Face 36.
I am Naa Adjeley Gborjorr, I am Ga, I am a woman. I was born and raised in the UK to Ghanaian Parents. It was very interesting for me to form an identity living outside of my country of origin. Although, I was somewhat fortunate since my Grandma and Mother were very strong influences when it came to imparting cultural wisdom. I understood that my heritage was something to be proud of and something which forced me to hold myself to a higher standard than the society I lived in demanded. My grandma left to go home when I was 15 and its true that ‘you don’t know what you’ve got till it’s gone’. All of a sudden my main source of GaDangme wisdom was gone and my ‘Whys’ were a lot for my mum alone.
I realised that I had to start researching for myself and there my journey began. First it was simply learning about the events and what we do, then it was about why. Once I found out why, I was in awe. I then began researching the principles underpinning GaDangme Living and I fell in Love. My Culture is not a form of entertainment but an ancestral road-map to successful and fulfilled living – one that has relevant application today. My heritage and my name is not second place. My traditional wedding is not an ‘engagement’. Just as I exist and value my existence, I value and respect those who came before me - those who helped form me.
My journey was never easy. As someone whose young, a woman, and a Diasporan, I faced a lot of challenges, blockages and general negativity. But when you learn of the value of your heritage, it’s very hard for you to stop at the comments and behaviour of a person who is trapped by their ignorance. So blind to their self-limitations that they cannot truly see you for who you are. My research and engagement with others just like me led me to create – www.TheGaDangme.com - where you can learn the basics of Ga and Adangme Culture. I also co-run a number of Facebook pages including - ‘The GaDangme', 'GaDangme Global' and 'GaDangme Roots and Heritage Foundation'. My hope is to create enough resources to enable the millions of us outside of Ghana to engage their culture.
Finally, How I applied the principles: If there is one thing that my culture has taught me, its to live in harmony with my environment and the world around me. In doing so I have decided to become a Medical Herbalist with the hope of empowering people to heal themselves in a world where money has become a defining factor in Health.