Had a complete absence form blogging, all within good reason though. We are back now!
GHANA. Seeing the word alone gives me butterflies, so can you imagine the excitement that consumed me when i landed at 12pm on the 27th Dec 2015. Anyone who has visited Ghana knows the extreme heat wave that hits you as soon as you step off the plane is nothing but a relief, accompanied by air scented of kelewele and other delicious dishes.
I have been to Ghana around 5 times, but the thing that made this time so special was the fact that i was doing it completely solo. I always think its healthy and life changing to go on some sort of holiday by yourself and thinking back on it, I wouldn't have preferred it any other way. It forced me to step out of my comfort zone, resulting in me meeting so many amazing people, seeing new things I may have not been able to see if i traveled with people, and just ultimately having the freedom to do everything in my own time, at my own expense. In saying that, during December/Jan (festive season), at any given time you will ALWAYS meet other foreigners you know. Having the comfort of having girls/guys that i already knew around definitely made things easier and more enjoyable. To be perfectly honest, in my opinion, its pretty hard to not enjoy your time in Ghana (minus aspects like light off, water off, poor economy and corruption of course!). The rich culture, simple lifestyle, welcoming personalities, positive attitudes despite having so little, dancing on the streets and mouth-watering food are just SOME of the reasons anyone will love Ghana, and the main reason I know I will eventually live there.
Some of my fav spots/things to do:
Local Food
-Asanka Local
-Bush Kanteen
-Buka
Hotels
-Movenpick
-African Regent
-La Palm
-Royal Senchi
-Aqua Safari
-Golden Tulip
Landmarks
-Aburi Botanical Gardens
-Legon Botanical Gardens
-Kwame Nkrumah Memorial
-Jamestown Lighthouse
-Independence Square
Clubs/Spots
-Republic Bar
-Bedouin Lounge
-Twist
-Club 45
-Rhapsody
-Bella Roma
As small as Ghana is, and as much as i did, there is still SO much more i want to see and do that i didn't get the chance to.
Aqua Safari, Ada
Aqua Safari, Ada
Aqua Safari, Ada
Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park
All White Party
Bojo Beach
Bojo Beach
Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park
Royal Senchi Hotel, Akosombo
Royal Senchi Hotel, Akosombo
Royal Senchi Hotel, Akosombo
Bojo Beach
Ada
Aburi Botanical Gardens
Aburi Art Centre
Aqua Safari, Ada
Bojo Beach
Bojo Beach
Bojo Beach
Legon Botanical Gardens
Aqua Safari, Ada
Aburi Botanical Gardens (Tree of Life)
Aburi Botanical Gardens
Aburi Botanical Gardens
Aburi Botanical Gardens
La-Palm Hotel
Dansoman, Accra
La-Palm Hotel
Life-changing holiday. Until December 2015 Ghana...
Thanks to Fashion Bomb Daily, I have a new found obsession and the next purchase on my wish list. A DOPEciety T-Shirt!
The effortlessly beautiful Denisio Truitt is the founder of the uniquely eccentric and casual apparel line, DOPEciety. Being of Liberian heritage, her work is inspired by her West African roots which is perfectly incorporated in her art. With some of the tees going by the name of Fulani and Afro girl, these are familiar words to an everyday African. As promised by Truitt herself, the line will be expanding within the next few weeks to accessories, menswear and their already amazing women's line. Can't wait! Definitely a brand to watch.
For those as in love as I am, you can purchase these statement Tee's for only $30 here. You can also keep up to date with them, via Instagram, Twitter and Facebook: @DOPEciety
Binny is a Cognitive Behavior Therapist (CBT) by day, but has still managed to find time to create Bespoke Binny, a line of amazing home furnishings and accessories. Your house will definitely stand out from the rest, with Bespoke Binny specialising in cushions, lampshades and dining cloths that are beautifully and intricately covered with traditional Ghanian materials, Ankara and Kente. The Nyansa 'Wisdom' Cushions have carefully selected motivational African Proverbs, my favourite being 'If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together', aiming to uplift and inspire its customers. Even more inspiring- a percentage of each cushion purchased supports the charity Fair For All, which supports women who have been victims of domestic violence, human trafficking and forced marriage. What is not to love?! I'm grateful to have just discovered this brand on Instagram and I cant wait to support and see what they launch next!
My latest obsession, the amazing web series, An African City!
I know all of my fellow Africans strongly dislike the ignorance displayed in popular media's depiction of Africa. The many images you see on screens are most often limited to AIDS, poverty, or even safari/wildlife. Sadly, images of this sort skew the mentalities of many people. These images turn the masses away from the rich, complex culture and beauty that Africa manifests. This is where An African City comes in. Creator of the show, Nicole Amarteifio, challenges this lack of knowledge through the uniquely scripted show based around 5 young, beautiful and successful women living in Accra, Ghana. Although one could compare the show to 'Sex and the City', 'Single Ladies'and 'Girlfriends', An African City is definitely in a league of its own.
The show perfectly displays the raw beauty that Ghana has to offer. From current hot spots, to the top Afrobeats, to the latest African designers (the style is so on point btw!), An African City has become a platform for creative people of African descent to showcase their talent. The show not only makes me miss the motherland like crazy, but also helps me appreciate the ties to my roots, my people and my culture. It reaffirms my purpose, where I'm from and where home is. However, there's one thing I would change about the series- the episodes need to be longer! Finishing one episode leaves me wanting more each time...
With the first season coming to an end, I recommend all those that have not yet jumped on the bandwagon to do so immediately, before the finale. I sincerely hope to see many more seasons of An African City. I am crossing my fingers that the hard work of the writers, cast, and production team pays off, with them being given an international opportunity to shine.
Here is the first episode (the whole series can easily be accessed on their channel):
The cast is not only super gorgeous, but also super talented. You can follow their individual journeys on Twitter:
Creator: @Allthingsafrica
Nana Yaa: @MaameYaaBoafo
Sade: @itsnanamensah
Ngozi: @EsosaE
Makena: @Marielaly on Instagram. Random fact: Marie actually went to school down-under (Australia), as she graduated from Deakin University in Melbourne. How cool!
A week from hell calls for a little (maybe a lot) of spiritual healing, inspiration and motivation. During tough times, I try to remember that I am not going through hardships alone. We are all hustling to make something of the precious and unpredictable thing we call life. I have complied a bunch of completely random dope things, that have currently caught my eye for various reasons. From art work, music, clothing; they all have impacted my creative eye one way or another.
Nico & Vinz are actually of Ivorian and Ghanaian ethnicity, so cool !
If you are anything like me and have extreme African pride, you will understand my weird obsession with exploring and promoting raw and underrated African talent. I feel an instant, deeper connection to hustling artists of all rights who are from the motherland. It's almost like a sense of an invisible family bond, as they become my sister or brother who I need to support during their rising movement. It's crazy to think that a household name in Africa has probably never been heard of by many living abroad, simply because they only see what is put in front of them. Nonetheless, I want to put spotlight on a lyrically gifted Somali rapper, K'Naan Warsame.
K'Naan is a Somalian-born, Canadian-based artist. For me, what sets him apart from other rappers is his ability to bring awareness to REAL issues with his unique flow like no other. Anyone that takes the time to listen to his songs will appreciate not only his struggle (fleeing Mogadishu at the height of the Somali Cilvil War) but also the 'internal wars' he talks about that we as humans face on an emotional level. K'Naan's standout talent reached a new height when Coca-Cola used the remixed version of his smash hit "Wavin' Flag" as the theme song for the 2010 World Cup. This amazing opportunity allowed K'Naan to receive the recognition he deserves, especially grabbing the attention of world-known artists. The success of "Wavin' Flag" is reflected in the caliber of artists K'naan has been able to work with, including Nas, Nelly Furtado, Bono, Will.I.Am and B.O.B, just to name a few.
He has been known to use his celebrity status to be an advocate for sending aid to Somalia and other African countries. K'naan's positive impact is set to takeover Africa and beyond. This is confirmed by being ranked the 25th most powerful celebrity in Africa by Forbes in 2011. K'naan is definitely one artist to keep our eye on in the near future.
Enjoy some of my favourite songs/clips from the man himself !
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