INSPIRED BY GHANA
SENANU ARKUTU (DAAR Living)
Ghana is a country that inspires – whether it’s locals, returnees from the Diaspora, visiting tourists or those who get to call it home for either a short or long stay. We chatted with 5 individuals, each from different backgrounds, but with one thing in common – the story of how Ghana has inspired, and continues to inspire them, both in their work, as well as in their daily lives. Our first chat was with Senanu Arkutu of DAAR Living.
Tell us a bit about yourself & give us a brief intro to why you started DAAR Living?
I grew up in various different African countries. After 10 years working in the field of Sexual Health and International Development, I decided to start DAAR Living after returning from a trip to Mombasa, Kenya. During the trip, I completely over-shopped on crafts and art pieces so I figured I would sell the excess here in Ghana – and people bought! And so, DAAR Living was born.
What inspired you to start your company? And what inspires you creatively in general?
Other people’s reactions to the interior of my home, which is filled with handcrafted works from all over Africa, inspired me to go ahead and start DAAR Living. It was that and a desire to see more of Africa’s artisan work, specifically in the home decor sphere. What inspires me in general is life here in Africa – living on the Continent of Creation and Creativity.
What is the best thing about living in Accra?
The street food, and also the sense of community.
What’s your favourite spot in Accra to get away from it all?
I have to get out of Accra to really get away from it all. Being both a mother and an entrepreneur, my time is limited, so it needs to be close by. My current favourite would have to be an overnight stay at Hilburi in Aburi (https://hillburi.com/).