Scary news

Just talked to my roommate from Ghana and heard some scary news about Accra. When she was coming back from Shiashie, she went to get onto the tro-tro and noticed her bag was missing. There had been a man standing in her way whom she suspected of stealing her purse. So she got off the tro-tro and began explaining her situation to others and they accused this man of cutting off her bag with a cutlass. So the crowd began to beat him and he ran across the street where she says that they lynched him. They returned her purse to her afterwards but I'd imagine the whole instance was pretty frightening. Street crime is on the rise in Accra, and she reports that two other men were lynched by a mob last week for stealing someones things while on a motorbike. I find the whole thing pretty scary and sad as well. In my course on African politics, we are learning about the systematic Western exploitation and domination of Africa and I am discouraged by the situation of poverty and helplessness that can be found there. Stories like this make me so confused about what can and should be done.

Mepe asa

I found this African dance class that is offered in Washington DC near Catholic University and I decided that I couldn't turn it down. Since I've come back from Ghana, I've felt this strange emptiness that I can't describe. A whole change in culture and loss of the things that have made me so happy. So I think that this class fills the chasm between my two worlds, or at least it did last night. The class had about 25 members and was taught by just this one woman. There were 2 drummers although they were struggling to keep up with us. One of 3 obrunis in class, I knew that I probably looked ridiculous but I danced like the crazy that I am nonetheless. The class focuses on dances from West Africa, particularly from Senegal and Mali so it is similar to what I learned but different in steps. Of course I missed the boys, especially since there were no men in the class at all. But overall, I felt a bit of the life that I had felt over there coming back. It is amazing how wonderful something as simple as dance can make you feel. I find myself listening to hip life constantly and feeling much better for it. I wonder how long I'll remain like this and if I will ever get used to life in America or if a return to Africa is inevitable. For now, African Dance is the perfect remedy. :)

Ghana in America

As school starts and I begin to get busier, I noticed the opportunity to see a Ghanaian dance company at my library in Frederick, MD. Unsure of exactly what it would entail, I decided to grab Joy and go check it out. The other African dance program that I had gone to see had been decent but nowhere near to the caliber of dancing of Africana, and I was questioning if this would be more of the same. To my surprise and delight, it was almost as I had remembered. There were definately differences: a crowd of all obrunis that couldn't clap on beat, only 8 members instead of near 40, variations in the dances, a guitar instead of solely drumming etc etc etc. But the important things were there: Dark faces and beautiful beaming smiles, high energy and vigor, fantastic music and beats, and colorful costumes. They opened with the Bawa, and I about died as I remembered each step and had to fight to stay in my seat and not go up there with them. I knew almost all of the dances and was able to talk to a few dancers at the break. I spoke small small Twi and informed them of my time in Ghana and my good friends there. Surprisingly, one dancer knew several of my friends, Junior, Solomon and Adams. After the break, there was more dancing and Issac came to the crowd and pulled me out among others to go up and dance. I couldnt have been happier to join in. The eye contact and the big grins warmed my heart and made me believe for just one more moment that I was back in Ghana. I took their contacts and that of their manager and I will soon start working to bring over the Africana Dance Company. What a wonderful taste of the culture and life that I love...and what perfect timing...