About Us

Learn about why, how, and when Yenkassa was founded.

"Until The Lion Learns How to Tell Its Story, The Hunter Will Always Be The Victor"

Screen Shot 2022-04-16 at 9.30.37 PM
Screen Shot 2022-04-16 at 9.31.26 PM

Why Yenkassa

Yenkassa is a collaborative storytelling platform that seeks to preserve histories, customs, and traditions that are being lost to the demise of oral storytelling traditions in Sub-Sahara Africa. Stories (videos, audio, and photographs) are collected from the older generation and shared with the youth to create a learning experience that encourages cross-cultural inclusive learning. Yenkassa means “Let’s Speak” in Twi, the Akan language of the Asantes in Ghana, West Africa.

Background Story

Why this project?

In Africa, when an old person dies, it’s like a library going up in flames”_ Malian writer and ethnologist, Amadou Hampâté Bâ. This quote is synonymous with our mission to collect stories from older-generation Africans. For Sub-Sahara Africans, it wasn’t the norm to write down their history they depended on oral storytelling traditions to pass information from one generation to the other. Over time, factors such as immigration, technology, and socio-economic challenges have contributed to the demise of oral storytelling. The younger generation whom these stories are intended for is distracted and disinterested in traditions/structures that facilitate oral storytelling. The storytellers are simply left without a platform and an audience so we are losing relevant information. Yenkassa’s goal is not to only save stories lost to the dying art of oral storytelling but also to inculcate a sense of cultural pride and confidence in the next generation. The vision is to engage learners across the globe with these stories—the more we learn about other cultures/societies the better we understand, respect, and peacefully co-exist.

How do we do it?

Yenkassa employs some of the same modern technological tools that have contributed to the demise of oral storytelling traditions. Stories/information is collected via 1st person (video, audio) interviews, online user submissions, photography, image scans, etc.

Matey Odonkor

Founding Director

Matey Odonkor is a Product Designer (UX/UI) whose work involves bridging cultural gaps by employing a diverse range of design tools, innovative media technology, and social interaction networks. He holds a BFA in Graphic Design from Massachusetts College of Art (Massart), an MFA in Digital Media from Rhode Island School of Design (RISD), and a Collegiate Teaching Certificate from Brown University Sheridan Center for Teaching and Learning. He is the recipient of various awards including Presidential Scholar at both Massart and RISD.

He is the co-founder of Ghana ThinkTank, an international network of think tanks from 3rd world countries solving problems for the developed world. His work includes installations such as Nervana (RISD), and Unfamiliar Voices (Rhode Island Convention Center). He has collaborated on projects such as OptiLife (Microsoft Design Challenge, Seattle, WA), and Ionic Wallpaper (Martha Stewart Living/RISD/ICFF, NY). Matey has worked in various design capacities for some of the most prestigious companies and organizations such as EMC2, PBS/WGBH Educational Foundation, Fidelity Investments, Athenahealth, and the Nelson Mandela Children’s Fund.

telling

our

stories

Collaborators

Yenkassa collaborates with content makers, producers, filmmakers, storytellers, etc. from Africa and the diaspora.

Matey Odonkor

Matey Odonkor

Founding Director

Eyetsa Ocloo

Eyetsa Ocloo

Storyteller/Resource

Fabiola Opare-Darko

Fabiola Opare-Darko

Storyteller

Ephraim Asiedu

Ephraim Asiedu

Film/Photography

Frimpong Manso Adakabre

Frimpong Manso Adakabre

Storyteller

Nomada Cedi Djaba

Nomada Cedi Djaba

Storyteller

Miranda Harple

Miranda Harple

Film/Photography

Asi Ocansey

Asi Ocansey

Storyteller

Aweh Wami

Aweh Wami

Storyteller

Narh Antonio

Narh Antonio

Producer

Jacob Quansah

Jacob Quansah

Storyteller

Akwesi Kwarteng

Akwesi Kwarteng

Storyteller

Yaw Pare

Yaw Pare

Producer

Kofi Pare

Kofi Pare

Storyteller

My Cart
Wishlist
Recently Viewed Close
Compare Products (0 Products)
Compare Product
Compare Product
Compare Product
Compare Product
Categories