GHANA 2014/15

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...

-Posted By Vanessa

Spotlight on an African Production: An African City

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! 

Zainab: @MsAdjei 

-Posted by Vanessa