Godwin Yidana

Weaving in my culture is a critical cultural and social dimension of life. It enables intergenerational connection where weaving techniques, patterns, and life lessons are passed down from the older generation to the younger generation through families, preserving the history and identity of my people (the Gurune People of Northern Ghana).Weaving also is a significant peacebuilding tool that enhances communal harmony and social cohesion, bringing individuals and families together under shade trees to weave together, turning craft into a shared safe space for storytelling, mutual support, dialogue, recognition, and celebration of differences and diversity, and passing cultural knowledge to younger generations.The Bolga basket is a symbol of the resilience of my people. The transformation of humble, wild elephant grass, plastic, and fabric waste into durable, intricate art mirrors the endurance and adaptability of the Gurune people of Northern Ghana.In my workshops, you’ll learn to weave with recycled weaving materials and learn the traditional Bolga Basket weaving technique from northern Ghana. Once you learn the art of traditional weaving from northern Ghana, you’ll be able to weave your own Ghana baskets. You’ll also learn how to turn plastic shopping bags into weavable twines. I will show you how to weave your own basket with handmade recycled fabric and recycled plastic twine. I will work with you as you learn how to weave these materials together in the under-over style of traditional Bolga baskets and make your own basket!During the workshops, we’ll chat about the history of basket making in Ghana and about traditional life and culture in Bolga, the town from which this weaving style originates and still flourishes today—my town.The workshops are designed for a maximum of 10 participants, so it’s an inclusive and safe space where you can enjoy each other’s company, much like Bolga basket weavers do when they get together and weave. The beauty is that you’ll learn an age-old tradition from West Africa while you’re having fun and meeting like-minded people!