The Heritage Lottery Fund has awarded a grant of £53,700 to Living God International Bible Ministry (LGIBM). The Heritage Theme of the project is the role of the ‘Extended Family System’ in the Ashanti Culture and its significance to the cultural beliefs, practices, social customs and traditions followed in the Ampabame Village (and other areas of the Ashanti Region in Ghana).

This 12 months pilot project led by volunteers will research and document all of the following Ashanti Heritage Sub Themes and Social Customs that are related to Parenting, Marriage, Birth, Death, Family Life, Cultural Beliefs and Practices and the use of Cultural Objects in family life. The project will also cover how the visual symbols that are designed on Ashanti Fabric Textiles/Costumes (e.g. ‘Adinkra’ and ‘Kente’ Cloths) are linked to the meaning and interpretation of cultural values and proverbs (Folk Stories). The research will culminate in a Project Website page, Ashanti Culture Day Event, two Ashanti Heritage Education Day Trips, a Mobile Exhibition Tour of Archive Photographs of Ashanti Culture, Oral History interviews and the production of a new multi-format e-book about the role of the ‘Extended Family System in Ashanti Culture’.
The grant award will enable LGIBM to deliver a new 12 months heritage project that will cover a range of educational aspects and raise awareness about the traditional role of the ‘Extended Family System’ in Ashanti Culture and its continued relevance in the 21st Century. Volunteers from different ethnic communities living in Newham, and other parts of London, will be provided with new learning opportunities to explore the cultural traditions of the British Museum’s collections, workshop sessions, and oral history recording culminating in a 4 months touring exhibition, 3 events and a new multi format e-book.
Commenting on the award, Dennis Mensah of LGIBM said ‘’ We are honoured to receive a grant award of £53,700 from the Heritage Lottery Fund. This will enable us to deliver a project that will ensure a wider range of people are involved in participating in activities and making decisions about Ashanti Heritage. The British Museum, Oral History Society, Aston Mansfield (Community Involvement Unit) and African Youth Organisation will be involved in the delivery of the project.

For further information please contact:
Dennis Mensah (General Manager of LGIBM) on 0208 534 1570 or 07956 292 204. E-Mail: yaw196530@yahoo.co.uk