OK. Here’s an update. Last night a seamstress visited the class during dinner so students could arrange custom made clothing from cloth bought at the market.

Today’s morning lecture on disability and religion was really interested. We traveled to University of Ghana where Professor Godson Ahorto from the religion department. He spoke about traditional African beliefs and the relationship between Christianity and religion and Islam and religion. Ghana is 70% Christian, 16% Muslim, 5% traditional. The remainder is comprised of the rest, with the majority of the group being eastern religions. Very few people hear are not religious and religion is imbedded in all aspects of life. He was clear in saying that most Christians and Muslims also maintain traditional beliefs so it gets complicated. Here are a few points I remember:

• Traditional beliefs are imbedded in the lives of almost all people. For example, Christian weddings take place after the traditional ceremony, including the tradition of dowry.
• The World Health Organization defines health as ‘a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity. For Ghanaains this is missing the spiritual aspect. I don’t think that’s much difference than in the US. Many people I worked with have viewed disability as the will of God.
• Before you are born you’re in spiritual life, after you die you’re in spiritual life. This is the basis of belief in reincarnation. People are life centered and evil threatens abundant life.
• Spiritual causes of ill health or disability may be immoral behavior, evil acts, sorcery, and witchcraft. It could be what the person did or from someone in their heritage or past life.

There’s more but that gives you an idea. Very interesting.

The bookstore at the University.

And here are some more pictures from along the roads.

This is Independence Square where independence was first declared.

This afternoon’s lecture was by artist Ibrahim Mohammed who talked about culture in African art and about his own work. You can see some of his work at the following:

https://www.facebook.com/fcaghana/posts/116289921890319

http://anoghana.org/ibrahim-mahama-mohammed/

Dinner. Ibrahim joined us at Sunshine in Osu.