The K Experience

Agona, the capital of the Afigya-Sekyere District in the Ashanti Region of Ghana.

I have always lived in places where I could easily disappear, where no one really knew me, and I could easily keep myself to myself (Japan being the only exception). In Agona, where my parents are from, a small town in Ghana, this was impossible. Everyone knew everyone else. Generations of families had stayed there and never moved out. I was not born in Agona, but was born in Kumasi, at Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) hospital, and lived in Kumasi for the two years I was in Ghana, before moving to Slough, England. However, the moment I stepped foot in Agona at about 11.30 in the evening, after 23 years of absence, I was still recognised! I don't remember the name of the man, I don't even know who he was, but he knew me because I looked so much like my father.

Agona could be found on the Jamasi road inbetween Kumasi and Mampong (the picture above). It had all the basic things a small town needed, and was quite a peaceful place. While I was there, I took the time to walk around and take a few pictures of the area. There was not much to see in terms of tourist attractions, but the place had a unique and untouched beauty about it. Livestock could be found freely roaming, the school yard and the local field where one and the same, and every now and then you would see strange sights, like a brightly coloured house, which had no business being in Agona, but was there nonetheless.

It seemed like a relaxed place, somewhere you could go to get away from the hustle and bustle of the big cities, like Kumasi. I was only there for a few days where I lived with my grandmother who was in her late 80's at the time. I couldn't speak much Twi and my grandmother couldn't speak any English, but we got by ok.

The journey back to Accra was as long and tiring as the journey to Agona, taking about eight or so hours by coach, but it gave me time to think about what my life would have been like if I stayed in Ghana during my childhood. I guess I would have gone to KNUST, maybe studied some engineering related course. Or maybe I would have just stayed in Agona, and lived in a nice colourful house, like this one.

Check out the pictures in the gallery.

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