broken, not silenced, not eclipsed
I’m just the hue of mankind-
Human!
That’s all there is
It’s all I’ll ever be.
Hasford Ato Kwamina
Oteanankanduro