Celebrating Ghana : Her rich food, textile and proud culture.

As a Nigerian, when I hear "akwaaba" greetings from Ghanian folks, it somehow reminds me of friendliness, brotherhood and the respect that accompanies communal lifestyle. Oftentimes, I wondered if the whole Ghana spoke one language. But that's not the case. Ghana is an embodiment of several tribes all forming the nation.

Learning about this nation Ghana began for me at the very tender age of six, when I began to recognize Mr. Samuel Acquaye as my school headmaster. He was a cheerful young man in his mid- thirties who wore his hair in a high halo. He was slim and very tall and spoke his English with a far different and polished accent than ours.

Something very interesting about Mr Samuel was the way he included Ghana in all of our conversations. At that time, he informed us that one of Ghana's delicacies -what he preferred to tag "Ghana jollof," deserved to be known around the globe.He said that with a mix of playfulness and sheer determination. What stood out for me was the manner at which he described it, which caught our fancy and left me salivating. Sometimes, I thought headmaster could just be over exaggerating.But then, whose jollof rice could taste better than my Mama's? I always consoled myself with that.

I was mistaken. Nearly 3 decades later,""Ghana jollof"," has become an internet sensation? Mr Samuel's playful prophecy is being displayed right before my eyes-all thanks to technology and social media. Today, Ghanian chefs now host jollof rice cooking competitions with individuals from around the globe with hashtags flying around, everywhere? How remarkable.This Ghana jollof must be a big deal after all. I've made it part of my bucket list. However, I prefer to taste it from the source- Ghanians. On my first visit to Ghana, I'd consume a dish or two of this savoury meal, if I had the chance...

Also, I celebrate the Ashanti tribe of Ghana. Great people, who keep adding honorary feathers to the ghanian nation.Theyre famous for roles they play in ghanian movie industry which has grown overtime. Again,I learned that the Ashanti tribe of Ghana is known for the crafting of a fabric I love so much- kente cloth.Originally, the cloth was said to be designed for the rich in the ghanian society. This can be seen in it's rich display of colors.I celebrate the fact that this art-kente has caused Ghana's textile culture to stand out outstandingly so, in the global space.For me, kente has gone beyond just a handwoven fabric to a tale that describes a people, warm, high-spirited, industrious and blood enough to tell the world about their cultural heritage having excellence as a trademark.

Mr Samuel Acquaye wore kente on his wedding day. I never knew its name but I admired the confidence that accompanied his dressing. As a little girl, I'd never seen a cloth so bright and carefully detailed. His kente displayed a different aura from the other Ankara fabrics that crossed my path daily. It got me staring so deeply. But I Know better now.Its amazing how every individual from every tribe and race would love to flaunt his/her kente piece. When he danced, he flipped it over, one side or the other. He loved it, it reminded him of his kente, his culture and identity.

He once told us that some Ghanians were hospitable to a fault and hence could be taken for granted.I knew there and then that I wasn't going to do that-take good people for granted- I was different, I'm different now. Paying a visit to Ghana soon is on my bucket-list. It'll be a pleasure.On my first visit, I will reserve some wads of cash to aid me purchase all-things art.Anything ghanian -made that catches my fancy.

I really think the world has countless reasons to celebrate Ghana for it's contributions to tourism and other facets of society. Long live Ghana. Prideful culture. Ghana jollof. Kente.