Finding my Voice by Kiyah Chester

Earlier today, I thought I knew exactly what my blog post would be about - until we visited Donkor Nsuo. It was an unexplainable experience. I still can’t fully wrap my mind around everything we endured today, everything our ancestors endured. We walked barefoot, feeling the sandy soil squelch beneath our feet. I caught myself checking my own privilege as I worried about bugs, while walking the same path our ancestors once did.

As we made our way to the river, we held onto leaves that symbolized what we wanted to release. I watched as our leaves swirled together before washing away. Some floated back to their owner, like they weren’t ready to leave. I think Olivia’s and mine intertwined, moving forward together. How could a place so peaceful hold so much pain? I thought to myself. The water flowed gently, nature surrounded us, the sun peaked through the clouds, glimmering across our skin and the river’s surface. I felt the emotions in the water, some parts cold and bracing, others warm like a soft touch. A feeling I will carry with me for a long time.

SANKOFA: Take from the past and bring it forward. As educators, we are responsible for passing this on to our students; both the pain and the resilience.

With that said, I still want to go back to what I originally wanted my blog to highlight - JOY.

A feeling I keep returning to on this trip. It’s a feeling I try to instill in the children I work with, even when we’re learning about hard history.

Some friends back home asked me, “Do you feel homesick?” The question stuck with me. Homesick? How could I be? Even when I was physically feeling sick here, I didn’t have that feeling. The members of the Witness Tree Institute, Cohort 2, have been extremely supportive. We heal and uplift each other with words, our thoughts, with songs, and more. A few days ago, we were strangers. Now, we’re building a familial connection. We laugh to tears, sing songs that make you feel full. In a space so welcoming, homesickness just doesn’t seem possible. This experience has been healing.

I’ve thought about home: my students, my family, but more than that, I’ve thought about how much I’ll miss this group when it’s time to leave. Being here has pushed me far beyond my comfort zone. I’ve always considered myself someone who warms up slowly in groups: quiet, shy, definitely not the one to speak or sing in front of a crowd. But I’ve done those things here. I’ve allowed myself to be vulnerable, invite the stranger and learn in public.

Last night, my nerves were high when Uncle T said the ceremony would be moved up and I’d have to sing sooner than I expected. Although I had accepted the task earlier, I did it reluctantly. Growing up, I was told by peers and others, “You can’t sing.” Whether or not it was true, it stuck. I avoided singing in front of others unless I could mask my voice behind louder voices.

But being here changed that.

The Ghanaian teachers: Seth, Kwasi, Fibi, Dela, Olivia, and Eric - helped me find peace in singing. They stayed up late practicing their own songs, yet still made time to support me with mine. They uplifted me and sang with me as I found my voice. The U.S. teachers—Melissa, Katherine, Idris (a.k.a. Kofi), Nancy, Kristen, Maddie, and David - held space for me, giving me warmth, encouragement, and safety. I found my voice here. A voice I didn’t know I had.

And as we’ve heard before on this journey: “You are in my songs—how can I keep from singing?”

Kiyah Chester general education teacher 4/5th grade Central Park East 1 Manhattan, NY

You Are More than You Think You Are By Phoebe Nartey

The concept of Gracious Space, which has been adopted by the Witness Tree Institute of Ghana has been a game-changer for me. It's made me really think about who I am as a Ghanaian. For a long time, I've felt a bit lost, even though I live right here in Ghana.

A few days into the WTIG program, certain questions were posed, none of which I had ever encountered or templated before .

Questions like, 'What kind of ancestor will I be?' and 'What legacy am I leaving behind?' have ruminated in my mind each day.

Learning about the philosophy of Gracious Space was an entirely foreign concept to me but it has showed there are aspects of a group I didn't know existed; a stranger is someone I now want to get to know because of the curiosity and questions our group discussions have generated in me.

I realize I'm a “modern Ghanaian” Ghanaian who, sadly, hasn't with focus and intention, really connected with her ancestors or the important values they shared as my parents and grandparents did. My cultural past, traditions, and even history, have been foggy and sometimes a bit of a mystery.

But this transformative journey with The Witness Tree Institute of Ghana is finally leading me back to my roots.

Professor Obeng Pashington, a lecturer and author, recently said in his workshop, a talk on Ghanaian Religion and Spirituality, 'We need people to be a signpost in our lives at a point in time.'

That's so true, right? We all have those moments when we need a push, a kind word, or just some encouragement to do better, and I found such a person.

In this programme, I met Olivia, Melissa, and Katherine who are also fellow teachers from Ghana and the USA. All of them speak with authority and confidence. Olivia's confidence, especially coming from such a young person, was amazing to me. It actually made me want to be more like her. I got closer to her, hoping to gain some of that self-assurance myself. She often tells me, 'Be Positive Always.'

I have noticed some change in me. I am in the midst of positive, supportive and cheerful people, and I am slowly but surely learning to believe in myself.

Phoebe Nartey is a Creative Arts and a History Teacher at the Kpohe D/A Basic School, Ghana

Spiritual Wisdom in Aburi by Nancy Flinchbaugh

Yesterday, we left the capital city of Accra and journeyed north up the mountain to Aburi. Like many spiritual pilgrims, we discovered truth on the mountain. This remarkable day pointed us to the underlying indigenous religion informing life in Ghana, as well as the healing nature of creation. 

We first gathered at the feet of Professor Pashington Obeng, learning about traditional spirituality in nature. Later we hiked in Ananse Kwae, a forest preserve planted by the birds, resplendent with healing plants and trees. In the evening, we gathered for a debriefing dinner on the roof at the De Ofoso Hotel in Koforidua. This day impacted us all deeply. I offer here a few gleanings, seeds planted that will continue to grow into our lives.

Ubuntu: I am because We are. The good professor began the day with gratitude to our fellow traveler, Dela, who walked out to meet him halfway, leading him to our gathering place. “I wouldn’t be here, without Dela,” he explained, underscoring the interconnectedness of all life, Ghanaian spirituality echoes the South African wisdom of Ubuntu, where interdependence is key. Goosebumps formed on my arms as I looked down at my Ubuntu CultureFest t-shirt.

Honoring the ancestors. In a libation ceremony, Professor Obeng called on the Supreme Being and Mother Earth where he said the Spirit of the Earth resides, in the water, in the rocks and the elements of the natural world. He also called on the ancestors, explaining like the Sankofa bird with his beak turned backward, we must look to the past for wisdom needed today. 

 SANKOFA (Go back to retrieve. Go back to your past)

Don’t conquer the earth, befriend it. For many years, the colonial regimes in Africa made conquest the goal. The people and God’s creation became tools for material gain. The original Ghanaian spiritual tradition calls for befriending the earth. Our group reflected on our own accountability to care for the Earth, taking environmental action, in our teaching and in our lives. 

The Healing Nature of Creation. At Ananse Kwae, we first gathered at a sitting area, designed in the form of an eye as Professor Obeng again led us in libations, honoring creation. Then we hiked into the woods, looking anew at the goodness of creation. Our guide led us from tree to tree, explaining the healing powers of each of the forest saints. We learned of remedies for cancer, diabetes, difficulties in childbirth, skin diseases, obesity and drunkenness all available from the seeds, bark, leaves and fruits of these various forest plants. In the town of Aburi, we passed The Centre for Nature Medicine Research, where Ghanaians continue to uncover the mysteries of creation for the good of the people.

In the evening, our cohort friend, Melissa, artfully led a discussion on what we learned during this day. Some talked about how they would incorporate care for the Earth in their teaching. Others reflected on the spiritual wisdom of the day. Many expressed joy of the walk in the forest, discovering the many healing gifts of the trees.
For many years, I personally have been on a quest to speak and write for the Earth, a calling I believe comes from God, from the Great Spirit active in all of creation. In my Christian spiritual tradition, I do not believe I can fulfillour greatest commandments of loving God and our neighbors as ourselves without befriending and honoring the natural world, on which we depend for life. I also hear this call from the indigenous people of my own country, from the Anchuar people of Ecuador, and now from the wise ancestors and modern pilgrims of Ghana in the heart of Africa. 

I am grateful to the Witness Tree Institute for inviting me on this journey of discovery, to Professor Obeng for speaking such enduring and gentle truth, and to my fellow cohort members who picked me up on a day I didn’t feel well, offering me a hand and remedies, enabling me to listen and reflect on this wonderful day. 

Nancy Flinchbaugh, retired and actively working and writing for peace, justice and the earth.

You can find more about Nancy on her websites at Nancyflinchbaugh.com and spiritualseedlings.com, as well as on YouTube.com/@nancyflinchbaugh

THE POWER IN OUR IDENTITIES by Olivia Williams

Identity is the unique combination of heritage, experiences, and values that define an individual.

Identity shapes how we see ourselves and our place in the world.

Identity is a dynamic blend of past, present, and future that guides our sense of self.

As a Ghanaian, I love to tell stories about who I am and where I am from.

Storytelling is deeply ingrained in our culture, playing a vital role in shaping my identity as an Ghanaian. Traditionally, this practice takes place during nighttime gatherings around a log fire , where elderly family members share tales with children seated around them.

Songs are woven into compelling narratives to maintain focus, followed by questions or reflections on moral lessons to foster confidence, family bonding, and critical thinking.

For the Ewe people of Ghana, storytelling sessions begin with the call "Mise mise Gli loo!!" and the response "Gli ne vaa!!" 

Over the years, The Witness Tree Institute Of Ghana has created the platform for us to share our stories. So, drawing inspiration from these rich cultural experiences and the power of identity, I share my "I Am From" poem, reflecting my roots and heritage.

*I Am From Poem*

I am from the land of my fathers, Keta, which translates as "on top of the land"

 Yes, Keta, "we will settle on top that land", said my ancestors .

Indeed their determination echoed from that phrase when migrating from Notsie in Togo.

I am from the framed photos of Agomayi, my great grandfather whom I “met” in an Album. As a little boy, lost in the era of the Anlo - keta war, he was rescued by a white missionary and taken to a land he knew not- England. 

I am from the steps he took back to trace his roots/Sankofa.

I am from the forget-me-not flowers planted in his garden, an ancestral place so dear to me.

I am from the genetic makeup of Adzo, and Kodzo, their bond, though stretched, remained strong. I am from memories of waiting for Dad's rare calls, so I get to sing to him .

From a distance, his love felt like a silent promise ; that he's always there. 

I am from the promises I made to myself. 

That I will keep on running towards the goal,  to take hold of the prize. 

I am from ATE NU AWƐ! YOU CAN DO IT.

Olivia Fafali Williams teaches Creative Arts and English language at Unique E’s Montessori School in Amasaman, Greater Accra.

Young Shoulder, Big Responsibility by Dela Awutey

“ We all carry histories, cultures and traditions that are far older than us”.

On one of my routine home visits to my students, I chanced on one of them, a 10-year-old boy, who was carrying his baby sibling on his back as most mothers do in Ghana.

So, I captured the moment on my camera. Later as I analyzed the photo, I wondered about the stories it could generate. From simply the image of a boy doing a chore, I noticed stories of resilience, responsibility, strength, gender, affection and silent strength.

As we embark on this new journey as a group, we will carry in our minds and hearts histories, cultures, traditions and varying perspectives on life. I am fascinated by this boy and his sibling in such an intimate moment. I am even more in awe of the power it continues to express in my mind.

I share this with you so that you may tell the story in your own way and bring to what matters most in our Witness Tree Institute group journey. What do you see? What is evoked in your mind and heart? For me, it at once reminds me of our individual resilience, our responsibility towards each other, the loads we carry from our scars, how we can carry each other and our past on our backs.

What do you see?

Dela Awutey teaches Computing and Creative Arts at Donyumu Basic School, Dodowa.

Be a witness Tree: Don't Forget Us! by Tete Cobblah

Congratulations to the Witness Tree Institute’s Cohort of 2025! You lived up to the meaning of Nyansapo, the Adinkra symbol you chose to guide you during your two-week session. You have witnessed, firsthand, the warmth of the Ghanaian people, how history binds us together and the importance of human connections. At the heart of the open mind is the willingness to listen, to question, and to entertain new perspectives. As the world evolves—socially, technologically, and ecologically—the ability to adapt rests upon our capacity for open-mindedness.

You have also been witnesses to the glorious and dark past of Ghana, its rich culture, wisdom and people. You have  shared yourself and received gracious space from strangers who are now friends. From the sandy beaches of Kribi and the bustling markets of Bamenda, through the Accra plains and Asante’s  lush rainforests, and vibrant cultural traditions to Americas seasonal charm, breathtaking coastline, majestic mountain ranges, towering redwood forests , and inspiring history, a thread of wonder and respect has been woven. Each WTIG participant now has a responsibility to be a Witness Tree for positive change, peace and action. As the old African adage goes, “There is no beauty but the beauty of action. “   

Let us embrace each other- “not forget each other”- as the parting words from the Ghanaian teachers song stated in honor of friendship on our final day together.

Tete Cobblah is the founder and Director of the Witness Tree Institute of Ghana

Kwae a agye wo no, yenfre no kwaewa" 𝘿𝙤 𝙣𝙤𝙩 𝙗𝙚 𝙪𝙣𝙜𝙧𝙖𝙩𝙚𝙛𝙪𝙡 𝙩𝙤 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙛𝙤𝙧𝙚𝙨𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙝𝙖𝙨 𝙨𝙖𝙫𝙚𝙙 𝙮𝙤𝙪. By Esenam Yaa Judith Saku

When I received the message that I had been selected to be a member of the Witness Tree Institute Cohort of 2025, I was overwhelmed with joy and disbelief. It felt surreal! This wasn’t just another program — it was a once in a lifetime opportunity to learn, connect, and grow on both personal and professional levels.

For years, The Witness Tree Experience has brought together teachers from around the world- Ghana, Nigeria, Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago, Canada, and the United States- to engage in transformative cultural and educational experiential learning. Unbelievably I was to participate in this incredible adventure at a pivotal point in my life after graduating from teachers college!

One of the most memorable parts of the entire WTIG experience for me was how the program immersed us in the teaching and learning of nature and spirituality -an aspect often overlooked in our so-called modern Ghanaian education but so deeply rooted in our culture and identity.

Our excursion to the Aburi Botanical Gardens and Ananse Kwae at Mampong-Akwapim, were interactive lessons in traditional knowledge, indigenous wisdom, and holistic healing taught not through books but by touching, tasting, listening, and feeling.

At Ananse Kwae ( the spider’s forest), I had the chance to interact with nature in the rawest, most intimate form. Here are a few personal highlights.

I thought I knew what hot spice was until I tasted freshly picked alligator pepper. It was fiery, bold, and had a certain depth that the dried pepper sold in markets completely lacks. It didn’t just burn my tongue;  it awakened my senses.

The fresh bay leaf, alive and attached to its branches, smelled earthy and like natural perfume. Unlike the dry, brittle ones we often toss into our stews, the fresh leaf was vibrant in aroma and surprisingly in flavor. I realized I had underestimated something I thought I already knew.

Just one berry. That’s all it took to change everything. After licking the tiny asawa, miracle berry, or Synsepalum sulcifucam, even the sourest fruit tasted like dessert. The ingredients from the berry trick one’s taste buds and sends a message to the brain that everything the buds taste is sweet for a while. It was mind blowing! Imagine how helpful this would be to a person struggling to control their sugar intake! This is a playful reminder that nature often has a few surprises up its sleeve, and that every plant has its medicinal qualities for our use. Now plants I walk past every day would hold new meaning. Thanks to the Witness Tree, I can now confidently explore and discuss the importance of medicinal plants.

The Witness Tree Institute and places like Ananse Kwae didn’t just teach me about other cultures or even my Ghanaian heritage.  I am grateful to Professor Kofi Asare Opoku, who owns Ananse Kwae and who has made teaching about the gifts of nature and the wisdom of our forebears, his life’s ambition. As Professor Obeng, who did a presentation on spirituality before taking us through Ananse Kwae said, we all have a responsibility to the earth as its guardians. 

Ananse Kwae has challenged me to slow down, observe, be curious and truly listen to the world around me. It reminds me that the opportunity to learn is everywhere- in the soil, in the air, in the leaves, in our sadness , in our joys and in the stories our elders tell.

Nature is beautiful, it is wise. And through this experience, I will now walk a little more slowly, sit for a while in gardens, pay closer attention to plants, rivers and mountains, and have a deeper respect for the traditions that have preserved this knowledge over generations. These practices and knowledge I pledge to share with my students.

 The title of this piece is from an Akan saying. The writer, Esenam Yaa Judith Saku, works with the Ghana Library Authority at Hohoe, the Volta region of Ghana.

Homeward Bound by David Duane

"I am not African because I was born in Africa, but because Africa was born in me"  Kwame Nkrumah

As a white American who descends from European immigrants, that quote is awkward to say.  It makes me feel like a square peg in a round hole - something that doesn't quite fit. My lineage traces primarily to Italy and Ireland, with smidgeons of other northern European ethnicities mixed in.  I am a classic mutt, but entirely from within the confines of Europe, or so I assume.  Looking at me, you would have little doubt about that assertion.  Surely, I am not born in Africa or connected to the continent.

Yet upon further reflection, the square pegs’ edges round.  I am indeed born in Africa.  Africa is born in me.  We are all of Africa.

Africa birthed us.  Our species, Homo sapiens, evolved and was born in the forests and plains of Africa.  From there intrepid souls migrated and spread out to all corners of the globe.  This heralds Africa as the birthplace of humanity. That initial human population was small, a genetic bottleneck that leads to a noteworthy and startling fact.  Genetically speaking, we are practically the same, much more so than other species.  This makes Homo sapiens a unique limb on the tree of life.  As brothers and sisters each of us is more closely related to each other than individual members of other species are related to each other.

Humans share with each other 99.9% of DNA, the material of our genes.  The genetic alphabet soup of A, T, G, and C that write our collective genetic story is nearly the same in all of us.  There are a few differently spelled words in this DNA language.  This contributes to the beautiful expression of diversity within humanity.  It is only that .1% of difference that results in all of the multitudes of variations of traits and characteristics that contribute to that beauty.

That minute difference has also caused harm and injustice.  It is because of biased interpretations and power dynamics that the mere .1% difference is distorted as the twisted rationale to the constructs of systemic racism, inequality, and injustice that can result in crimes against humanity.  But the fact remains, genetically speaking, we are as close to clones as we can get.  And the birthplace of that combination of genes was here, on the African continent.  All of humanity descended from Africa.

The Ga people, whose traditional lands consist of the coastal strip that encompasses Ghana's capital, Accra, acknowledge this.  They welcome us.  Specifically, they welcome us home.  They invite us to connect with humanity.  They invite us to connect with our ancestors. They invite us to re-connect to our birthplace.  In the Welcoming Ceremony the Ga Elders ask for your Ghanaian day name that is based on the day of the week you were born, and ask to cite those ancestors you brought with you. Because I was born on a Saturday, my name is Kwame.  The ancestors brought with me are Jack and Rita, Alfred and Theresa, John and Ina.  The ritual proceeds by consecrating the land with alcohol, imbibing spirits, and connecting to land physically, emotionally, and spiritually.  Welcome home!  Akwaaba!  Wherever you have been, you are welcomed, though that Twi welcome is distinct from the Ga term.

Coming home to Africa is a spiritual transformation. African spirituality is not just ancestral and a thing of the past, but is a living and breathing entity within each one of us.  It is holistic and purposeful. Ignoring the distractions and fragmentations of contemporary life to come home uncovers a wealth of connections and spirituality that our consumer oriented society prefers you to forget.

Professor Pashington Obeng reminds us of this during our visit to Aburi and Ananse Kwai, a preserve of medicinal herbs and purposeful plants.  African spirituality is a way of life that requires us to earn our 'personhood' to fully become an ancestor one day.  Achieving such requires living a moral life to become a better person that connects to the community, the land, and the ancestors.  Within this ethic is a cycle of living and learning where the beginning is the end and the end is the beginning.  This runs counter to the hyper-individualistic linear worldview that slices and dices the community with the intention to benefit the few.

In African spirituality, birth and death are not the beginning or the end, but part of the ancient cycle of living and learning.  This dynamic is represented by the Adinkra pictograph, Sankofa - learning from the past to move forward into the future.  And it is in this sacred land, where humanity's birth is commemorated, and our human essence revealed.  Sankofa is within. The cycle continues.

The Witness Tree Institute of Ghana brings us home to that birthplace.  It is here in Ghana where we invite the stranger within to reconnect, and to shed preconceived notions of what it means to be human.  It is here in Ghana where we experience the essence of humanity.  It is here where we can state with assuredness, that Africa is born in us.

David Duane

Chair of Science Department, Fenn School and Board Member of The Witness Tree Institute of Ghana