Recommended Items
-
Highlife Time 3
Highlife is Ghana’s most important modern home grown dance-music that has its roots in traditional music infused with outside influences coming from Europe and the Americas. Although the word ‘highlife’ was not coined until the 1920s, its origins can be traced back to the regimental brass bands, elite-dance orchestras and maritime guitar and accordion groups of the late 19th and very early 20th centuries. Highlife is, therefore, one of Africa’s earliest popular music genres.
The book traces the origins of highlife music to the present – and include information on palmwine music, adaha brass bands, concert party guitar bands and dance bands, right up to off-shoots such as Afro-rock, Afrobeat, burger highlife, gospel highlife, hiphop highlife (i.e. hiplife) and contemporary highlife.
The book also includes chapters on the traditional background or roots of highlife, the entrance of women into the Ghanaian highlife profession and the biographies of numerous Ghanaian (and some Nigerian) highlife musicians, composers and producers. It also touches on the way highlife played a role in Ghana’s independence struggle and the country’s quest for a national – and indeed Pan-African – identity.The book also provides information on music styles that are related to highlife, or can be treated as cousins of highlife, such as the maringa of Sierra Leone, the early guitar styles of Liberia, the juju music of Nigeria the makossa of the Cameroon/ It also touches on the popular music of Ghana’s Francophone neighbours.
There is also a section on the Black Diasporic input into highlife, through to the impact of African American and Caribbean popular music styles like calypsos, jazz, soul, reggae, disco, hiphop and rap and dancehall. that have been integrated into the highlife fold. Thus, highlife has not only influenced other African countries but is also an important cultural bridge uniting the peoples of Africa and its Diaspora.
₵250.00Highlife Time 3
₵250.00 -
Sebiticals Chapter X
For eons, the character of the neglected wise observer has captured imaginations. Be they the community trickster, clown, gossip or drunkard, they have always been a thorn in the flesh of social miscreants. There is no one name for them, as they tend to be many things to many folks. Every society has their version. Audiences love them, hate them and love them again. These fellows have no allies. Their allegiance is to all. Their knife cuts both ways, as does their tongue. Oh, yeah. Ever the custodians of spicy, social secrets, they issue forth the most acidic insults. But, abuse them? Naaah, these characters are insult-proof!
In this salacious new collection, Nana Awere Damoah has consummated the essences of this conceptual character. More than that, the author has effected their relevance in the national body politic. In Sebiticals Chapter X, Wofa Kapokyikyi the social commentator entertains, informs and pricks the conscience – as does his anecdotal nephew.
Episode after episode, the reader cannot help but conclude that if there is a time the nation needs a voice of conscience, that time is not tomorrow. Bottomline? A Kapokyikyi is an institution that keeps the morals of society in check.
₵60.00Sebiticals Chapter X
₵60.00 -
Abusua Pa Jigsaw Puzzle: Nkrumah Mausoleum (216 Puzzle Pieces) – Pre-Order
The Nkrumah Mausoleum in Accra, Ghana, is a significant landmark honouring Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, Ghana’s first President and a key figure in the country’s independence movement. It serves as a tribute to Nkrumah’s legacy and houses a museum showcasing his life and achievements.
The mausoleum is architecturally significant, symbolizing Ghana’s quest for freedom with its black star-shaped design. It stands as a symbol of Pan-Africanism and is an important educational resource for understanding Ghana’s history and Nkrumah’s contributions. The mausoleum also hosts commemorative events, preserving the memory and ideals of Nkrumah and his role in Ghanaian and African history.
₵450.00 -
Mumaizu and the Hippos
Age Range: 5 – 7 years
Mumaizu lives in Wechiau, a village in the Upper West Region of Ghana. His father, Agba Tungbani, is the head tour guide for the Wechiau Community Hippo Sanctuary. One day, Agba surprises Mumaizu with an invitation to see the hippos.
The Sanctuary, established in 1998, protects approximately 20 hippos along a 40-kilometre stretch of the Black Volta River.
₵30.00Mumaizu and the Hippos
₵30.00 -
Aluta Insomnia
This book of reflections is about a Ghana boy who travels within his country and around the world, sharing the anecdotes graciously. Whether it is a visit to see the US President at the White House or a trip to an Ada village called Totimehkope, each story is down a memory lane that is paved with nuggets of wisdom. The work showcases the beauty of being alive to the moral and developmental happenings around us. The author’s capacity to smell and milk story ideas from the most mundane scenario is remarkable.
A neurosurgeon by profession, his words cut and heal clinically in equal measure. Page after page, he operates as in the theatre − precise, penetrating, productive. If you love the brilliance of Ernest Hemingway and Ayi Kwei Armah, you will never stop reading Teddy Totimeh.
Sometimes, you do not know what you did right to be rewarded with a priceless gem. Aluta Insomnia is one such gift!
₵90.00Aluta Insomnia
₵90.00 -
Story, Story! Story Come!
Age Range: 7 – 12 years
Journey from Mali to Gambia to Ghana, where you will pause and remember at the Door of No Return. Continue to Nigeria through Niger. When you can’t take the heat, quench your thirst in the Nile in South Sudan. This will lead you through Kenya and onward past Africa’s biggest mountain on your way to being sprayed by the waters of Mosi oa Tunya in Zambia. Finally, rest in South Africa, for we have come to the end of our journey and the end of our story. Through riddles and songs, myths and legends, both children and adults are invited to delve into parallel worlds where they are taught valuable lessons on friendship, hard work, bravery and much more.
However, the age-old tradition of oral storytelling is on the decline. Rapid urbanisation, the breakdown of the extended family, technology and so on have altered our social fabric. Whilst our daily lives are still peppered with snippets of remembered words of wisdom and proverbs, the reality is that a new generation of Africans have never had the pleasure of listening to a story being told by a storyteller.
Story, Story! Story Come! is a contribution to larger efforts to revive storytelling in Africa and beyond. Through a global online contest, Positively African invited African writers, wherever they lived and whatever their age, to write a folktale – either based on an old one, or newly imagined. The challenge was to develop new narratives that speak to issues that are fundamental to Africa’s development in a way that is unconventional but true to our past traditions of folktale and oral storytelling.
The stories needed to contain life lessons that are relevant for both young and old, however writers were invited to be as inventive and disruptive as they wished in terms of theme, form, language, characters, imagery and context.
The ten winning stories are refreshingly imaginative and tackle a mix of issues. We criss-cross from South Sudan to South Africa, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya and Zambia. Some stories offer valuable moral lessons on greed and pride; others celebrate bravery, perseverance and friendship. One story takes us to a real archaeological site in Niger where a young girl imagines the future. In another, African water spirits share a world with a Beyoncé-obsessed teen that is taught a big lesson in humility. We have also included two additional stories, one by author and publishing partner Zukiswa Wanner and another by the editor of the anthology, Maimouna Jallow. One thing that they all have in common is that they speak to issues we face globally today, from an African perspective.
₵150.00Story, Story! Story Come!
₵150.00
Best Seller Items
-
I Speak of Ghana
It’s a rare person who can be both funny and wise at the same time. Yet that is exactly the way to describe Nana Awere Damoah’s writings in this small but compelling short story collection about contemporary life in Ghana. In it the reader will find Ghanaman in traffic, or Ghanawoman paying the corrupt policeman. Either way, one knows these are the words of a master story teller who handily blurs the lines between laughing so hard it makes one cry, or crying so hard it makes one laugh.
I Speak of Ghana is an honest journey of deft oration replete with the sounds (from the harmonious to the cacophonic), smells (including the pleasant and unpleasant), sights (from the eye-catching to the embarrassing), frustrations, triumphs and the mundane – everything that makes the Ghanaian experience finds its way into this book. Unlike the typical ranting about Ghanaian situations, Nana performs an insightful examination of the heart of the matter. Dissimilar to empty praise, Nana thoroughly embraces the issues that give us hope as people connected to Ghana. Narrated with humor, the book is Nana’s eloquence at its best.
₵60.00I Speak of Ghana
₵60.00 -
My First Coup d’Etat: Memories from the Lost Decades of Africa
My First Coup D’Etat chronicles the coming-of-age of John Dramani Mahama (former President of Ghana) in Ghana during the dismal post-independence ‘lost decades’ of Africa. He was seven years old when rumours of a coup reached his boarding school in Accra. His father, a minister of state, was suddenly missing, then imprisoned for more than a year.
My First Coup D’Etat offers a look at the country that has long been considered Africa’s success story. This is a one-of-a-kind book: Mahama’s is a rare literary voice from a political leader, and his stories work on many levels – as fables, as history, as cultural and political analysis, and, of course, as the memoir of a young man who, unbeknownst to him or anyone else, would grow up to be vice president of his nation. Though non-fiction, these are stories that rise above their specific settings and transport the reader – much like the fiction of Isaac Bashevis Singer and Nadine Gordimer – into a world all their own, one which straddles a time lost and explores the universal human emotions of love, fear, faith, despair, loss, longing, and hope despite all else.
An important literary debut from the then Vice President of Ghana, a fable-like memoir that offers a shimmering microcosm of post-colonial Africa.
‘A much welcome work of immense relevance.’ ~ Chinua Achebe
₵85.00 -
Highlife Time 3
Highlife is Ghana’s most important modern home grown dance-music that has its roots in traditional music infused with outside influences coming from Europe and the Americas. Although the word ‘highlife’ was not coined until the 1920s, its origins can be traced back to the regimental brass bands, elite-dance orchestras and maritime guitar and accordion groups of the late 19th and very early 20th centuries. Highlife is, therefore, one of Africa’s earliest popular music genres.
The book traces the origins of highlife music to the present – and include information on palmwine music, adaha brass bands, concert party guitar bands and dance bands, right up to off-shoots such as Afro-rock, Afrobeat, burger highlife, gospel highlife, hiphop highlife (i.e. hiplife) and contemporary highlife.
The book also includes chapters on the traditional background or roots of highlife, the entrance of women into the Ghanaian highlife profession and the biographies of numerous Ghanaian (and some Nigerian) highlife musicians, composers and producers. It also touches on the way highlife played a role in Ghana’s independence struggle and the country’s quest for a national – and indeed Pan-African – identity.The book also provides information on music styles that are related to highlife, or can be treated as cousins of highlife, such as the maringa of Sierra Leone, the early guitar styles of Liberia, the juju music of Nigeria the makossa of the Cameroon/ It also touches on the popular music of Ghana’s Francophone neighbours.
There is also a section on the Black Diasporic input into highlife, through to the impact of African American and Caribbean popular music styles like calypsos, jazz, soul, reggae, disco, hiphop and rap and dancehall. that have been integrated into the highlife fold. Thus, highlife has not only influenced other African countries but is also an important cultural bridge uniting the peoples of Africa and its Diaspora.
₵250.00Highlife Time 3
₵250.00 -
Sebiticals Chapter X
For eons, the character of the neglected wise observer has captured imaginations. Be they the community trickster, clown, gossip or drunkard, they have always been a thorn in the flesh of social miscreants. There is no one name for them, as they tend to be many things to many folks. Every society has their version. Audiences love them, hate them and love them again. These fellows have no allies. Their allegiance is to all. Their knife cuts both ways, as does their tongue. Oh, yeah. Ever the custodians of spicy, social secrets, they issue forth the most acidic insults. But, abuse them? Naaah, these characters are insult-proof!
In this salacious new collection, Nana Awere Damoah has consummated the essences of this conceptual character. More than that, the author has effected their relevance in the national body politic. In Sebiticals Chapter X, Wofa Kapokyikyi the social commentator entertains, informs and pricks the conscience – as does his anecdotal nephew.
Episode after episode, the reader cannot help but conclude that if there is a time the nation needs a voice of conscience, that time is not tomorrow. Bottomline? A Kapokyikyi is an institution that keeps the morals of society in check.
₵60.00Sebiticals Chapter X
₵60.00 -
Remnants of a Haunted Past: Forts and Castles of Ghana (Photo Book, Hardcover)
Yaw Pare is a celebrated Ghanaian photographer. This ground-breaking book richly illustrates the history and legacies of Ghana’s forts and castles through photography. In the same way that the forts and castles themselves bear witness to the horrors of the transatlantic slave trade and slavery, so too do these photographs provide compelling material and visual testimonies, offering possibilities for understanding that words do not.
In this book, the photographer’s camera captures a reality that many choose to remember but just as many choose to forget. Ultimately, Remnants of a Haunted Past: Forts and Castles of Ghana constitutes an attempt to document the past so that it is never forgotten in the present.
₵1,250.00 – ₵1,450.00Remnants of a Haunted Past: Forts and Castles of Ghana (Photo Book, Hardcover)
₵1,250.00 – ₵1,450.00 -
Abrokyire Nkomo
For many Africans, the dream of travelling to Europe or America represents a burning lifetime ambition that they would do anything (well, almost) to achieve. So what is it really like out there? What is the story behind the rosy images of the west that are beamed to Africa on television, in movies and in the glossy magazines? What is the reality behind the grim stories we hear at times from our friends and relatives abroad? Just how hard, or easy, is it out there? This book is a collection of a number of articles written by the author and seeks to address these issues. Written in a conversational style, it is an attempt to provide an interesting, witty, yet serious insight into the good, the bad and the ugly sides of life abroad, and raises several issues that should engage the attention of the contemporary African whether at home or abroad.
₵110.00Abrokyire Nkomo
₵110.00
-
Migration (1)
-
Relocation (1)
-
We Learn About Fire Safety (Safety and Me Series)
Age Range: 4 – 10 years
In this series, children learn important safety measures that help them relate safely with their immediate environment. With age-appropriate language and fun illustrations, children gain useful knowledge on fire safety, preserving the environment, road safety and safety at home.
This fully illustrated book is an exciting introduction to fire safety for children. Join the friends, Nana, Tobi, Grace and Hakeem, as they learn about keeping safe on the roads from the wise Uncle Omoh.
₵25.00 -
We Learn About Road Safety (Safety and Me Series)
Age Range: 4 – 10 years
In this series, children learn important safety measures that help them relate safely with their immediate environment. With age-appropriate language and fun illustrations, children gain useful knowledge on fire safety, preserving the environment, road safety and safety at home.
This fully illustrated book is an exciting introduction to road safety for children. Join the friends, Nana, Tobi, Grace and Hakeem, as they learn about keeping safe on the roads from the wise Uncle Omoh.
The children’s questions are answered:
• What is a zebra crossing?
• Who is a pedestrian?
• What kinds of different vehicles ride on the roads?
• How should I cross the road?
• What do traffic lights mean?
• What do different road signs mean?
• How can I stay safe and secure on the roads?₵25.00 -
My Nigeria: People, Places and Culture
Age Range: 7 – 10 years
This series provides a captivating way for children to learn about Nigeria. Complete with colourful illustrations, the series starts with a brief history of the Niger Area, its people, early culture and tribal dynasties. It delves further into the colonial era, Nigerian pioneers and past leaders of both democratic and military administrations. The final book explores the people, foods and places in Nigeria.
₵30.00 -
Beem Explores Africa
Age Range: 7 – 14 years
Beem Explores Africa follows a young Nigerian girl, Beem, as she explores the continent of Africa, meets its people and animals, and visits its key geographical and historical sites.
The book introduces children to the physical and human geography of Africa. It has easy-to-read text, a glossary to explain key geographical terms, and vivid hand-painted illustrations.
Beem Explores Africa also encourages in children a sense of adventure, tolerance of cultural difference, and responsibility for nature.
₵30.00Beem Explores Africa
₵30.00 -
An African Abroad: A Travel Memoir
When Ajala is not escaping an assassination attempt and dodging the bullets of eager security agents around the Duke of Edinburgh in Sydney, he is crashing his scooter, amid a hail of gunfire, through a border between Jordan and Israel—or he is cutting through security to shake the hands of Nikita Khrushchev. And when Ajala is not trying ‘African ju-ju’ on pretty Russian girls, he is enjoying a tense audience with Golda Meir in Israel and hobnobbing with Fúnmiláyọ̀ Ransome-Kútì in Moscow.
The Original One-Man Daredevil-Traveller, Moshood Ọlábísí Àjàlá saw it all, did it all, and lived to tell the tale. Now back in print for the first time since 1963, here are the travel stories of his trips around Europe, the Middle East, and Australia as told by the man himself. This new edition comes with a preface by Kọ́lá Túbọ̀sún and a foreword by Joane Àjàlá.
₵145.00₵150.00An African Abroad: A Travel Memoir
₵145.00₵150.00 -
Returning to Ghana After a Ph.D
Returnee experts play a vital role in contributing to the development and progress of their home countries. They can bring back their acquired knowledge, skills, and experiences to support various sectors, including academia, research, industry, entrepreneurship, policy-making, and social development. Their expertise can help drive innovation, improve productivity, foster international collaborations, and contribute to economic growth and social well-being. Albert recounts his experiences as a Ghanaian PhD returnee expert in this book. After his return to Ghana in March 2022, he documents all he went through first-hand. He’s been gone for over 9 years: three years in Nairobi, three months in Arusha, and five years in Bochum. The book also includes interview reports from other returnee Ph.D. professionals who were largely trained overseas and then returned home to help build Ghana. This is our home, but will returnee specialists find a house that will entice them to stay? Many of these are revealed in the book.
₵80.00 -
Abusua Pa Jigsaw Puzzle: Nkrumah Mausoleum (216 Puzzle Pieces) – Pre-Order
The Nkrumah Mausoleum in Accra, Ghana, is a significant landmark honouring Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, Ghana’s first President and a key figure in the country’s independence movement. It serves as a tribute to Nkrumah’s legacy and houses a museum showcasing his life and achievements.
The mausoleum is architecturally significant, symbolizing Ghana’s quest for freedom with its black star-shaped design. It stands as a symbol of Pan-Africanism and is an important educational resource for understanding Ghana’s history and Nkrumah’s contributions. The mausoleum also hosts commemorative events, preserving the memory and ideals of Nkrumah and his role in Ghanaian and African history.
₵450.00 -
Abusua Pa Jigsaw Puzzle: Ghana’s Coastline (140 Puzzle Pieces) – Pre-Order
Ghana’s Coastline is dotted with stunning beaches, offering a mix of natural beauty and recreational activities. In this picture we find a boy playing on the beaches of Sanzule. Labadi Beach in Accra is popular and vibrant, while Busua Beach in the Western Region is known for its golden sands and surfing opportunities. Kokrobite Beach near Accra has a bohemian atmosphere and lively nightlife.
The Ada area features beaches along the Volta estuary, ideal for water activities. Anomabo Beach in the Central Region is tranquil and historically significant, and Axim Beach in the Western Region offers serene setting. Cape Coast Beach combines history with natural beauty. These beaches showcase Ghana’s coastal splendour, providing opportunities for relaxation, water sports and cultural experiences.
₵450.00 -
Abusua Pa Jigsaw Puzzle: Boti Falls (140/216 Puzzle Pieces) – Pre-Order
Boti Falls is a captivating twin waterfall located in the Eastern Region of Ghana. Nestled in the Boti Forest Reserve, it offers natural beauty, accessibility and cultural significance. Visitors can enjoy the picturesque waterfall and its surrounding greenery, explore different viewing platforms and admire the Umbrella Rock formation nearby.
The falls hold sacred importance and are associated with traditional rituals. Picnic areas provide opportunities for relaxation, and the area is known for its vibrant Kente weaving industry. Boti Falls is a serene and refreshing destination that showcases Ghana’s natural beauty and cultural heritage.
₵450.00 -
Abusua Pa Jigsaw Puzzle: Ada Foah (216 Puzzle Pieces) – Pre-Order
Ada Foah is a town in the Ada East District of the Greater Accra Region in Ghana. It is known for its beautiful beaches, where the Volta River meets the Atlantic Ocean. The town has a vibrant fishing community and offers opportunities to witness local fishing activities. Visitors can go on boat trips, and visit nearby islands.
Ada Foah is a hub for ecotourism, with nature reserves and the Songor Lagoon attracting birdwatchers and nature enthusiasts. The town also showcases the rich cultural heritage of the Ada people through traditional festivals and offers water sports activities and comfortable accommodation options. Ada Foah provides a serene and memorable experience for nature lovers, adventure seekers and those interested in Ghana’s cultural heritage.
₵450.00 -
Abusua Pa Jigsaw Puzzle: Cultural Regalia (500 Puzzle Pieces) – Pre-Order
Cultural regalia in Ghana holds deep significance as it represents the identity, traditions and heritage of different ethnic groups. It carries symbolic meaning, is worn during important ceremonies, and connects present generations to their ancestors.
Cultural regalia preserves traditional craftsmanship, attracts tourism, and fosters community cohesion. It serves as a visual expression of cultural pride and plays a vital role in preserving Ghana’s rich cultural heritage for future generations.
₵450.00 -
Abusua Pa Jigsaw Puzzle: Cape Coast Castle (216 Puzzle Pieces) – Pre-Order
Cape Coast Castle is a historic fortress located in the town of Cape Coast, a city in the Central Region of Ghana. It was built by the Swedes in 1653 but was later captured and expanded by the British in 1664. The castle played a significant role in the transatlantic slave trade and served as a major hub for the transportation of enslaved Africans to the Americas.
The castle’s imposing structure, with its thick walls and cannons, served as a symbol of European power and dominance in the region. It was strategically positioned on the promontory overlooking the Gulf of Guinea, allowing for easy control and monitoring of maritime activities.
Within the castle’s walls, enslaved Africans were held captive in cramped dungeons under inhumane conditions. The “Door of No Return” is a poignant feature of Cape Coast Caste, as it represents the final exit point for enslaved Africans who were forced onto ships bound for the Americas, never to return to their homeland.
Today, Cape Coast Castle stands as a UNESCO World Heritage site and a museum, preserving the memory and history of the transatlantic slave trade. Visitors can explore the castle’s various chambers, including the slave dungeons, and gain insight into the harrowing experiences endured by millions of Africans during that dark period.
Cape Coast Castle serves as a somber reminder of the atrocities committed during the slave trade and provides an opportunity for reflection and education about the important of human rights and social justice.
₵450.00 -
Abusua Pa Jigsaw Puzzle: Local Beads (216 Puzzle Pieces) – Pre-Order
Local beads in Ghana hold immense cultural significance as they represent social status, ethnicity and heritage. They serve as visual language, conveying messages and symbolizing various meanings such as fertility, wealth, spirituality and social hierachy. Beads are integral to traditional ceremonies and rituals, bringing blessings and enhancing spiritual connections.
They also contribute to Ghana’s economy through artisanal production and trade. Local beads have found a place in contemporary fashion while preserving Ghana’s cultural heritage and promoting cultural preservation. Overall, Ghanaian beads are an essential part of the country’s identity and play a vital role in communication, cultural expression and economic activities.
₵450.00 -
Abusua Pa Jigsaw Puzzle: Elmina Castle (140/216 Puzzle Pieces) – Pre-Order
Elmina Castle, also known as St. George’s Castle, is a historic fortress located in the town of Elmina in the Central Region of Ghana. It was built by the Portuguese in 1482 and is recognized as the oldest European-built structure in sub-Saharan Africa.
The castle was originally constructed as a trading post for the Portuguese to establish and maintain their presence in the region. It served as a major hub for the transatlantic slave trade, with thousands of enslaved Africans passing through its doors on their way to the Americas.
Elmina Castle played a significant role in the colonial history of Ghana. It changed hands several times, with the Dutch capturing it from the Portuguese in 1637, and later the British taking control in 1872.
Today, Elmina Castle is a UNESCO World Heritage site and a powerful symbol of the transatlantic slave trade. It attracts visitors from around the world who come to explore its dungeons, learn about its history, and reflect on the profound impact of slavery on Africa and the African diaspora. Guided tours are available to provide insights into the castle’s dark past and the harsh realities faced by those who were held captive within its walls.
₵450.00 -
Abusua Pa Jigsaw Puzzle: Fort William (216 Puzzle Pieces) – Pre-Order
Fort William, originally known as Fort Anomabo, is a historic fortress located in Central Region of Ghana. During the 19th century, under the command of Brodie Cruickshank, the fortress was renamed Fort William in honour of King Charles II.
Constructed primariily using local resources, this remarkable stronghold earned the reputation of being one of the most splendidly designed and sturdily built fortresses along the coast.
Throughout its existence, it served diverse purposes. Initially functioning as a rest house and a post office, Fort William underwent a transformation and was repurposed as a state prison, a role it fulfilled until 2001. Today, the fort has undergone another metamorphosis and currently serves as a community library, enriching the lives of the people of Anomabu. This conversation not only preserves its historical significance but also stands a a beacon of knowledge and learning within the local community.
₵450.00