Around The World In 72 Days - Kente Cloth And Ghost Museums

This was our last day of touring for the Around the World in 72 Days trip! On store, visiting a craft center focused on traditional Kente cloth weaving. While weaving is an ancient human craft, the specific story behind Kente dates to the 17th century and the founding of the Ashante Kingdom is fascinating. Here is my usual Wikipedia link for those who want to learn more.

After a very pleasant drive (by Ghana standards) to the center, we were equally blessed with one of the best guides in Ghana.

Kwame

We got detailed examples of how the work is done, most of which I really couldn't follow.

 

Then it was our turn to try. Wife almost got the call but ultimately NAS got the call.

Then, as is always the case with these craft oriented places here, it was trial by marketplace. All the goods are in a single room. But they are separated by the person who made them. You are assaulted by all the various people who do weaving trying to make a sale. You cannot buy from everyone (assuming you want to make a purchase), and some are incredibly pushy. I don't understand why they don't create a cooperative where all the goods could be offered and everyone would benefit. That type of cooperation seems very difficult to attain here (an observation over the five years I've been doing work here).

The successful sale

Examples of traditional Kente patterns

After having had this winner experience, we (of course) needed to balance it with the opposite. In this case an hour and a half ride through crappy roads, and incredible traffic to get to what we hoped was going to be a very different kind of traditional values type of museum. Instead, we found (well barely found because it was off a non-descript dirt road) the skeleton of a museum. Completely abandoned. The gate open. Numerous buildings locked up. Other aspects which showed it either still being built or it having been abandoned.

Looking through the slats of one of the buildings, I saw sculpture figures within

I then started to wander deeper into the grounds

However NAS was feeling uncomfortable about the situation so I desisted. Then we retraced the long drive back.

Tomorrow we throw our fate, once more, into the hands of Africa World Airways to fly back to Accra. A day later, we will begin the long flight back to Albuquerque.