Ewe culture, arts, design

Ewe Language is the mother tongue of the Ewes who are also known as the Anlos or the Someawo. Even though spread all over the world in various professions, their home is the Volta Region of Ghana including Togo, Benin and parts of Nigeria. Ewe Language is also known as  EƲegbe . The language involves quite some smart approaches to learning it easily if you aren't a native. Having someone who speaks to learn from is a plus to learn it so quick. Pronouncing some words can be quite difficult for those who aren't natives. If you desire to learn EƲegbe, there is a free course that can help you kick-start learning the language.  The course titled   Basics of EƲegbe  is an absolutely free course that is just a little over 30 minutes long. The instructor combines both English Language and Ewe to teach so you can have a feel of someone speaking, which helps you learn how some of the words are pronounced, written or spelt. Course structure The course is divided into ...

Gari is one very significant food item in Ghana and thanks to globalization, gari is exported to other parts of the world. Its imperishable nature makes it a quick and handy food item to carry along anywhere without fear of losing your money due to spoilage.  Gari is very useful in many applications as far as food is concerned. Talk about gari soaking, rice, waakye, even Akple, beans and the likes. Packaging of gari Gari traditionally does not have a definite package in that for bulk transportation, it is sealed in sacks whereas for retail, it is tied in plain polythene rubbers and sold to individual consumers. Procus Ghana Limited is a company in Ghana that is redefining how gari is packaged. They are among manufacturers in Ghana trying to add value, market appeal to this very significant food item of the cultural heritage. Image courtesy of Procus Ghana Limited  KIVO GARI is the brand or product name of this product from Procus Ghana Limited. It comes with added sugar, groun...

Largely in Ghana 'KENKEY' is wrapped in corn husk and then sold. However these days, the wrapped Kenkey is further out in plain or black polyethylene rubber for various reasons. How this type of packaging came about who can tell but I tell you that it is one very great way of packaging probably invented by our forefathers.  Well we know farming is one very important occupation in the world that needs energy especially when it comes to weeding your farm with hoe and cutlass. Kenkey : It is a food made from corn dough which is just like 'akple or banku' but the cooking procedure is different. With Kenkey the dough is half cooked before wrapped in corn husks and then steamed to cook. A fermented taste is the major characteristic of Kenkey that makes it unique. Let's discuss a few things about how Fante Kenkey is packaged. Fante Kenkey made largely in Kumasi of Ghana is a unique type of Kenkey eating with stew, soup or mashed. It comes in Twi differences where one has a...

From where I grew up all the way in the village, we've got an abundance of coconut trees, and so there has always been that urge to try out new ways of consuming coconut. As for fresh coconut, it is something everyone knows about. These ways of snacking with dry coconut mostly make use of the raw ones without transforming them into any special form. The recipe Dry coconut with porridge.  Well, for us, porridge isn't always eaten with bread, groundnuts, etc. The dry coconut is cut, the nut removed and washed in a clean water then taken with porridges like corn flour porridge, Tom Brown ,   corn dough porridge , among a few others.   This combination tastes just like milk in your mouth and it is nothing short of delicious. Tips and variations For folks who take little sugar, you can choose not to add any sugar to the porridge so you take it like that with the dry coconut. Enjoy a natural sweetner right in there. Dry coconut with bread An amazing combination and it tast...

In this current dispensation, overwhelmingly large volumes of plastic waste have been disposed of into the environment without sustainable measures of recycling. More intentional actions are needed on the consumer's end to ensure that the menace is put under control. The hard part is how promising sustainable solutions seem to be damn expensive, making the whole thing hard to crack. Well, biodegradable packages, bioplastics, and recyclable containers are some of the solutions being pushed to control the uncontrollable types of plastics that can last over 500 years.  Some years back, people carried shopping bags to market for groceries, but today plastics have replaced those practices. The only way is an action towards a change on the consumer's end to curb the menace. This bottle, made from coconut shell through a simple process, holds potential for a change. Coconut shell containers Coconut shells are very good containers because of their strength and durability. They are also...

So how they managed us When there was cold Or even when the warmth was too much And on the strive to make us uncomfortable The mother's console and care Was there to keep us secure When even the mother couldn't ingest She made sure the child does Discomforting her pleasures and even needs To satisfying that of the child We never take it for granted but revere  the unrelenting love of the mother The mother deserves a tremendous celebration, appreciation, praise and respect That person we all grew up knowing first is the mother because she has been the one from whom our infant nutritious and healthy meal comes from. The first words a child grew up knowing was also probably " Mama ". The popular word we've used to call our mothers all over the world sometimes unconsciously because it has become a part of our vocabulary and we can't ever do away with. How can you celebrate your mum? Is there a way to celebrate the mother to fully meet the extent of sacrifices she ...

EꞘoa nu na yawo EꞘoa nu na yawo EꞘoa nu na yawo Ame ka gɔe nye sia EꞘoa nu na yawo Wo ɖoa toe Ame ka gɔe nye sia EꞘoa nu na yawo Wo ɖoa toe Gbemagbe Yehowa Gbemagbe Yehowa Kplɔ viawo wo tso aƲa Ꞙu la Dzidzɔ gãɖe va Israel O Israel viwo kpɔ dzidzɔ Gbemagbe Israel viwo kpɔ dzidzɔ Gbemagbe Israel viwo kpɔ dzidzɔ Dzidzɔ gãɖe va Israel O Israel viwo kpɔ dzidzɔ Enyo Enyo, enyo, enyo ηtɔ Enyo ηtɔ Enyo, enyo, enyo ηtɔ Eyae nyo Nusianu si Mawu wɔ Eyae nyo Nusianu si Mawu wɔ Eyae nyo Manɔ Mawu si nu kpɔm Manɔ Mawu si nu kpɔm Manɔ kpɔm Nye ma bu mɔkpɔkpɔ ooo Manɔ kpɔm Nusianu si wò wɔ la Enyo Nusianu si wò wɔ la Enyo Manɔ Mawu si nu kpɔm Manɔ kpɔm Nye ma bu mɔkpɔkpɔ ooo Manɔ kpɔm Dzo aɖe si nye Mawu do ɖe menye Dzo aɖe si nye Mawu do ɖe menye Matui ɖo, matsi oo Dzo aɖe si nye Mawu do ɖe menye Matui ɖo, dzo la matsi oo Agbemavɔ dzoe, agbemavɔ dzoe, Agbemavɔ dzoe, agbemavɔ dzoe, Akpe na Mawu Akpe na Mawu Yehowa mie kaf...

Dzidzɔ ηɔli, dzidzɔ ηɔli Ètsɔ dzidzɔ ga ɖe v3 3 Amewo katã kpɔ dzidzɔ Le Dawid Ꞙe du la me Kafukafu ana Mawu Nutifafa anɔ amewo dome Wodzi aꞘetɔ ɖela na mi Le Dawid Ꞙe du la me English translation line by line Season of joy, season of joy It has brough great joy Everybody is happy In the city of David Praises to God Peace dwells among people The Lord saviour has been born to us In the city of David

Man ɔ Mawu sinu kp ɔ m Man ɔ kp ɔ m Nye ma bu m ɔ kp ɔ kp ɔ o Man ɔ kp ɔ m Nusianu si w ò w ɔ la Enyo Nusianu si w ò w ɔ la Enyo Man ɔ Mawu sinu kp ɔ m Man ɔ kp ɔ m Nye ma bu m ɔ kp ɔ kp ɔ o Man ɔ kp ɔ m Line by line translation to English Language I will be waiting on God I'll be waiting I won't despair I'll be waiting Everything He has done It is good Everything He has done It is good I will be waiting on God I'll be waiting I won't despair I'll be waiting

Yesu lè ame Ꞙe afɔ Ðo èꞘe afɔ teꞘe Be èꞘe mɔ wo Nadze dzi nyuie Ne medze anyi Ne mega dzi ake Nye matsi afi ma oo Menya be, nye Mawu ya Elèm ɖe asi Chorus Elèm ɖe asi Elèm ɖe asi Menya be, nye Mawu ya Elèm ɖe asi Ne medze anyi Ne mega dzi ake Nye matsi afi ma oo Menya be, nye Mawu ya Elèm ɖe asi

Mehiawò Ɣesiayi Wò ame nu ve tɔ Wò koe nye sitsoꞘe Wò nu meɖoa nu ɖo

Moving from region to region and even looking through the maps, it's quite obvious certain locations in Ghana without doubt have more coconut trees than others. It is not a mere coincidence but intentionally tailored efforts and actions to making that happen. If you can follow me through this writing, you will uncover some underlying facts and truths that directly or indirectly influence this situation which holds many benefits to the inhabitants of those locations and beyond. Photo by Zdeněk Macháček on Unsplash Locations in Ghana with high number of coconut trees Agbozume   Located in the Ketu South District of the Volta Region, Agbozume stands as a town with quite huge numbers of these significant trees.  The value derived from the coconut trees goes a very long way to provide livelihood to thousands of people. Coconut trees mature after about 5 years and after that, they  bear fruit till they are cut when they become too tall. This means years of value derivation fo...

Have you ever wondered the best time to travel from certain locations and tried getting some reliable guide from online? Well, you have not been in that situation alone, we all go through those situations sometimes in our dealings. This is what necessitated an interesting writing to share  an amazing story of travel experience from Agbozume to Kumasi and from Kumasi to Agbozume. Like you might have checked from the map, Kumasi is the capital of the Ashanti Region of Ghana whilst Agbozume is a town in the Volta Region close to Denu and Aflao. It is specifically in the Ketu South District of the region. Traveling from Agbozume to Kumasi Safety of transportation is always the topmost priority for traveling. The reason why we do not prefer using smaller cars for very long distances. Well, our major location for commercial buses from Agbozume to Kumasi is at Aflao VIP station. This means that one moving from Agbozume would have to take a car to Aflao VIP station before onboarding a ca...

Akpe dada, yae dzen3 Akpe d ada, yae dzen3 Kafukafu, yae dzen3 Yesu  ɖ e mi tso ku me Ena mi agbemav ɔ Ya ta akpe dada yae dze n3 *************************** Akpe dada, yae dzen3 Kafukafu, yae dzen3 Yesu  ɖ e mi tso ku me Ena mi agbemav ɔ Ya ta akpe dada yae dze n3 English translation line by line He(God) deserves thanksgiving He is worthy of praise Jesus Christ rescued us from death And gave us eternal life And so He(God) deserves thanksgiving

In the busyness of the day when taking a full course meal is either too expensive or there isn't time to even eat, a healthy snack I believe is the next option. I know you aren't like some people who can enjoy any kind of snack without considering what it's made of, the nutritional value but everything is fit to go. All they want to satisfy is the hunger.  However, because you are different and so keen about what you ingest, reading every nutritional information on a pre-packaged food to be sure you're feeding right, let's dive in deeper. There is something good here you must be aware of. Story behind our banana cookies BanaUp Foods Limited is a startup that processes bananas into an all-purpose banana flour. This move was fueled by the desire to prevent post-harvest loss of bananas experienced in some parts of their country of operation due to insufficient ready market availability especially during the abundant season when the farmers need it the most. Taking thi...

You will find list of some adjectives (ηkɔnyaɖɔnya ) in the Ewe language used is sentences and they have been underlined for easy identification.  Nyɔnuvi la dze tugbe. The girl is beautiful. Awula de ama ηutɔ The shirt is very colourful. Miele dzidzɔ kpɔm We are happy . ηutsuvi kɔkɔ Tall boy. Devi la le kpuie The child is short . Awu yeye New shirt Awu xoxo Old shirt. Eʋu ga aɖe gbɔna A big car is coming. Nuɖuɖu la vivi alegbegbe The food was very delicious ηti la le lãlam The orange is sour Xɔme fa miɔ The room is cold Kutsi dzodzo la v3 Fetch the hot water  Dɔmenyotɔe wònye He or she is a kind person. Abolo la bɔbɔ The bread is soft . Kpe la dzi zrɔ The stone's surface is smooth . Na wò kaɖi la nakle Let your light be bright . Agbledede sesê alegbegbe farming is hard or difficult . Agba le kpekpem The load is heavy ꞘuꞘoꞘea zi ɖoɖoe The gathering is quiet . Wò gbe le dzi akpã Your voice is too loud . Nutinya sia ɖi kokoe lo ooo This st...

When I was young back in the junior high school, there were a lot of ways we had fun of which some are based on our cultural traditions. Riddles are a fun way of brainstorming to exchange knowledge and the Ewe culture is no exception. Adzototo is an Ewe word that means Riddle saying while adzo means Riddle. In this blog, you will find a number of these riddle constructions in Ewe language and their translation in English.  Eyi Ʋ i megb ɔ o – tukpe It has gone far but hasn't yet returned - bullet Ele agume ke xexi - agbeli beneath but has opened an umbrella - cassava Ave game dadi aɖe kle nuku gbo – atɔtɔ A cat in the deep forest opened the eyes wide - pineapple Ele avɔ kpowo dome tsi amama – tɔηui Hidden among clothes but naked - needle Ege kpɔ tagbatsutsu wo kplɔe ɖo – emi It has fallen, houseflies pursued - faeces Ele kpui do gawu – neꞘui Short but powerful - palm nut Etre vi eve le tɔ dzi – eno Two small calabashes on a river - breast Ebia hê menyanyinyim o – edzo / tadi Very ...