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Ghanaisms: A Dictionary

A note: Not ordered in any particular way "Are you strong?" Another way of asking how you are doing. This is a common question from hearing people who don't know sign towards the deaf community because it's easier to mime "strong" than "fine." "I am going." Ghanaians always announce when they are leaving, since it's considered rude to just leave without saying anything. Definitely something I have had to get used to being here, as I am a lover of the "Irish Goodbye" "Small time!" A way of saying goodbye without using goodbye because goodbye is seen as forever. Small time means you will see each other again in a short while. Orrrr it's a way to dip out of a conversation you're not enjoying (e.g., "Well it looks like I'm late for xyz. Small time!") "You are invited." Said when you are served food as a polite gesture. The 5 seconds between when you offer your food to ...
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Dancing in the Upper West Region

What does dancing in Ghana look like? The answer-- there is no "quintessential Ghanaian dance" (unless you count the "Akwaaba" dance. Google it). Instead, each tribal group has their own cultural dances, including the Dagaaba of Upper West Region. Below is an example of my students dancing one of the oldest traditional dances of the Dagaaba people of Upper West, the Bawaa. It is a ceremonial dance performed to celebrate the beginning and the end of the rainy season, the new year, a good harvest, and during festivals. This dance requires a lot of waist and leg movement, but notice the two different movements required of men and women dancers. Part of the enjoyment of this dance is the singing and shouting that occurs to encourage the dancers. Drumming and xylophone playing are an essential part of performing any traditional dances in the Upper West region and xylophone playing is actually unique to that region. The drums are made from cowhide stretched across a w...
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Wax Print and Batik: An Introduction to Ghana's Fabric Rainbow

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As soon as you step off a plane in Ghana or anywhere in West Africa, you immediately notice just how colorful people’s clothing is. In fact, this bright-colored fabric is a big part of the culture of this part of Africa. Just walk into any market and you are surrounded by stalls selling dozens of fabric designs in flaming orange, bold turquoise, deep purple, and neon yellow. Buyers purchase 2-3 yards (depending on the clothing item they want) and take it to a seamstress/tailor to have a piece fitted to them. While one would be hard-pressed to find a community where no one wears the fabric, the influx of used clothing from China into Ghana has made Western clothing more common for everyday use. Instead, the bold fabric swatches are saved for jobs considered “white collar” (i.e.,working in an office of some sort) and special occasions, like weddings, funerals, and religious ceremonies. A typical fabric shop in West Africa. Image credit These wax prints are part of a long histor...
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