Wednesday, October 30th – For the last few weeks because of the rainy season, we have been getting daily down pours. However, on yesterday, the rain was very light, so we are up early this morning to begin our morning walk through Sefwi Village, before we go to Cape Coast Castle as planned to complete the libation ritual that I spoke of earlier in one of my previous Blogs.
It’s 5:00 am and it’s still dark as we stroll through Sefwi Village, but the villagers are up and beginning their daily chores. The women are sweeping their yards, some are washing their clothes, children are up taking their baths, and the men are walking swiftly to their respective farms. We are forgetting about the time or how far we are walking because we are finding ourselves in deep discussion about the support and financial blessings from the Friends of Divine Kids Academy (FDKA) and how the funds will be used to continue building a firm foundation for quality education for the children at DKA. We are also sharing and talking about how inspiring the responses that we are receiving from our followers on social media, i.e., Facebook and Instagram. In the quietness of our journey and listening to the leaves rustling in the wind, the birds singing, the frogs croaking and all the other beautiful sounds in our Garden of Eden, we are giving thanks and praises to the Creator of our Universe. I have not always been a fan of social media; however, the posts and responses motivate us to continue doing what we are doing to be a blessing to our children.
The sun has risen and it’s getting relative hot and humid as we make our way back home. DKA kids who live in the Sefwi Village see us walking through the village, and they are shouting out “Hi, Hi, Hi, trying to get my attention. Seeing their little bright eyes and the excitement in their voices really touches our hearts.
We are now back home after a 5-mile hike, preparing for our trip to the Cape Coast Castle. Kwame informs me that his sister, Ann who is still visiting expressed a desire to join us for the trip to the castle. Her accompanying me was not part of the original plan, but that’s okay. We are now ready to catch the tro-tro to Cape Coast, and while in Cape Coast I want to visit a Bead Shop that we had passed during one of our visits to Cape Coast to purchase original Ghanaian stone bracelets for family, friends and myself. Before we begin walking out of the door, Kwame comes to my room and says to me, “My friend in Cape Coast said it’s raining in Cape Coast, so do you want to wait until tomorrow?”. Something in my spirit says, “no, I do not want to put it off until tomorrow”. In a blink of an eye, I am pulling out my phone to check the weather app. The weather app indicates that currently, there is no rain in Cape Coast. My response, “Let’s go to Cape Coast, I have my umbrella “. So off to Cape Coast, we go.
Today is another special and significant day for me. As you may recall, last week I shared with you that Kwame performed a libation ritual for me in honor and pay tribute to my ancestors whom I felt were significant in my life’s journey by providing me with opportunities for my development academically, physically, emotionally, socially and spiritually. Prior to the libation ceremony, I was instructed by Kwame to write the names of those individuals on a piece of paper that I wanted him to have in his possession when he performed the libation ritual. At no time did he see or know the names of all the individuals on the piece of paper. During a special time that only he and the gods were aware, he performed a ritual and burned the piece of paper. The ashes were collected and put into a small container for me to take to the Cape Coast Castle with me to sprinkle on the grounds and/or in the slave dungeons when I felt the desire to do so. We are now on the tro-tro. I am focusing on the task that lies before me and the emotions are running deep into my soul. There is very little conversation between us.
Upon arrival to the Cape Coast Castle and looking across the Atlantic Ocean I can’t begin to imagine how my ancestors were able to withstand the unknown turbulence and menace of the roaring sea. Although I have visited the Castle previously, the feelings of grief for the pain that my ancestors had to endure for me to be here today will never diminish.
One of the first things that you see as you enter the gates of the Slave Castle is a church that sits on top of the underground dungeons where our ancestors had to bear the inhumane atrocities at the hands of cruel animals who called themselves human beings. As we stand in the dark underground dungeon, the tour guide points up toward the ceiling, and says to us, the slaves would look up and say, “the church up there is the master’s heaven, and down here in the dungeon is our hell”. The church justified their cruelty and inhumane actions and tried to enslave the bodies, minds and souls of the African people based on their supposedly Christian principles.
Only the strongest of the strong survived these horrific atrocities. As I follow the tour guide through the dungeons and listen to the history of what our ancestors had to endure raises feelings of pain, anger, and heartache. However, in the midst of these emotional feelings, in order for me to continue on my destined journey, in my heart I must forgive those who committed such cruel acts of inhumane injustices against our ancestors. In spite of the sadness that permeate my core existence at this moment, I know that I am a product of a strong people and it in my DNA to be who I am today.
As I walk through the tunnels of the dungeons, I express gratitude to my ancestors for being part of my journey in order for me to return and say “medasse”. In the darkness of the dungeons, and as I enter the Shrine were homage is given to our ancestors, I am sprinkling the dust of my honored ancestors who have crossed over to the next world. Immediately, I am feeling a connection with my ancestors. Upon exiting the dungeons and going through what was called the ‘door of no return’, and now called ‘the door of return’ is so cathartic. As we leave the slave castle, I am having an intense feeling that my ancestors know that I am here to let them know that their sacrifices and sufferings were not in vain. I will continue to listen for the echoes of their voices to speak into my spirit, and guide me through the remainder of my life’s journey.
We are now exiting the grounds of the Cape Coast Slave Castle and heading to the Baoboa Moringo Restaurant for lunch. Upon our arrival at the restaurant, we are taking time to relax and reflect on my experience at the castle. As I share with Kwame and Ann the social and economical injustices that Black Americans have had to endure for centuries because of racial hatred, is so beyond anything they could imagine. It is so peaceful to walk the streets and roadways in Ghana and not being made to feel inferior because of the color of my skin, and feel the genuine love that generate from my African brothers and sisters.
After our delicious and healthy lunch, we are walking down the street moving toward the Bead Shop for me to purchase some stone bracelets. Kwame receives an emergency call. As we arrive at the Bead Shop, Kwame says to me, “I have to leave immediately to go to Accra, to take care of a business matter. Ann, will be with you”, and he leaves us for his journey to Accra.
As Ann and I are sitting on the steps of the Bead Shop taking our time to select what we want, a young man walks up and speaks to the shop owner. I hear a voice that sound like an American. I immediately turn around and says, “Hello”. He has on a Lincoln University t-shirt. I don’t know anyone who has ever attended Lincoln University. Anyone who knows me, know it was not going to stop there. I am curious as always, and I would like to know where is he from. The social work in me, kicks in. I ask, “Where are you from?”. “Oh, I am from Delaware”. “Oh, really, “I am from Virginia”. Ann, is sitting here looking at us like, “what is this, is she really carrying on this conversation with a stranger here in Cape Coast?”. After all, her brother Kwame had left me in her care and they are so overly protective of me. Anyway, this young man continues our conversation with, “I have relatives in Richmond and Newport News”. “Oh my, I live in the Richmond area and I used to teach at CNU in Newport News, and I now teach at Virginia State University”. “WOW, my uncle is Coach Gene Thompson at VSU”. My mouth drops wide open and I am saying, OMG! “I know Coach Thompson very well”. “As a matter of fact, I was given your contact information before I left Virginia to look you up, and I lost your number”. He says, “likewise, I was given your contact information as well, and I didn’t follow through either”. We embrace and hug each other in disbelief. What are the odds that our paths would cross at this very moment in time, in the streets of Cape Coast? Both of us are so excited about our unbelievable encounter. We finally get around to telling each other our names. Ephious says he has been living in Ghana for six years and he simply love the place and he has applied for his Ghanaian citizenship. We exchange our numbers and commit to connecting again before I leave the country.
Today is a prime example of my mantra, ‘follow the process”, and seeing how the Universe bring together all things for our good if we follow our heart. First, I truly believe there are no such thing as coincidences, but I do believe in divine interventions. For example, this very day, the weather conditions almost made it so we would change our plans about going to Cape Coast today. I listened to my instincts, gut feeling or the voices of my ancestors, or whatever it was, and we did not cancel our trip to Cape Coast. Was it a coincidence or divine intervention that Ann asked to join us today? Just so happen, Ann was still in town visiting the family. Under normal circumstances, it would have only been Kwame and I in Cape Coast. If that had been the case, I would have had to cancel my visit to the Bead Shop and Kwame would had to return with me to Jukwa, and then turn around and to back to Cape Coast to get transportation to Accra. As fate would have it, I was at the Bead Shop at the right time and place to meetup with Ephious Davis III. Just one change in any one of those factors would have changed the entire day. We are grateful to our Creator for aligning and synchronizing everything to bring us unspeakable joy and happiness on this day.
Ann and I are finish at the Bead Shop and are now catching a cab to the transportation depot for our journey back to Jukwa.
As the time swiftly move forward for my departure from the Motherland of Ghana, my emotions are all over the place. When I first arrived in this little Village of Jukwa, I had no idea what was in store for me. Early on in my journey here, I felt that I had arrived to the Garden of Eden. I know this is not the perception for everyone, but this is my truth.
In other parts of the world, especially in the United States, we hear all of the horror stories about Africa. Maybe it’s designed that way to keep us from learning the truth about a continent that hold so much natural beauty in the physical and spiritual world. I have never felt the enormous peace, joy and unconditional love that I have experienced while being here in Jukwa.