Karin Altmann and Nana Opoku
Finally, we returned to Wa to spend time with Mariam, who again demonstrated her spinning techniques and shared stories of learning this art from older family members. She was accompanied by her brother, Karimo Mahama, a highly talented weaver. Meeting Mariam in her home region gave us deeper insight into the environmental, cultural, and social factors that shaped her dedication to spinning.
Mariam spins her cotton with such beauty, fineness, and regularity rarely found today. Her expertise and passion continue to guide our research, fueling our commitment to protect these invaluable threads of Ghana’s heritage.
Her biggest problem remains that she can’t find young people willing to learn from her. By the end of the project, she was no longer able to spin. It had become too strenuous for her.
