This special 8-day event will take place in the breathtaking landscape of the Upper East Region of Ghana, in Tongo Oasis. You will be immersed in ancestral living, local recipes, and the culture of northern Ghana as well as the traditional foodways of southern Ghana. You will experience firsthand local food culture through indigenous food workshops, traditional cooking, local food processing, and MORE.
The entire 7-night and 8-day will be in Tongo Oasis, in the Upper East Region of Ghana, in collaboration with Joshua Asiedu (@livetolearn_learntolive), who is on a mission to heal the Earth and therefore ourselves, by living self-sustainably within an eco/Indigenous system. Joshua will lead all workshops on traditional foodways of southern Ghana, you will learn about the history and process of Cocoa to chocolate, you will process coconuts into organic coconut oil, and you will also be cooking with the community making Joshua will share his experience on preserving ancient indigenous wisdom and knowledge of sustainability, and natural living.
This incredible event will dive into the foundation of indigenous cooking, natural food processing, sustainable food practices, traditional tools used for cooking, and the essence of community togetherness. You will leave feeling connected to the land, reconnected to local food systems, cooking alongside and with women from the community, and becoming a part of a movement to preserve ancestral foods.
Overview of the trip
Location: Tongo Oasis, Upper East Region, Ghana
Dates: December 12, 2024 - December 19, 2024
Duration: 8 days, 7 nights
Trip Activities
Traditional Shea Butter processing
Fermented African Locust Bean processing (Dawadawa)
Cocoa Processing (from Cocoa to chocolates)
Organic Coconut Oil (learn step to step)
Community Cooking (Fufu Making)
Tour Sites, and MORE!
Trip Inclusions
Accommodation (8 days, 7 nights)
3 traditional meals a day
All Activities, and Workshops
Roundtrip Airport Shuttle from Tamale Airport to Bolgatanga
Not Included
Roundtrip Flights to Ghana
Roundtrip Flight to Tamale from Accra
Visa payment (but visa support will be provided)
Accommodation:
Open Rooftop (€500): You will sleep on the rooftop of one of the local houses with others.
Private Tent (€700): For only one person.
Shared Rooms (€850 per person): There will be two people in a room, you will share a room with another person.
About Bolga (the capital of the Upper East Region)
Bolgatanga is popularly known as Bolga, the largest producer of straw baskets, smocks, and leather goods in Ghana. Artisans and craftspeople bring their work to sell on market days, which takes place every three days. Bolga is known as the center of crafts in the Upper East Region. Farming is the main source of livelihood for most people in the surrounding Bolgatanga areas, engaging in the sustenance farming of millet, sorghum, groundnuts, beans, bambara beans, etc. The main of the Bolga people is Tuo Zaafi, which is made with millet, sorghum, or corn, and eaten with vegetable soup. The foundations of cooking for the Gurune people are dawadawa, millet, and shea butter. Taste of Bolga is a retreat program that reconnects you to a way of life and living that protects and preserves ancestral ingredients and traditional foodways.
About Tongo (Accommodation)
Tongo is a small town 20 minutes outside of Bolgatanga (the capital city of the Upper East region of Ghana). The ancestral home of the Talensi people, the famous hills and rock formations in Tongo hold cultural and spiritual significance for the Talensi people while also providing breathtaking views. This part of the country tends to be hot throughout the year transforming from dry grassland in the dry season to lush greenlands in the rainy season. The town is quiet and full of incredibly friendly people. Taste of Bolga has been planned for the rainy season to have people experience the unique foods and abundance of vegetation this part of the country offers.
Co-Host Abena Offeh-Gyimah (@livingtheancestralway)
Abena works with farmers on seed security, seed sovereignty, food sovereignty, and farmer rights. Abena is in partnership with Hawa Bangrey in Tongo to preserve indigenous foods, local knowledge, traditional recipes, and foodways through the Taste of Bolga program.
Co-Host Joshua Asiedu (@livetolearn_learntolive)
Joshua Asiedu aims to retrace and preserve the ancient Indigenous wisdom and knowledge of self-sustainability such as: natural building, organic farming, herbal medicine, pottery, food processing, and other Indigenous artisanship.
Co-Host Hawa Bangrey (@tongo_oasis)
Hawa works with women in Tongo and has created an employment avenue for them through the school called Oasis Pathways. Hawa has created several opportunities and avenues for women and families in the Tongo community, by fostering the education of many children, offering scholarships at the Oasis Pathway school, and training the women in employable skills.
COST- The cost has been provided in USD and GHC (note the GHC values are an approximation as it tends to fluctuate given the instability of the currency so use USD as standard)
Rooftop: 500USD/ ~7,843GHC
Private Tent: 700USD/ ~10,981 GHC
Shared Room: 850USD/ ~13,334 GHC (per person)
Deposit:
To secure your spot: 350USD/ ~5,490 GHC the deposit will be subtracted from the total amount.
Payment Process
All payments will be handled through PayPal. Please note to include PayPal processing fees. Installment payment is available after the deposit has been made. For more details direct all questions to:
Email:
Abena: abenaoffeh@gmail.com
Instagram:
@livingtheancestralway
Whatsapp:
+16478894604
