Since we arrived, people have said that we should attend the Kente Festival in October if we have the chance.
Kente is a woven fabric, usually woven in 6" wide strips that are then sewn together. It comes in all colors, usually bright.
A couple of the men in our group had nice cameras and were given tags that designated them as "photographers." They were able to get up close pictures that we wouldn't normally take and the people were all fine with it. Most of the pictures here come from them. Thanks to Brent Belnap and Elder Bob McCullough.
So while we waited for things to get started, which is usually later than they say things will start....the photographers took some awesome shots of people who were also waiting.
Cooked eggs for sale. They are coated with something white that is supposed to keep them from going bad.
This is either Fufu or Banku, not sure which. They are both staples.
Snacks??
Might as well have a seat in the shade. It may be a while.
Alas the parade begins to our relief, smiles!
It started with a parade of just a few scattered groups and people in the village of Agotime-Kpetoe.
This chief and the little girl who would occasionally wipe his forehead and give him a kiss were a hit, except to the guys carrying him I imagine.
More people joined in as the parade moved down the main road to a large open field where everyone congregated under canopies.
There was a lot of "bling" going one, so the only way we could tell who were the real chiefs was to look for those sitting on the front row with a mat at their feet and attendants nearby.
This couple who sat right in front of us were either a queen or chief and spouse.
They didn't usually acknowledge other people who came up and gave them money or knelt down in front of them to take pictures or adjust their Kente shawls. I also noticed that their Kente was one very wide piece of fabric, not sewn together pieces. It really was lovely!
Everyone found a place, whether seated or standing on the sides.
Then more parading got underway as most everyone except the real chiefs got up and paraded around in front of the canopies.
Dancing to the beat of the drums.
There were several prayers from different groups.
And more dancing.
And more talking.
A favorite dance of the women involved bending over and shaking the booty, often with extra padding added.
And more dancing.
Since they were running 2 hours behind schedule, one by one, the couples wandered out and headed back to the hotel in Ho where we cooled off in the swimming pool and waited 2 hours for dinner, most of which they exchanged without notice for other things because what we asked for was "finished." Gotta love Africa!!
Beautiful sunset though!!
Most definitely the highlight of the week-end was the branch we had arranged to visit on Sunday. (Anderson's with us from Cape Coast who came to see the Gospel Literacy Program in action.)
We met the branch President earlier in the mission, so we called and asked if they were interested in learning more about the Gospel Literacy program since we would be in their area.
He invited the whole Sunday School to come listen instead of just those who could be in the class. And before we were finished, they explained all the reasons they should get involved and had a man step forward asking if he could teach the class.
How cool is that?!!?
Notice the lady in blue and white on the far right.
With some help from the kind ladies next to her, she raised her hand at the end of the class and said, "I can, I can." She then read the reading pages of the first lesson with the help of the pictures for the other words she hadn't learned yet. "I am a mother, I am a father, I am a trader, I am happy, I am a child of God."
Then she held the book to her heart and broke out in a big smile while the others clapped and cheered for her.
It was a good as it gets!!
We entered the event to this fun welcome.
That's the First Lady two rows in front of us, obviously security is much less of a problem here.
They have a two fold approach. Building libraries and providing a TV program which will air weekly to teach children literacy. (I have to wonder how many who really could benefit from this have access to televisions?) This will come through an NGO. They expressed appreciation to LDS charities for their contribution. The only libraries here come through NGO's not as public libraries which our communities build.
Although it's nice to see this effort, I couldn't help but reflect on how many libraries are with 15 minutes of our home in Puyallup. It's very sad what has been denied the wonderful people of Ghana because of corruption, things we take for granted every day. I'm not saying we don't have plenty of our own problems in the US, but developing nations need leaders with integrity or the people suffer.
The week ended with the wonderful happy news of the arrival of Torie Kaye Temus, our newest granddaughter born to son Joe and his wife Jessica.
Labor was long, but their midwife was awesome and Jessica is one determined, remarkable lady to say the least.
We don't really know who is cuter, Torie Kaye or her two adorable, love smitten new parents.
Her little cousin Hannah, who celebrated her third birthday on the same day remarked during the prayer in Sacrament Meeting,
"I'm being sooo thankful in my praying, but now I need to play."
We are all feeling sooo thankful!!
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