These are excerpts from our last meeting. Consisting of personnel from #NVG, #YES Alumni and #AKGS computer school.
Our next meeting is scheduled for Saturday, 16th September 2017 at the AKGS Computer School in Kanvili.
We will be expecting you.
Thursday 5 October 2017
Meeting on the Implementation of the Educational Program
Educational Outreach Program- High School Edition
We're currently working tirelessly on extending our educational project dubbed 'Aren't our perspectives of education all wrong?' to other Senior High Schools in Northern Ghana. We're doing this in collaboration with Youth Exchange and Study Alumni (YES ALUMNI). We will be having our final meeting on the 16th of September 2017 at the AKGS Computer School, Kanvili. 9:00 am prompt
If you are interested in volunteering with us make it a point to be there.
Volunteer with us
The #NVG team is looking to expand it's workforce and is putting out this notice so that whoever is interested in volunteering with us or joining the rediscovery train can contact our Secretary; Mr Tuferu Mohammed Habib on the following numbers 0242665340/0505486915
Grab a copy of the Volunteers Registration Form for free and secure a place in our organization today.
#NVG, a journey of rediscovery!
Radio discussion session with DJ Kalibuz
The #NVG team in a pose with Dr Ken Osei Mensah, the host of the Bishara Morning Show. We would like to thank all of the listeners who tuned in to the program this morning and express our sincere gratitude to Dr Ken and the management of Bishara Radio for having us on the show.
Northern Voices Ghana a journey of rediscovery...
Friday 26 August 2016
Rocky Dawuni - A Ghanaian Reggae Sensation
Rocky Dawuni was born January 22, 1969 and began his life as the child of a cook on a military barracks in Ghana.
He is a member of the royal family of the Konkomba tribe from a village called Bunbon Nayili in Northern Ghana, where his older brother, Chief Wumbe Dawuni serve as Chief.
The second born of eight siblings, Dawuni excelled at school and eventually his father decided to move him back to their home village where he could learn more about his cultural heritage.
He had his high school education at the Tamale Senior High school and continued his studies at the New Juaben Secondary Commercial school in Koforidua from where he moved on to enter the University of Ghana where he pursue a degree in philosophy and psychology
Part of his humanitarian activities include joining forces with Product (RED), UNICEF, the Carter Center, and the UN Foundation. He has worked on campaigns focused on Guinea worm eradication, environmental issues, women's health and education, HIV Aids advocacy, peace building and clean water. In 2012, Dawuni was appointed the Tourism and Cultural Ambassador of Ghana and World Ambassador for the Musicians Union of Ghana. The same year, he was named a United Nations Foundation Ambassador for the Global Alliance for Clean Cookstoves. He also has served on a Brookings Institute think tank on cultural diplomacy (Timbuktu Action Group) as part of the efforts to restore Mali's famed Festival Au Desert and was invited by Aegis Trust and the Kigali Genocide Memorial Center to Rwanda to meet the Minister of Youth and Culture and visit the Gihembe refugee camp in order to highlight Rwanda's shinning efforts to heal the wounds of the past.
Rocky Dawuni has performed at on various platforms including, at the United Nations Climate Change Conference (UNFCC) in Warsaw, Poland in front of the United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki Moon and delegates from around the world. Rocky also performanced in front of 18,000 people in Toronto, Canada alongside Somalian superstar K’Naan and at the Freedom Awards in Los Angeles with pop sensation Jason Mraz. In July 2011 he performed at the prestigious Hollywood Bowl with the legendary Stevie Wonder during a night of "Global Soul” and appeared at France’s Les Estivales de la Perriere in August of the same year with Shaggy, Monty Alexander and Diana King where they joined together on a magical rendition of Bob Marley’s “No Woman, No Cry." In March 2012, Rocky headlined the Balispirit Festival in Bali, Indonesia for the second time in three years and received a glowing feature in Rolling Stone Indonesia. In July 2013, Rocky appeared at Switzerland's renowned Montreaux Jazz Festival.
His sixth studio album titled Branches of The Same Tree released 31 March 2015 was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Reggae Album in December 2015 for the 58th Annual Grammy Awards, which is the first for Ghana and second in that category for Africa. For this, we celebrate him for making us Northerners, Ghanaians and Africa at large proud.
Saturday 2 July 2016
Dawadawa processing (Parkia biglobosa)
INTRODUCTION
Parkia biglobosa, also known as the African locust bean or "dawadawa tree", is a perennial deciduous tree of the Fabaceae family. It is found in a wide range of environments in Africa and is primarily grown for its pods that contain both a sweet pulp and valuable seeds. Where the tree is grown, the crushing and fermenting of these seeds constitutes an important economic activity. Various parts of the locust bean tree are used for medicinal purposes. As a standing tree, locust bean may have a positive effect on the yield of other nearby crops.
DAWADAWA PROCESSING
To make dadadawa, the locust beans (dori), as it is called among the Dagombas, are first boiled for at least 24 hours. Water must be added frequently. The cooked beans -still quite firm- are then mixed with wood ash and pounded and washed several times to remove the seed-coats. The beans are boiled for another 3-4 hours until they become softer, and are then spread in a large flat basket, covered with leaves and allowed to ferment for two days.
On the third day, the bean mass is transferred to a deep bowl and allowed to ferment for another 24 hours. It is then spread out again in the large flat basket and partially dried in the sun for several hours, before it is pounded with mortar and pestle into a paste and formed by hand into balls or wafers. After the dawadawa has been dried thoroughly in the sun, it has very good keeping qualities. It can be stored in earthenware pots for up to two years, according to the women who make and use it. This entire dawadawa production process, as observed in northern Ghana, requires about six days.
BENEFITS
Locust bean, commonly referred to as kpaligu by Dagombas, and, ‘dawa dawa’ by most of the other tribes in Ghana, is a local seasoning or condiment used in soups and stews. A very popular soup ingredient, globally, it is referred to as African locust bean with the botanical name as Parkia biglobosa.
It can be found in a wide range of environments in Africa and is primarily grown for its pods that contain both a sweet pulp and valuable seeds.
The yellow pulp, which contains the seeds, is naturally sweet “and is processed into a valuable carbohydrate food known as dori koko and dadadawa among the Dagomba's and other tribes respectively.
The most valuable parts of the locust bean are high in lipid (29%), protein (35%), carbohydrate (16%), and is a good source of fat and calcium for rural dwellers.
The seed is first cooked to remove the seed coat and then fermented to produce the desired result. When it is fermented, the Yoruba have a way of getting two types from it, the mashed type and the loose or free type, and they are used for different types of soups, but for the same purpose.
1. The fermented locust bean seed is used in controlling diabetes and cholesterol level.
2. It helps to promote good sight and aids digestion.
3. It is used for treating stroke and hypertension.
4. The water and alcoholic extracts of fermented locust bean is used to reduce blood sugar.
5. It is used in the management of bacterial infections.
6. The locust bean contains tannins, which is often recommended for the treatment of diarrhoea.
7. It is a potential benefit for enhancing weight loss.
8. The crushed bark of the locust bean tree has also been revealed to help in wound healing and serves as one of the ingredients used in treating leprosy. The decoction of the bark is also used as bath for fever and as a hot mouth wash to steam and relieve toothache in Cote d’Ivoire.
Parkia biglobosa, also known as the African locust bean or "dawadawa tree", is a perennial deciduous tree of the Fabaceae family. It is found in a wide range of environments in Africa and is primarily grown for its pods that contain both a sweet pulp and valuable seeds. Where the tree is grown, the crushing and fermenting of these seeds constitutes an important economic activity. Various parts of the locust bean tree are used for medicinal purposes. As a standing tree, locust bean may have a positive effect on the yield of other nearby crops.
DAWADAWA PROCESSING
To make dadadawa, the locust beans (dori), as it is called among the Dagombas, are first boiled for at least 24 hours. Water must be added frequently. The cooked beans -still quite firm- are then mixed with wood ash and pounded and washed several times to remove the seed-coats. The beans are boiled for another 3-4 hours until they become softer, and are then spread in a large flat basket, covered with leaves and allowed to ferment for two days.
On the third day, the bean mass is transferred to a deep bowl and allowed to ferment for another 24 hours. It is then spread out again in the large flat basket and partially dried in the sun for several hours, before it is pounded with mortar and pestle into a paste and formed by hand into balls or wafers. After the dawadawa has been dried thoroughly in the sun, it has very good keeping qualities. It can be stored in earthenware pots for up to two years, according to the women who make and use it. This entire dawadawa production process, as observed in northern Ghana, requires about six days.
BENEFITS
Locust bean, commonly referred to as kpaligu by Dagombas, and, ‘dawa dawa’ by most of the other tribes in Ghana, is a local seasoning or condiment used in soups and stews. A very popular soup ingredient, globally, it is referred to as African locust bean with the botanical name as Parkia biglobosa.
It can be found in a wide range of environments in Africa and is primarily grown for its pods that contain both a sweet pulp and valuable seeds.
The yellow pulp, which contains the seeds, is naturally sweet “and is processed into a valuable carbohydrate food known as dori koko and dadadawa among the Dagomba's and other tribes respectively.
The most valuable parts of the locust bean are high in lipid (29%), protein (35%), carbohydrate (16%), and is a good source of fat and calcium for rural dwellers.
The seed is first cooked to remove the seed coat and then fermented to produce the desired result. When it is fermented, the Yoruba have a way of getting two types from it, the mashed type and the loose or free type, and they are used for different types of soups, but for the same purpose.
1. The fermented locust bean seed is used in controlling diabetes and cholesterol level.
2. It helps to promote good sight and aids digestion.
3. It is used for treating stroke and hypertension.
4. The water and alcoholic extracts of fermented locust bean is used to reduce blood sugar.
5. It is used in the management of bacterial infections.
6. The locust bean contains tannins, which is often recommended for the treatment of diarrhoea.
7. It is a potential benefit for enhancing weight loss.
8. The crushed bark of the locust bean tree has also been revealed to help in wound healing and serves as one of the ingredients used in treating leprosy. The decoction of the bark is also used as bath for fever and as a hot mouth wash to steam and relieve toothache in Cote d’Ivoire.
Tuesday 21 June 2016
The Nakore Mosque in the Upper West region
The Upper West region of Ghana is one of Ghana's smallest regions, yet it possesses some of Ghana's greatest tourist attractions, including slave trade landmarks, wildlife, and eye-catching architecture. The region is the largest producer of cotton, groundnuts, millet and sorghum. The dominant ethnic groups are the Wala, Sissala and Dagaaba. This article focuses on one of the landmarks in the Upper West Region, the Nakore Mosque.
The Nakore Mosque is located in this region also shares similar features with the Larabanga mosque, but unfortunately, little is known of the place. The structure of the mosque is that of the Sudanic style. The Sudanic style, though rectangular, has timber frame structures or pillars supporting the roof. It is characterized by two pyramidal towers (the minaret and the mihrab), and by a number of irregular shaped buttresses, with pinnacles projecting above the parapet which give life to the mosque’s elevations.
Apart from the usual role the mosque serves as Friday prayer grounds, the ancient mosques also serve as places of pilgrimage to the Muslim communities in the country. On eventful days, a lot of faithful worshippers gather at these mosques for prayers and listen to Koranic readings. Private readings are also organized on request for individuals who want divine solutions to serious problems or those who seek spiritual intervention in their ventures. The Chief Imam normally requests the sacrifice of a cow and other donations for the community, in return for the readings the Koran.
Most of the communities of the regions of Northern Ghana are predominantly Muslim communities. Islam, which first entered Africa through Egypt in the 10th Century AD, progressed from Egypt towards the west and the south at the same time as the trans-Saharan slave and gold trade routes. In Ghana, these trade routes were used by Mande warriors, Islamic Traders and Missionaries. Occasionally, these routes were marked by incursions by the Almoravids, a Berber Dynasty, which played a major role in the spread of Islam in the area. At rest points for the Islamic traders along the routes, and in conquered territories people were converted to Islam and this led to the construction of mosques in the Northern part of Ghana. Some of these mosques still exist today and they date as far back as the 17th Century AD. Nicely built with ancient architecture, the Nakore Mosque although sacred to the people of the region also makes a great tourist attraction.
Incase you find yourself in the Upper West region of Ghana on a trip, you can round off your trip by visiting the 16th century Nakore Mosque, a very solemn place to visit and learn much about the Muslim tradition of the people in the region.
The Nakore Mosque is located in this region also shares similar features with the Larabanga mosque, but unfortunately, little is known of the place. The structure of the mosque is that of the Sudanic style. The Sudanic style, though rectangular, has timber frame structures or pillars supporting the roof. It is characterized by two pyramidal towers (the minaret and the mihrab), and by a number of irregular shaped buttresses, with pinnacles projecting above the parapet which give life to the mosque’s elevations.
Apart from the usual role the mosque serves as Friday prayer grounds, the ancient mosques also serve as places of pilgrimage to the Muslim communities in the country. On eventful days, a lot of faithful worshippers gather at these mosques for prayers and listen to Koranic readings. Private readings are also organized on request for individuals who want divine solutions to serious problems or those who seek spiritual intervention in their ventures. The Chief Imam normally requests the sacrifice of a cow and other donations for the community, in return for the readings the Koran.
Most of the communities of the regions of Northern Ghana are predominantly Muslim communities. Islam, which first entered Africa through Egypt in the 10th Century AD, progressed from Egypt towards the west and the south at the same time as the trans-Saharan slave and gold trade routes. In Ghana, these trade routes were used by Mande warriors, Islamic Traders and Missionaries. Occasionally, these routes were marked by incursions by the Almoravids, a Berber Dynasty, which played a major role in the spread of Islam in the area. At rest points for the Islamic traders along the routes, and in conquered territories people were converted to Islam and this led to the construction of mosques in the Northern part of Ghana. Some of these mosques still exist today and they date as far back as the 17th Century AD. Nicely built with ancient architecture, the Nakore Mosque although sacred to the people of the region also makes a great tourist attraction.
Incase you find yourself in the Upper West region of Ghana on a trip, you can round off your trip by visiting the 16th century Nakore Mosque, a very solemn place to visit and learn much about the Muslim tradition of the people in the region.
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