Travel Guide to Africa

People and Culture in Ghana

admin — Fri, 08 May 2009 02:39:52 +0000

PEOPLE

Ghanians come from six main ethnic groups: the Akan (Ashanti and Fanti), the Ewe, the Ga-Adangbe, the Mole-Dagbani, the Guan, and the Gurma.

Ashanti Tribe

The Ashanti tribe of the Akan are the largest tribe in Ghana and one of the few matrilineal societies in West Africa. Once renown for the splendour and wealth of their rulers, they are most famous today for their craft work, particularly their hand-carved stools and fertility dolls and their colourful kente cloth. Kente cloth is woven in bright, narrow strips with complex patterns; it’s usually made from cotton and is always woven outdoors, exclusively by men.

The village is a social as well as an economic unit. Everyone participates in the major ceremonies, the most frequent of which are funeral celebrations which typically last several days. Attendance at funerals is normally expected from everyone in the village and expenditure on funerals is a substantial part of the household budget.

The Ashanti are noted for their expertise in a variety of specialized crafts. These include weaving, wood carving, ceramics, and metallurgy. Of these crafts, only pottery-making is primarily a female activity; the others are restricted to male specialists. Even in the case of pottery-making, only men are allowed to fashion pots or pipes representing anthropomorphic or zoomorphic figures.

All about Society-Twi-(Ashanti)

Ew?

The Ew? have over 600 deities to turn to in times of need. Many village celebrations and ceremonies take place in honour of one or more deities. Tehy also weave kente cloth, and their more geometrical patterns contain symbolic designs handed down through the ages.

The Ewe occupy southeastern Ghana and the southern parts of neighboring Togo and Benin. Most Ewe were farmers who kept some livestock, and there was some craft specialization. On the coast and immediately inland, fishing was important, and local variations in economic activities permitted a great deal of trade between one community and another, carried out chiefly by women

Fanti Tribe

The Fanti tribe are mainly located in the coastal areas of Ghana

Ga-Adangbe Tribe

The Ga-Adangbe people inhabit the Accra Plains. The Adangbe are found to the east, the Ga groups, to the west of the Accra coastlands. Although both languages are derived from a common proto-Ga-Adangbe ancestral language, modern Ga and Adangbe are mutually unintelligible. The modern Adangbe include the people of Shai, La, Ningo, Kpone, Osudoku, Krobo, Gbugble, and Ada, who speak different dialects. The Ga also include the Ga-Mashie groups occupying neighborhoods in the central part of Accra, and other Gaspeakers who migrated from Akwamu, Anecho in Togo, Akwapim, and surrounding areas.

Gaun Tribe

The Guan are believed to have begun to migrate from the Mossi region of modern Burkina around A.D. 1000. Moving gradually through the Volta valley in a southerly direction, they created settlements along the Black Volta, throughout the Afram Plains, in the Volta Gorge, and in the Akwapim Hills before moving farther south onto the coastal plains. Some scholars postulate that the wide distribution of the Guan suggests that they were the Neolithic population of the region. Later migrations by other groups such as the Akan, Ewe, and Ga-Adangbe into Guan-settled areas would then have led to the development of Guan-speaking enclaves along the Volta and within the coastal plains.

source: goafrica.about.com

Travel and Car Service NYC

admin — Sun, 03 May 2009 01:47:37 +0000

You must agree that traveling is something fun and exciting. That?s because you?ll meet new friends and get to see new places. During their travels, some meet their special someone on foreign land and others were fortunate enough on their travel business meetings to land a much stable job. When you travel around places, everything is possible because you open yourself to many opportunities. Some just travel for vacation or visit their loved ones abroad, while it gives people better opportunities. When you arrive at the airport, the best way to travel is when you?re safe and secured whatever your reason is.

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West Africa’s Slave-Trade Tours

admin — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 01:34:27 +0000

Information about slave tours and major slave trading sites in West Africa can be found below. Cultural tours and Heritage tours are becoming increasingly popular in West Africa. African-Americans in particular are making the pilgrimage back to West Africa to pay their respects to their ancestors.

There is some controversy about some of the sites listed below. Goree Island in Senegal for example has long marketed itself as a major slave-trade port, but historians argue it didn’t play a huge role in exporting slaves to the Americas. For most people, it’s the symbolism that matters. There is no one that can visit these sites without reflecting deeply about the human and social cost of slavery.

Slave-Trade in Ghana

Ghana celebrated its 50th year of independence in 2007 and heavily marketed itself as a destination for African-Americans to visit the slave-trade sites and invest in the country.

St George’s Castle in Elmina, one of several former slave forts along Ghana’s Atlantic coast, is a hugely popular destination and place of pilgrimage for African-American tourists and visitors from all over the world. A guided tour will lead you through slave dungeons and punishment cells. A slave auctioning room now houses a small museum.

Cape Coast Castle and Museum. The Cape Coast Castle played a prominent role in the slave trade and daily guided tours include the slave dungeons, Palaver hall, the grave of an English Governor, and more. The castle was the headquarters for the British colonial administration for nearly 200 years. The Museum houses objects from around the region including artifacts used during the slave trade. An informative video gives you a good introduction to the business of slavery and how it was conducted.

The Gold Coast in Ghana is in fact lined with old forts used by European powers during the slave trade. Some of the forts have been turned into guesthouses offering basic accommodation. Other forts like Fort Amsterdam in Abanze have many original features, which gives you a good idea of what it was like during the slave trade.

Salaga in northern Ghana was the site of a major slave market. Today visitors can see the grounds of the slave market; slave wells which were used to wash slaves and spruce them up for a good price; and a huge cemetery where slaves who had died were laid to rest.

Accra, Ghana

admin — Fri, 24 Apr 2009 01:22:00 +0000

Accra is the capital city of Ghana in West Africa. Almost 2 million people live in Accra, making it Ghana’s most populated city. Accra has been Ghana’s capital since 1877 when the British ruled this part of West Africa. Before that, Accra was a collection of Ga villages established in the 17th Century.

Accra is a sprawling city, with a mixture of modern buildings, shanty towns, occasional castle and lively markets. The central commercial hub is around the Makola Market (pictured here). Just south of the market is the Atlantic ocean (Gulf of Guinea). Accra’s shanty towns are mostly to the west of the city center. East of the city center and north towards the Kotoka international airport, is where you’ll find most of the hotels, embassies and smarter residential areas.

The most common languages in Accra are English, and Ga.

What to see in Accra

Accra is one of Africa’s safer capitals and walking around is relatively hassle-free, although you have to be careful of pickpockets. Take care when walking along the beaches, especially those west of the center.

The National Museum has wonderful displays about Ghana’s culture and history including the slave-trade, and Ashanti Kingdom. The museum is open daily from 9am - 5pm.
Makola Market is the soul of Accra. It’s colorful, bustling, and you can buy absolutely everything.
Beaches — there are some nice beaches in and around Accra, check out Labadi Beach, Coco Beach and Bojo Beach.
The Arts Center is a great place to shop for handicrafts but be prepared for a hard sell.
More sights…

Accra Travel Resources

Hotels are plentiful in Accra, check out Trip Advisor’s hotel listings and reviews. The Lonely Planet Guide has the best selection of budget hotels.

Restaurants and Bars — You can eat good Indian food in Accra as well as traditional Ghanaian fare and of course excellent fresh seafood (even sushi). Check out some of these restaurant reviews. For fast food head to Osu. For live music check out this list of venues.

Getting around Accra
The best way to get around Accra is to take a tro-tro (shared taxi) or private taxi. Taxis are easy to flag down just make sure you agree to a price before you head to your destination.

Daily life in Ghana, West Africa

admin — Sun, 19 Apr 2009 01:01:12 +0000

Lauren Mong spent 8 months in Ghana (West Africa) during 2005, stationed at a small mission in the North of the country. She lived in a little village called Bunbonayili much as the local people did. Her home was a mud hut; she ate local food; gathered water; and did her washing by hand alongside the local women. It was an incredible experience and she managed to capture the beauty of the people and the landscape in these wonderful images.

A boy named Peter from Bunbonayili Village, Ghana, West Africa

Women doing their laundry in Bunbonayili, Ghana, West Africa

A young Fulani girl in Bunbonayili, Ghana, who came with her grandmother, to sell milk. Her eyes were haunting.

Boy Eating Porridge in the village of Nabila in Ghana, West Africa.

A woman and her child enjoying morning porridge in Nabila Village, Northern Ghana.

Sunset over a hut in Bunbonayili, Ghana.

Jinbong Village, Northern Ghana.

Making Tizet a local staple in Bunbonayili, Ghana.

Women and Children Collecting water from the dam in Bunbonayili, Ghana, West Africa.

Local women doing laundry on the border of Ghana and Togo

A sunset over the dam in Bunbonayili village, Ghana, West Africa.

source: goafrica.about.com

Ghana Travel Guide

admin — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 12:31:01 +0000

The Republic of Ghana is a country in West Africa. It borders C?te d’Ivoire (Ivory Coast) to the west, Burkina Faso to the north, Togo to the east, and the Gulf of Guinea to the south. The chat Ghana agency “Warrior King,” and was the antecedent of the name “Guinea” (via French Guinoye) that is acclimated to accredit to the West African bank (as in Gulf of Guinea).

Ghana was inhabited in pre-colonial times by a cardinal of age-old kingdoms, including the Ga-Da?mes on the eastern coast, civil Empire of Ashanti and assorted Fante states forth the bank and inland. Trade with European states flourished afterwards acquaintance with the Portuguese in the 15th century, and the British accustomed a acme colony, Gold Coast, in 1874.

Upon actuality the aboriginal Sub-Saharan African nation to accomplish ability from the United Kingdom in 1957, the name Ghana was called for the fresh nation to reflect the age-old Empire of Ghana that already continued throughout abundant of western Africa. In the Ashanti accent it is spelled Gaana.

Visas and other Entry Requirements

All visitors to Ghana are required to have a visa unless you are a citizen of a West African country which belongs to ECOWAS. You must have a return ticket to Ghana before applying for a visa. Basic tourist visas are valid for 3 months from date of issue so don’t get it too early or it may expire before you arrive. A single entry tourist visa costs $50. Student visa applications must be submitted together with a letter of invitation from the principals in Ghana and or in the student’s home country.

Ghana also requires all visitors to have a valid certificate of immunization against yellow fever.

Health and Immunizations

Ghana is a tropical country and a poor country so you’ll need to pack a good basic medical kit for yourself when you go.

Ghana requires all visitors to have a valid certificate of immunization against yellow fever.

Malaria

There’s a risk of catching malaria pretty much everywhere you travel in Ghana. Ghana is home to the chloroquine-resistant strain of malaria as well as several others. Make sure your doctor or travel clinic knows you are traveling to Ghana (don’t just say Africa) so s/he can prescribe the right anti-malarial medication. Tips on how to avoid malaria will also help. For more details on Malaria in Ghana, click on this map from the WHO.

Safety

In general people are extremely friendly in Ghana and you will be humbled by their hospitality. It’s also one of Africa’s more stable countries politically and you should be able to travel safely to all areas. But, there is real poverty and you will still attract your fair share of souvenir hawkers and beggars. If you follow some basic safety rules, you shouldn’t have any problems. Accra is actually one of West Africa’s safest big cities but you do need to be aware of pickpockets and petty thieves especially around crowded areas like bus stops and markets. It’s also not a good idea to walk on the beach alone at night.

Ghana is generally considered to be the best West African country to visit if you’re a woman traveling alone.

Money Matters

The cedi is the unit of currency in Ghana. The cedi used to be broken down into 100 pesewas but inflation has made the pesewas obsolete. Check out this currency converter to find out how many cedis your dollar, yen or pound can get.

The best currencies to bring to Ghana are: US Dollars, Euros or British pounds. These will get you the best exchange rate at banks and foreign exchange bureaus. ATM machines are available in major cities but may not always work. If you’re planning on bringing traveler cheques, exchange them in the main cities, smaller towns may not exchange them. Don’t change too much money at one time unless you’re prepared to accommodate large wads of cedis. While larger cedi notes have recently come into circulation, you’ll still find it difficult to fit a lot of it in your wallet or money belt.

Banking hours are 8.30am - 3.00pm, Monday - Friday.

Climate and When to Go

Ghana is basically hot and humid all year round. The best time to travel is probably December to April since you’ll miss the rainy season. But this is also the hottest time of year and quite uncomfortable in the north of the country since it there’s the added bonus of Saharan sand blowing in the air. July and August are good months to travel if you’re planning to stay in the south, since there’s a lull in the rains during this time. For more about Ghana’s climate check the BBC’s weather section.

If you wish to see festivals, August and September are good months to visit Ghana since many communities celebrate their first harvests during these months.

New York City Tours

admin — Thu, 09 Apr 2009 01:10:40 +0000

We hope that you can enjoy your holidays in the beneficial way. Sure, you will get a flexible trip by the help of the sight seeing tours and travels agents. If you have a planning to travel to New York City, then you can join any New York City Tours. Therefore, you will enjoy their hop on- hop off bus so we can visit all the tourist destination spots in New York.

New York City has offering you interesting places and a lot of tourist attraction to visit if you have a chance to step your feet on this city. New York City area is the largest city in the United States, and also among the largest urban areas in the world. The city serves as an exerting a powerful influence over entertainment, worldwide culture, finance and commerce. New York becomes the one of the world?s primary global cities.

New York consists of five distinct boroughs: Brooklyn, Queens, The Bronx, Manhattan and Staten Island. This is the most densely populated major city in the United States. Actually, New York can?t be explored just by a bus tour, so you should take the harbor cruises, museum visits, helicopter tours etc. But don’ worry about that, you don?t have to go to other for all other tours, because all this packaged tour is made available to you at City Sights NY. New York metropolitan area is the largest metropolitan area in the country. All these packages will help you to worth exploring every part of Sightseeing in the metropolitan city.

CitySights NY is a recognized leader in New York City Sightseeing. In order to provide you with the best possible views of New York City?s attractions, their hop-on and hop-off bus tours are operated on a fleet of new double-decker buses designed with top-deck-only seating, so you can get best possible views of New York City?s neighborhoods and places of interest. Just at your fingertips, CitySights NY provides the best NYC attractions from Broadway shows to harbor cruises. Definitely, CitySights NY is an expert in NYC Tourism.

Africa’s Festivals in April

admin — Sun, 05 Apr 2009 05:51:16 +0000

Ethiopians will be celebrating Fasika (Easter) after 55 days of fasting this April. Many of Ethiopia’s religious festivals offer a wonderful excuse to visit this fascinating country. Egyptians will be out on the streets in numbers “Sniffing the Breeze” as they celebrate spring. South Africans will be packing up their swimsuits soon as they’re headed for the autumn/fall. But not before grooving away to some of South Africa’s finest music festivals held at various venues next month including Cape Town’s famous Jazz Festival. And spare a thought for the marathon runners who will still be tackling Morocco’s Sahara with backpacks and tired legs. The finish line should be in sight on April 6.

April brings spring to northern Africa and fall to South Africa. A form of Easter is celebrated by Coptic Christians in Ethiopia and Egypt; the Ethiopians will break a 55 day fast on Easter Monday. Runners have their pick of interesting marathons in the Sahara Desert and the African bush.

Here some africa’s festival in April:

1. The Marathon Des Sables

The Sand Marathon covers 151 miles and is run over 6 days; it’s a grueling race. Set in the Moroccan desert, around 600 competitors from 30 countries take part every year. Competitors carry all their equipment themselves and cook their own meals. Most competitors run for charity.
Where: Sahara Desert, Morocco
When: 26 March - 6 April (2009)

2. Sham el Nessim

“Sniffing the Breeze” is a lovely name for a spring festival and that’s what Sham el Nessim literally means in Arabic. Egyptians celebrate Sham el Nessim by taking their families on picnics, and enjoying public parks and other green spaces. Salted fish, colored boiled eggs and green onions are the traditional foods eaten on this day. It is commonly believed that Egyptians have been celebrating this holiday for over 4000 years. It is traditionally held on the Monday following Coptic Easter.
Where: Egypt
When: April 20 (2009)

3. Splashy Fen Music Festival

The Splashy Fen Music festival is one of South Africa’s longest running festivals. Musicians and artists from all over South Africa gather for a long weekend of cultural fun. This outdoor festival is held in the beautiful Drakensberg Mountains.
Where: Spashy Fen, South Africa
When: 9 - 13 April (2009)

4. Jazz in Carthage

“Jazz in Carthage” is one of North Africa’s largest jazz festivals. Legendary Brazilian composer and singer, Gilberto Gil will open the festival on April 10, 2008. Other acts include Amar Sundy (Blues touareg), William Parker jazz band , Dhafer Youssef (Oriental jazz and mystical) and Gino Paoli (Italian jazz).
Where: Tunis, Tunisia
When: 9 - 19 April (2009)

5. Cape Town International Jazz Festival

Southern Africa’s biggest jazz festival is held annually in Cape Town, South Africa. Jazz legends from all over the world will perform for just two days at the convention center. More than 30,000 people attend, so advance ticket purchase is absolutely necessary.
Where: Cape Town, South Africa
When: 3 - 4 April (2009)

6. Maitisong Festival

Botswana’s premier arts festival, the Maitisong Festival, is held annually. There’s theater, traditional music and dance, marimba bands, choirs and more. Street sellers provide the food and drink and the capital Gaborone takes on a festive atmosphere.
Where: Gaborone, Botswana
When: 16 March - 5 April (2009)

7. Fasika (Easter)

The Ethiopian Easter festival is called Fasika. This festival celebrates the day when Jesus Christ rose from the dead after being crucified. During lent, Ethiopians fast for 55 days. Easter Sunday mass is a serious affair, which lasts several hours accompanied by prayers and music. Priests are dressed in their finest and people wear white cotton outfits. The fast is broken by eating meat slaughtered the previous evening, and there’s plenty of local brew (tella and tej) to keep things festive.
Where: Ethiopia
When: April 17 (Good Friday) - April 19 (Easter) (2009)

Bo-Kaap Cape Town

admin — Wed, 01 Apr 2009 05:32:01 +0000

Bo-Kaap is a neighborhood in Cape Town, South Africa, that was originally settled by freed slaves brought over by the Dutch in the 17th and 18th Century. Bo-Kaap is situated on the slopes of Signal Hill, west of the City Bowl. Steep streets are lined with colorful traditional houses, painted in vibrant colors. The Cape Malay community is proudly Islamic. There are several mosques dotted around the cobbled streets and you’ll see many of the locals wearing traditional dress.

Bo-Kaap was settled by the descendants of slaves brought over by the Dutch in the late 17th and 18th centuries. They originated from different parts of Southeast Asia, but were collectively referred to as “Cape Malay”. Cape Malays were a mixture of political exiles, convicts, skilled craftsmen, artisans, scholars and religious leaders. The first South African Mosque was built in this area in 1794.

The Afrikaans language is thought to have developed as a lingua franca for the slaves, as well as their masters, to be able to communicate effectively. Educated Muslims were in fact the first to write texts in Afrikaans.

While the majority of Bo-Kaap’s residents are still of Cape Malay origin, the housing boom in the past fifteen years has seen an influx of foreigners buying up the beautiful, quaint, historical homes of Bo-Kaap. But despite the apparent “gentrification” there are plenty of little local restaurants still open to sample the traditional cuisine. The streets are safe to stroll around during the day and the unique Islamic culture still appears to be intact and thriving.

Bo-Kaap Attractions

Today the Bo-Kaap area is an attractive place to stroll around. The cobbled streets are lined with colorful houses providing the perfect opportunity for some wonderful snap shots. Walking tours as well as culinary tours are readily available.

The Bo-Kaap Museum is housed in one of Bo-Kaap’s oldest buildings and is open on Mondays to Saturdays from 9:30am to 4:30pm. It documents the history of the Cape Malay community and is furnished in traditional 19th Century Cape Malay style.

The colorful “Coon Carnival” originated in the Bo-Kaap and still takes place every year on the 2nd of January.

Bo-Kaap and Cape Malay Cuisine:

The freed slaves that eventually settled the Bo-Kaap area were used to cooking with spices that originated in their home countries. The Dutch East India company continued to sail to Asia, via, Cape Town so many of these traditional spices continued to be available.

Dutch housewives began to include cinnamon and cloves in their pies while the Cape Malay cooks started adding the potato to their dishes. A wonderful fusion of cuisines developed and continues to influence South Africa’s finest dishes.

Dogs in Africa

admin — Fri, 27 Mar 2009 05:16:27 +0000

You’ll probably see a lot of stray dogs in towns, cities and villages, when you visit any country in Africa. The general condition of these mongrels may distress you, if you’re a dog lover. They’re often hungry and a bit on the mangy side. But don’t be tempted to pet or feed them. Throughout Africa, rabies is very common and usually a bite from an infected dog is how humans get the virus.

According to a BBC report, 71 children died in Angola in just the past 3 months from rabies. The Angolan authorities are now taking action and rounding up any stray dog or cat they can find. In Malawi, the authorities would set aside a few days every year where all dog owners would have to leash their dogs throughout the day. During this time they would shoot any dog that was not tied up (sometimes narrowly missing the owner by mistake).

I was bitten by a pet/guard dog in Malawi who had been attacked the previous day by some stray dogs, and so I had to get 14 shots in my stomach to prevent the onset of rabies. At the age of ten I wasn’t so sure if I’d rather die than be subjected to that many injections, but thankfully these days it’s just a couple of shots, and you’re done. I’d recommend you get vaccinated against rabies before you travel to Africa. Because once rabies has established itself in your system it is likely you will die.

In general stray dogs are quite harmless and a shout or a wave of a stick will discourage any contact. Stray dogs aren’t treated very well and are usually quite quick to skulk away. Find out more about avoiding rabies in Africa and play it safe; even pet dogs in Africa are guard dogs first and foremost.