For the Frafra people of Ghana, wealth lies in preserving a traditional lifestyle of farming and honoring the family.
The Frafra live in north and northeastern Ghana and share a common language and lifestyle.
Ghana's frequent droughts and diverse terrain, which includes savannas, swamps, and woodlands, make farming difficult in Ghana. But the Frafra are resourceful farmers. They take advantage of the rivers crisscrossing northern Ghana's Ashanti Uplands, including the White Volta, to irrigate their crops.
Tribe in Odumasi, Ghana.
The Frafra take pride in working the land and living almost entirely off of their labors. They farm peanuts, yams, sorghum, and millet, and raise cows and goats. Frafra women also grow cash crops such as sesame and tobacco, which they sell in local markets. The Frafra practice slash-and-burn agriculture, farming their fields for six to eight years, then allowing them to lie fallow. During the dry season, Frafra men may hunt to supplement their diet.
Family life is paramount for the Frafra. Extended families live together in mud and plaster hut compounds. After a long day's work in the fields, families celebrate together with music, dance, and frequent festivals.
Frafra take pride in working the land and living almost entirely off of their labors.
The Frafra lead a simple lifestyle. They find wealth in preserving their traditions and quality of life. For the Frafra, family and farming bring a wealth of purpose to life.