Oral history interview with William Brown-Orleans

William Brown-Orleans spoke extensively about Fanti people, and their identity, culture, philosophy, values, and language. He told many stories to exemplify what he explained about Fanti culture, including language, marriage, naming of children, expected births, and importance of ancestorial roots. Brown-Orleans also spoke about the Ashanti people, and their culture; and the formation and building membership of a Fanti organization in 1989 to promote the culture and identity of Fanti people. Brown-Orleans explained white men's arrival in Ghana, and white men's contact with Fanti people and Ashanti people; how Fanti people allowed their culture to be alternated; the relationship between white people and Fanti people, and white people and Ashanti people; and Fanti people embraced the white men and their culture, and coexistence. Brown-Orleans spoke about why he migrated with his wife and kids to the United States in 1978; attending university in Ghana; being the headmaster of a senior high school in Ghana; visiting Ghana often; writing poems in his dialect, Fanti; repairing family home in Ghana; Ghanaian churches in the Washington, DC area; Fanti performance troupe in Washington, DC; and the work of the Ghanaian Embassy, where he works. Interview is in English and Fanti (minimal). Digital audio files include white noise and static, and a little sound interference. Interviewee's voice is low volume on occasion, but it is intelligible for the most part.