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Young entrepreneurs take advantage of any stop in the traffic, such as traffic lights, road works, police checks, border crossing, and they will bring their shop to you. Here at some road works outside Kumasi, we were able to stock up on water and some snacks. Items also usually available are newspapers, music cassettes, handkerchiefs, food stuffs, toilet rolls, cloths and blankets etc.
Once they reached the coast, men and women were separated in different dungeons and were kept imprisoned in darkness for up to six weeks. This would culminate in the slaves being bargained for and sold and subsequently processed through the Door of No Return to board the ships bound for the New World. Having spent a few minutes in the dungeons, with a mere 15 people and the light on, I cannot even begin to imagine how humiliated, confused and disorientated the slaves must have felt, crowded in the darkness of the dungeons, with poor sanitation and little food, not knowing what lay ahead of them.
Slaves were marched for days, weeks and even months from their villages, often in chains or shackles. They were fed as little food as the slave merchants could get away with, in order to keep them too weak to escape and were often beaten and had to contend with wild animals and disease. The middlemen would ride alongside, brandishing guns.
With the coming of the Europeans, it was a different matter altogether. The transatlantic slave trade was started by the Portuguese in the latter part of the 15th century, sending captives to work on their new plantations in South America. The trade grew steadily with the cultivation of tobacco and the creation of many more plantations in the Caribbean during the 17th century. Much money was to be made from the slave trade and many local African chiefs benefited financially from the sale of their own people or neighbouring tribes.
Domestic slavery existed in Africa way before the Europeans came and took advantage of this trade. Generally speaking, slavery is defined as a commodity or property, which is owned and exploited by another. In one form or another, it has existed in Africa (as well as in almost all human societies) since ancient times. Initially slaves were considered as someone unable to trace his or her blood relations, a ‘kinless’ person in effect. Later it became possible to absorb the slave into a family.There were many reasons why African men and women ended up as slaves: they may have been criminals, unrecoverable debt, loss of family or kin group, as a result of ethnic conflict, victims of religious crimes. Some people even gave themselves up willingly as slaves in order to escape famine or drought. There were also many reason why slaves would be acquired: for human sacrifice, to produce heirs to...
Unlike Europeans, who go to the beach dressed in bikinis or swimming trunks, Ghanaians prefer to go swimming fully clothed. We were on Cape Coast on a Sunday, and the beach was full of youngsters having a great time in the warm water.
Many Ghanaians (and West Africans in general) are animists and hence worship the earth (amongst others). Therefore, before you start drinking, you should always make an offering to the earth. Here I am seen pouring some of my water on the ground before starting to drink myself.
Food is usually eaten with your hands – that is, your right hand only, as your left hand is considered ‘dirty’ (being used for ‘other things’). In better restaurants you will be presented with a bowl with disinfected water for washing your hand and another bowl of fresh water for rinsing. Eating with your right hand only takes a bit of practice, but once you are used to it, it is not that hard. If you are tempted to use your other hand, try sitting on it until you become good at it.The left hand is also considered unethical to use for pointing with, giving gifts with or touching people with.
The local currency in Ghana is the Cedi, at the time we were there, the exchange rate was about 950 Cedi to the US Dollar. This means that if you change $400 as we did, you become instant millionaires. The largest denomination is 10,000 Cedi (just over a dollar), so you will end up carrying wads and wads of notes! There is a distinct lack of small change throughout the country, so hold on to any small denomination that you can find, for those small purchases. The name ‘Cedi’ is derived from the local name for the cowrie shell, “cede”. Cowrie shells have been widely used as currency throughout West Africa. Until the 15th century, when cowrie shells were introduced from the Maldives and Zanzibar, bartering was the way business was conducted in the area. In the 17th and early 18th century, iron and gold dust was used as the currency, until 1796, when the West Africa Pound was introduced. In...
In African spirituality, the mask is a bearer of sacred force, not only for the wearer, but also for those who witness its dance. Masks can be either a representation of a spirit, or its actual reincarnation. Shapes and styles of masks vary considerably, as initiation rites, funerals, rituals and secret societies each have their specific masks. Masks are usually carved by men and used by men too in the dances. The mask doesn’t achieve its powers until its first public performance with the appropriate ritual. A mask will not be discarded without special precaution or ritual even when its powers are considered annulled through deterioration or failure. The powers and spirits are often then transferred to another mask.
Labadi Beach Hotel Accra
4 Reviews and 86 Opinions Labadi Beach hotel on the eastern side of Labadi beach is the most expensive hotel in Accra. Walk-in...
Elmina Beach Resort Cape Coast
25 Opinions
Desertrose lodge Western Region
0 Opinions
Reviews and photos of Ghana attractions posted by real travelers and locals. The best tips for Ghana sightseeing.
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Q: I'm planning my trip for Ghana for next year and I'm want to bring some food items such as can foods. Is it ok, and if so is there...
A: Why do you want to carry can goods? You can go to a number of grocery stores in Accra. Although I have carried some specialty items, the Accra airport does not usually...
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