I really have a big family. Until now I could'nt count how many relatives I have.

I was adopted by the eldest of a lineage among the Dagara people in Upperwest Ghana. He gave me a name: Nmingmale, since then I am a member of an extended family.

ROOTS is a starting point to show the lifes of farmers in the Upperwest and also to continue with the history of a special family with whom I lived for some months 32 years ago.

In August my adoptive mother, her name is Pigr, has died. I will travel to Hiineteng to attend the imporant funeral ceremony.

I will bring together the material of 1989, 2019 and 2021 and continue with the family history.

It was the first long flight since the beginning of the Corona pandemic. The preparations already showed that travelling has become complicated and costly.

My journey and the project are made possible by a grant.

My biggest wish is that Ernestina and I will realize the project together and in future also other family members.

Ernestina, now called Tina, arrived and we started to work together.

It was again a long adventure: 17 hours bus ride up to the North, then again three hours with the car to Hinneteng. But we arrived safely.

At one o'clock in the morning, very punctually, the rooster beats his wings on the ground and crows a first time. At the latest at 3 o'clock and then more and more often until the sun rises around six.

Co-working is the strategy of the women when there is heavy workload to do.

In a 5-days-rhythm is market in Fielmon. For the village people a big thing.

In the evening Titus called all children to sit down together, crack peanuts together, drink a sweet softdrink and to talk

Team Roots began to look for our interviewpartners just the second day after our arrival

Ernestina tells why the project ROOTS is important for her and the family

Kleine fettige Bällchen aus Sheanüssen gewonnen

The funeral went on for three days. But the organization was an effort of more than six months preparations.

Finally my photographs, my textes and videos will be shown.

All familiy members are proud and happy. So the parents.