The Homecoming: Ghana
Africa has always been on my list of destinations. But in my mind, the trip didn’t seem as accessible as a trip to Mexico or Jamaica. In March of 2022, my cousin/auntie/sister Nichole was a chaperone with the I.A.M.C.U.L.T.U.R.E.D. After seeing the fullness of her spirit, coupled with the recap photos of her trip, along with the fact she went back to Ghana again that summer, ending on the point that she declared she was moving to Ghana in a few years, I knew I wanted to feel that blessing. This was my chance to see what Africa truly is. Growing up as an African-American we are told so many different things about Africa:
Africans don’t like black people
Everyone is poor
All of Africa’s resources have been depleted
It’s not for tourism
They live exclusively in huts
But now of course we know more times than not our media does not depict black lives and spaces in a positive way. Through my schooling to become a Broadcast Journalist, I learned that the true job of a journalist is to “give the people what they need to be free and self-governing.” I was ready to go and experience I was ready to go and experience this so that I can bring back my truth to share with those that have an ear to hear.
The Preparation
I was introduced to Karmia Berry. Karmia Berry is the founder of I.A.M.C.U.L.U.R.E.D a nonprofit dedicated to a cultural exchange with high school students and study abroad out of New York. Together with Africa With Us founded by Mama Kuks and Coach Cass along with Purpose Driven Passports, founded by Tracey Coleman the three collaborate to create the Homecoming: Ghana experience. After she explained the purpose of each foundation to me the trip, and how transformative it was, I pitched the idea for the students to create an art show based on their experience. Karmia loved the idea and I was selected to be a chaperone.
In January, Nicole and I traveled to New York for a meet and greet with the students and their parents. During this visit, I was given the opportunity to explain to them the my shake the room art show activity.
In order to enter Ghana I was required to receive Visa, the Yellow Fever Vaccine, Hepatitis A Vaccine and I received 2 PCR tests. One before I left America and one when I landed in Ghana
Below is a video of the chaperones and students the night of our flight.
Our flight was set to depart from New York on Monday, February 27th at 11:55 PM…then 12:30 AM…then.. 1:25 AM..we were finally on the plane, seated and ready for take-off when the pilot announced that they were canceling the flight due to a snow storm. We were all heartbroken. We scrambled to find a hotel to house 18 people for the night. After lots and lots of phone calls, we staggered our flights out to Ghana over the next few days.
The Arrival
We touched down and the weather was beautiful. The moment I got to the hotel I immediately met the students and chaperones by the pool. I stayed in the pool for some time before I ate dinner and slept with major anticipation of what was to come. The next morning the students went to rock climb and Nichole and I got our hair braided at a beauty salon. The customer service was amazing and my hair is a work of art. I could feel the heritage of my ancestors in every braid. This experience in itself makes it worth the trip to Ghana every year.
After I got my hair done we went back to the hotel to reunite with the full group. We walked around the city of Accra and made out way to the restaurant called Mother Africa.
The locals danced and performed for us all night until the students were beginning to fall asleep at the table. We left and headed back to the hotel to unwind. Each night we had an empowerment hour. During empowerment hour, a different chaperone lead the topic for the day and prompted the students to write in their journals.
Day 1
On our first full day, we went to the neighborhood of Nima. We visit this afterschool program called Spread Out Initiative. The area of Nima is filled with rich culture. Unfortunately, it also has an issue with substance abuse. In order to combat that a local man, Aminu Yussif Larry started Spread Out Initiative which is after school program that teaches students, computer arts and sciences. We sat as the students of Spread Out Initiative shared with us their talents and what there dreams and goals for their future. They their graphic designers, web designers, fashion, brand creators, and more.
Our students also got up and shared what they did in their lives and what they were looking forward to doing in their adulthood it was a beautiful thing to see, after the student shared a little bit about themselves, we walked around the neighborhood split into four groups. My group walked through the market and it was so interesting to see the tomatoes the ginger, the bananas, and the fresh fish cooked. It was a community built by hand.
We made our way back to Spread Out Initiative to eat lunch and relax with the students. We assisted them in arts and crafts and created vision boards about their future. While the students were creating I got myself some henna artwork.
Before we went to the next phase of the day we gave the students the school supplies we gathered over the last few months and the students were ecstatic.
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We left spread out initiative and headed a basketball game between our students and some local Nima students. Although our boys did not come home with the win they left with something even more gratifying. While gathering together to take a group picture at the end one of our students, Joseph noticed that the boys next to his shoes were falling apart.
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Joseph immediately offered him his shoes. He said,
“hey take my shoes”
the boy said,
“no..why would you give me your shoes?”
Joseph replied,
“because I can get more.”
Then he took off his shoes and gave them to him, our other students saw what he did and they felt the same way. They each took off their shoes and handed them to the Nima students. Meanwhile, on the sidelines, the chaperones were in awe.
Day 2
On day 2 we got up early and headed to cape coast, which was three hours away.
Our first stop was Kakum National Park. The experience was absolutely breathtaking. We walked across bridges. It was beautiful, spacious, and free wilderness that was filled with amazing trees, beautiful rocks. I took a few rocks on the way out. I truly felt one with nature there.
I want to go back and experience their treehouse where you stay overnight, and they point out all of the different animals that live in the trail it got the name Kukum mountains based upon the sounds that the monkeys make that live there,
We were READY TO EAT by this point so we headed over to Cape Coast Coconut Grove for lunch at the beach.
After our bellies were filled with fried fish, rice, and coconut water we headed over to Adom Preparatory school. We were welcomed with a traditional Ghana welcome dance, which was absolutely beautiful.
We also learned more about Ghana‘s culture. We learned words, symbols, and what they mean.
The student split us into groups. Half of us learned to play the drums. The other half learned how to dance, of course I chose dance. It felt amazing to learn the native dances. It was a spiritual connection.
After dancing and playing the drums we spilt into new groups. This time, the tasks were to lay bricks to the new computer lab. Before arriving in Ghana we raised donations for this very computer lab. The other half painted the walls of their other building. We finished that up and then gave them school supplies. They did cultural performance for us that was absolutely breathtaking.
Our guide Mama Kuks expressed that in when you are born in Ghana you are immediately taught how to do two things, dance and play the drums. It’s ingrained in them from the start.
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The DJ kicked off the vibes and we had a huge dance party. We danced with the students for what seemed like hours. The beat finally stopped and we were ready to shower and eat. The students of Adom Preparatory surprised us at our hotel with a performance complete with fire breathers, fire balls. The performance ended with a dance break featuring us!
Day 3
So far our days in Ghana have been filled with community service, lots of food, and dancing but today wasn’t going to be like the others. It was Ghana’s Independence Day, March 6th. Today was the day we spent time with our ancestors. We were required to wear all white on this day. Starting with the Assin Manso Ancestral Slave River Park. This is where the slaves had their last bath before they WALKED miles to the slave dungeon. Our guide Kofi explained the history of the land. He told us how this area was one of the largest slave markets in the trans-Atlantic slave trade. We walked barefoot through the same path that our ancestors did years ago. During our walk, Kofi asked us to pray, sing, or speak the names of the ancestors that we know.
Last year I went to my first family reunion as an adult with my family from Greenville, South Carolina. It was there that I learned about my great-great-great grandmother Parthenia. She was a slave until she was 9 years old. She gave birth to my great-great-grandmother Clara-Bell She gave birth to my great-grandmother Lillie, who gave birth to my grandmother Deborah, who gave birth to my mother Lushanya. I am not too far removed from slavery..none of us are. I spoke their names during the walk. I thanked God that I was alive. I thanked God for making them so resilient and for giving them the will to live.
As we got to the river, Kofi explained that this was the perfect time in the season to come because we could get into the water.
We got into the water, and Kofi directed us to put the water all over ourselves. I put the water on my dress, I put the water on my hair, on my face, and on my body. I wore my grandmother Deborah's scarf to the river and I soaked the scarf in the water and thanked God for her.
We walked back to the main area and Kofi washed our feet to prepare us for our naming ceremony with the Chief. He washed our feet with the Nyenya. It is also called Bitter-Guard in English and the botanical name is Momordica Charantia. It’s harvested only at night, not in the day before 5:00 am and it has medicinal purposes when boiled and ingested.
Our naming ceremony was absolutely breathtaking. I had been crying on and off since Kofi began speaking of our history. This naming ceremony would be no different. I cried as each person went to the Cheif, NANA KURANCHE KAFFOE V|||. In West Africa, children are given names based on the day they were born. The other two names are based on who they will be and what their mission is on this earth. I was filled with love as each person received their African name and meaning.
I am Sunday born, June, 19th, 1994. My name is MAAME AKOSUA FRIMPOMAA which means “connected to the universe,” “blessing,” and “mother to all.” I cried during the naming ceremony as well. I had goosebumps and I felt a tingle up and down my spine. I felt blessed, so blessed.
My tears represented a lot this day, they represented joy, pain, gratitude, sorrow, appreciation, and love…I let my tears flow, I let them cleanse my heart.
We stopped for lunch at the beach before heading to Slave Castle/Dungeon. Sigh* It was insane how beautiful the castle was because it was juxtaposed with such pain and sorrow from the slave dugeons underneath the surface.
We ended the day at Coconut Grove Cape Coast with dinner and a bonfire. We drove back 3 hours to our original hotel Coconut Grove in Accra.
Day 3
It was the last day and we were tired, but renewed.
We finally made our way to the big market so that way we could spend the rest of our Ghana money and get some souvenirs for our friends and family and for ourselves. We got a couple of things and ran out of money quickly. We were not prepared for how much merchandise would be at this market and if we were, we would’ve definitely brought more money. Next year I will be more prepared.
We left the market and took a ride to the beach. If you know me, then you know that I LOVE THE BEACH! We danced, we ate, we played tug of war, and we got into the water. Getting in the water was a spiritual experience.
It was a wild experience to feel the waves crash over me and under me and knock me down and be in the same waters where my ancestors threw themselves overboard because they didn’t want to be kept in bondage, but this water was so beautiful. It was so pure. Aria and I prayed and thanked God once again for all that he has blessed us with. We thanked him again for our ancestors, the ones alive and the ones that have transitioned.
The juxtaposition of the terror that happened in Africa and the beauty that it possesses is something that I don’t think I can ever wrap my head around.
The day ended with a shower and dinner as we prepared to head home. We left Ghana at 11:55 PM on time and I stopped in New York before landing in Detroit.
I am still processing this trip 3 weeks later, I know as the days, weeks and months go by, more blessings will be downloaded into my spirit driving from my time spent in Ghana. It was amazing not having to be in charge of a schedule as well. Mama Kuks and Coach Cass kept us on time and gathered together. From the food we ate, to our transportation, to our activities them and their wonderful staff had us covered.
I will be a chaperone again in 2024. This time I’ll stay an extra few days to experience Ghana even more. My time in Africa is far from over, it’s only just begun.
I encourage, I push, I suggest, I pray you all take a trip back to your Mother Land...where ever that may be.
Below I have attached the full video recap captured by the wonderful Shine of Pitch Black Pictures.
Video Recap curtsey of pitch black pictures