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The spectacular scenery of stilt propped
water settlement of Nzulezu built on
lake Tadane located in the Jomoro
District in the Western Region of Ghana
stands out as a magnificent interplay
between man and his environment. Nzulezu
is an Nzema word meaning "surface of
water." The inhabitants of the village
are said to have migrated from Walata, a
city in ancient Ghana Empire' the
earliest of the Western Sudanese States.
According to tradition, ancestors of the
village were brought to their present
place under the guide of a snail. The
serene ambience of the surrounding
landscape coupled with the general
activities of life point to a dynamic
relationship between man and nature.
Traditional village life is adapted to
the watery conditions to the amazement
of the visitor. All activities
pertaining to normal life chores such as
pounding of fufu (a traditional meal)
schooling, worship and burial are done
on the lake. New born babies are
baptized in the lake. The lake it is
said, averts possible disasters like
outbreak of f~re, killing of natives of
the village on or around it. The sacred
day of the lake is Thursday, a day set
aside on which no activity is supposed
to take place signifying a strict
adherence to traditional norms and
taboos. Nzulezu stilt settlement is a
unique lacustrine habitation achieved by
a harmony of forces of nature to meet
man's needs resulting in a settlement of
outstanding value. |