noun \’na-nə\ or [na-na] : grandparent
Founded in 2014, The Nana Project seeks to preserve Ghana’s rich history. We believe in the importance of maintaining a firsthand account of Ghana’s history for future generations to learn and remember the past. The Twi word for grandparent, Nana, represents an ancient form of historical learning: storytelling. It is through the stories of our grandparents and elders that we learn about our history and ourselves. It is our mission to create a space and premier resource where Ghanaians and other interested parties can gain knowledge about Ghana’s past. It is here that we share our history through stories from the people who lived it.
Our Mission
The Nana Project’s mission is to preserve, archive, and share firsthand accounts of Ghanaian history. We give Ghanaians of all backgrounds and beliefs the opportunity to record the stories of our people. We do this to remind one another of our shared culture, to strengthen and build connections, to teach the value of listening, and to weave into the fabric of our culture the understanding that our history matters. This is our history and these are our stories.
Core Principles
The Nana Project is built on a commitment to education with an intense focus on the collecting, sharing, and preserving of Ghana’s stories; high-quality organizational management; and the care and support of an extraordinary work environment where respect and dignity are paramount.
Oral history is at the heart of The Nana Project. We treat participants with the utmost respect, care, and dignity.
The Nana Project maintains a relentless focus on preserving Ghanaian culture.
The Nana Project is apolitical.