On February 12, two brothers, Titus and Tyree Busbee, spoke at a Social Work class to tell students about their experiences in moving to and living in Ghana. The brothers discussed differences between the indigenous culture found in many African nations such as Ghana and the western culture found in the United States and Europe.
The identical twin brothers moved to Ghana for the first time in 2017. They say that they moved to start a new life and to escape the web of western civilization. One of the most important factors in their relocation to the west African was the Ghanaian “Year of Return,” an initiative supported by the Ghanaian government to help encourage African diasporans–those who can trace their own lineage to the African continent–to return to the homeland of their ancestors and to support them in doing so. Through the initiative, many people including the Busbee brothers are enabled to live in Ghana.
Like many other diasporans, the Busbee brothers are making use of the “Right of Abode” to establish their permanent residence in Ghana while they seek permanent citizenship. This statute is a part of Ghana’s drive to gather diasporans into its own borders.
According to the brothers, one of the primary attractions that drew them towards choosing Ghana as their new home was the prevalence of African-American influence in the nation, noting that prominent African-American civil rights leaders such as Martin Luther King Jr., Malcolm X and W.E.B. Dubois had all made trips to the nation during their own lifetimes.
The brothers have seen stark contrasts between life in the westernized society of the United States and the culture of native Ghanaians. One aspect that Titus discussed specifically was the improvement he saw in the mental health of both him and his brother while living in Ghana. “Every anxiety I had was gone, immediately.”
In addition to mental health, their physical health was affected by their move as well. Titus noted that, because of the expensive cost of healthcare in Ghana, most Ghanaians avoid going to the hospital except for cases of emergency. Instead, most Ghanaians make use of a plethora of natural remedies at home before seeking professional medical service.
Another contrast they have discovered is that of their daily routines. The brothers both mentioned how every detail of their days have changed since moving to Ghana. In their time there, they have both begun working in agriculture, farming crops such as mangoes and coconuts. Because of this agriculturally-focused lifestyle, their days are now focused simply around the cycles of the sun.
Although the rest of their family will not join them in their relocation, the brothers say that their families have done well by supporting them during their travels.
The brothers seem to be enjoying their new lives in Ghana, however, they do hold some worries about the future of the indigenous African culture. “As indigenous people, we are not thinking about self defense at all,” said Titus. “We would never think that somebody is going to attack us.”
