Eastern Michigan University (EMU) is launching a new summer study abroad opportunity that will immerse students in the rich history and culture of Ghana, West Africa.
Titled “EMU Returning Home: Race, Identity, and the Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade,” the program will be led by Caralee Jones-Obeng, an assistant professor of Africology and African American Studies at EMU.
Participants will journey through three key cities in Ghana: Accra, Cape Coast, and Kumasi. The itinerary will delve into Ghana’s intricate relationship with the Trans-Atlantic slave trade, exploring its historical significance, the emergence of tourism around it, and its enduring economic impact. Additionally, students will have the chance to delve into Ghanaian culture and traditions, including learning the indigenous language, Twi.
Jones-Obeng expressed her aspirations for the program, stating, “I ultimately want them to come away with a more realistic understanding of life in particularly Ghana and help to demystify a lot of the stereotypes and misconceptions of people who live in Africa, more specifically Ghana.”
Highlights of the trip include visits to significant historical sites linked to the Trans-Atlantic slave trade, such as slave castles and a river utilized in the enslavement process. Additionally, students will engage with academic institutions in Ghana, including the W.E.B. DuBois Centre in Accra and the University of Cape Coast, where they will gain insights from speakers well-versed in the history of the slave trade and its impact on the region.
This marks EMU’s first study abroad program in Africa in a decade, with the last program taking students to South Africa. Moreover, it represents the university’s inaugural study abroad venture to Ghana.
Jones-Obeng’s personal experiences in Ghana inspired her to lead the program. Having visited the country twice before, including a four-month stint during her junior year of undergrad, she underwent profound personal growth and challenges to her perceptions of race, ethnicity, and nationality.
Reflecting on her experiences, Jones-Obeng remarked, “I always knew that if given the opportunity I also wanted to give that experience to other students… going to the continent and having that experience is really, I think, life changing, and it really makes you question a lot of the ways we see race here.”
The program, expected to span nearly two weeks, is tentatively scheduled for departure around May 29 and return around June 10. Interested students can apply by the February 15 deadline, with acceptance notifications anticipated within two weeks following the deadline.
The cost of participation is approximately $6,500, covering expenses such as flights, tuition, accommodations, and meals. Financial assistance options are available, with scholarships listed on the university’s Study Abroad and U.S. Study Programs website.
