My colleague, Dr. Teresa Ngigi, is an international Mental Health and Psychosocial Support Expert who specializes in Trauma Informed Care. Teresa travels all over the world sensitizing and training people on Mental Health, with a special emphasis on Trauma. She draws wisdom from her own Kenyan roots during her consultations in Sierra Leone, Kenya, Italy, Liberia, Senegal, Somalia, Ghana, Somaliland, Namibia, Lesotho, Serbia, Austria, Germany, Syria, Lebanon, and Egypt.
Teresa taught me about the concept of Sankofa, and how she uses it in her trainings. My long collaboration with her has been a rich and expansive experience. She has confirmed my belief that tribal people have retained wisdom from their cultural roots that we in the West are in dire need of.
Sankofa is an African word found in the Akan tribe in Ghana. The literal translation of the word is “bring the past forward.” The Sankofa image is a mythical bird with its feet firmly planted forward with its head turned backwards. It symbolizes the tribe’s desire to seek knowledge about a problem through critical examination, and intelligent and patient investigation.
The Akan people believe the past serves as a guide for planning the future. To the Akan, this wisdom in learning from the past ensures a strong future. They believe that there must be movement and new learning as time passes. As this forward march proceeds, the knowledge of the past must never be forgotten.
