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Calabash: Symbol of Ghanaian culture, pride
FOR generations, the calabash, a dried gourd shell known for its versatility, has remained an integral part of Ghanaian culture and tradition.
Native to Africa and widely used across tropical and subtropical regions, the calabash (Lagenaria siceraria or Crescentia cujete) has served as a container, utensil, musical instrument resonator, and decorative piece.
From Nigeria to Senegal, The Gambia to Mali, and across Ghana, it has carried water, stored food, and shaped instruments such as rattles and harps.
Cultural significance
In Ghana, the calabash symbolises nourishment, resilience, wisdom, and life.
• The calabash fruit
ments showcased internationally, including Berlin Fashion Week 2025, blending tradition with innovation.
Eco-friendly packaging: Skincare brand, Nokware, uses calabash shells for soaps and cleansers, merging tradition with sustainable luxury.
This trend is also part of a broader movement toward sustainable fashion. As a natural, biodegradable material, calabash offers an eco-friendly alternative to synthetics.
Preserving heritage
Mr Godson Lucky Tome, Director of the Centre for National Culture in Krachi East, stressed the importance of safeguarding calabash-making.
He stated that: “The calabash is a symbol of our cultural identity, and we must continue to promote and preserve it for future generations.”
Efforts by artisans and cultural institutions are ensuring that calabash-making remains vibrant, blending tradition with innovation.
A lasting symbol
calabash offcuts.
Lecturer Patience Dedume of the Department of Fashion Design and Textiles of the Ho Technical University, highlighted its versatility.
She indicated that: “Today, calabash is used in accessories, garment construction, and even beauty packaging, bridging cultural heritage with modern sustainable design.”
The calabash can be seen in jewelry and adornment, necklaces, earrings; bangles carved from calabash.
It is more than a household tool; it is a cultural emblem woven into ceremonies, rituals, and everyday living.
Nana Kwame Agyeman, linguist of the Akroso Traditional Council, explained: “Calabash is more than just a container; it is a symbol of our tradition and cultural heritage. No ritual undertaking is concluded without it.”
Weddings, funerals, and rites of passage often feature the calabash as a sign of unity and continuity.
Commerce and community
Beyond rituals, the calabash plays a vital role in local trade.
Palmwine Seller, Togbe Azanda of the Kparekpare community, said: “We use it to serve palm wine to our customers — it represents hospitality and generosity.”
Similarly, Madam Rita Akua Serwaa, Pito brewer in Dambai Old Town, praised the practicality of the calabash.
She said: “The calabash keeps the drink fresh and even adds to its flavour. Its use fosters social cohesion, bringing people together during celebrations and times of mourning, while teaching values of cooperation and community living.”
Fashion and innovation
The calabash’s journey from ritual vessel to runway accessory reflects a broader movement to reclaim indigenous materials as markers of pride and identity.
Designers such as the late Kofi Ansah pioneered its use in high fashion, while contemporary brands like Adjeley craft bold jewelry from recycled
• Calabash used as a handbag for women
In the textile industry, it is used for tools: Stamps for Adinkra cloth printing, carrying symbolic meanings.
In high fashion: Avant-garde garments showcased internationally.
From ritual ceremonies to modern fashion runways, from palm wine sellers to luxury skincare brands, the calabash continues to inspire and educate.
It stands as a lasting symbol of Ghana’s rich cultural heritage — a humble gourd that embodies tradition, creativity and sustainability, echoing tradition to exotic resource.
A GNA Feature by Kingsley Mamore
THE East Legon enclave in the Greater Accra Region is noted for housing the influential and affluent in society.
The area is synonymous with luxury mansions and ‘big-time’ businesses.
But within the same territory lies ‘Mempeasem,’ a community with a striking contradiction; it tells a totally different story.
‘Mempeasem’ translates from Twi, a local dialect, to “I don’t want trouble,” but the reality, however, is that the neighborhood is currently defined by a troubling disconnect between the admired reputation and its deteriorating infrastructure.
After publishing concerns expressed by a student in its ‘Write to the Editor’ column, The Spectator followed up to present detailed scenes of the sanitation problems in the area.
Residents are increasingly vocal about the lack of drainage systems, a deficiency that turns moderate rainfall into a logistical nightmare.
Without engineered channels for runoff, water settles in stagnant pools, eventually eroding roads.
The irony is sharp: billion-cedi homes often stand adjacent to clogged gutters and makeshift refuse sites.
The lack of public sanitation facilities and a centralised sewage system means that the environmental health of the area is constantly under threat, undermining the quality of life for its high-net-worth inhabitants and local workers alike.
Beyond waste and water, the community faces a broader infrastructure deficit.
Concerns about the prevalence of wooden structures in close proximity to refuse dump sites, where waste material is burnt, were raised; it’s a recipe for disaster.
The situation in Mempeasem is detrimental to public health and safety and serves as a wake-up call for urban planners and local authorities.
By Spectator Reporter
REDEEMED Baptist Church (RBC), located at Ogbojo in the La Nkwantanang–Madina Municipal Assembly (LANMMA), Madina, has marked its Old School Sunday as part of its Ghana Month celebrations, with members beautifully dressed in vintage and free-style African attire.
The service featured a sermon on “The Role of the Church in Nation Building and Economic Development,” highlighting the church’s vital role in shaping values, promoting integrity and contributing to national growth.
The celebration seamlessly blended culture and faith, reinforcing the impact of Christian living on Ghana’s development.
RBC has dedicated the month of March to the celebration of Ghana, a period of reflection on the nation’s heritage and the role of Christian values in national development.
Led by the Pastorate and organised by the church’s Ghana Month Committee, the initiative brings together members of the congregation to celebrate Ghana’s culture while examining how faith can positively influence patriotism, leadership, and community life.
The celebration is being held under the theme: ‘Making Room for Jesus in Our Culture and Tradition for Nation Building.’
Throughout the month, Sunday teachings focus on topics such as Christianity and Patriotism, Christianity in the Context of Our Culture and Tradition, The Role of the Church in Nation Building and Economic Development, Transforming the Nation through a Transformed Lifestyle, and The Impact of Our Mother Tongue in Interpreting the Great Commission.
The members of the Ghana Month committee are Rev. Abu Ibrahim, Senior Associate Pastor of RBC; Mrs Audrey Azinogo, Chairperson; Ms Sackeybea Botchway, Organiser; Mr Maxwell Kofi Alorwornu, Mr Bright Nyarko Obeng, Mr Witfield Kwablah, and Mr Emmanuel Som Ntow.
By Spectator Reporter
