Every Meal is a Story

EVERY MEAL IS A STORY is about African cooking. It contains some recipes and many observations about the culture of food in Ghana. The recipes have been tested on visitors to Aba House,our cultural center/guest house in an African village, and the observations have been collected based on our 30 years interacting with people in Ghana.
Copies can be ordered through PAYPAL ( aba@culturalcollaborative.org) and cost is $20.00 which includes shipping in the USA.
Start the new year by trying one of our recipes.

saying goodbye to 2013

We want to thank everyone who has followed us this year and wish you a peaceful slide into 2014.
We hope that the new year brings many cultural collaborations into your life and few cultural collisions.

When people come to Ghana we tell them to bring their sense of humor. In that spirit we share this with you       


If you'd like to know what we're up to you can receive our monthly newsletter by signing the mailing list at http://www.culturalcollaborative.org

Indigenous Roots of Expressive Arts Therapy

Cross Cultural Collaborative is offering a very special workshop in GHANA with Kate T. Donohue,registered Expressive arts therapist.

To be held August 12 - August 25, 2014 at Aba House. Here's all of the information:
http://kate-donohue.com/wp-content/uploads/Ghanaexpressivearts_therapy20141.pdf

Interact with African drummers and dancers, artisans and  storytellers.

Questions about the workshop: kate@kate-donohue.com
Questions about: trip logistics : aba@culturalcollaborative.org

African Textile Workshop

We focus on bringing people from different cultures together to work on creative collaborations and in that spirit we are offering an AFRICAN TEXTILE WORKSHOP in GHANA from March 2 - March 15, 2014. Stay in our guest house across the street from the ocean - learn African textile techniques from Master artisans - visit galleries - museums - dealers - large outdoor markets - traditional villages.

If interested contact aba@culturalcollaborative.org and we will send full details.
SIGNUP DEADLINE is FEBRUARY 1

Here's the cover of our book. It's on the way to the printers.
It's hard to put into a catagory. A little autobiographical, a little informational, and a lot of observations by Ellie about her 30 years in Ghana. It came partly from all the orientations for new arrivals at Aba House.
After being in Ghana a few days visitors think they've got it all figured out. They don't.

To pre-order a copy contact aba@culturalcollaborative.org

Cost of book is $15.00. Free shipping in the USA if you mention this blog.

All proceeds from sales go to educating the Aba House kids.

RECYCLE GHANA

Here are a few images from the kids gallery show in Philadelphia.

The Aba House kids ROCK!

YOU ARE INVITED

RECYCLE GHANA

Holy Family University Gallery

9801 Frankford Ave.

Philadelphia , PA

USA

I will be at the opening on Feb. 22 6-8 p.m. and would enjoy meeting you.

The work in this show was created by children in Ghana who come to Aba House where they learn that there are no limits to creativity. The children make paper from sugarcane leaves and then books, calendars,cards and other products from the paper.

All proceeds from sales are used to pay school related expenses.

ALL EYES ARE ON SOUTH AFRICA

Of course it's all about the World Cup, but there are other reasons to watch South Africa.
The Ndebele woman are wonderful artists and are known for painting designs on their houses.
Go to youtube.com and find Esther Mahlangu. Guess she finished painting her house and has gone on to other things.
Watching her new project should make you smile.

Artful Animals

The Museum of African Art in Washington, DC has a wonderful online exhibit called Artful Animals.
http://africa.si.edu

When we were in Burikina Faso , one of our guides was very excited to show us the sacred mudfish, but he wasn't really able to explain their significance, After seeing the the exhibit I know why they are so important. Even important enought to be on the money in Burkina Faso.

A great tool for teaching about African culture, the exhibit is also fascinating reading for adults.
Make sure you take the time to look at all of the animals.

some Ghanaian cultural snipits

at http://www.diasporicafrica.blogspot.com there are some interesting cultural stories.
Under the Akan there's a paper about dream interpretations where most of what you dream (according to the Akan) means just the opposite.
For example, if you dream that you will find gold, it means that you will always be poor.

There is another paper about a young girls induction into a shrine. If you're curious about African ceremonies, this will interest you.

Written by an African scholar, the blog also offers books for sale, but just browsing through the
stories is free.

Shoveling snow in Boston and packing for Ghana.

What a contrast.

From Ghana we go to Burkina Faso.

Read all about it when we get back.

We have been updating the VOICES page at http://www.culturalcollaborative.org

It's still missing alot of Aba House alumni, but if you'd like to see who's been to Aba House, the VOICES page is the place to look.

And if you'd like to be an Aba House alumni, let us know.

Our next programs will take place in July and August. Check the WORKSHOP page at http://www.culturalcollaborative.org. If you don't see what you want, contact us. We can put together a program for you.

aba@culturalcollaborative.org

Reading between the lines

I was flipping through one of the women’s magazines and was struck by the content of some of the articles.

What a window on American culture...well, a segment of American culture.
Even with my body in America, my mind is usually in Africa, so I really chuckled at how an African woman would react to the survey about whether the father-in-law should be consulted for his blessing by the future son in law. Most American women said, “No way. It’s none of his business.”


And the article about how to improve your posture. They suggest walking with something (like a book) on your head. Or maybe just grow up as an African woman and carry everything on your head. (no, that wasn’t their suggestion).


And then the article about whether children should sleep in the same bed/room with the parents. You’d have to pick an African women up off of the floor she’d be laughing so hard when she read the American answers. Give the child his own room...ha,ha. Child abuse..ho,ho...let the child decide..OMG, what will these Americans think of next......

Aba House

This is a picture of Aba House. What you don't see is the ocean across the street, the goats in the back and our neighbor Mr. Hummer. I call him Mr. Hummer because he has one parked in his yard right next to us.

Talk about cross cultural....here we are in our mud house which is based on indgenous African architecture teaching visitors about traditional culture and there he is. Well, he lets us use his swimming pool, so we'll leave it at that.

Aba House has 8 guest rooms with attached bathrooms. The rest of the house was designed with open areas for exhibitions, classes, workshops and outside, which is where we do most of our creating has alot more space.

In the photo you see sugar cane growing and that is what we use to make our paper. Most people, when they hear that, smell the paper. No it doesn't smell sweet, but it's sweet to look at!

And do you see the crocodile? He and several that you can't see protect us and were made by a young local artist who, wonderously, has never seen a real one.

James is self taught and when asked where he gets his inspiration, he says "I saw it in a dream."

If you come to Aba House, you will meet James, the crocodiles and I'll even introduce you to Mr. Hummer.