Asase Ba is a podcast that shines light on Ghanaian stories that are often untold or silenced.
Season 1 features conversations with various Ghanaians about being queer, mental health, traditional spirituality, and more. Listen to all episodes of season 1 now or on your favourite podcast platforms.
In the Season 1 finale of Asase Ba, Aunty Madam joins Michelle to discuss her childhood growing up in Kumasi, her dreams of being a newscaster, becoming a teacher in Ghana, boarding school experiences, immigrating to Canada in 1975, discrimination she faced as an immigrant, her love of fashion, words of wisdom for the youth, and much more.
Amma Gyamfowa joins Michelle to discuss mental health as it relates to Ghanaian Canadian people. They also discuss the state of mental health conversations in the Ghanaian Toronto community, stigma surrounding therapy, alternative ways Ghanaians can approach mental health counselling, addressing familial elders who are experiencing mental health challenges, the role of spirituality and religion in mental health, and much more.
Olivia joins host Michelle to discuss her experiences as a queer Ghanaian woman, bisexuality, biphobia, the nuances of having a romantic and or sexual attraction towards women, her relationship to church, redefining her relationship with God, publishing authentic work while not out, dating when living with family, writing as a de-stressing outlet, sexual health and safety, and much more.
Ayo joins Michelle to discuss divination, manifestation, and connecting with ancestors. They also chat about Yoruba divination, stigmas associated with traditional African spirituality, colonial propaganda, religious syncretism as it relates to Islam and Yoruba divination, and much more.
Theatre artist Tawiah joins Michelle to discuss his experiences as a queer Ghanaian man, growing up in Ghana as a queer boy, immigrating to Canada at the age of 14, his work as a theatre artist, finding work in the theatre world as a Ghanaian immigrant, creating work in order to be seen , truths he wants to tell the world, his personal relationship with God, finding language in Twi to describe queerness and much more.
Welcome to Asase Ba! In this minisode, host and producer Michelle introduces herself, talks about the meaning of "Asase Ba", her inspiration behind the podcast, oral tradition, and amplifying the voices of folks whose stories are often untold. Join in on the conversation! Use the hashtag #AsaseBaPod.
