Author Archives: Melle Smets

Seminar African studies centre Leiden

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05 October 2017
15.00 – 17.00
Pieter de la Courtgebouw / Faculty of Social Sciences, Wassenaarseweg 52, 2333 AK Leiden
Room 5A47 (5th floor)

In this seminar Melle Smets and Joost van Onna will discuss their experiences in Ghana’s informal economy and the plan they developed to continue their car-building project. They will address questions as to how organizations, networks and individuals in Suame Magazine can use the power of informality systematically to build cars (or develop other products) and what role (in)formal institutions may play in this process. Subsequently Mayke Kaag and Tanja Hendriks will reflect on this project based on their own experiences of doing research among informal workers in Suame Magazine and elsewhere in Ghana. Departing from the same locality, and from a shared interest in informal workers and their everyday lives, the presenters aim to exchange knowledge shaped and created by different methods and visions, highlighting many different aspects of informal workers’ working lives. Among others, they will address the role of informal workers’ organizations, mutual perceptions by and of informal workers and external partners, relationships with (inter)national donors, and the changing roles and understandings of (urban) informality.

http://www.ascleiden.nl/news/seminar-building-car-suame-magazine-participating-ghanas-informal-economy

Book launch Turtle 1

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Schermafbeelding-2016-06-01-om-18.16.33The Turtle project is after 3 years finally documented in a book.

Order here!

The exciting story of Turtle 1 is now available as a book, which was launched in Museum Boijmans van Beuningen on 18 June.

Playwright, photographer and Volkskrant columnist Hans Aarsman introduced the book to the audience. Melle Smets and Joost van Onna presented the first copy of the book to the Dutch ambassador of Ghana.

The launch was live broadcast in the Netherlands and Ghana by community radio station Radio Akasanoma. Deejay O’Neil Amponsah moderated this festive event.

Turtle 1 – Building a Car in Africa

Melle Smets & Joost van Onna & Teun Vonk

Saturday June 18, 3.00 – 3.45 pm

Museum Boijmans van Beuningen, Rotterdam

The Turtle 1 was officially handed over to Suame Magazine

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At the ITTU site, where the Turtle 1 was built, we made an exhibition that attracted lots of people.
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Today the Turtle 1 was officially handed over to the people of Suame Magazine at an official gathering. The nana (or chief) of the new land represented King Otumpfu II (who was traveling) and received the key from Aardschap Foundation.
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After the handing over of the keys, the Turtle was taken out through Suame in a parade. The brass band brought the already festive atmosphere to a boiling point. The Turtle, after a hibernation of two years, felt at home right away.
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We are back at ITTU in the heart of Suame Magazine

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We are back at ITTU the location in the heart of Suame Magazine where the Turtle was built in 2013. We set up our exhibition that, together with the Turtle, will be on display from upcoming Tuesday. We are expecting full house!
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At ITTU the painters seize the opportunity to paint the words SMATI TURTLE 1 in a festive golden color.
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Also one of the centre pieces of the Turtle, the gear leaver in the shape of a turtle, receives a special golden touch.
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