The logo above is a three-dimension human-faced totemic symbol of African antiquity. It is a pictorial representation of an African maxim “Ta deka medea adahu o” meaning ‘two heads are better than one’. Beyond its literal meaning, it represents the belief in the multi-dimensional nature and the complexity of the human condition and all development phenomena - cultural, social, economic and political.

My first name Besa in Ewe means "The third born male". My middle name Yao (which I never use because of my long last name), means "Thursday born". My last name Vormatu-Dzelumadzekpo, however, is a long, long story. To keep is short, it means "You shall not come into contact with evil".

"Knowledge is like a baobab tree, the arms cannot encircle it completely" - An African Adage

MY RESUME

MY WORK

MY SKILLS

What I live by - The baobab tree

The baobab tree (Adansonia digitata) can grow to be between 16 and 98 feet tall and have a diameter of between 23 to 36 feet. There is one, the sunland in South Africa, reported to be 6,000 years old, 47 meters (154 ft) in circumference and 15.9 m (52 ft) in diameter.

In the African village, the proverbial baobab tree is the place for community activities. It is the “town hall” or “village square” where functions are held. As the baobab tree is the rallying location for such activities, it “sees”, “hears” and “feels” a lot during the life of a community. In some communities, “under the baobab tree” is where rites of passage are held for young men, women in the village sell their wares, musical groups perform, debates are held, “by the fireside” stories are told to children at night or where a wrestling match takes place.

Figuratively, the baobab tree sees it all, hears it all, and knows it all. Therefore, one goes to the baobab tree for wisdom, for guidance, for protection in times of joy, peace and war. My grandparents have always said to me in Ewe, “Nunya adzido tsie, asi me sune o”, meaning, “knowledge is like a baobab tree, the arms cannot encircle it completely”. The initial intent is to let me “simmer down” whenever I get restless about not making an “A” in school. I have seen the baobab tree in the village square - it is very tall with a huge trunk. I cannot wrap my arms around it. According to my grandparents, knowledge is endless and I always have to seek it.

The “teach in” with the African maxim from my grandparents made a huge impression on me. I began to analyze my reports from school by what I have learned from my teachers rather than what grades I got. It also made me a seeker of knowledge, wherever I can find it – in Ghana, the United States, Guatemala, Israel, and still seeking. As a global citizen, the African maxim represents my belief that that only way you can enrich yourself is to share what you have. You learn from other people when your share your knowledge.

The only way we can we can make knowledge “complete”, with referece to the adage, is for all of us, from different backgrounds, different races, with varied interests, with different experiences and expertise to hold hands and “encircle” the baobab tree.