Tag: Ghana

Atlantic History and Heritage – summer course 2019

Post author By Ingrid L Solemdal
Post date 2. July 2019
No Comments on Atlantic History and Heritage – summer course 2019

Written by Jon Olav Hove, associate professor at NTNU

Students and staff on excursion to the reconstructed Danish plantation called Fredriksgave, located in the small village called Sesemi in the outskirts of Accra.

Between the 17th of June and 12th of July, 12 Ghanaian and 14 Norwegian students are taking a coursed called Intercultural Perspectives on Atlantic History and Heritage. This takes place in Winneba, a town located west of the capital Accra, Ghana. The course is funded by DIKU’s NORPART-programme and is organised by the Department of History Education at the University of Education, Winneba and the Department of Historical Studies at NTNU.

The objective of the course is to give Norwegian and Ghanaian students insights into their shared history and heritage. Equally important, it provides the students with experience in intercultural cooperation through lectures, seminars, excursions and various forms of group work. Already in the first days of the course, students are divided into groups comprising Norwegians and Ghanaians, in which they discuss, cooperate and share impressions and knowledge.

Lecture at the University of Education, Winneba. The lecture hall is slightly warmer than lecture halls in Trondheim. Photo: Jon Olav Hove.

John Kwadwo Osei-Tutu is lecturing Ghanaian and Norwegian students about their shared Atlantic history and heritage. Photo: Jon Olav Hove.

In the first half of the course, students travel together on several excursions. They see the two slave trade castles in Elmina and Cape Coast, they see Christiansborg/Osu Castle and the houses of Danish-Norwegians and their children in Accra and they see the reconstructed Danish plantation Fredriksgave in the outskirts of Accra.

Students on a tour at Cape Coast Castle. From this castle, thousands of enslaved people were held before shipment to the Americas. Photo: Jon Olav Hove.

Professor H. Nii-Adziri Wellington is giving the students a tour in the remains of the so-called “Richter House” in Accra. Photo: Jon Olav Hove.

In the second half of the course, the students will, in their intercultural groups, do a fieldwork in Winneba. The results if these fieldworks will be published on this blog.

Students at the airport — The trip from Norway to Ghana takes approximately one day. However, some of the luggage needed more time. Here are the unfortunate students finally united with their luggage. Photo: Jon Olav Hove

Tags 2019, Atlantic heritage studies, Ghana, intercultural historical studies, summer course

Archaeology

One month in Ghana

Post author By Julia Haraldsdatter Hiorthøy
Post date 21. March 2019
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We are two archaeology students who spent four weeks in Ghana, from 3rd of January to 1st of February of this year. We were there on an exchange program with the Department of Archaeology and Heritage Studies. The first two weeks we were in separate cities, Denu and Dixcove, where we participated in an archaeological field school. Both of the field schools were connected to one of the many historical forts along the coast of Ghana, and the slave trade in general. We were given interesting insights into how things are done differently in archaeological fieldwork in Ghana, but also how things are similar despite the differences in climate and culture.

After the field school we were united back in Accra where we stayed in the International Student Hostel at the University of Ghana. We spent a few days at the Museum of Archaeology, located on campus. There we were trained in the treatment of the museum’s collection and museum management in general. On our days off we were able to visit Cape Coast where we visited some of the historical sites, as well as Kakum National Park where we walked across the rainforest canopy walkway.

Kakum National Park, rainforest canopy walkway

We have learned a lot from our one-month stay in Ghana, both about archaeology and about the Ghanian culture.

-Une and Julia

Tags 2019, archaeology, field work, Ghana

Summer course

Our Ghana adventure

Our four weeks in Ghana is now coming to an end. Today we leave for Accra, and then to Norway tomorrow. As our last update said, we have taken the course Atlantic history and heritage together with 14 Ghanaian students. During the course we have had lectures and we have travelled to see the slave forts in Cape Coast, Elmina and Accra. The lectures have been great and it was really interesting to actually visit the castles and walk around in the Danish area in Accra. We also attended a Norpart conference in Cape Coast alongside students and professors from University of Education, University of Cape Coast and University of Ghana.

Eirik, Henriette and Nils at the Norpart conference, talking about their experience so far in Ghana.

John is giving a lecture in our classroom at UEW.

Our lecturers: Per Hernæs, John Kwadwo Osei-Tutu, Jon Olav Hove and Patrik Hettula.

Group photo outside Christiansborg castle in Accra.

An archive in the library basement at Legon campus, University of Ghana, Accra.

During the lectures, we have had many interesting discussions, and we have also had seminars where both Norwegian and Ghanaian students have presented their master thesis. After the lectures finished, we have written a paper on the transatlantic slave trade and a group assignment about the Asafo companies. Asafo was originally created as a military group, and we have interview members of the two companies in Winneba, to get an overview of their history and their function in the society. The group work have been both rewarding and challenging. We have learned a lot during our stay, both about the Atlantic history and heritage and about Ghanaian culture.

Members of the Tuafo Asafo company, after the interview.

University of Education gave us custom made shirts.

We participated in the fishing one morning, with the local fishermen.

Tags 2018, Atlantic heritage studies, Ghana, intercultural historical studies, summer course

Summer course

Update from Ghana

This is a short update from the 13 NTNU-students currently staying in Ghana, and taking the course Atlantic History and Heritage at University of Education, Winneba.

We have been here for almost two of the total four weeks, and our stay has so far been packed with new knowledge and cultural encounters. With us is also 14 Ghanaian students taking the same course. The entire course is based on sharing knowledge and different perspectives, so we have been traveling and working together.

There are a few pictures attached to this update, and we hope that they give an insight in what we are experiencing here in Ghana.