February 20, 2017
On Fridays, the Archer Cornfield Courtyard takes on the form of a mini-exhibition of cultural dances, indigenous cuisine and traditional wear from across Africa. At these exhibitions, known as Global Cafes, students set up stands to share information on their home countries and cultures to the Ashesi community.
For the Office of Diversity and International Programs (ODIP) which helps run the cafes, the exhibitions are an opportunity to foster diversity and inform the community about different cultures on campus.
“At the Global Cafe, similarities and differences shared by various countries are brought to bare,” explains Benardine Holdbrook Ghanson, of ODIP. “We are working to make people aware of the diversity we have on campus, while drawing their attention to the opportunities to grow a more inclusive society.”
While the Global Cafes provide an opportunity to celebrate the 21 countries represented on campus, they also bring to fore Ashesi’s growing diversity. In the years ahead, Ashesi is looking to grow its non-Ghanaian African population to between 30 – 50%, to reflect a truly pan-African university.
For the students, being exposed to different cultures and nationalities both informs and exposes them to the richness of various African nations.
“It’s an opportunity to experience a different country without having to travel there,” says Esther Akoto ’17. “I remember the Liberian Cafe sometime back, I had a great time sampling all their dishes, while appreciating the subtle differences we have between us. It’s enlightening learning about other people’s history, getting to see their clothing and trying out their food.”
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