Slum Survey of Accra -- A day in Yam Market

Banku and Okuru Stew at Chop Bar near the Office

Making Light Soup at the Chop Bar near the Office

Making Waakye near the Office

Making Fufu at the Chop Bar near the Office

A Photo Update

I've been sick the past couple of days -- feeling better now -- but as a consequence, I haven't done my typical weekend blog update and instead have completely vegged out and burned through almost the entire first season of Heros on DVD while intermittently napping. Now I'm trying to catch up on some work.

Because I've been negligent in posting lately, here are some photos to wet some appetites until I have a chance to write more:

Laundry Day: I wash my laundry by hand once a week. Typically, I start early in the morning and it is sunny out and by the time I've finished soaking and scrubbing it's thundering and my clothes get a free rinse cycle on the line.

On the note of clothes, I've had some clothes made for me by a seamstress near my office at work. This is Linda who sews the clothes with her partner, and these are 2 of my outfits:

Another Cooking Expedition: This time it was banku with fried fish and tomato salsa. I have to admit, this is probably my least favorite Ghanaian dish. Actually, it is my least favorite dish. Unfortunately, it's what the area I am living in likes to eat the most. Adoza, a friend of James' who stayed with us for 2 weeks (in the yellow shirt) enjoyed this dish and this meal was his inspiration.

Banku is a dough made from Cassava and Plantain flours, some of which are fermented. You mix with water and cook on the stove stirring and beating until it thickens. Then you keep stirring it. Eventually, when it's super-thick, you form it into balls and eat them with a sauce using your fingers.

Barack Obama, pt 1

Barack Obama arrives on Friday, July 10th for his first "official" visit to Africa. While Obama was in Egypt just last month, the United States does not consider Egypt to be politically part of Africa rather considers it to be the Middle East. So while Africans are a little confused, officially, this is the first African visit. Everyone in Ghana is quite excited to host another American President. People still talk about when Bill Clinton visited Ghana in 1998 (picture).

Over the past several weeks an increasing number of posters featuring Barack Obama, Michelle Obama and Ghanaian president John Atta Mills have appeared in public places throughout Accra. The picture shown here was taken infront of Independence Square, a large outdoor ampitheater, in downtown Accra.

This radio announcement has been playing for the past couple of weeks on every major radio station:

"First black president of the United States of America, you have become a shining star, and despite the height of your achievement you are still proud to be called a black man. Barack Obama is coming home. He is coming to Ghana, Gold Coast, the center of the world."

This is quite a popular song as well:
Barack Obama reggae by a Ghanaian radio personality, Blakk Rasta:
Video

Lyrics:

Intro
Yao! Rasta, unu hear sey some blackman say im waan turn American president?
Im think sey, dem a go skin up dem teeth and watch im?

Chorus
Mama mama
Com mek wi talk o
Com mek wi talk about Barack Obama
Papa! Papa!
Com make wi talk o
Com make wi talk about Barack Obama
Barack Barack, Barack Obama (2x)

Stanza (verse) 1
Originally steping out-a Kenya Africa
Adopted into the cold woodlands of America
Trust me Iyah,
Dem youth defy every order an' turn senator
Rat-Rat-Rat-Rat!
De gunshot of hate continue fi echo in-a every corner
How com blackman become president in a money-mecca?
Barack beware! Barack beware! Barack beware!
before dem turn ya name into Barack Osama
In a dis ya time,judgement a com without waata
For legalising abortion in a america,a-fyah! fyah!

Repeat Chorus

Stanza (verse) 2
9-11 was de beginning of satan endtime
Baptising black americans in a bitter juice of lime
Making sure no black man in a america will see his prime
In a dis ya time a black american president a great sign
Too long dem disrespect blacks and africans combined
pon black peoples flesh and blood,de kuklax clan love fi dine
Watch out Barack Obama and intensify ya power turbine
Or else breddren Obama,your dark days will never sublime

Chorus

Singing verse
Precious sheep grazing in their territory
(brother Barack watch out)
Some don't love you
They only faking it
(brother Barack watch out)
Many righteous ones been sacrificed by this very same system
As you keep the fire burning,black president

Stanza (verse) 3
Yahman! yahman! yahman!
"God bless america" the idiot bwoy always say
When de bombs and weapons fly over innocent people head
Oh Obama,me neva hear you talk 'bout africa yet
Or is it a nice way of swerving dem in a ya capaign?
Mr Obama,bring dis poly-tricks money to africa andkeep de poverty at bay
Too long black people keep nyaming up horse hay
Wake up Obama and don't join de band wagon of de gay
Beware Obama!Watch out Obama!Look around you
the people dem show you nuff smile
but dis smile dem a fake! fake! fake! fake smile dem!
Watch out Obama,a-fake!