My City Cape Coast: Ghana's destination for history, culture and adventure

DW (English)

From the iconic Elmina Castle to the lush Kakum National Park, Cape Coast, Ghana, is a hub of history, adventure, and local culture. Artist, Yaw Black, showcases the best of his hometown, from fishing traditions to mouthwatering Fanti cuisine.

Transcript

00:00Hello, beautiful people. My name is Yao Black, a singer, songwriter and a recording artist from Ghana, West Africa.

00:05And I'm about to show you my beautiful city of Cape Coast.

00:08This is my city.

00:10The historic market and port city of Cape Coast in Ghana is a landmark for any weary traveler.

00:17Yao Black is just one of its over 170,000 proud residents.

00:22The singer starts his tour a few kilometers outside town in the cherished Kakum National Park.

00:30So this is the entry point to the Kakum Canopy Walk.

00:33And like we say in Chi, Akwaba. Let's do this.

00:38Kakum became Ghana's first protected conservation area in 1931.

00:43It hosts endangered wildlife like forest elephants, buffalo and primates.

00:50The beginning height is around 11 feet and when you get to the highest point, it's about 45 meters above sea level.

00:57It's getting real.

00:59Ah, really funky.

01:02Thousands of people visit Kakum each year to experience the breathtaking canopy walkway.

01:08And for Yao Black, it is especially special.

01:12We're at the highest point now. It doesn't get any better than this.

01:16So I made one of my music videos here.

01:20And it's just to represent where I'm coming from.

01:24I'm very proud of my heritage as a Ghanaian and especially being from Cape Coast.

01:28Next, we head to the sea to visit Elmina Castle, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

01:34Built in the 15th century by the Portuguese, it played a major role in the transatlantic slave trade.

01:41Now it's open to visitors to learn more about the history of the island.

01:45Elmina Castle has become somewhat of a pilgrimage site for members of the African diaspora who trace their roots back to the slave trade.

01:54Close by, the old town of Kakum is a unique place to visit.

01:59It's a place to get to know the history of the island.

02:02It's a place to learn about the history of the island.

02:04You can learn about the history of the island and the history of the island.

02:08Close by, the old fish market still bustles.

02:11Countless generations have continued the time-honored traditions of fishing and fish curing.

02:17The youth here are ready to put their energy into something productive.

02:21They are all going fishing, trying to make an earnest means from what's the most common economic gain in the region.

02:28We are not done. Let's go get some amazing delicacy from around.

02:32Keep it up.

02:33One local delicacy Yao Black wants us to taste is Fanti Kenke.

02:37Made from fermented corn, rubbed with dried plantain leaves, and then steamed to perfection.

02:46You can have it with Fanti Fanti, which is also a local delicacy made from fresh fish, tomatoes, and palm oil.

02:54With a full belly, Yao Black is ready to go.

02:57Made from fresh fish, tomatoes, and palm oil.

03:01With a full belly, Yao Black shows us the existential threat to Cape Coast.

03:06The region used to boast some of Ghana's most stunning beaches,

03:10but coastal erosion and pollution is threatening livelihoods and homes.

03:14The shore around Cape Coast has been fortified with rock wave breakers,

03:18and Yao Black hopes this is just the first step in rehabilitating this iconic city's coastal heritage.

03:24We want a better Cape Coast for all of us, and Cape Coast won't be better for just me.

03:30When there's more cleanliness, when there's a more serene environment,

03:35the tourists that will come in will serve as an avenue for me to sell my music.

03:40There are other entrepreneurs in and around.

03:42If we can all come together to push one single agenda,

03:45it will be very easy for us to be able to sell the brand Cape Coast

03:49and make it one of the top tourist destinations in the whole world.

03:54For more UN videos visit www.un.org

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