Monthly Photos July 2026 : Breakfast at the Sign Painting Workshop

Photos taken by ILCAA staff and associates are posted here once a month; most of them are taken during their field research in Asia and Africa. (The copyright belongs to the photographers.)

In the morning, I commute to the sign painting workshop by trotro—a shared minibus that dashes through the city streets at breakneck speed. Since the air conditioning in these used vans is always broken, the windows are kept wide open. The vehicle hurtles forward, filled with a swirling mix of dust, exhaust fumes, the piercing morning sun, and the stifling heat of packed passengers.

I get off just before the Suame Roundabout and slip into the workshop, passing by auto repair shops and spare parts vendors. As soon as someone arrives and unlocks the storage, I help them set up—carrying out chairs, easels, work-in-progress canvases, painting tools, and the sign paintings that decorate the workshop, placing them in their designated spots one by one.

Once the opening preparations are complete, it is time to get breakfast. Our usual go-to is either egg rice topped with ground chili, or Ga-kenkey (fermented corn sourdough dumpling) served with shito (dark chili pepper sauce) and deep-fried fish.

After washing my hands, stained with dust and oil, I use my right hand to break apart the fluffy, piping-hot kenkey, taking care not to burn my fingers. I mix it well with the savory, fish-infused spicy shito, raw chilies, and onions before taking a bite. The whole fried fish is beautifully crispy from head to tail; eating the crunchy skin and tender white flesh occasionally offers a brief respite from the fiery heat of the chili. Sharing the bones and fish heads with the workshop cats, we enjoy this precious breakfast time together before the workday begins.

November 26, 2024
Suame, Kumasi, Ashanti Region, Republic of Ghana
MORI, Shoko