Fonio Fighters

Northern Ghana, 2017

North of Chereponi, on the border of Ghana and Togo, we met women creating extra income by farming fonio- a forgotten African super food lost in the uptake of imperialist grains and crops. It's simple seed requires little water and only 2 months to mature, making it easy for social farming.

It's hot this time of year, with 90% humidity it is a hard day in the field but these women band together to work on each other's fields. 

Here, women are often prevented from finishing school and put to work in the fields which, they are not allowed to own and cultivate in their own right. With the assistance of local social enterprise UQE, these women have won their case with the regions chief to farm fonio on what was once deemed 'dead land'. Creating extra income for their families, reinvigorating an African vitamin source and for some young women, inspiring hopes to be able to return and finish their schooling.