GHANA IN LONDON
Latest news on the Ghanaian community in London
What are Ghanaians doing in London?
PROFILES
FRANCISCA OWUSU
HOW DO YOU DEFINE YOURSELF?
I define myself as a strong black woman and a young mother. I had a difficult upbringing but I work hard to become the person I am today.
HOW STRONG IS THE GHANAIAN IDENTITY IN YOU?
It is strong but I still mix with people from other countries because I enjoy learning from different cultures.
HOW DO YOU IDENTIFY ANOTHER GHANAIAN PERSON?
The way I identify other Ghanaians is by their skin colour, their dark thick long hair and the respect they have.
HOW DO YOU FIND LIVING IN LONDON?
Living in London is very good. There is a lot of opportunities such as jobs but the crime rates is also scary.
ARE YOU CONNECTED TO THE GHANAIAN COMMUNITY? HOW?
The only Ghanaian event I go is Ghana Party in the Park because it involves family and culture.
WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE IN SOCIAL LIFE IN LONDON AND GHANA?
I think in London you have to work and it is hard to socialise while in Ghana you have more time and you can unite with friends and family more often.
DO YOU LIKE THE GHANAIAN CULTURE? WHAT DO YOU LIKE ABOUT IT? WHAT DO YOU DISLIKE ABOUT IT?
I definitely like the Ghanaian culture because it is base on strong human values. What I love about the culture is the dance, music, food, kente wear.What I dislike about the Ghanaian culture is their gods and idols worship.
IS THERE ANYTHING GHANAIAN WHICH YOU AVOID IN LONDON?
I try to avoid being too involved with many Ghanaian events as it something I could lead to problems.
IS THERE ANYTHING UNIQUE YOU MISS ABOUT GHANA?
I miss my family and the friendly environment that only Ghana has.
WILL YOU EVER GO BACK TO LIVE IN GHANA? WHY?
I think I will eventuality go back to live in Ghana as I think living in Europe is stressful. But I will have to make enough money to be able to make my own business in Ghana.
DID YOU FIND IT EASY TO INTERGRATE IN THE BRITISH SOCIETY? HOW DID YOU DO SO? WHAT CHALLENGES DID YOU FIND IN DOING SO?
I went to a school where the majority of students were from an African and Asian background therefore I didn't really meet many native British people in the beginning. So I don't think I have made any strong contact with any British person. I think the challenge people face in integrating is the fact that some areas are not very mixed so you end up socialising with people from your same background.
WHAT ABOUT THE BRITISH COMMUNITY YOU LIKE AND YOU DON'T LIKE?
I like how they are free to express themselves. What I don't like are some the rules they set in the work place that create a stressful environment for employees.
LOVIA BIRAGO
HOW DO YOU DEFINE YOURSELF?
I was born in Ghana and move to London to join my mum when I was 10 years old. I define myself as British Ghanaian because I use both culture's values and norms in my day to day.
HOW STRONG IS THE GHANAIAN IDENTITY IN YOU?
My Ghanaian identity is very strong and I am very proud to be Ghanaian. I love my culture, the food, the good values like respect everyone no matter their status.
HOW DO YOU IDENTIFY ANOTHER GHANAIAN PERSON?
There are different ways of identifying other Ghanaians. One is by asking which country they come from. Secondly we meet other Ghanaians in social gathering for example, Ghanaians parties, funerals, Ghanaian restaurant and social clubs as well as friends and families houses.
HOW DO YOU FIND LIVING IN LONDON?
I love living in London apart from the cold and raining weather, London is the best city to live in. London is mixing pot of different cultures and everyday I learn something different and because there are a lot of Ghanaians it sometimes feels like Ghana.
ARE YOU CONNECTED TO THE GHANAIAN COMMUNITY? HOW?
Yes, I am connected to the Ghanaian community. I meet them in social gatherings and at families and friend's parties.
WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE IN SOCIAL LIFE IN LONDON AND GHANA?
Social life in London is more about partying and not actually making a very strong connection. In Ghana it is possible to become close friend with people you only met on the street. This is because in Ghana there is more relax and peaceful approach to life.
DO YOU LIKE THE GHANAIAN CULTURE? WHAT DO YOU LIKE ABOUT IT? WHAT DO YOU DISLIKE ABOUT IT?
I love my Ghanaian roots and culture. Food, how parents raise their children, how family is at the heart of every household is what I particularly enjoy about my culture. However, there are things that I really dislike the fact that young girls cannot have boyfriend, which I find funny because they still go ahead with it. And it’s really hard to speak to your parents sometimes as they do not understand the British culture and they judge some of your actions as disobeying.
IS THERE ANYTHING GHANAIAN WHICH YOU AVOID IN LONDON?
Before when I was younger, I used to avoid using the mother tongue, which is Twi because I was embarrassed but now I do not avoid anything Ghanaian.
IS THERE ANYTHING UNIQUE YOU MISS ABOUT GHANA?
The unique thing I miss about Ghana is the sun and how friendly everyone is.
WILL YOU EVER GO BACK TO LIVE IN GHANA? WHY?
I don't think so, because I have grown up here and I want to build up a family here. Maybe in the future, but not now.
DID YOU FIND IT EASY TO INTEGRATE IN THE BRITISH SOCIETY? HOW DID YOU DO SO? WHAT CHALLENGES DID YOU FIND IN DOING SO?
I found it easy to integrate in the British society as I came here when I was very young. Going to school and learning thing about the British society facilitate my integration. The only challenged I face is at work where sometimes there is prejudice towards people from other countries.
WHAT ABOUT THE BRITISH COMMUNITY YOU LIKE AND YOU DON'T LIKE?
I like how they tend to promote equal opportunities what I don't like is the fact that they drink too much.
Working is very important for Ghanaians living in London as many of them support not just their family in London but also relatives living in Ghana.
For many Ghanaians without a valid UK qualification most of them are involved in uskilled jobs such as cleaning or agriculture jobs.
The younger generation of people from Ghana studies to achieve a qualification which can help them to get a skill work. Many of them study to university level.
Ghanaians Londoners women generally study nursing in higher education while men prefer business related subjects.
Many Ghanaians who have been in London for more than 20 years tend to have their own businesses. One of the most successful business is Uncle John's Bakery, which is a family enterprise in Seven Sisters (North London) that has been running for more than 20 years. This video gives a brief history of the idea of making a Ghanaian bakery in London.
FLAVIA ASANTE
HOW DO YOU DEFINE YOURSELF?
I define myself as a strong minded female that is aware of her flaws and fighting everyday to keep myself motivated
HOW STRONG IS THE GHANAIAN IDENTITY IN YOU?
It is pretty much the predominant identity I have , even thought I was born in Italy I feel like if it came down to choice I'd choose Ghana without second guessing.
HOW DO YOU IDENTIFY ANOTHER GHANAIAN PERSON?
There are few features or a certain skin tone or attitude or popular hairstyle that make me associate a person as Ghanaian.
HOW DO YOU FIND LIVING IN LONDON?
I don' t currently live in london am in the midlands birmingham , is a predominatly jamaican town so I sometimes feel like a fish out of water. I would like to move to London as there are more job opportunities and the city seem very interesting.
ARE YOU CONNECTED TO THE GHANAIAN COMMUNITY? HOW?
Not really. I sometimes attend some Ghanaian events but it is not something I do often.
WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE IN SOCIAL LIFE IN LONDON AND GHANA?
I think London seem more like a very busy place to live so people are always in rush while Ghana is more calm and people have more time to connect to each other.
DO YOU LIKE THE GHANAIAN CULTURE? WHAT DO YOU LIKE ABOUT IT? WHAT DO YOU DISLIKE ABOUT IT?
Yes i love it , the food the tradition the family morals and the ethics that have been passed throught generations is what I like the most. But, females are still looked down as object and is still taking time to snap out of old ways , and the country is not developing as fast due to political curroption.
IS THERE ANYTHING GHANAIAN WHICH YOU AVOID IN LONDON?
I tried to stay away from gossip that exist inthe Ghanaian community.
IS THERE ANYTHING UNIQUE YOU MISS ABOUT GHANA?
Close family members and just the vybe you get when you land
WILL YOU EVER GO BACK TO LIVE IN GHANA? WHY?
If I had a stable job or opened my own business I will go tomorrow
DID YOU FIND IT EASY TO INTEGRATE IN THE BRITISH SOCIETY? HOW DID YOU DO SO? WHAT CHALLENGES DID YOU FIND IN DOING SO?
I struggled at first especially school days , I just relied on God and my own mental strengh and adjuseted to it the way of life, food and family is more rushed and stressful.
WHAT ABOUT THE BRITISH COMMUNITY YOU LIKE AND YOU DON'T LIKE?
I like that it is a develop country where everything is more or less technological. What I dislike is the way people dont want to work and rely on the country tax money way to much.