aripeskoe
(living in ghana)
13 August 2006
Live from a Yam Festival
Two yam festivals in two days are too many yam festivals. On Friday, about half of our group went to one of the villages, as we occasionally do, for a light evening of merriment. We stumbled on a dance party in a house (the standard Ghanaian house being a large outdoor courtyard surrounded by isolated rooms). It was kind of like a crowded frat party, except that it was all in honor of yams.
When we came in, everyone kind of stopped to watch us and see what we would do. A few people danced with us, but then the novelty seemed to wear off for everyone but the 10 year old kids. So that left us dancing with the 10 year old kids and everyone else either watching or dancing somewhere else. Bizarre. So I left pretty quickly.
That may have been a breakaway unofficial Yam Festival party. I'm not sure. The official Yam Festival party happens at the chief's house. So I headed to another village the next afternoon to the chief's house (where a friend of mind is staying). During the day, the chief and his elders sit in the front of the courtyard, which is filled with chairs. People come in and greet the chiefs and elders and then sit down. Music playing loudly in the background, so there is not too much conversation. Rather, people sit silently waiting to be greeted by the next people to arrive, who make their way around the room greeting everyone who has similiary already greeted the chief. This continues...So I left quickly.
At night, the chief's house also turns into a big dance party with too many 10 year olds.
I don't really know anything about the history or cultural significance of the local Yam Festival, but I'm pretty sure it has something to do with yams. This suspicion was basically confirmed when I saw a large pile of yams sitting in front of the chief's throne throughout the precedings.
It's also maize harvest. I don't really know about my village, but in some places this is a big deal (life or death type big deal). In my village, it means everyone is shucking and kerneling maize. A few days ago, an amount of maize that can only be measured in truckloads was dumped right outside my window. Once this maize was shucked, there was then a truckload of maize shuck an earshot away. This was great for the goats, who like playing in maize shuck, but seemed like it would be horrible for my sleep. The next morning, I woke up to the smell of burning maize shuck, which is far and away the most foul thing I have smelled in two months here.
My family only bought one large bag of maize, which they then kernel (it came pre-shucked) and then soak in water for 3 days. They bring the soaked kernels to the town grinder who makes a dough. The dough is then made into banku, which is large balls fermented corn and my least favorite Ghanaian food.
Today, about twenty of us went to a nearby monkey sanctuary. This is basically a forest next to a village where monkeys have been considered sacred and are not killed. So tourists like us come to watch monkeys in the forest and take way too many digital pictures. Supposedly the monkeys also come into the village and walk around like dogs, cats, goats and chickens do in every other Ghanaian village, but we didn't see that. Nonetheless, monkey are fun to watch...
¶ 6:39 PM
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Monkeys are far-and-a-way my most favorite animal. Sarah disagrees with me, but I believe that one can not take enough monkey pictures. Try bringing food and feeding the monkeys - they like peanuts.
Upon returning to the US, please show us city people how one shucks corn. I have no idea what that means, unless you walk up to a cob and say, "Awww, shucks."
Upon returning to the US, please show us city people how one shucks corn. I have no idea what that means, unless you walk up to a cob and say, "Awww, shucks."
# posted by 
: August 15, 2006 12:11 AM
: August 15, 2006 12:11 AM
Peskoe:
If one year ago, I said the following to you: "In my village, it means everyone is shucking and kerneling maize.", and then told you that would be written by you one year later, what would you have said?
When is the avocado festival? I'll bring the chips!
-Simmy
If one year ago, I said the following to you: "In my village, it means everyone is shucking and kerneling maize.", and then told you that would be written by you one year later, what would you have said?
When is the avocado festival? I'll bring the chips!
-Simmy
# posted by : August 15, 2006 4:05 PM
: August 15, 2006 4:05 PM
Peskoe,
Sorry for the delay in my posting. Do you realize that in 9 seasons of the Amazing Race, production has yet to hit Ghanna. I know the 10th season is filming now, have you seen any red and yellow route markers? Ill keep my eyes on the message board for you to let you know when to get your spoiling camera ready
Adam Dunn has 37 home runs this year (3rd in the NL). Whose to say Im not as good as he is?
Do people in your village know what Taco Bell is? Are they more gordita or chalupa fans?
Do you often wind up saying dumb things in Fanti like "Your Question is as Good as Mine?"
How long does it take to ship things there? If I wanted to send an ABBA CD and Sufganiyot for Channukah, should I be sending them now?
Don't forget to cut your toenails
Jon
Sorry for the delay in my posting. Do you realize that in 9 seasons of the Amazing Race, production has yet to hit Ghanna. I know the 10th season is filming now, have you seen any red and yellow route markers? Ill keep my eyes on the message board for you to let you know when to get your spoiling camera ready
Adam Dunn has 37 home runs this year (3rd in the NL). Whose to say Im not as good as he is?
Do people in your village know what Taco Bell is? Are they more gordita or chalupa fans?
Do you often wind up saying dumb things in Fanti like "Your Question is as Good as Mine?"
How long does it take to ship things there? If I wanted to send an ABBA CD and Sufganiyot for Channukah, should I be sending them now?
Don't forget to cut your toenails
Jon
# posted by : August 21, 2006 10:01 PM
: August 21, 2006 10:01 PM
Yo P: Sorry for not posting for a while, been busy. I'll follow more attentively from now on.
I'm curious to know more about the food in Ghana? Tell me they have hot dogs and pizza. Do you frequent the local starbucks and miky-d's?
Are there many Seahawk fans? please send them all my love.
Happy belated b-day.
I'm curious to know more about the food in Ghana? Tell me they have hot dogs and pizza. Do you frequent the local starbucks and miky-d's?
Are there many Seahawk fans? please send them all my love.
Happy belated b-day.
# posted by : August 22, 2006 4:26 PM
: August 22, 2006 4:26 PM
Peskie: A happy belated birthday to you. I didn't write because i was pretty sure that time was slower in ghana and that your birthday wouldn't be for another few months. turns out i was wrong, time is faster there. my bad.
stop saying to ship things to accra. if that happens to be a non-fictional place, what's the address!!! why are you making it so difficult for me to send you the present i have for you?
i was wondering about some things:
1) do they have pregnancy in ghana?
2) do you want to be in my fantasy maize shucking league?
3) assuming you had the keys to all 15 rooms, would it be worthwhile to film an episode of Cribs at your living quarters?
4) has mo's advice proven useful?
5) do you believe in life after love? do most ghananians?
p.s. my sister got married on august 6th. honest. that means you no longer have a shot. sorry.
stop saying to ship things to accra. if that happens to be a non-fictional place, what's the address!!! why are you making it so difficult for me to send you the present i have for you?
i was wondering about some things:
1) do they have pregnancy in ghana?
2) do you want to be in my fantasy maize shucking league?
3) assuming you had the keys to all 15 rooms, would it be worthwhile to film an episode of Cribs at your living quarters?
4) has mo's advice proven useful?
5) do you believe in life after love? do most ghananians?
p.s. my sister got married on august 6th. honest. that means you no longer have a shot. sorry.
# posted by : August 23, 2006 8:08 PM
: August 23, 2006 8:08 PM
Peskoe,
dude I love Yams. I have to come to ghana. When is the next yam party and how did you find out about it. Were there fliers?
Quick and serious question.
The mets have a good shot to make it to the world series. If someone offerred you front row seats to the mets world series game, would you come back to see it? How about if it were another subway series?
Ok here is the lightning round.
Did you start your computer class yet?
Are you ever really bored in ghana?
What do you do when you are really bored?
What is the tallest man made structure in ghana? taller or shorter than the empire state building?
Does any one own a poodle in ghana and walk around cleaning up its poop?
Do you want me to send you a poodle?
Has any one heard of U2 there?
OK keep doing your thing.
Adler
dude I love Yams. I have to come to ghana. When is the next yam party and how did you find out about it. Were there fliers?
Quick and serious question.
The mets have a good shot to make it to the world series. If someone offerred you front row seats to the mets world series game, would you come back to see it? How about if it were another subway series?
Ok here is the lightning round.
Did you start your computer class yet?
Are you ever really bored in ghana?
What do you do when you are really bored?
What is the tallest man made structure in ghana? taller or shorter than the empire state building?
Does any one own a poodle in ghana and walk around cleaning up its poop?
Do you want me to send you a poodle?
Has any one heard of U2 there?
OK keep doing your thing.
Adler
# posted by : August 27, 2006 4:21 PM
: August 27, 2006 4:21 PM
I insist on disclaiming any known relationship to the anonymous person who signed their comment "Adler." duhhhhh
Oren Adler (the brother-in-law)
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Oren Adler (the brother-in-law)
# posted by : August 29, 2006 3:51 AM
: August 29, 2006 3:51 AM<< Home