Meet Hakim, the white man who had a Ghanaian grandfather

Hakim, a young man with a unique family background, recently shared his story on the Evolve podcast, offering a rare and intimate look at his upbringing in a culturally diverse household.

Raised by a white father and an Asian mother, Hakim’s life was further shaped by the strong influence of his Ghanaian grandfather, who played a pivotal role in his childhood.

“My dad is white, my mom is Asian, and I was raised with a black African grandfather,” Hakim explained during the podcast. “He was my dad’s stepfather, but he was the only father figure my dad had. Growing up with a West African grandfather in such a mixed family was an experience like no other.”

Growing up in a household where Ghanaian culture was predominant, Hakim’s formative years were heavily influenced by the traditions, food, and values of West Africa. “I was heavily influenced by Ghanaian culture,” he shared. “I had a grandfather at home who would sometimes clash with me, reminding me that I was spending too much time playing on the computer.”

He recalled instances where his grandfather would sternly tell him, “You need to study more. Why do you want to spend time outside? You’re a child, you should not be walking around the street. This is not good.”

For the first ten years of his life, Hakim found himself caught in a cultural clash between his grandfather’s strict Ghanaian upbringing and the more relaxed attitudes from his parents. “That was the kind of cultural clash,” Hakim reflected, acknowledging the generational and cultural differences that shaped his upbringing.

Yet, despite these occasional clashes, Hakim developed a deep connection with the culture, especially through the food.

His culinary experiences reflected the fusion of his diverse heritage. “At home, I was used to eating Ghanaian food,” Hakim said. “But I was also used to eating curries and spicy Pakistani food, and I love spicy food.”

Among the Ghanaian dishes, fufu and ground rice (known in other parts of West Africa as ‘Togo’ or ‘French rice’) stood out as favourites.

“I know Togo and in French, they have other names for it, but we would eat these very spicy chicken, STW (Stew) and beef STW,” he explained, giving listeners a vivid picture of the rich flavours of his childhood.

Hakim also fondly remembers the famous Ghanaian jollof rice, which has sparked friendly rivalry across West Africa. “I don’t want to start any wars here,” Hakim said, laughing, “but the Ghanaian jollof rice, that’s what I grew up with. It’s maybe even better than the Nigerian version.”

Another dish he loved was Gari, a traditional Ghanaian staple made from cassava, which he paired with peanut stew. “That was one of my favourite dishes,” he said, reflecting on the hearty meals that marked his childhood.

Beyond food, his family life was a constant blend of languages and cultural practices. “I heard the languages spoken around me—whether it was Twi, English, or even bits of Hindi and Urdu from my mom’s side,” Hakim shared. “It was a lot of different cultures coming together, and I loved it.”