Culture
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The Power Cut Chronicles: How Dumsor Shapes Daily Life
By Abena Accra, Ghana — It’s 8:15 p.m. in a quiet suburb of Dansoman. A toddler is halfway through brushing his teeth. A university student is typing a term paper. And a tailor is midway through hemming a dress for a Sunday wedding. Then, the lights go out. “This is the third time today,” sighs 27-year-old Kobby Appiah, holding up his phone flashlight. “You never really get used to it — but you adjust.” Welcome to the unofficial time zone of Ghana: “Dumsor.” A term combining the Akan words dum (off) and sor (on), it’s more than slang — it’s a lifestyle. A routine. A national inconvenience that has come…
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The Power Cut Chronicles: How Dumsor Shapes Daily Life
By Korkor Accra, Ghana — It’s 8:15 p.m. in a quiet suburb of Dansoman. A toddler is halfway through brushing his teeth. A university student is typing a term paper. And a tailor is midway through hemming a dress for a Sunday wedding. Then, the lights go out. “This is the third time today,” sighs 27-year-old Kobby Appiah, holding up his phone flashlight. “You never really get used to it — but you adjust.” Welcome to the unofficial time zone of Ghana: “Dumsor.” A term combining the Akan words dum (off) and sor (on), it’s more than slang — it’s a lifestyle. A routine. A national inconvenience that has come…
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The Weekend Hustle: Stories from the Saturday Market
Byline: By Nomako Madina, Accra — As early as 4:00 a.m., the sounds begin: baskets thumping, fabric rustling, hushed greetings whispered under breath. By sunrise, Madina Market is a controlled chaos — alive with color, bargaining, and survival. Every Saturday, thousands of traders from all over the capital descend on this sprawling commercial hub to make ends meet. For some, it’s a side hustle. For others, it’s their only source of income. “We don’t rest on weekends,” says Afia Nhyira, 38, who sells fried fish from a corner stall. “Saturday is where the money is. It’s our office, our bank, and our battlefield.” A Market That Never Sleeps Saturday markets…