Option Studio Ghana: “A year’s worth of knowledge in 10 days"
By Maria Cook
May 13, 2024
For ten days in February, a group of Carleton University Master of Architecture students visited Ghana as part of “Studio Kyebi”, an Option Studio led by Assistant Professor Menna Agha.
The focus was Atewa Range Forest Reserve, one of the most important ecosystems in West Africa. This sacred forest is a world of beauty and diversity, threatened with destruction by mining, hunting, and logging.
“This studio was tasked with understanding the problem and mapping future possibilities of the forest including biodiversity and sustainable economies for communities,” explains Dr. Agha. “How can we as architects understand the forest as a spatial structure and the environmental blight it’s facing, but also work toward understanding what sustainability means within an African context.”
The Ghana studio is a three-year partnership with the Kyebi office of UN Habitat’s Sustainable Cities program, established with Mary Owusu, director of the program in the Royal City of Kyebi, and a Carleton University African history instructor.
Agha organized the trip with Ruth-Anne Richardson, an architect based in Accra. The group were guests of the Chief of Kyebi and the king of the Akyem Abuakwa people.
“What we originally thought would be an architectural educational experience in Ghana quickly became much more,” says student Joshua Smith. “From learning about the political strategic maneuvers following Ghana’s emancipation from Britain to being (lightly) chastised for our ignorance of proper seating etiquette in the presence of traditional royalty, our studio gained a year’s worth of culturally rich knowledge in the span of 10 days.”
Some there wished the students to consider an eco-tourism project, but to Agha, this risked commodifying the forest. She observes: “The issue we were thinking about, and the studio’s premise was forest as a pilgrimage, refusing to think of local communities as contaminants. We were thinking of existing economies and possible futures, so the forest can remain sacred and protected while the community flourishes.”
The students were based in Kyebi, adjacent to the Atewa Forest. They took walks through the forest with local environmental activists, community members, and hunters, witnessing firsthand the phenomena of illegal mining for gold. They also attended training designed by the UN-Habitat Sustainable Cities program and helped in mapping Kyebi’s critical architectural assets and the forest.
“Our trek through the Atewa Forest was one of my favourite moments of the trip,” recalls student Lia Di Giulio.
“Guided by two locals, we made our way through the fierce forest, having to clear a path with machetes and carefully watching our steps to avoid falling into galamsey pits or steep cliffs with the help of trees and our friends,” she recalls. “Taking a break at a waterfall after a hike, we all felt the sacredness and vitality of the forest and the need to protect her.”
In Kyebi, they attended a symbolic funeral for Joseph Danquah, an opposition leader who died in 1965 but had been deprived of a funeral ceremony. The students joined the mourners who came from all parts of Ghana in a traditional ceremony led by drummers and wailers.
“At the ceremony, we were overcome by the rhythmic beats of traditional drumming, the rich and colourful Kente cloth and wax prints adorning people, and ceremonial arrival of chiefs and communities; every aspect resonated with the pride and vibrancy of its people creating an incredible sensorial and emotional experience,” recounts Di Giulio.
The event included the current and past Ghanaian presidents and other political figures, such as the Minister of Finance, with whom the students discussed cocoa and what sustainable cities could be in Africa.
“This was an excellent opportunity for our students to learn about political structures in Ghana and the relationship between traditional leadership and the national government,” says Agha.
The group also visited the architecture program at Kuame Nkrumah’s University of Science and Technology (KNUST) in the city of Kumasi, where they spent two days learning about the history of the city and engaging with studio work.
“As a studio heavily based in fabric-making techniques, this sejour involved engaging with local Kente craftsmen, and our education in counter mapping strategies was enriched thanks to what we learned from our new brothers and sisters from KNUST,” says Smith.
The students spent the last part of their trip in Accra, the capital of Ghana, where they went to see the coast and learned about the slave trade, and the evolution of the city and its economy. Tony Asare, president-in-waiting of the Ghana Institute of Architects, led them on a tour of the Kwame Nkrumah Mausoleum and Memorial Park.
“The trip covered a lot of ground, touching on topics of environmental justice, race, coloniality, and Afrofutures,” says Agha.
While in Ghana, students were exposed to ways of understanding natural and architectural spaces which valued emotional, ritual, and everyday life differently.
Agha recounts how surprised she was at the way students immersed themselves in local culture, venturing out on their own, discovering and adhering to often strict rules of conduct. For example, one does not cross one’s feet, walks in certain ways, and follows a defined social order for speaking to people.
“Relationality was an important skill I wanted them to gain,” she says. “You don’t think of them as ‘other.’ You work with them as though they are your own people.”
The studio has been supported by lectures on a range of topics including the forest, Ghana’s architectural history, the UN Habitat Sustainable Cities program, and tourism.
This is the first year of a three-year project for the Azrieli School of Architecture & Urbanism. After this year of research, the next year will focus on design. If funding permits, there will be a design-build project in the third year.
“The partnership aims to have an impact, but we are still learning,” says Agha. “We are building knowledge and resources so that we eventually leave something for the community.”
Back in the studio, students brought their discoveries and ideas together through fabric, including quilting, cross-stitching, fabric collages, tufting, and beading.
“Fabric is a medium that is traditionally used as a means of representation in the West African context,” says Agha. “Cocoa leaves, forest, everything ends up on fabric prints.”
Dates: February 6 to 16
Leaders: Assistant Professor Menna Agha and Visiting Critic Ruth-Anne Richardson
Students: Master of Architecture students — Muhammad Syed Raza, Stephen Travers, Syeda Khadeeja, Spideh Sahebsara, Sara Djebri, Joshua Smith, Naila Laksari, Adonis Lau, Lia Di Guilio, Olga Budilovskaia
“A captivating journey” — Reflections by student Lia Di Giulio
Visiting Ghana offers a captivating journey into a world where warmth and resilience intersect with vibrant cultural richness. Whether exploring bustling markets, trekking through lush landscapes, or engaging in spirited conversations, we encountered a community marked by an unwavering spirit and a deep sense of tradition. The tapestry of Ghanaian culture is woven with traditions, music, and flavours, each telling stories of resilience and heritage passed down through generations.
We had the honour of attending the funeral of Joseph Boakye Danquah, member of the Big Six, that was held nearly 60 years after his death due to political tensions. While funerals in North America are somber and calm, funerals in Ghana are vibrant and energetic. At the ceremony, we were overcome by the rhythmic beats of traditional drumming, the rich and colorful Kente cloth and wax prints adorning people, and ceremonial arrival of chiefs and communities; every aspect resonated with the pride and vibrancy of its people creating an incredible sensorial and emotional experience.
Amidst the vibrant colors and rich cultural fabric, one cannot ignore the stark contrast of economic disparity. In bustling cities and remote villages alike, scenes of struggle and hardship serve as a sobering reminder of the challenges faced by many Ghanaians. Families living in makeshift dwellings, children working on the streets to support their families, and communities lacking access to basic amenities paint a poignant picture of poverty’s grip. Yet, there is resilience and a spirit of community that endures.
Out in the landscape of Ghana, our trek through the Atewa forest was one of my favourite moments of the trip. Guided by two locals, we made our way through the fierce forest, having to clear a path with machetes and carefully watching our steps to avoid falling into galamsey pits or steep cliffs with the help of trees and our friends. Taking a break at a waterfall after a hike, we all felt the sacredness and vitality of the forest and the need to protect her. The Atewa forest is facing many challenges of exploitation stemming from colonialism, that we are still contributing to today in North America especially through to the lumber and chocolate industry. I urge everyone evaluate their contribution and to adopt more sustainable practices in preserving the beautiful life-giving sanctuary.
I left Ghana with unforgettable memories — both heartbreaking and beautiful — and a profound appreciation for the richness of its cultural tapestry that has bravely survived the impositions of colonialism.
“Valuable insights” — Reflections by student Joshua Smith
What we originally thought would be an architectural educational experience in Ghana quickly became much more. From learning about the political strategic maneuvers following Ghana’s emancipation from Britain to being (lightly) chastised for our ignorance of proper seating etiquette in the presence of traditional royalty, our studio gained a year’s worth of culturally rich knowledge in the span of 10 days.
As a studio heavily based in fabric-making techniques, this sejour involved engaging with local Kente craftsmen, and our education in counter-mapping strategies was enriched thanks to what we learned from our new brothers and sisters from the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST).
These relationships were made in no small part due to the newly founded relationship between Carleton University and KNUST.
While we undoubtedly accomplished our mission of exploring and learning from the Atewa Forest and its local stewards, it was arguably our interactions with the locals, traditional royalty, our new overseas colleagues, and our lovely Ghanaian professor Ruth-Anne Richardson that gave us our most valuable insights into a country previously unknown to us.