Batik-Dyeing Amid the Goats

On Sunday afternoon, we went to Mankessim to the home of Sister Juliana, an artist who designed the Heritage Academy cloth from which dress uniforms are made. Her home would be considered middle class by Ghanaian standards. Not only did it have a TV antenna, but there was actually a TV (many antennae mounted on roofs are simply status symbols). We learned that Juliiana also owns a computer which she uses to create images for her wax designs. For four hours, we sat in the courtyard and watched the laborious process of batik-wax dyeing, taking part in creating the design when invited, and taking enjoyment from the children peering over the fence, the goats trampling on the cloth spread out to dry, the skittish kitten that seemed to be a pet, and the plodding sounds off sheep passing by.