Today we learned a lot about Ghanaian culture. I've posted pictures below, and before you read about each one below the picture, I want you to just write your thoughts. What do you think the picture is about? What stereotypes or judgements are you already making? It's ok that you are doing that...it's natural, and we all do. The most important is that we realize they are stereotypes and judgements, and not necessarily true.
ONE:
Have you figured it out? That's right, these are Ghanaian coffins. The funeral process, I have learned, is so very different from ours. And, all of us teachers here have been told we must attend one if we see one taking place while we're here! Yes, they are for the whole town to attend. The only requirement is to be sure you know the dress code (what colors will the funeral be).
When someone dies in Ghana, they will often be in the mortuary for 9 months or so. Immediately after the death, there is a mourning period and such, but the nine months before burial is to have enough time to plan (well really, pay for) a grand party! As I mentioned, the party is for anyone to attend. The most interesting attendees, I think, are the hired "professional criers." Yes, you heard that right. The family of the deceased hire professional criers to cry at their funeral. Yes, these are people hired, to cry. And really cry. Cry nonstop. Why do you think that they would do this? Talk about it with your desk partner, and then comment on the blog with your ideas. Finally, discuss as a class and share your ideas. We'll talk about it when I get home. :) I'm excited to see you all!
TWO:
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Obviously, the first is a food...fish (this was my lunch today), with onions and red pepper on top. But what are the judgements you are making about this dish based simply on our own cultural practices in the US? :) What do you think the second picture is, with the little buckets next to the table?
In other countries, it's much more common to be served seafood with all its part (as you can see this fish has its whole head, tail, etc). It is the same in Spain. I once ordered shrimp, and it was served to me completely whole, with antennae, eyeballs, and all. Our judgement may be... "ew, gross!" But we have to remember that it is our perspective based on our own culture, and not a "truth" that must be shared around the world. And for the record, it was the absolute best tasting tilapia I've ever had in my entire life.
Have you figured out what the buckets might be for? They are for washing hands before you eat. Each table at the restaurant had a set next to their table, and their was a set at the front of the restaurant as well. In Ghana, it is best to eat with your hands. From an American perspective, we might think something like "only people with no manners eat with their hands." But in Ghana, it is said that you can't truly appreciate the food, and its taste, without eating with your hands. So when in Rome....
THREE:
At night, we were entertained with the Saakumu Dance Troupe. They are a group they performs dances that reflect the traditions of all the ethnic groups of Ghana. They have traveled and performed in many places in the United States. I JUST LOVED IT! Part of the beauty of the United States is that we are a country of immigrants. Unless we are Native American, our ancestors all came from somewhere, and brought those traditions with them. Therefore, we don't necessarily have a national dance that has been passed on through centuries. We have traditions of our ancestors. In Holland, that's dutch dance, or the cumbia! I'm sure there are others. I couldn't believe how long they danced for. I love dancing, and I couldn't have danced more than one of these :) We did get to learn some of the dance moves, and I bought some CD's, so you know what that means!!!!! It's been so long since we've done our "dance a month" due to all the snow days and feeling behind with all the interrupted scheduling. But Monday, when I return, I will be wearing my African dress and we will be dancing it up! :) Hope you're ready. Check out the pictures, and videos below.
Videos:
1. I think they hire professional criers to say that even if it is a happy occasion, that they also mourn the loss of the person.
ReplyDelete2. We thought it was weird that the fish was whole.
3. Abby thought that it was for washing your hands.
The idea of a professional crier/mourner is found in several other cultures and I wonder what the common thread in those cultures might be? Are they more communal? Are they more honor/shame based? It is also interesting to note the resemblances (and differences) between traditions in African nations and the traditions of African diaspora peoples in other parts of the world.
ReplyDeleteWe can't judge their food... If they saw what we ate they'd think it was really weird too.
ReplyDeleteI find the professional criers fascinating. I think it is done so that the dead can be mourned, but everyone else can rejoice about the life that they lived and the afterlife. I also find the coffins very interesting. I think the colors and pattern used help bring a little bit of happiness to the sad, mournful death.
ReplyDeleteI think the idea of a professional crier is to show how much the deceased person meant to the people, it shows more sadness and sympathy.
ReplyDeleteUsually we judge foreign foods based on looks, even if it is really good food. We don't give it a chance because we think it looks weird or gross.
Can't judge their food, if they knew what was in our most common foods they'd judge to. The professional crier I couldn't do, it would be very odd and obnoxious to me.
ReplyDeleteI think that the professional criers are hired to make the deceased more popular and more people cry along with the crier.
ReplyDeleteBased on my United States preferences, the fish seems strange. Normally in the U.S., we are not given a whole fish to eat. Many people here would find that strange. Some people would say that the fish is burnt. Maybe that is the style there and under the skin of the fish, it is actually very good.
ReplyDeleteI always think it's interesting to see all of the customs that other cultures have, because they are so different from our own. Often many people just dismiss the things other cultures do, but I love learning why people do the things they do and the meaning behind them. When I first looked at the fish I was a little grossed out just because it wasn't something I was used to seeing. One thing we need to work on as Americans is to really be more accepting of other cultures.
ReplyDeleteI think people heir professional criers to show that the diseased are missed and the criers just show that to the rest of the world. Personally I dislike fish, so having a whole fish just doesn't sound appealing to me.
ReplyDeleteI personally find the professional criers fascinating. It really doesn't make sense, but it sounds really cool to me. The funeral explores both parts of a funeral: the sad and the happy. The criers represent sad and everyone is happy. The food I judge a little. I am sure it tastes fine but I personally don't like fish. But the plate arrangement looks nice.
ReplyDeleteI think the corpse are very interesting, but in a 9 month period wouldn't the dead bodies rot? The professional cryer I think proves the 9 month period is to long. If you have to hire someone to cry for you how do you show your affection towards the person? I enjoy eating with my hands, I agree with the idea. However, washing your hands in a bucket would get more germs on them wouldn't? I could never wash my hands in something someone else had just used and then eat.....
ReplyDeleteI've never heard of professional criers, that's kind of neat! Of course, it would make me feel a little awkward but it's a part of their culture so for them, it may a sense of closure possibly? I agree with Zion with the whole washing our hands in the buckets someone has already used but, like you've said before Mrs. Kasic, things to us that seem abnormal are normal to them due to their culture.
ReplyDeleteWhen I first saw the coffin picture I thought it was very strange, but that's what's most people from other cultures would think. I like the idea that the coffins are based off of what they loved, like fishing. We constantly have tilapia for dinner but it never had the face or fins on it. I think it is more interesting with them.
ReplyDeleteI think the hired criers are interesting. I think they're hired to give a even more sad mood to the funeral to appreciate the person and how much they will be missed. I also find the buckets interesting as well because I think it's kind of weird that they keep reusing the same buckets so I would think that it would give more germs to people
ReplyDeleteThe coffins seem very strange because they are very decorative compared to the ones in the United States. I think the coffins represent things they liked in their lives. Perhaps they hire criers to be the only sad people at the funeral. It seems like the funeral is made to celebrate the lives of the dead and mourning comes before that.
ReplyDeleteI think that the reason why they have a funeral like this is because I guess they want to show with the party is that they want to symbolize the deceased person's life. That they will not be sad for that they may have gone to a better place and to remember the happy times of the deceased person's life. But with the hired criers what I guess they symbolize is that even though they may have gone to a better place but their departure they will still remember the person that they will still be sad for they are gone because it is in our human nature to be mourning the loss of a love one. This is what I can gather from it.
ReplyDeleteI think that the people in Ghana hire professional criers at funerals to show that even though the party is to celebrate their lives and accomplishments, there is still sorrow from the loss of the person. The food there looks strange because one, you are supposed to eat it mainly with your hands, and two, it doesn't look to be all that well prepared... there's an eye in the fish still! I think the buckets are for washing your hands, since you need to eat all the food with your fingers and not silverware.
ReplyDelete