Ras Ato delights with cultural songs, stories and games

Goulburn Valley Libraries program co-ordinator Bronwyn Cole said Raz was an amazing person, and she was pleased to have him visit again.

“It was the most amazing talk, everyone had the best time, I loved the singing so much,” she said.

Ras was inspired to write his two cookbooks Good Vibration African Cookbook and Healthy Choice Good Vibration African Cookbook by a desire to educate people about his culture.

Ras was born in Ghana and migrated to Kent in the UK when he was a teenager.

He said when he moved to Kent he felt he was losing a bit of his culture, so he moved back to Ghana to stay with his grandmother for a bit.

“So from there, I developed the arts of African cooking ... Nana is always cooking, from the morning you can smell something coming from the kitchen,” he said.

“When there’s food, there's always some type of song to sing ... we are just tossing the song around while the food is cooling down.

“And from cooking, there's always going to be a story that we share before we go to bed.”

Ras said he moved to Australia because he felt the weather and temperature was beautiful.

“My very first time here it was summertime, and I said to myself, am I in Africa?” he said.

“And so I felt Australia was a place for me.”

During his visit at the library, Ras made traditional Ghanaian chips and a dry hibiscus drink for audience members to try.

The Ghanaian chips, which can be found in his recipe book, were made with plain flour, butter, salt, nutmeg and garlic.

The ingredients of the dry hibiscus flower drink included pineapple, garlic cloves, orange, manuka honey and ginger.

Ras said he became an intercultural ambassador for the City of Greater Bendigo a little while ago, and from there he wanted to share his culture.

“I don't want to forget where I came from, and these stories, these recipes, engaging with people, it always gives me a reminder that you were born at this place,” he said.

“I just want to share my culture as much as possible, living in a culturally diverse country like Australia.”

Ms Cole said Ras was also visiting Avenel, Nagambie, Mildura and Shepparton libraries.

“We're planning to book him for Cultural Diversity Week in March next year, so if you miss out this time you’ll have another chance next year,” she said.