Africa

This morning Robert took Maria and me to meet Mark at the Makola Market. Maria wanted to do some research on textiles, and I needed an extra bag. Mark led us directly to the right places. We could never have managed finding our way in this big market on our own. I like the netting …

Day14 – Makola Market and Jamestown, Accra Read More »

Today we returned to Mercy’s to pick up the garments we had ordered on the first day of our tour. Then we went to Jamestown, the oldest section of Accra, started in the 17th century by the Dutch to send slaves to Brazil. It is one of the poorest sections of Accra. We visited a …

Day13 – Jamestown and Accra Read More »

Today we headed west along the coast to take a batik workshop in a place near Accra. The place is run by the elegantly dressed woman named Esther.

We arrived at Jeff’s workshop to see a tree adorned in Kente cloth. Jeff showed us how he prepares the long warp threads

Today we met Jeff Bill Bobbo, son of the late and famous Master Weaver Bobbo Ahiagble. He joined us in Ho, and we headed toward Jeff’s village of Denu, visiting weavers on the way. We stopped at a village cooperative to see their work. The colors are vibrant and stunning when the strips are sewn …

Day10 – Ho to Denu Read More »

It’s Education Week in Ghana and schoolchildren take to the roads to inform people about the value of education. We saw one group running along in rhythm to a big drum while chanting and singing, holding signs encouraging parents to send their children to school.

Today we returned to Cedi’s to polish our beads. Cedi used a grinder to do an initial polish. Then we polished them by hand using sand, water and lots of elbow grease.