THE GHANA CHRONICLES: Meeting the Occasion— 6-18-23

By Sunday, more of the students had arrived— though still not all. That morning, it’s on the bus again for another four hours or so to our destination of Dzodze in the Volta Region to the East. In fact, the town borders Togo and yet another strange legacy of colonialism that the Ewe in Ghana and the Ewe in Togo share the same culture, yet not entirely. The Togo Ewe learn French, their Ghanaian brothers and sisters, English and both salute different flags. But they will have much more in common with each other than an Ewe in Dzodze and an Ashanti in Kumasi.

 

When we finally arrived at the White Dove Hotel, some 60 students of Nunya Academy were waiting for us, each with a  piece of paper with our name. When we found our host Nunya student, he or she helped carry our bags to our room and personally welcomed us. My host was a 14-year old boy named Elijah who played euphonium, recorder, drums (of course) and was interested in piano.

 

Once all were settled, we gathered in a large circle and the students began playing some games with us. One of them took on a significance for me far beyond a fun little game, both with its reference to “side by side,” my life’s work theme song and a new way to see goodbye in its last line. Since many of these games are learned and/or played at school, the text is often in English:

 

Choose your best friend that you say you like. (2x) (One player circles around the inside of the ring and stops at the end of the repeated line.)

Chipo, chipo.  (Both players jump twice.)

Side to side.  (Both bump hips).

Hand to hand. (Both give high 5 with right hand.)

I will see you later! (First player waves goodbye, second starts to circle around the ring.)

 

There must have been over a hundred people in that circle and it quickly became clear that the kids were playing with just one student at a time circling. At that rate, it would take over an hour for everyone to have a turn! So being a seasoned Orff-teacher-game-player, I set off around the circle to make it two people circling. Then encouraged others to jump in in the same way. Soon there were ten or more circulating around and the game was much more fun, inclusive and viable.

 

This is precisely the kind of flexible thinking I believe we all need to learn. What is needed to meet this occasion and make it more fun, more inclusive, more active, more involved? In today’s confused world, someone might think, “Hm. If I change the game, I’m assuming my white privilege. Better not to do anything.” But I can assure you that not a single kid, Ghanaian adult, course participant (hopefully) thought that way. They all could see how the game was improved for that particular occasion. 

 

Here is the first time I’ve mentioned Nunya Academy, which is both separate from and intimately connected with Orff Afrique. Rather than describe it (I will a bit later), go to the Website for more info. www.nunyaacademy.com