Weaving Peace: How Supporting Traditional Craft Builds Bridges in Northern Ghana
At Twenty One Tonnes, we believe that handcrafted objects have a unique ability to connect us not only to the artisans who create them but also to their broader community and cultural contexts. Our partnership with the Sirigu Women’s Organization for Pottery and Art (SWOPA) in northern Ghana is an example of this, and demonstrates how supporting traditional craft can contribute to peacebuilding and community resilience.
In addition to their main project of preserving traditional craft and providing economic opportunities for local women, SWOPA also actively engages in peacebuilding initiatives within their region. As SWOPA Manager Bridget Akasise Adongo explains, “If there is no peace, there can never be any development...if there is war...all that will be useless.”
In Northern Ghana, violent conflicts between different ethnic groups are often rooted in competition over land ownership, traditional power (chieftaincy), and political representation.
In response to these local conflicts, one of SWOPA’s most impactful projects (funded by the Canada Fund for Local Initiatives) focuses on leveraging intermarriages as a tool for peacebuilding. The project recognizes the unique position of women who are married into different communities, known as “Poyaasi” in the Gurune language, and their children, known as “Isi.” These women and their children form a crucial bridge between communities, holding a vested interest in maintaining harmony between their birth communities and their married communities.
Akasise explains that women have traditionally played a vital role as peacemakers. Because they have ties to both sides of potential conflicts, they are uniquely positioned to mediate and facilitate dialogue.
SWOPA brings these women together, empowering them to promote peace within their families and communities. They work to resolve conflicts, mediate disputes, and even facilitate intercommunity relationships, such as when a woman from one community wishes to marry into another. Their influence helps to navigate complex social dynamics and prevent potential conflicts from escalating.
The impact of this project has been significant. In the Kassena-Nankana West District and Kassena-Nankana Municipality, where intercommunal tensions have previously led to violent disruptions, women and children can now move freely and safely between communities, fostering greater social cohesion.
By investing in women’s empowerment, cultural preservation, and peacebuilding initiatives, SWOPA is not only preserving traditional craft but also building stronger, more resilient communities.
At Twenty One Tonnes, we are honored to partner with SWOPA and support their multifaceted work. By purchasing their handcrafted basketry and lighting, you are not only acquiring a beautiful, unique object but also contributing to a larger effort to promote peace, empower women, and preserve cultural heritage in northern Ghana.
