A prominent Ghanaian artist, Joseph Awuah-Darko, has opened up about a discomforting situation he found himself in back in 2021.
The artist in an Instagram post made serious accusations including allegations of sexual assault against globally renowned and celebrated artist Kehinde Wiley who is also of Nigerian descent.
According to Awuah-Darko, he was sexually assaulted twice the same day by the celebrated artist, Kehinde Wiley.
He said the incidents occurred during a dinner held on June 9, 2021 by the Ghana Creative Art Council at the Noldor Artist Residency, an establishment he founded in 2020.
In an Instagram post on May 19, Joesph recounted the first assault, stating that Wiley had groped his buttocks while he was accompanying him and another guest upstairs to the bathroom.
He emphasized that this action was entirely uncalled for and unprovoked and claimed it was witnessed by another attendee whom he did not identify.
“In the first assault, I was inappropriately groped by Kehinde Wiley who proceeded to grab my buttocks with his hand before then saying something along the lines of “What is this thing?”. This happened in front of another dinner guest, while I was politely ushering them both up flights of stairs to use the bathroom during said dinner,” Joseph Awuah-Darko wrote on Instagram.
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According to him, he had barely known Wiley for more than two hours and was stunned by his actions
Describing the second assault as more severe and violent, Awuah-Darko did not delve into specifics.
However, he wished for the wheels of justice to catch up with Wiley as he claimed that there are several other victims of Kehinde Wiley’s alleged sexual assault behaviour.
“All I can do is pray for the strength, resources and support to see justice through and hope that others come forward to put an end to this pattern of abuse,” he added.
Mr. Kehinde Wiley has since denied the accusations against him saying he had “a brief consensual relationship” with the Ghanaian artist three years ago.
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He described the accusations as “false” and “not true” and only amounts to an “affront to all victims of sexual abuse.”
Kehinde Wiley added that there are litany of evidences showing his innocence in this matter and requested for privacy as he works to clear his name.
