Ghana Day 18 - 033012 - A B&B Oasis and Kente Weaving

Ghana Day 18 033012 – An Oasis and Kente Cloth

On our way to the final destination on our journey, a small Jewish community in Western Ghana known as Sefwi Wiawso, we treated ourselves to a bed and breakfast experience in busy Kumasi. You may know that Penny and I previously operated a Victorian B&B in East Haddam, Connecticut, so we try to visit these establishments whenever we can. They provide a unique and personal travel experience, allowing one to soak up the experience and perspective of the host family. It is a perfect way to get a fast track course on life in a new area.

This inn is run by a couple, Charity and Chris (and their assistant May). Chris is a quirky, articulate and knowledgeable retired Canadian teacher. His wife, Charity, is a native Ghanaian. They bring the best of Western influence in Africa. She is a gourmet cook and treated us to a welcome and delicious four course dinner, filled with fresh fruits, vegetables and curried chicken cooked with native flair. Their home is filled with hand loomed Kente cloth, which is still woven on wooden looms using traditional patterns. It is truly one of the most distinctive and beautiful crafts in all of Ghana.

We had the opportunity to visit a local weaver in our travels near the orphanage. It was a small roadside setup, covered with a tarp, and housing about eight Kente weavers, each at their looms, and each specializing in a particular traditional pattern. Above each weaver was a small flashlight, offering them the opportunity to continue into the late night hours with this tedious, repetitive work. The Kente cloth is produced in sections of about six inches wide and 4 feet long. To produce a shirt or dress, the sections are taken to a seamstress to be joined using hand stitching. 

The vibrant red, orange, and yellow colors, and triangular and lightning bolt shapes are amazingly beautiful. We were able to purchase a few of these “remnants” that we will treasure for a lifetime.

In Kumasi, at the 4 Villages Inn,we enjoyed a night on a super sized king bed, with overstuffed pillows, air conditioning, and a full bath. We opted for the four course dinner, which was one of the best meals that we have had anywhere, at any price.  As adaptable as we have been on our Ghana journey, it was difficult to leave this oasis of creature comforts. We give this B&B our unreserved, highest (former B&B owners) rating.  There was no detail that was missed by Chris and Charity to make this a perfect guest experience. 

We were indulged and spoiled.  The contrast became even more noticeable as we boarded a tro-tro filled with 22 people for the dusty 3+ hour journey to our next destination in Sefwi Wiawso.