Where are you from? Seems like a simple question right? However, when I was growing up this was the question I most dreaded. I was born in our wonderful country of Ghana (Koforidua represent!) and left for London when I was 7, almost 8. In those first years in England I still felt as Ghanaian as ever, being raised in a Ghanaian household and all. Even in the face of all the 'African booty scratcher' and 'Go climb a tree taunts' in primary school, I never wavered in my loyalty to Ghana. (Can't say the same for all those who pretended to be Jamaican, strong African accent and all!) However, after a few years I began to feel slightly different. I didn't feel British, per se, but most definitely a LONDONER. I still do. Love or hate London, it stays with you. It's in the blood man. Going to a boarding school just outside London only strengthened this bond for me. I've lost count of the so-called dentist and optician appointments I used as a means of escape to be with my London man dem. Still, I resolutely considered myself a Ghanaian even when I got the oh-so-irritating "Where are you from originally?" questions.
Then I moved to the States when I was 18 for about 3 years and here's where all hell broke loose! The Ghanaians I met there insisted I was not really Ghanaian and made it abundantly clear that I would always be considered an outsider. Sidebar: I wonder if these same people feel any less Ghanaian now that they have been living in the States for 7+ years? Anyway, I also had random Americans insisting I was British because I had a 'British' accent and a British passport. I eventually grew tired of correcting people that I had a London accent and there was no such thing as a 'British' accent and I was still Ghanaian, as my British passport clearly reminded my everyday by stating that I was born in Koforidua. I soon figured I was fighting a losing battle and merely gritted my teeth when yet another person deigned to tell me what I was. I moved back to London eventually and then had to contend with insistations that I had become Americanised! This girl couldn't win for trying! What makes this even more depressing is that each of my 3 siblings was born in a different country- Ghana, the U.K. and the U.S.A respectively. The youngest two, who were born in the U.K. and the U.S. don't consider themselves in any way Ghanaian! To add insult to injury, my youngest brother calls it "Africa" and states the only "African" food he'll eat is jollof. It's enough to drive me to drink. Now that I'm seriously trying to get my act together and go to Ghana for an extended period, I've been wondering how I'll be received. So here's a question for you guys, how do you answer the question 'where are you from'? Do you go by where you live? Your passport? Where your parents are from? etc. I still maintain that I am 100% a Ghanaian Londoner no matter what you tell me. So there!
Currently listening to:Koforidua Flowers-Kofi B. ft. Ofori Amponsah
Picture above was sent to me so source unknown. Let me know if you own it so I can credit you!
12 comments:
Love your blog by the way! Very interesting Ghanaian identity questions that I can totally relate to. I was born in Southern Africa until I went off to college in the US. I think my siblings and I strongly identified as Ghanaian because in Southern African we were constantly reminded by the people down there that we were foreigners! I should add however, there is a whole generation of Ghanaians born in Southern Africa who are now in England or the US who have no sort of interest in or allegiance to Ghana. Okay, that's an aside.
Anyway, in college the other Ghanaians (coming straight from Ghana) constantly challenged my Ghanaian identity and had a field day making fun of me! I laugh about it now but it was frustrating.
After college and working in the US for almost 3 years I took the risky plunge to relocate to Ghana where I had never lived. I might as well have been an alien from outta space since I was a fascinating oddity to my fellow Ghanaians. They assumed I was American or some foreigner and thought that I had adopted the name "Abena".
I have now been in Ghana for over 5 years and have a better appreciation for the system and what it means to be Ghanaian. My twi still sucks though!
I'm British born and raised, but because of my church and the fact that I've always been surrounded by Nigerians I really identify with my Ghanaian-ness.
I think I speak passable Twi, others say it's good since I've never lived in Ghana and only went there for the first time when I was 18. My Grandpa was sooo happy I spoke Twi! Anyway...
Freshie's are always attacking my Twi, it was worse when I was younger and made me self concious about whether I could claim to be Ghanaian at all. Which made me mad. On the one hand they are so ready to tell you you are not Ghanaian and on the other remind you you are 'not one of them' and make you believe as a black person you will never get anywhere 'over here'.
Now the camp has swung around, telling me I MUST move to Ghana and fight the Brain drain...HOLD ON!! What has Ghana's Brain Drain got to do with me? I was born and raised here!
But anyway, Abena I think you are brave taking the plunge and moving to Ghana. What was that like?
@Abena Thank you! I really enjoy your blog as well and those pesky policemen hehe. I have so much respect for you moving back to Ghana just like that. I'm hoping to come in a few months but how long I'll stay will definitely depend on how much I can keep my temper in check lol. Might have to come to you for some moral support
@Nsoromma I completely feel you on the twi thing. It apparently doesn't even matter that we have made the effort to still understand our language and even speak it (albeit rather poorly in my case), people still find it ok to belittle our efforts. My brother who's only a couple of years younger than me barely understands twi, let alone speak it. I made a conscious decision to keep trying with my twi because language and identity very much go hand in hand for me and I identify as a Ghanaian.
I'm feeling the Koforidua part. Kofi B is one of my favorite. I have a friend who deals with similar identity issues. She was born in Canada did some growing up in Ghana and currently lives in Canada. And guess what. She's from Koforidua :)
WHERE ARE YOU FROM---First time here!
I feel your pain. I’m a Nigerian, so are my parents.
In our country you’re originally from where your dad is from, for example if your dad is Nigerian and your mum is South African, your mainly considered a Nigerian.
But in your case where you have the British passport, Nigerians will still say, I’m Nigerian and if needed, they indicate that they have the red passport or are British citizens as well. Instead of saying I’m British Nigerian or something like that lol.
I wonder if I’m making sense?
O yea, you have been there for many years, for me it’s the same thing Nigerian but a British citizen as well/ I got the red passport lol.
Hope I helped :S
Nevertheless, you’re Ghanaian, there’s nothing like knowing your roots and being proud of it!!
@Chi-Chi Welcome! It seems like people here live and die for the famous red passport. I don't think it's anybody's business what passport I have. I actually think it helps to weed out those unscrupulous people who wheel and deal their way through life for "papers" lol.
@Kodjo This is actually the only song I know by Kofi B. Might have to check out some of his other music
your last comment on my blog..on black women getting real made me laugh so much!
Africans pretend to be Jamaican?? wow that's so funny! i think i'll always call myself ghanaian but that's because i haven't enjoyed my life outside ghana much and i don't look anything but ghanaian...calling myself anything else but ghanaian would make me feel silly. unfortunately i'm terrible with languages- i've been speaking fante since i was a child but it still sounds like a foreign language coming from my mouth. as for twi, i write it like a pro and can distinguish various kinds of twi (ashanti and akwapim- i hate it when pple mix them up) but again i sound like a foreigner speaking it. it's all very sad lol.
@Sankofa: *LOL* Totally recommend you come down to the big GH for a visit! Yes, the little things are bound to drive you crazy. I'm always here for (much needed) moral on the Ghana-nay-ian experience!
@Nsoromma: I wish I had a blog when I first moved here to catalog all the acts of lunacy I came across because now they just seem pretty normal to me. Moving to Ghana has had its big pluses and big minuses. BTW; don't mind the "Not-Ghanaian-enough" haters! As for relocating to help stop the Brain Drain? I've become very
cynical about that cause.
@Brie: I'm really impressed on your written Twi. I find alot of fluent speakers have problems with the writing. I think you should not worry about sounding like a foreigner speaking Twi. It is all about being understood!
You beat me to that one. I was going to write something on this issue but with a different spin so I smiled when I saw this entry. I will still write it anyway so stay tuned.
Identity is something that I believe is intensely personal. All I can say is that I have struggled with issues of this nature for so long and as much as I wish I could give you the 3 step remedy to this question I can't. I will however offer that home is not where mama or papa are, home is where your heart is.
It doesn't mean you have abandoned yourself or your heritage if you call somewhere outside of where you were born home it just means you have decided to engage your honest human senses realistically.
Contrary to popular belief, we can't change where we are born but we can choose where are from. And as far as what others say and think...umm let them :)
Is there some Eastern region conspiracy arc or something on here?;-)
Hi Sankofa. A lot of people call me EK. Name's Emmanuel.K.Bensah Jr. I'm currently working on a post about afrigator.com and decided to check you out.
I have to say: nice blog. You're in the top 20 of Ghana blogs--kudos to you!
Now, a little about me: My late brother and I were both born in Ghana, but both of us trooped along with the folks when Dad landed an international civil service job in Belgium. He insisted more than anything that we speak a Ghanaian language--so Fante it was (mum's from Central region; Dad is half Volta/half Ga)
Fast forward 2004, when I landed a job in Ghana and was flown (all-expenses!!) back home (so, like Abena, been here for 5 years as well). Adjustment has not been easy, but given my relatively better disposable income over the average Ghanaian with my qualifications, I am able to assume the life of the "middle class" as I was priviledged to enjoy back in Brussels.
I cannot speak Ewe to save my life, but am hoping my girlfriend who's half Eastern/half Ga will teach me the Ga!;-) I will always thank the folks for insisting we speak Fante in the house; I would have been lost otherwise!
We also were priviledged to come to Ghana in 1997/1998/2000/2003 all for one month, which helped with the eventual move to Ghana.
Ghana's a great place to be--and I'm loving it--despite the brokages and the challenges!
I hope you can check out my Accra daily picture blog, (since 2006): http://accradailyphoto.com. I manage quite a few blogs as well.
Let's connect.
I will take the time to go through your other posts. Nice to meet you!
Try being born(Wenchi)and brought up(Kumasi)in Ghana - siblings born in England and the Bahamas - speaking Twi fluently (but unable to write it) studying in England (speaking "the Queen's English"), working in Europe and the US, marriage to a Frenchman...need I go on..?!!!
Some call us "third culture kids" -I don't like being labelled, so I just try and live life to the full and make the most of "being different"..:)
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