Artist Godfried Donkor, born in Ghana and based in the United Kingdom since childhood, is currently presenting his first institutional exhibition in the UK, titled *It’s a Numbers Game*, at Firstsite in Colchester. The show, open through August 30, examines historical and cultural connections between Colchester and Ghana, highlighting themes of empire, identity, and the shaping of historical narratives.

Donkor’s work in the exhibition draws parallels between two notable anti-imperialist figures: Boudicca, the ancient British warrior queen associated with Colchester, and Yaa Asantewaa, the Ghanaian queen renowned for leading resistance against British colonialism. Through this comparison, the artist situates his exploration within a broader dialogue on resistance and the enduring impact of imperial histories.

The exhibition incorporates a variety of mediums and visual references to challenge and reinterpret accepted historical symbols. European heraldry is reimagined with invented African coats of arms embroidered onto salmon-pink pages from the *Financial Times*. Donkor also elevates Ghanaian boxers by surrounding their images with gold leaf and halos, invoking saintly iconography. In another striking juxtaposition, cut-outs of African American boxers appear alongside lithographs of transatlantic slave ships, underscoring the interwoven histories of sport, struggle, and displacement.

The exhibition’s title, *It’s a Numbers Game*, reflects themes of chance, fate, and uncertainty, drawing on metaphors related to sports and luck. Donkor has described the phrase as carrying multiple meanings, suggesting that everyone’s "number" may come up in different ways and times.

Through a blend of historical reference, cultural critique, and visual innovation, Godfried Donkor’s exhibition invites viewers to reconsider the intersections of colonial history, identity, and legacy between the UK and Ghana.