I have so many drafts lying around but never seem to have enough time to hit the publish button! So today I will try my best to get something out there.
Things are going good here, I am starting to love what I am doing after the initial clash with the UN-administrative reality. It is funny to be at the other side of the critiques and theoretical discussions we had during CADES. But I am learning a lot here and seeing a lot of new things and witnessing the energy that is on the ground here. Last week UNESCO co-organized a conference on cultural cities here in Accra. Delegations from other African cities aspiring to be cultural capitals were also present. There were lots of presentations, discussions, ideas, opinions, etc. Particularly interesting was a meeting organized for policy makers, with civil society present, which brought a special atmosphere to the conference hall.
I am also loving being in Ghana. I have been trying to think of reasons why I like it so much here, trying to move beyond the clichés of the sun, the people and the colors. Slowly I am coming up with a list (I do like lists!). Of course I don’t like everything here: in Accra the dust and dirt make me long for the green hills of Koforidua and the loud music played until late by some neighborhood clubs/churches/individuals is disturbing at times. But the loves still outweigh the hates, luckily.
Being abroad in a different culture from the one I grew up in gives me an interesting viewpoint on the culture I am currently in but also on my own culture. Airing ideas for project proposals or making a contribution to a conference or workshop, I have had comments of ‘we being here wouldn’t think of that’, or ‘we don’t see the value in our own culture as outsiders do.’During the conference that my department co-organized the question was raised if there is one Ghanaian national culture, shouldn’t we rather talk about all the separate 70 something cultures. I as an outsider couldn’t understand how they couldn’t see this national identity I see. There is no such thing as a cultural vacuum, there is always cross pollution and cultural borrowing. There are cultural elements like the adinkra symbols, kente, the phrase ‘Akwaaba!’, beads, foods, etc. that now symbolize the national identity.
Being here also makes me look at my own culture with different eyes. Any conversation will start with the question of my name, it being a difficult for English mouths dutch name it will lead to the language I speak as a mother tongue. Some people will assume I am from Holland, until I correct them to say I am from Belgium. People knowing Belgium will get confused and ask me if I speak Flemish then. Which to me is such a weird question that I will answer loudly: ‘NO, I am a BELGIAN. I speak DUTCH.’ I never ever heard somebody say ‘I speak Flemish’!
Anyway, I’ll leave you with some pictures of how my morning looks like. Have a great week!
Dag Geertrui,
Je hebt natuurlijk je eerste 7 levensjaren in Afrika doorgebracht, dat verklaart misschien ook voor een stuk waarom je graag in Ghana bent.
papa