Co-Founders’ Story
BARKA’s Co-Founders are uniquely qualified for their role to lead this organization and its ambitious mandate. For Ina & Esu Anahata, this is not a job but a calling. They are bridge builders, peacekeepers, and documentarians of the world’s endangered indigenous civilization. They both feel as though they were brought together from radically different former paths in order to align their work and lives with this purpose.
Testimonial
“To work alongside Esu and Ina is to feel their relentless passion, energy and drive to make the BARKA Foundation into a significant force for positive change. They do this 24 hours a day, 7 days a week because they are driven by a greater force which compels them to act. They work at this feverish pitch not for their own gain, but because they see the urgency of the situation and know that time is of the essence for the future of the children in this world.”
Adam Ruderman, Social Entrepreneur, BARKA Board Member
Ina & Esu didn’t choose Burkina Faso – Burkina chose them. In 2004, they met under the guidance and instruction of Malidoma Patrice Some, an initiated elder and shaman of the Dagara people of Burkina Faso. Dr. Some is a renowned authority on the indigenous paradigm and teaches about the need for westerners to learn sensitivity and practice reciprocity when entering an indigenous context.
Ina began traveling to Burkina in 2000, Esu in 2004. They were equally struck by the power, vitality and wisdom of indigenous Africa. At the same time, they began to understand the socio-economic, political, environmental and psychological realities affecting their indigenous family and felt compelled to do something about it.
 Ina & Esu's Mudhut |
 BARKA HQ, unorganized territory, Maine |
In 2006 and again in 2007 Ina & Esu were gifted parcels of land in Fada which is where they will be focusing their forthcoming agricultural and irrigation projects. Fada is the home of the Gour’mache people who speak the potentially endangered language of Gulimanchema which Ina & Esu are learning.
Ina’s 18 years in the backwoods of Maine, her expertise as a singer/songwriter, gardener, hunter and natural healer combine with Esu’s experience in the corporate world of video editing, television production, digital media and building brands through marketing and promotion.
Ina & Esu have been filmmaking for 5 years. Their personal journey is chronicled in BARKA! BURKINA, a feature-length documentary film.
From 2006 through 2008 the weekly two-hour live radio broadcast “Jumping Off with Ina & Esu” could be heard on community radio station WBCR 97.7 FM Great Barrington, MA.
Ina & Esu see their family in La Petite as gifted, rich and having much to teach. They are excited about the impact of what will be learned and shared with the global community through this project.
In Fada’n’Gourma and La Petite Village, Ina is known as Pochilo, which means light of the moon. Esu was given the name Yieni Ye, which means light of the sun.
Ina & Esu have two permanent residences, a mud hut in La Petite Village, Burkina Faso and a small cabin on a lake in unorganized territory Maine with no electricity or running water.
Testimonial
“Thank you both for your inspiring and exemplary model of love in action.”
The Supreme Master Ching Hai
Read the Shining World Compassion Award Letter from Supreme Master Ching Hai to Ina & Esu
Social