{"id":802,"date":"2025-02-27T22:01:12","date_gmt":"2025-02-27T20:01:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/spinningstories.uni-ak.ac.at\/?p=802"},"modified":"2026-04-15T00:10:56","modified_gmt":"2026-04-14T22:10:56","slug":"interview-with-mariam-the-last-spinner-of-wa-upper-west-region-of-ghana","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/spinningstories.uni-ak.ac.at\/index.php\/2025\/02\/27\/interview-with-mariam-the-last-spinner-of-wa-upper-west-region-of-ghana\/","title":{"rendered":"Interview with spinner Mariam &#8211; Wa \/ Upper West Region of Ghana"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Karin Altmann and Nana Opoku<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns alignwide is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:25%\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/spinningstories.uni-ak.ac.at\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/IMG_7711-768x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-806\" srcset=\"https:\/\/spinningstories.uni-ak.ac.at\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/IMG_7711-768x1024.jpg 768w, https:\/\/spinningstories.uni-ak.ac.at\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/IMG_7711-225x300.jpg 225w, https:\/\/spinningstories.uni-ak.ac.at\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/IMG_7711-1152x1536.jpg 1152w, https:\/\/spinningstories.uni-ak.ac.at\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/IMG_7711-1536x2048.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/spinningstories.uni-ak.ac.at\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/IMG_7711-1240x1653.jpg 1240w, https:\/\/spinningstories.uni-ak.ac.at\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/IMG_7711-508x677.jpg 508w, https:\/\/spinningstories.uni-ak.ac.at\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/IMG_7711-scaled.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" src=\"https:\/\/spinningstories.uni-ak.ac.at\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/IMG_7739-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-813\" srcset=\"https:\/\/spinningstories.uni-ak.ac.at\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/IMG_7739-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/spinningstories.uni-ak.ac.at\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/IMG_7739-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/spinningstories.uni-ak.ac.at\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/IMG_7739-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/spinningstories.uni-ak.ac.at\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/IMG_7739-1536x1152.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/spinningstories.uni-ak.ac.at\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/IMG_7739-2048x1536.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/spinningstories.uni-ak.ac.at\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/IMG_7739-1240x930.jpg 1240w, https:\/\/spinningstories.uni-ak.ac.at\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/IMG_7739-508x381.jpg 508w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/spinningstories.uni-ak.ac.at\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/IMG_7736-768x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-811\" srcset=\"https:\/\/spinningstories.uni-ak.ac.at\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/IMG_7736-768x1024.jpg 768w, https:\/\/spinningstories.uni-ak.ac.at\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/IMG_7736-225x300.jpg 225w, https:\/\/spinningstories.uni-ak.ac.at\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/IMG_7736-1152x1536.jpg 1152w, https:\/\/spinningstories.uni-ak.ac.at\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/IMG_7736-1536x2048.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/spinningstories.uni-ak.ac.at\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/IMG_7736-1240x1653.jpg 1240w, https:\/\/spinningstories.uni-ak.ac.at\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/IMG_7736-508x677.jpg 508w, https:\/\/spinningstories.uni-ak.ac.at\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/IMG_7736-scaled.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" src=\"https:\/\/spinningstories.uni-ak.ac.at\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/IMG_7827-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-818\" srcset=\"https:\/\/spinningstories.uni-ak.ac.at\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/IMG_7827-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/spinningstories.uni-ak.ac.at\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/IMG_7827-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/spinningstories.uni-ak.ac.at\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/IMG_7827-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/spinningstories.uni-ak.ac.at\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/IMG_7827-1536x1152.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/spinningstories.uni-ak.ac.at\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/IMG_7827-2048x1536.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/spinningstories.uni-ak.ac.at\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/IMG_7827-1240x930.jpg 1240w, https:\/\/spinningstories.uni-ak.ac.at\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/IMG_7827-508x381.jpg 508w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:25%\">\n<p>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.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" src=\"https:\/\/spinningstories.uni-ak.ac.at\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/IMG_7698-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-804\" srcset=\"https:\/\/spinningstories.uni-ak.ac.at\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/IMG_7698-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/spinningstories.uni-ak.ac.at\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/IMG_7698-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/spinningstories.uni-ak.ac.at\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/IMG_7698-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/spinningstories.uni-ak.ac.at\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/IMG_7698-1536x1152.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/spinningstories.uni-ak.ac.at\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/IMG_7698-2048x1536.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/spinningstories.uni-ak.ac.at\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/IMG_7698-1240x930.jpg 1240w, https:\/\/spinningstories.uni-ak.ac.at\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/IMG_7698-508x381.jpg 508w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>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\u2019s heritage.<\/p>\n<p>Her biggest problem remains that she can&#8217;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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" src=\"https:\/\/spinningstories.uni-ak.ac.at\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/IMG_7841-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-846\" srcset=\"https:\/\/spinningstories.uni-ak.ac.at\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/IMG_7841-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/spinningstories.uni-ak.ac.at\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/IMG_7841-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/spinningstories.uni-ak.ac.at\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/IMG_7841-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/spinningstories.uni-ak.ac.at\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/IMG_7841-1536x1152.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/spinningstories.uni-ak.ac.at\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/IMG_7841-2048x1536.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/spinningstories.uni-ak.ac.at\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/IMG_7841-1240x930.jpg 1240w, https:\/\/spinningstories.uni-ak.ac.at\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/IMG_7841-508x381.jpg 508w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:150px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:45%\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/spinningstories.uni-ak.ac.at\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/IMG_7851-768x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-820\" srcset=\"https:\/\/spinningstories.uni-ak.ac.at\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/IMG_7851-768x1024.jpg 768w, https:\/\/spinningstories.uni-ak.ac.at\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/IMG_7851-225x300.jpg 225w, https:\/\/spinningstories.uni-ak.ac.at\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/IMG_7851-1152x1536.jpg 1152w, https:\/\/spinningstories.uni-ak.ac.at\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/IMG_7851-1536x2048.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/spinningstories.uni-ak.ac.at\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/IMG_7851-1240x1654.jpg 1240w, https:\/\/spinningstories.uni-ak.ac.at\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/IMG_7851-508x677.jpg 508w, https:\/\/spinningstories.uni-ak.ac.at\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/IMG_7851-scaled.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large is-style-default\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"856\" src=\"https:\/\/spinningstories.uni-ak.ac.at\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/IMG_7885-1024x856.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-823\" srcset=\"https:\/\/spinningstories.uni-ak.ac.at\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/IMG_7885-1024x856.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/spinningstories.uni-ak.ac.at\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/IMG_7885-300x251.jpg 300w, https:\/\/spinningstories.uni-ak.ac.at\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/IMG_7885-768x642.jpg 768w, https:\/\/spinningstories.uni-ak.ac.at\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/IMG_7885-1536x1283.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/spinningstories.uni-ak.ac.at\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/IMG_7885-2048x1711.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/spinningstories.uni-ak.ac.at\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/IMG_7885-1240x1036.jpg 1240w, https:\/\/spinningstories.uni-ak.ac.at\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/IMG_7885-508x424.jpg 508w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" src=\"https:\/\/spinningstories.uni-ak.ac.at\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/IMG_7877-1-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-824\" srcset=\"https:\/\/spinningstories.uni-ak.ac.at\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/IMG_7877-1-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/spinningstories.uni-ak.ac.at\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/IMG_7877-1-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/spinningstories.uni-ak.ac.at\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/IMG_7877-1-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/spinningstories.uni-ak.ac.at\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/IMG_7877-1-1536x1152.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/spinningstories.uni-ak.ac.at\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/IMG_7877-1-2048x1536.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/spinningstories.uni-ak.ac.at\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/IMG_7877-1-1240x930.jpg 1240w, https:\/\/spinningstories.uni-ak.ac.at\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/IMG_7877-1-508x381.jpg 508w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>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 [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":812,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[25,19,9,24,16,36,20],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-802","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-cotton","category-cotton-spinning","category-ghana","category-interview","category-research","category-spinning","category-textile-heritage"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/spinningstories.uni-ak.ac.at\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/802","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/spinningstories.uni-ak.ac.at\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/spinningstories.uni-ak.ac.at\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/spinningstories.uni-ak.ac.at\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/spinningstories.uni-ak.ac.at\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=802"}],"version-history":[{"count":13,"href":"https:\/\/spinningstories.uni-ak.ac.at\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/802\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1433,"href":"https:\/\/spinningstories.uni-ak.ac.at\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/802\/revisions\/1433"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/spinningstories.uni-ak.ac.at\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/812"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/spinningstories.uni-ak.ac.at\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=802"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/spinningstories.uni-ak.ac.at\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=802"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/spinningstories.uni-ak.ac.at\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=802"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}