Collaborate and contribute to a monumental tapestry about the Dutch Slavery past. From Tuesday 27 May to the first week of July is the Cultural Geography Chair Group at Wageningen University and Research the host and coordinator for the making of a piece of the tapestry of the project ‘Threads of our Dutch Slavery Past’. … Continue reading Join in at Wageningen! Threads of our Dutch Slavery Past (Draden van ons Nederlands Slavernijverleden) – Gelderland edition
This fact took me entirely by surprise: the land size of Namibia is about 3.5x the land size of Ghana. It was a wow moment for me, especially given that there are some 33 million people in Ghana while Namibia has just under 3.5 million according to their most recent census. I was having a … Continue reading Namib Notes III: From Katutura to Matutura: place names and (post)colonial spatial planning
On my first Monday of fieldwork, I managed to be up bright and early in order to catch the Free Guided Walking Tour of Windhoek. It was an interesting tour led by a young lady (Yvette) who had just started in this role back in February. She took us along the main highlights of downtown … Continue reading Namib Notes II: Aweh!, mind those Robots! Yoh! before you turn into Pap!
Well, it's technically not too windy but Windy Windhoek does make for a nice alliterative title for the post - if you get what I mean :). While it might not be too windy, Windhoek is quite the hilly city which can only be good for my love of walking. I arrived in the storied … Continue reading Namib Notes: Welcome to Windy Windhoek
1st April is beginning to feel like one of my favourite dates. Some pretty significant milestones of my professional life has been marked by this 1st April date - and it's no joke 😉 This is especially in relation to my academic career trajectory in the Netherlands. Prior to my transition from being a professional … Continue reading FRICTIONS starts today!: lift-off time for my ERC Starting Grant project (Frictions of space: the generative tensions of slavery and colonial heritage tourism)
Today 1st January 2025 marks my official promotion to the position of Associate Professor in the Cultural Geography Chairgroup at Wageningen University and Research. This makes it is exactly 4.5 years since I entered the Tenure Track system at the Assistant Professor 2 level -and some 5.7 years since relocating from Sheffield Hallam University as … Continue reading Associate Professor: storytelling and the tourism geographies of slavery and colonial heritage
Then King David went in and sat [in prayer] before the LORD, and said, “Who am I, O Lord GOD, and what is my house (family), that You have brought me this far? (2 Samuel 7:18 Amplified Version of The Holy Bible) What an incredible year it has been for me and my family! The … Continue reading December to Remember: Afehyia Pa ooo
There is always a season of weeding, planting, watering and caring before the season of harvest arrives. It's nice to have finally received the harvest of the collaborative work that went into developing this book chapter for the edited volume of the Routledge Handbook of Critical African Heritage Studies. Our chapter examines "The sustainability question … Continue reading [New book chapter published!] The Sustainability Question in Heritage Tourism Development in Africa
The completion of my NWO Veni project calls for a celebration, marking the end of my research journey through Ghana, Suriname, and the Netherlands. In 11 weeks, I will host a commemorative event titled "The Calabash Onder de Bigi Bon," inspired by Dr. Afua Twum-Danso Imoh, who previously organized an event called "The Calabash." This gathering will feature a screening of the film (edumentary) I created based on my project. The event is scheduled for December 6, 2024, in Wageningen, and registration details will be provided soon.
The final part of the Peruvian adventure details a four-day mountain hike culminating in Machu Picchu, a site of Inca ruins. The experience is described as both a climax and an anti-climax due to the overwhelming crowds upon arrival. The author recommends the Classic 4 Days/3 Nights Inca Trail Hike with a local tour operator and reflects on the formation of strong friendships within the hiking group. The journey itself is highlighted, with challenges faced at high altitudes, and the beauty of the natural surroundings is deeply appreciated.
Emmanuel Akwasi Adu-Ampong 