ACCRA, GHANA My good friend Ama
invited me to her hometown of Accra... to find out how these people here
deal with setbacks. How to be happy
and stay happy in Ghana? Ama's mother is from Ghana,
and her father is Dutch. She works in Accra and Amsterdam
for her innovation agency Dr. Monk. In Ghana she shares a home with
her daughter, aunt, several cousins... and her mother. In Ewe you can say: My soul sinks. 'Didi.' The meat is in the freezer.
Now it's spoiled. Despite daily annoyances like power cuts,
traffic jams in the sweltering heat... and the fact that poverty is rampant here,
people seem resilient. The need to survive
seems to be an essential theme. Which gives rise to an assertive attitude. Is that why depression
is not as common in Ghana? Could it be a disease of affluence
or is it a universal phenomenon? When I ask people from the neighbourhood
they are confused by the word. Tired. Tiredness. What is the difference
between depressed and tired in Ga? Imagine you're 'tired' like that,
would you still like to live? Or would you rather die?
-Oh, I want to stay alive. Maybe... I don't want to die. Maybe God has something better
in store for me. So I don't want to die. Kwame is a cousin of Ama's.
He lives with Mami and her as well. If you're unhappy you are not alone. You get support
from the people around you. According to Ama's grandmother
company is the greatest wealth of all. Even the fact that we sit at this table
together makes me feel content. If I was alone I would feel miserable. Having no one around you,
that's no way to live. Social isolation... You'd live in social isolation.
-What do you mean? Are you poor if you're all alone? That's what it means when you're not rich.
And it causes a lot of stress. But when all my wishes have come true... I can laugh again. From our individualistic stance it's hard
to understand communal living in Ghana. Relationships are central
and everything is a group effort. Just like childcare. Kids learn to share
responsibility from a young age. In our culture,
and as far as I'm concerned... there is no such thing
as loneliness in Africa. Loneliness?
-Someone who lives on their own. A person who lives alone.
He's completely on his own. Having no one else around you.
-That's loneliness. Like someone sitting down... But this shared responsibility
for the wellbeing of others... doesn't rule out
the existence of depression. A society that is based on group identity
and family life, has other taboos. Ama's uncle Kondor is childless. And that is considered a tragedy in Ghana. As a result he withdrew from society, and
suffered from depression and alcoholism. Ghana is one of the most
Christian countries in the world. God is everywhere, literally. Uncle Kondor takes us to his church. I almost feel bad I'm not a Christian... and that I was brought up
to see religion as opium for the masses. I can only imagine how praying,
singing and dancing together... contributes to happy and loving feelings. Ama's mother
is one of the family elders. It's her job to visit
the old and infirm members... of what we in the West
would consider a huge family. Welcome. In our language it's called 'dokpoenutor'.
-Dokponutor? Naga, do you know people like that? If I tell you, there will be hell to pay
when you're gone. Auntie, how is your health?
-I don't go outside. She is ill.
-What happened? She's unable to walk again. Couldn't you go to the hospital?
-No. I took 75 euros with me
when I went to the hospital. But it wasn't enough, they said. I was 60 euros short.
I have to pay 135 euros for treatment. Where am I supposed to get it?
That's why I stayed home. It's so painful, I can't get up. You can't get on your feet.
-I know. I didn't know
your condition has grown worse. I was too busy with the funeral
and my travels. Do these white people
even like to film me in this state? You stay healthy, so you can help
carry my casket when I'm dead. You won't die now.
We're strong enough to carry your casket. Then pray for your good health. Death appears to be part
of daily life here. There are funeral posters everywhere. Pictures of the dead are printed
on everyday objects... so they won't be forgotten. In the West we prefer
to stay young forever and deny death. Here the life of the deceased
is celebrated instead. We would like a big one. Ours has to be big.
-Will it fit into the grave? No problem. They take
measurements before they dig it. The diameter is 1.80 metres around. Maybe when you pass away
your family can bury you in the camera. Because your profession
is filming with a camera. That is your job. I would choose to be buried in
a wood plane, like the one we use. These are our... How should I put it?
It's our main tool. In Ghana many mental problems
are discussed with traditional diviners. Pius is our guide today. He is a professor who did a lot
of research on the traditional system. This huge delegation of officials
is making me nervous. The diviner, his secretary,
and other elders are all present. Ama's uncle still struggles with
depression, despite the church's support. Reverend, I am Kojo Kondor. He hopes the spiritual healer will be able
to find the cause and a solution. Do you have
a chieftaincy stool at home? Were you not asked to become a chief? Sawoli says you refused
to become the next chieftain. The ancestors are not pleased. That is your problem. It appears Nenjawi has once refused
to take over the family seat... and take the complimentary title
of village chief. He has to take his place on the seat,
or pass it on. Then his luck will return. Only then you might become a father
and have a happy marriage. Do you understand? A small stool. Ama shows me what the much talked-of
stool her uncle refused looks like. Then a risky song of a group of women
attracts our attention. Let's get up and dance. big news, big news the woman with the sweet vagina
let the penis break down the house big news, big news may the woman with the sweet vagina
let the penis break down the house the house was broken down
and now they split up She is really good. Later that afternoon
the diviner's retinue... has prepared another ritual
for uncle Kondor. Next the whole crew
is invited to join the dance. I'm wondering what would be
the best way to fight mental problems. Psychotherapy, Western medication... or this collective session
that expels external negative forces... and fulfils the soul with joy? Later Ama tells me
that she objects to the terminology... our guide Pius used today
to describe the healing rituals. I can relate to the global habit to
compare everything to Western standards. But it may lead to inequality
and uncalled-for prejudice. It's hard for me to understand that Ama's
family members are professional mourners. They get paid to cry for the dead. So the deceased is laying here.
-The body of the person. There he is. Then we go: Michael, sorry.
How terrible. Michael, I'm so sorry about your passing. No laughing. It's like business. We follow the ambulance that's carrying
a departed acquaintance of Kwame. We're off to the wake where
the professional mourners will perform. Funerals last from Thursday until Sunday. And people visit several in one weekend. At first I'm a bit overwhelmed
by the apparent chaos. Ama's family members,
who are paid to mourn... do their utmost
to arouse the public's emotions. I believe these songs
and the public expression of sorrow... can help surviving relatives
to channel their emotions. All guests stay for the night and won't
leave the family alone with the corpse. It's time to party. Take life the way it is,
or as they say here: Take it like that. Death as the symbol
of our lack of control in life. From the cradle till far beyond the grave
you're part of the community around you. Maybe this is the best road to happiness.
