Community Project
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Update: 19 December 2008 The books have been palletized and delivered to the USS NASHVILLE, an amphibious landing ship, and will arrive in Ghana in February. 7400 lbs of books were craned into the ship, representing 5200 kids books for Abor and another 2600 college textbooks donated by Elon University to the University of Cape Coast. Thank you so much to Brian Digre at Elon, who drove a rather large truck up from Greensboro to Norfolk to add those books to the list. The Denton Program, organized through USAID, has facilitated the use of Navy transport for the books.
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Update: The library is finished and we are now soliciting book donations to finish the project. We have received an offer whereby all donations received by 8 January 2008 will be shipped from Norfolk to Tema Port, Ghana, free of charge. Please see our Donate Books page for our wish list and information on where to send books.
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The Abor Community Based Organization (ACBO) is presently building on the E.P. Primary campus. The building will be used primarily as a library, but also as a community resource for other classes and events. All work is being performed by community laborers and artisans under the organization of the ACBO; Vincentia Tsigbe functions as the primary organizer and point person with Atidekate. Atidekate provides financial support for construction costs which are sent in small installments dependent on obvious progress in construction. The photos below detail the success of the effort.
Village Profile
Abor is a small farming community situated on the international road connecting the capital of Ghana, Accra, and the capital of Togo, Lome. The town is home to about 5000 people, the majority of which make their livings through agricultural occupations. Typical crops grown in the area include corn, manioc (cassava), black-eyed peas, and beans. Besides harvest for individual sustenance, many of the crops are sold in local markets. Abor has its own market, but as of yet has not been able to successfully break into already established cycles that include larger markets in nearby towns such as Akatsi and Keta.
Environmentally, the area can be described as, “coastal savannah.” A lot of the local soils are sandy and dominated by grasses and the occasional baobob tree. The area has historically been more heavily forested than at present, but because of seasonal and relatively light rainfall, never had the large rainforest trees found in more northern parts of the region.
The majority of the residents are Ewe, an ethnic group that is found mainly in the Volta Region (the most eastern “state” in Ghana) and that makes up about ten percent of the national population. This group extends into southern Togo and shares a close ethnic heritage with the Fon of Benin and the Yoruba of Nigeria.
As such, many of the religious and cultural customs in the Abor area are representative of those found all along the coast into Nigeria. It is estimated that 25% of Ghanaians worship traditional gods but this percentage is certainly higher among the Ewe, perhaps around 50%. Local deities are part of the family of gods found not only among the Fon and Yoruba, but also in the African diaspora of Brazil and the Caribbean (such as those worshiped in Candomble and Santaria). Specific examples from the general Abor area include the Korku and Yeve cults as well as the shrine dedicated to Torgbui Afetorku (located in nearby Dagbametey.
The Ewe also practice their own styles of music which include among others, Agbadza, Borborbor, and Agbeko. Abor is host to two Kinka and one Nyayito group, among others. Both styles use four types of stick drums as well as a bell and shakers. Although the groups perform regularly for festivals or by invitation, performances are most often at the funeral of one of the members.
Abor is large enough to host two Primary Schools, two Junior Secondary Schools, and one Senior Secondary School. Perhaps 15 to 20 students pass enough courses to continue on to the college level every year. Although there is a lot of interest in education in the community, all of the schools are hampered by a lack of material resources and teachers.