Why Ghana?
Ghana 2014 Program Introduction
“In the region of the unknown, Africa is the absolute.”
So it seems. In preparing for a trip to Ghana, I have learned that the collective US-American consciousness still holds vestiges of Conrad’s Heart of Darkness as a foundation for the Africa of the imagination. The continent seems to carry a powerful and problematic exoticism for wayward Westerners, with a whole host of beautiful unknowns that are hidden behind our assumptions and expectations. I have been asked repeatedly, “Why Ghana?” as the location for our inaugural trip. I submit to you a few reasons:
1. For the love of global arts; Ghana has made amazing contributions to the world stage in recent decades, and continues to create and share new genres, traditional forms, and fusion opportunities that have influenced artists around the world. The music is exceptional.
2. For exposure to the deep connections between the arts and daily community life found in many West African traditions. This is an orientation that I believe my culture desperately needs to adopt if we are to sustain a society we can be proud of, and I hope that our time in Ghana will help support us as we carry this orientation throughout our lives and work.
3. While asking students in US-American communities (6th grade through college) to picture Africa, images of wildlife, safaris and poverty are those which seem to surface most often. Africa as a continent, with the occasional exception of Egypt and the tragic exception of the transatlantic slave trade, rarely rates in the state standards for World History courses and other social studies courses. The US-American press is often weeks behind in reporting on major political events in Africa, even in this age of instantaneous knowledge. Many people believe that Africa is a country. Engaged global citizens have a responsibility to invest in the knowledge and histories of as many regions and cultures as possible, from as many perspectives as possible. Let’s start now.
4. Travel creates openings. Through exposure to different cultures and values, we are able to examine the things we take for granted, think we know, and hope to become. Taking ourselves out of ourselves is a great way to come to know ourselves more deeply. The tropical humidity of the Gulf of Guinea provides a stark contrast, both geographically and metaphysically, to the high desert of Santa Fe.
We are extremely grateful for the unbelievable community support that has allowed us to make this trip possible. I am extremely grateful to be able to share this experience with the seven students of the Wanderlust West Africa 2014 team. These students are some of the most inspiring and creative individuals I have ever had the privilege of working with, and I look forward to experiencing the arts of Ghana through their eyes. They have demonstrated incredible diligence, focus, and commitment throughout this year to get to Ghana, and are bursting with enthusiasm and anticipation. We look forward to sharing our musings and creative impulses as we travel.