Tobias Sylvester
Ghanaian artist, Joseph Awuah-Darko has accused renowned Nigerian-American artist, Kehinde Wiley of sexual assault.
In a detailed Instagram post on May 19, 2024, Awuah-Darko revealed that the incidents happened on June 9, 2021.
According to him, Wiley assaulted him twice during a dinner organized by the Ghana Creative Art Council at the Noldor Artist Residency, which he founded in 2020.
Awuah-Darko stated, “On the 9th of June 2021, I was sexually assaulted [twice] by Kehinde Wiley. I first met the American artist of Nigerian descent at a dinner held in his honour by Ghana’s Creative Art Council at the Noldor Artist Residency.
“The chosen venue was my place of work and an institution I founded in 2020. And as such, I was to be present and invited in a professional capacity amongst other figures – all of whom play a major role within and beyond Ghana’s artistic and creative ecosystem.”
Describing the first assault, Awuah-Darko alleged that Wiley groped his buttocks while he was escorting him and another guest to the bathroom.
“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. The act was categorically unwelcome and unprovoked – Wiley had barely known me for more than 2 hours by this point and I was wearing a modest dark green kaftan.
“I was stunned and concerned for two reasons: [A] this unsolicited act had occurred in Ghana at my place of work, and [B) it was done by a critically celebrated artist who knew the power he wielded and seemed clearly prepared to abuse it.
“Nevertheless, I placated the situation with awkward humour and the dinner subsequently continued,” the Ghanaian artiste claimed.
Awuah-Darko claimed the second assault was “much more severe and violent,” but he did not provide details.
He also alleged that Wiley has a “pattern of predatory behavior” that has been “treated as an open secret within the art world for quite some time.
“Let me now say that, much like other documented victims [survivors] of sexual assault, I did not immediately confront the reality of my abuse as such,” he added.
Awuah-Darko explained that it took him months to come to terms with the abuse. He also mentioned the difficulties of reporting the incident in Ghana, where anti-LGBTQIA+ sentiments are strong.
“Secondly, Given Kehinde’s self-described global recognition as a gay man, formally reporting this assault in a West Africa county like Ghana [where anti-LGBTQIA+ sentiments are prevalent] would have been problematic at best – dangerous as worst,” he added.
“In the years that have followed this abuse, I have gaslighted myself, consumed with shame, and even tried to harm myself. I asked myself several questions over and over again before coming out with this.”
“In the years since, I have struggled with shame and self-doubt, even contemplating self-harm. I questioned myself repeatedly before deciding to speak out.”
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In response to these allegations via his Instagram page, Kehinde Wiley categorically denied any wrongdoing.
Wiley acknowledged knowing Awuah-Darko but asserted that their relationship was brief and consensual, denying any allegations of assault.
He wrote, “Someone I had a brief, consensual relationship with almost three years ago is now making a false accusation about our time together.
“These claims are not true and are an affront to all victims of sexual abuse,” Wiley wrote. “I have no idea why he has decided to target me in this way – particularly when there is a litany of evidence showing his claims are false.”
“But I hope he gets the help he needs for whatever he is going through. I kindly ask for privacy as I work to clear my name,” he concluded.
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KanyiDaily recalls that Daphne Joy, former girlfriend of American rapper 50 Cent, also made serious allegations of rape and assault against the G-Unit leader.
