nana

i met a king, a real one, alive and well.

in ghana, traditional chiefs and kings, often addressed as nana, still play an important role in everyday life, even though the country is governed by a democratically elected government. the title nana is an honorific used in ghanaian tradition.

traditional leaders help preserve local customs, cultural heritage and community traditions. they also play a role in settling disputes, particularly those involving land, family matters and local disagreements. many are actively involved in community development, supporting projects in education, healthcare and infrastructure.

a nana is also an important figure during festivals and traditional ceremonies, representing the history and identity of the people.

during our training in kumasi, i had the pleasure of meeting a nana who is also involved in biomedical engineering at the holy family hospital in techiman. a lovely person, combining his traditional role with the very practical challenges of keeping medical equipment running.

and, as befits a nana, he wears a rather special ring. whether it is the one ring to rule them all remains to be seen.