PROFILE

A renowned artist and woodcarver from Ghana, Nii Addico recently immigrated to Canada to be with his Canadian wife, Bronwyn. Together they run Creation Africa, a small company created to showcase Nii’s work and to foster a new appreciation for the richness of African culture within Canada.

Nii has devoted twelve years to perfecting his craft. A graduate of Ghana National Vocational Institute, Nii spent 5 years training in an apprenticeship at the Ghana National Arts & Culture Center under three different carving masters.

While working for Ashanti Furniture, a well-known Ghanaian furniture company, Nii transitioned from woodcarving to design. A selection of his designs from this time period is on display in Morocco’s Parliament Buildings.

Since 2002 Nii has run his own craft store in the Ghanaian villages of Kokorobite and Pram Pram. His work has been imported to Sweden, England, the United States as well as Canada. Nii’s carvings have also been featured in exhibitions within Ghana and other countries within West Africa. Since arriving in Canada, Nii has demonstrated his carving skills numerous times at various locations including K-W Art Gallery’s Black & Gold Gala as well as the Art in the Park Festival in Stratford. Nii's work is in the collection of several Canadian art collectors as well. So far his time in Canada has been spent growing as an artist. “My work has been transformed by the differences in nature. Discovering the Canadian natural environments is fueling my experimentation.” Nii is enjoying applying a western aesthetic to his traditional African pieces.