Week 42 - Storytelling, Ancestors and Halloween

 Keeping the Tradition of African Storytelling Alive

I have enjoyed learning about the oral/verbal history found within certain cultures.  

"Africans are rooted in oral cultures and traditions. Since ancient times, storytelling in the African culture has been a way of passing on traditions, codes of behavior, as well as maintaining social order. Writing had not been developed in ancient Africa, but there were ways for Africans to transmit their thoughts, beliefs, and feelings. Africans utilized various forms of art, myths and ceremonies. The tradition of African storytelling is one of the most ancient in African culture.

Storytelling in Africa provides entertainment, satisfies the curiosities of the African people, and teaches important lessons about everyday life.

Storytelling takes you on a journey that inspires you to learn about yourself and the world around you. It reflects social values in a culture that motivate people in their pursuit of a meaningful life. The oral tradition of storytelling makes it possible for a culture to pass knowledge, history, and experiences from one generation to the next. Many cultures in Africa have rituals of oral storytelling. Traditional storytelling in Africa reveals ideas, themes, beliefs, and facts that are widely spread. It discloses conceptions that are unique to a tribe, village, or region. Storytelling in Africa has been manifested in many ways and was used to serve many purposes. It was used to interpret the universe, resolve natural and physical phenomena, teach morals, maintain cultural values, pass on methods of survival, and to praise God."

One day while we were visiting Bernice (see Week 41 for Bernice's story), she began to tell us a story about her grandmother.  I was facinated as she recounted the way her grandmother taught her a lesson she will never forget.  It witnessed to me the power of storytelling in our lives and how much good can come from this practice while sitting around the table at night, around the fire, or while traveling together in the car.  Anytime is a good time to tell stories of our family and ancestors.

Listen to the story Bernice shared with us here: 

ANCESTORS

I love the hints that come to my email from FamilySearch every Sunday. They look something like this:  "Discover more about your 3rd great-grandfather's life, and uncover the story of you."  While reading through their life histories (if available), looking at how many children they had in the early 1800's, wondering how they stayed on the covenant path during difficult times including death of loved ones, etc., I am increasingly honored to know that my heritage is rich, full of strong and capable individuals, who loved God and lived incredible, difficult and beautiful lives.  I look forward to meeting them one day and hope I too can live a life full of goodness and honor, embracing the heritage that is mine.  

HALLOWEEN

Halloween is not celebrated in Ghana, like a few other traditional American holidays.  However, we had some Trick-and-Treators show up at our door.  Their trick was hilarious, their treats were delicious.  Can't say we didn't do a double-take as we opened the door to the chorus of "Trick-or-Treat!"  It is rather weird to see your own faces looking back at you!  LOL!!

Take care everyone!!  Lots of love from Ghana!

💓💛💚