Strange Ghana--Understanding Ghanaian Culture and Idiosyncrasies

07/22/13

            I want to go over some things about Ghana that will help give a clearer picture of what life is like here in Accra and allow an appreciation of the oddities that make up Ghanaian culture from an American perspective. Also, I stole this idea from Zoey, who is the visionary behind this blog post.

·     - “I know your mother” is actually a potential threat here. Social justice can often be taken into hands of society instead of left for policemen. 

·     - Civilian Justice happens regularly. When someone commits a crime, people who witness it get angry and often violently intervene. I was told by one of the CIEE staff that those caught stealing at a market we went to (the largest market in western Africa) would be seized and lynched—no wonder crime rates are so low here. My host uncle told me about a time he was driving and saw someone hit an old man biking with their car then drive away. He drove after the guy until he stopped and got out of the car then chased after him on foot. When he caught up with him, he and other passerby’s beat him ruthlessly before taking him to the police station.

·     - About half the cops you run into on the streets are packing an ak-47.. hope they’re on your side.

·      -People carry random stuff on their heads to transport or sell it. (men and women) 

·       -Religious references are absolutely everywhere, on the back of trotros and taxis and in the names of various businesses. (ex. God Knows Supermarket; Blood of Christ Hair Salon; Righteous Art; God First Refrigeration) It is by far the most outwardly religious country I have seen. 

·      -Random people on the street yell “obruni” at white people, especially little kids 

·      -There are strange non-alcoholic malt drinks sold commonly (and drinks named after pants) 

·      -When people say I’m coming, they’re usually actually walking away from you.. but are coming back soon.

·      -Many public bathrooms don’t have toilet paper.. better bring  your own with you

·      -It is seen as rude to do anything remotely social with the left hand, including waving, shaking hands, giving something to someone, and eating finger food.

·      -PDA is almost non-existent (I don’t think I’ve seen any couples holding hands or kissing in public)

·      -Hissing or making kissing noises at people to get their attention is not seen as rude.

·      - Eating your food before others are served is totally acceptable and expected.

·      -Every cab that passes a white person will honk at least 3 times at him/her

·     - Credit needed for cell phone use is bought in the form of cards with scratch-off codes on them from street vendors.

·     - Most people refer to others as family members even when they are not actually related, making it very confusing figuring out who are blood-relatives. Our host mom and dad refer to the other people living in our house as family even though none of them are actually related.

·     - If you do not greet someone, you may find them unhelpful or go so far as to give you a cold shoulder, but if you do, you may receive more help than you ever would have asked for. (someone I greeted paid for my friends and I on a trotro; a wood carver gave me a wooden mask for talking to him for about 5 

·       -water is sold in plastic bags called sachets 

·      -Motorcycles go just about wherever they want on the road and use the dashed lines in between lanes as their personal lane.

·      -Many households include extended family members and even random people who are taken in as family

·     - There are many symbols used in Ghanaian art and architecture with specific meanings (the most popular of these representing God’s omnipotence; this symbol is on the majority of plastic chairs I’ve seen) 

 

·     - Getting a bill at a restaurant takes a very long time if you don’t ask for it.

·     - I really like this one: tipping waiters/waitresses is OPTIONAL and is only done when you feel like it has been earned, which makes so much more sense.

·     - It is rude not to accept food from someone who offers it to you or in any way question how good the food is, including smelling it.

·      -Some foods like banku and fufu are eaten with the hands. They are doughy and usually eaten in soups (you roll up a ball of dough, dip it and the soup, and swallow it without chewing).

·      -Certain titles are highly valued and expected to be used in just about all situations (military captain, doctor, professor, etc.)

·      -Some things seem to have gotten lost in translation when it comes to Ghanaian English. We saw multiple trucks carrying gas that had “highly inflammable” written on the back. Also, we went to a restaurant that had homos on the menu (and homos with minced meat). I don’t think that was what they were going for.

·      -Ghanaian English follows British English in certain ways: glasses are called specs, pants means underpants (actual pants are called trousers), and plastic bags are called rubbers (don’t be surprised if someone asks whether you want a rubber after you buy something).

-

-People in Ghana call each other "Charlie" (sounds more like chahlee or chahlay) in a similar way that we use dude.

-People often make sound effects like an animated "oh"or "hey" usually to portray empathizing with someone's pain. Ex. Me: Mame my dog died. Mame: Oh! Kyle.. Hey! That is sad.