Accra Academy (High School)

This morning I visited students (all boys) at the Accra Academy School. This is a government operated school in Accra. I interviewed the students about their perspective on being a young person in Ghana. It was interesting to find out that students in Ghana face some of the same issues as those in the States. However, some of the issues were very different. For example most of my students in the States have to deal with gang related violence, while a major problem in Ghana are bad roads. This problem adds an extra half hour to transportation time for students going to school. However, the students did talk about negative peer pressure, and young people committing crimes to survive - but- it would be out of the ordinary for young people to use guns in Ghana the way that they do in the States.

I felt right at home in Accra Academy. As soon as I walked into the classroom and experienced the behavior of the students it immediately reminded me of being in a classroom at my school, Urban Assembly Academy of History and Citizenship for Young Men. There where plenty of "oooooohs" "aaaaaahs" and "aaaaaaaaays" after there peers spoke. Also, a bunch of giggling, teasing and playing around. This put a big smile on my face. One thing that I did get from these young men is that they are extremely serious about their education and their future. As one of the students mentioned, even with an education it is still difficult to survive financially in Ghana. These young men are well aware of the fact that they have to work extra hard!

Here is a pic of Accra Academy:


Here is me and the young scholars:


Here is a student talking to Che:



Here is me and more students having a cool time:

Nima/Mamobi

Yesterday I interviewed some super cool hip hop artists in Nima and Mamobi.
These two hoods are known to be the most hardcore in Accra. The average Ghanaian would say this this area is rough. Of course as in any "hood" whether in NYC or Accra, the problems are similar: poverty and lack of quality education which leads to a host of other problems: high drop out rates, drug abuse and crime. In the midst of the madness however, the core of the community is felt once you allow yourself to be one with it. Although, I only spent about two hours in this area, I allowed myself to just experience the experience. To do this I didn't focus on the fact people were living in harsh conditions, but I got a chance to really vibe with the people. Once I did this, I got a sense of the community. Elders are respected, people look out for one another, and everyone seems to live like a family. I felt welcomed and had a great time.

Here is a pic of some youths playing soccer.



Here is a shot of me and some cool little ones. It was so funny, I was trying to get one of the youths to take the photo of me. They were so delighted to see themselves in the photos that I wanted them to get a chance to be a photographer too. Everyone but on little girl was too shy. So she braved up and took this pic. She was delighted to see the end product.

Hiplife in the making...

One of the things that I am doing in Ghana is documenting the hip life/hip hop scene here in Ghana. When a re-do my website you will be able to hear the music and experience more of my photos.. Also look out for my articles in the magazines...more to come.

Yesterday I interviewed and photographed a huge Ghanaian hip life artist, Samini, during his studio session. The music that I heard during the session sounded great. It sounds a little like Reggae but the core is definitely West African. Hip life is form of "youth music" started here in Ghana just about twenty years ago.

Here is a pic of Samini in the studio with his producer (Zapp), manager,and some other peeps. They are listening to the song that he just finished recording.

Here is a pic of hiplife/hip-hop media master, radio host,mc, manager, and rising entrepreneur , Van Souljah. Souljah has been extremely instrumental in hooking me up with all of the pertinent hip life/hip hop artists here in Ghana. Much respect Van!

Interesting things that I saw yesterday...

These photos were taken while driving through Accra.

Well that's it for tonight

It's about eight o'clock - I'm in a small internet cafe on the same block as my hotel. I'm listening to the radio playing songs from Lil' Wayne to local artists like Praye - of course I'm digging the local artist more... The computers are old school dell monitors/and dell/compaq hard drives - they all seem to have been built. It cost me 60 gp's an hour to use the internet here. That's about 60 cents an hour. Not bad huh!

Tomorrow I'm going to get some fabric sewn.
I must admit that as much as I try not be so materialistic, I love fashion. So I am a little OD when it comes to getting some cool outfits made. I ordered some great dresses last week. Just about two hours ago, I ordered two suits and two dresses. When I went to Bonwire, (the Kente Cloth town) I bought a beautiful hand woven cloth. Tomorrow I'm going to get a dress made from it, and two more sun dresses from these beautiful fabrics that I got from the Cape Coast.
Check out my fabrics: The one on the far right was woven in Bonwire...

Mommy looking fabulous...on the way to the lake...

Silence is beautiful...

At the time that we took this photograph I experienced silence in the most beautiful way. We were on the top a mountain that leads down to lake Bosomtwi. It was so silent on that mountain. Now I understand why Buddha and Moses went to the mountain to meditate. We later drove down to lake Bosomtwi. According the sub-chief and caretaker of the lake, Bosomtwi was formed by a meteorite. The water came from the earth and the lake expanded slowly over the years. The lake was discovered by a hunter in the 1700's. Later several villages formed around the lake depending on it as a major resource. This lake is very important to the community as it is used for several things, including spiritual cleansing, and food. Every year the chiefs perform libations, animal sacrifices and other spiritual activities at the lake so that it would continue to support the community. The sub-chief told us that these yearly spiritual routines began after several people would drown in the lake every year. After performing libations and things of this nature, the lake no longer took people. The most interesting thing about the lake is that Tilapia fish is the only fish that will survive in this lake. Conservatist have tries to put at least five different fish in the lake and they all died. Conservatist from Nevada (USA)are constantly visiting and studying this lake. According to the sub-chief, the Tilapia that lives in this lake evolved from within the lake.

Here is a pic of the Lake Bosomtwi: