My Name is an Address
Picture Book / Ages 8-12
Edumatch
2021
36
"You are not lost! You are not alone! A GPS system navigates you to where you are going, but your name could lead to what you are looking for. What's in a name? Ekuwah Mends uses the alphabet letters to answer that question. She opens a window into her family, history, culture, language, geography, and more. Look through Ekuwah's actual family photos, Mother's artwork, and Father's artifact collection..." Publisher
My name is an address is a beautiful introduction to Ghanaian Culture. Ekuwah Mends Moses navigates her identity through language, culture, genealogy, and geography. Ekuwah uses the alphabet to highlight how Ghanaian values inform her identity while juxtaposing the Fanti and English language throughout the text. Several textures emerge in the illustrations, carvings, paintings, textiles, calligraphy, building, parks, and people. Ekuwah welcomes us to learn about Ghanaian culture, her father’s culture, using the letters of the alphabet to highlight specific aspects of Ghanaian culture in her identity formation. She also remembers her mother’s African American culture. Her mother’s presence is strong throughout the book, particularly in the illustrations. The graphics are a mixture of pictures, drawings, pictures of artifacts, people, games, and musical instruments.
Ekuwah’s strength as a children’s book writer is her ability to show how cultural values and geography inform her identity formation. This book is rich, as it situates Ghana historically, from independence to the present day, and the role of genealogy in identity formation. She doesn’t shy away from life’s tough questions and highlights the vitality of being a member of multiple societies-Ghana and the United States.
In the hands of an innovative teacher, the narrative of My name is an address will provide structure for learning about Ghanaian culture. A catalyst for learning about Ghana’s independence, leaders, the importance of imagery in life narratives, connections among parents, and the meaning of name in a particular culture, “My name is an address” stands out in content. An ingenious and innovative teacher can spend a lesson on each page discussing Ghanaian culture. Pondering student addresses, teachers and parents alike can lead children to learn about their own identities through the geography of the place and genealogy of their families. Ekuwah is very much aware of her roots and how colonialism and the slave trade may have impacted but did not disrupt who she is. The importance of history in the genealogy of life, the importance of grandparents in the genealogy of life, the way we name children, the importance of names, and the importance of holding on resonate throughout this book.
Ekuwah closes the book with a narrative about her mother, making the reader return to some pages to verify and affirm what they read. I will not let the story out of the bag, but this vibrant book offers a lot to children. The strengths of this book rest in the way she juxtaposes the language, the variety of images, and different textures that emerge from the story. Ekuwah is very confident about her heritage and clear about how she sets boundaries and owns up to who she is. I hope that Ekuwah will continue to build and write more books that highlight the strengths of her culture, tell her mother’s side of her culture, and bring together the black experience both in the diaspora and on the continent—a worthwhile text.
Akosua Obuo Addo, Ph. D.
University of Minnesota, Twin Cities
Published in Africa Access Review (June 30, 2023)
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