A visit to the Yaw Tano Shrine in Ejisu Besease - one of Ghana's surviving Asante traditional structures and a UNESCO Heritage Site with deep ties to Yaa Asantewaa and the War of the Golden Stool.

To slowly start learning about Ghanaian culture, I decided that a visit to the spiritual center of the largest ethnic group in Ghana, the Ashanti kingdom (Asante empire). In 1670, Osei Tutu I unified the Akan-speaking people under a single protectorate, creating strong alliances and trading relationships. He built the capital, Kumasi and created the golden stool, a sacred object and the "seat of power" in this kingdom. This empire is believed to have lasted from 1701 to 1901, and by 1750, had...

A cross-country journey through Togo, from Lomé to Koutammakou. This piece weaves together the places, people, and quiet moments that shaped the trip—coastal roads, border crossings, unexpected detours, and encounters with living history. It serves as both a reflection and a guide, linking each stop to deeper stories while capturing the rhythm of moving through a country often passed over but richly layered.