CHICCO ROCCO

Nzulezu



Nzulezu is a traditional village started over 500 years ago situated in the Jomoro district, Western Region of the Ghana, next to Beyin, around 90 west km of Takoradi. The village raises in the middle of Tadane lake. It’s a wood and raffia solid construction, with a central way, entirely made of stilts.

In 2000 it bacame a Human's Patrimony and an important tourist attraction of the region. The name "Nzulezu", in Nzema language, means "the water's surface." According to local legends, the village was built by a group of people coming from Walata, a city of the ancient Empire Ghana, that came on following a snail. It’s not known the reason why the village has been built on the water beacuse the principal activity of its inhabitants is agriculture, while fishing develops a secondary role. The lake is perceived from the local population as a protection from some dangers (for example from the fires). The village has run to become Patrimony of the humanity for its anthropological importance: besides being one of the few ancient installations on stilts remained in the world, it keeps a great wealth of local traditions tied to the cult of the lake. Along the banks of the Tadane lake, many religious rites are praticed, but on Thursday, the holy day of the lake, it is forbidden to work.

The only way to reach Nzulezu village is by canoe, along the Amansuri River. The journey takes one hour. Once you arrive, you can probably feel a little bit unwelcome, the people appear to have grown somewhat tired of strangers tramping throught their small community. The population of the village is roughly 450 men, women and children governed by a chief and a “Princess” who is the only one who can answer to your questions and explain you the inhabitants situation and what about their lifestyle.

Nzulezu has two churches, Pentecostal and Catholic, that stand side by side and a primary school at the end of the main walkway. At the moment this school has 5 teachers for 72 students. Nzulezu had access to electricity at the end of 2012, only for 2/3 hours a day. There is no access to healthcare within the village, the inhabitants must reach the nearest town for medical treatment. Pregnant women sometimes choose to take a canoe and then a bus to reach the nearest town with an hospital, while others give birth in the stilt village without any assistance from medical professionals but a traditional birth attendant.