Spinning Stories - Living Archives

Continuity and Innovation of a Vanishing Textile Heritage

Expert Exchange – Walisu Alhassan, Tamale / Northern Region of Ghana

Karin Altmann and Nana Opoku

© Walisu Alhassan

After the initial setback, we met with a community organizer named Walisu, who has devoted himself passionately to preserving organic cotton farming and hand spinning in the Northern Region.

Talking with him, we gained insights into the reality of the farmers and spinners who, amidst economic and cultural shifts, are struggling to maintain this tradition. Today, almost no cotton is grown in Ghana.

Walisu attempted to grow organic cotton with a small group of women. The land available to him would have yielded around 600 kg of conventionally grown cotton, but only 200 kg of organic cotton. And since there was no rain, they harvested only 2 kg.

© Walisu Alhassan

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