Ghanaian adventures: batik art and so much more in the north
- Virginie Lawson
- Jan 10, 2024
- 3 min read
An exciting adventure lies behind us as we spent the past week in northern Ghana. It all started with an epic 13-hour bus ride from Suhum to Bolgatanga. This journey was super long and exhausting and also dangerous. We set off at 6.30 pm, by which time it was already getting dark, and arrived in Bolga the next morning. It is not advisable to drive at night in Ghana, as the roads are not in good condition and are full of holes that are difficult to see and could lead to an accident. Fortunately, everything went smoothly and we had a reasonably normal driver.
The change in weather was extreme, in Suhum it was still hot and humid and in Bolga it was a desert-like dry heat. Our batik guru, Nana from Kumasi, traveled separately and was there a little earlier and met us in Bolga so that we could then go together to the Social Centre in Winkogo to meet with the mothers.
The first day was also dedicated to the procurement of materials - plastic tubs for dyeing, a huge pot for dewaxing and much more. Danstand wanted to buy some things locally instead of transporting everything from Suhum. In the meantime, we rested and then went to the social center together with Nana.
On Tuesday (the day we arrived in the north) we had scheduled a meeting with the 9 single mothers to explain everything and plan the next few days. It took a while for all the women to arrive, but it was great to see all the familiar faces again.
Then came Wednesday - the starting signal for our batik course. Danstand gave a motivating speech about our project, the idea behind it and how we want to lead single mothers to financial independence. The course was the first step towards this with these single mothers. We made it a point that the women attended every day of the four-day workshop to receive their certificate.
Nana is a born teacher with so much passion and passion for batik, fabrics, colors and shapes. He explained the basics of batik making. The women learned how to cut fabric - we had obtained 24 yards for the training, which was cut into 2 yard pieces each, enough to sew a man's shirt.
Nana then explained the use of kerosene wax for the art of batik, which is less brittle than beeswax. The wax is bought in 1 kg blocks.
Stamping with wax on the fabric was a challenge, but also great fun. The women had some initial difficulties, but after some practice they got the hang of it.
This was followed by dyeing, an exciting moment when the first shades of color appeared on the fabrics.
The final step in the batik process was to dewax the fabrics the next day. This felt like the unveiling of a treasure. Hot water melted the wax and revealed the different layers of color and symbols. After drying and ironing, the patterns shone in all their glory.
The following days brought even more fun and creativity. The women experimented with different techniques such as marbeling, spirals and pleating, and the results are breathtaking.
In total, the women made 30 yards of fabric - an amazing achievement. Each single mother received her certificate by attending and actively participating in the course every day.
The group decided to continue working as a collective to reap the benefits. They plan to bank the money earned to avoid disputes over the distribution of profits.
Our time in the north was full of highlights and successes. From first attempts at stamping to beautiful batik creations, it was a journey full of laughter, learning experiences and exciting moments. The women have proven that they are not only talented, but also determined to make their way to financial independence.
A quick note about Nana - Nana is from Kumasi and has been working at the Art Center for more than 10 years making batik art. You can also attend a batik course there, the Art Center in Kumasi offers many different art workshops.
The first batik fabrics will soon be available in our store - please note that these are unique pieces. We are currently working on publishing more about the Single Mother Project Ghana on our website. The project is very close to our hearts and we would of course like to tell you more about it.
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