Jasmine Abena Colgan

Takocha is a chewing sponge, it is a toothbrush that is from the Salvadora tree in Ghana. Growing up, I was embarrassed of my ancestral roots because it is rich in tradition and belief. As I have grown older, I have taken an interest in my mother’s cultural history because it has vibrant practices that are lively and beautiful. Oral hygiene is one of those, my mom encouraged my brothers and I to use takocha when we were younger, because this dried tree branch does an amazing job at scraping the plaque off of your teeth. Using takocha is laborious but it is worth the effort. An indigenous reminder that everything has a way of evolving.

Curated by Sharifa Lafon.