Abena Jonel, a model and a writer from Accra who was part of a fashion show that was a huge success, delivered an unforgettable moment. The model walked down the runway wearing a brightly colored kente fabric wrapped around her prosthetic leg, transforming fashion into an expression of pride, culture and disability awareness.
Childhood shaped by Survival
Abena was diagnosed with aggressive and rare cancer rhabdomyosarcoma at the age of two. Her mother was forced to make an agonizing choice after a tumour developed in the right calf of her daughter. Her mother chose to amputate her daughter’s leg over a treatment that would have rendered her daughter incapable of walking.
Abena still does not regret her decision. It saved her life, and she credits that decision with shaping her.It boosted her self-confidence and independent spirit.
Disability stereotypes: Rejecting them
Abena rejects outright the notion that children with disabilities must be quiet, gentle or perfect in order to be accepted. Her disability didn’t soften her character. Her disability actually strengthened her personality.
She built her career as an adult writer, poet and speaker. She encouraged people to focus on their potential, rather than looking at limitations.
Find your place in Ghana
Reading about the pre-colonial history of West Africa deepened this connection. After her first trip to Ghana, in 2021, everything changed.
She felt an overwhelming sense of belonging and identity as she stood at the Assin Manso site. She felt a deep sense of sadness when she left Ghana, and this led to a decision that changed her life. Three months after that, she relocated permanently to Accra.
Kente, culture and resistance
Abena’s prosthetic legs wrapped in kente are not just a matter of fashion. The fabric represents pride and love of Ghana, as well as heritage. The fabric is a way to express her culture and transform a simple mobility aid.
She also found a mission in Ghana. She realized that people with disabilities are often invisible to the public. The stigma grows because of this lack of representation.
Abena is of the opinion that disability in itself doesn’t limit anyone. Access and support are what limits people.
Make history at the runway
This belief led her in contacting the organisers Rhythms on the Runway – one of Africa’s most renowned fashion shows. She wanted to see inclusion go beyond just words.
Her walk on the Osu Castle runway was one of most memorable moments that night. Designers and cultural leaders praised the confidence of her walk, calling it an example of inclusivity.The disabled people did not watch from the sides. The disabled people stood in the middle.
Visibility is the key to a future of success
Abena is a mentor and an advocate of disabled people. It isn’t just about survival. This is about reclaiming space, identity and belonging in a changing society that has begun to view disability differently.
