Ghanaian-American model and writer Abena Christine Jon'el recently captivated audiences at a major Ghanaian fashion show, not just with her poise but with her vibrant prosthetic leg wrapped in African kente print. The 33-year-old's powerful runway appearance was a deliberate statement on disability visibility and a declaration of her love for Ghana, her adopted home.
Abena's journey began at age two when a rare cancer, rhabdomyosarcoma, led to the amputation of her right leg. She grew up in Chicago, developing a strong, defiant personality that she credits with carrying her through life as a writer and public speaker.
A transformative first visit to Ghana in 2021 sparked a deep sense of belonging. "It felt like I had finally found a missing part of myself," she told the BBC. Three months later, she moved to Accra permanently. "My Ghanaian identity is not pretend... It is ancestral," she stated.
Her advocacy focuses on shifting perceptions of disability in Ghana, where she feels representation is lacking. "In Ghana, disabled people have not been widely showcased in a positive light... People do not see us in powerful or beautiful or joyful positions," she explained.
Her landmark moment came at the 15th edition of Rhythms on the Runway, one of Africa's premier fashion shows. She approached the organizers herself, determined to be a catalyst for change. Her confident walk, with her kente-clad prosthetic, became one of the most talked-about moments of the night, celebrated by ministers and organizers alike.
For Abena, the colorful wrap on her prosthetic is more than decoration. "It always has been, and always will be, kente," she says. "It represents my love for this country, its heritage, its pride." Her mission is to reclaim narratives around disability, identity, and belonging through unapologetic visibility.
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