I’ve been working on a video project about the courtyard poundings the women in our community do together. Here are two songs one awesome lady sang yesterday at the one I attended. They are in Kusaal but a friend helped me translate:The first has some lyrics along the lines of: “A living being? Fear him.”“Is […]
Ŋmanni naaba pa la naaba.
Resembling a chief is not a chief.
Ibrahim’s Wedding
My friend & fellow photog Ibrahim had his wedding this weekend. Like many couples in northern Ghana, they have been together for many years and have several children. They did a traditional wedding back then – which means he performed all the customary obligations to her family. Today’s event was the “official” Muslim wedding and they had […]
Nubisi sa’ai ni amaa a gaari taaba.
Fingers are equal but some are bigger than others.
Mampruli Proverb – April Fool’s
If someone swells up, someone has tricked him.
‘Maali tama’ gbɛ kɔm ka ‘daŋŋi walima’ di n-tigi.
“Has hope” sleeps hungry while “making the effort first” eats to satisfaction.
Dancing at a Funeral
Thanks to a babysitter, Heidi and I were able to attend a friend’s father-in-law’s funeral together last week. Their family lives in the center of town and are a big part of this tight-knit community. The funeral wasn’t a particularly large one, but all the “regulars” were there. Immediately when we showed up the drummers […]
Mampruli Proverb #2693 – Kindness
The kind person receives the blame.
I yi kyɛ buŋŋa moo nti paai yoofu, i nin zaŋŋi a n-ti la yoofu maa.
If you cut grass for a donkey, then come across a horse, you will give it to the horse. – Mamprusi Proverb