DAGOMBA COLLECTIVE
The Dagomba Women’s Collective is made up of seven women and two coordinators. The collective members all reside in the village of Jisonaayili in the city of Tamale, Ghana. The living structures are round and made from the red savannah soil and shea nut husk. The space around the structures is used for cooking and other daily activities. The primary food eaten by the women and their families is maze.
The women, who make up the collective, report that the income from their production of Shea Nut Butter is their primary source of income. The work of harvesting shea nut butter is labor intensive and requires several steps. These women must travel long distances to gather the fruit from the shea tree, also known by the locals as the Tantia tree.
In the early spring, the fruit falls to the ground when it is ripe. The fruit is then separated from the nuts; the nuts are par-boiled and then dried in the hot savannah sun. The nut is then pounded and ground into a paste and boiled over a wood fire, stirring it constantly to release the Shea Butter from the nut.
After the Shea Nut Butter is released, it is kneaded for hours and transforming into what begins as a thick gray fluid to a smooth, buttery ivory-colored paste. The mixture is then poured into containers and sealed, before being shipped to our facility in the states.
While visiting with the women in the village they made me feel at home. I enjoyed the sense of security and community I felt while in the village. There’s something incredibly calming about the sounds of pounding Coco (breakfast porridge) for the next morning echoing through the village. It’s amazing how the kids take care of each other and everyone looks out for everyone else. I love how small things, such as thongs; pens and lollypops can bring such joy to the children and their parents.
The biggest lesson I learned during my stay in Tamale was the realization that poverty and unhappiness don’t necessarily go hand in hand. This was something that I knew in my mind, but it became so obvious during the time I spend in the village of Jisonaayili. The community had so little materialistically, but it didn’t matter to me - I felt full of love. It didn’t even occur to me, until I returned to the U.S., how many conveniences and resources we take for granted. On the other hand, the people in the Jisonaayili village have the natural ability to utilize the resources that are available to them.
The women that make up the collective stated that they have accepted their life conditions, but hold out hope for their daughters and sons to have access to more educational opportunities. We, at Ah Shayh, will continue to encourage the women to return to school or engage in life enriching programs that might be available in Tamale, or surrounding cities. We at Ah Shayh will continue to make funds and other resources available to aid the families in becoming more self-sufficient.
In March 2007, I returned to Tamale, Ghana. To read an update of events click the March 2007 Trip Update link.