I landed in Ghana late on Sunday night, and I was surprised to learn that the sun sets around 6pm, over an hour earlier than in Connecticut. I could not see much of Accra on the drive to Kokrobite, but I could tell that the city was still very much awake. There was considerable traffic leaving the airport, and people were walking, riding motorbikes, and selling a wide variety of items in small stalls on the sides of the road. I also saw female head porters, locally called kayayei, who walk between cars stopped at lights to sell food from large baskets they skillfully balance on top of their heads. I would learn more about the considerable challenges these women face during my trip to the Kantamanto market. 

When I arrived at the Kokrobitey Institute, I was greeted by Musa, the night manager, and Korkor, who had prepared and saved dinner for me. I had not expected I would get a chance to eat, so I was grateful to enjoy the delicious chicken and salad. 

The Kokrobitey Institute was founded by Reneé Neblett in the beautiful seaside village of Kokrobite, Ghana over 30 years ago. "Auntie" Renée, as she is affectionately known, envisioned a community learning center that celebrated traditional Ghanian knowledge, aesthetics, and the arts and that provided a space for local and international students to engage deeply with the natural environment to foster sustainabilty, environmental literacy, and social entrepreneurship. 

Auntie Reneé has since exceeded that initial vision, and the Institute today is the home of Wote K. I. Design, a sustainable fashion brand that was featured in the 2024 Lagos Fashion Week. The Institute's designers are experimenting with both post- and pre-consumer textile waste along with natural materials and dyes to create a collection that fuses environmentally conscious construction with traditional African heritage and design. 

Every aspect of Kokrobitey was crafted with care, including the original architectural designs by Alero Olympia. The residential units face a central courtyard to encourage community, and there is a yoga studio and a beautiful meeting area that is centered around a neem tree. The dining area has views of the beach, and we enjoyed our meals while listening to the waves crashing against the shore. 

Auntie Reneé stresses the importance of environmental literacy as a primary language: the ability to read our environment and give back to it in return. This philosophy can be seen in every aspect of Kokrobitey's grounds, which are teeming with local plants and trees. Many of the plants are labeled to help educate visitors, and an organic garden is in the process of being established to help supply produce for the kitchen. 

Lemongrass tea, made with leaves grown on the property and sweetened with honey, quickly became my favorite morning routine.