Digital Skit Makers and Gender Expression in Ghana: The Case of Deaconess Abokomah and Akonoba

The creation and growth of the digital space have become one of the biggest events of the 21st century. Not only is it important for its ability to connect people, but it is also one of the largest platforms for entertainment. It has also become famous, and in some spaces, infamous for giving young people a voice. One of the ways in which young people have carved out a niche for themselves on these platforms is through the creation of skits, especially those who make skits as cross-dressers or drag performers. Dress and appearance have historically been a canvas for the performance of and contestation of gendered identities and expressions. Cross-dressing, especially in contemporary Ghana, is interpreted as a deviation from the acceptable gender norms and expectations within Ghanaian society. However, various digital platforms have become a feeding ground for young skits/artists to push the boundaries of social acceptability through their costumes and art. Through visual-verbal video analysis of 20 skits from two popular Ghanaian skit makers, this chapter seeks to understand how costume can become a powerful means of gender expression through digital platforms.