“Traveling back to Africa, especially West Africa, to connect with our ancestors is important for growth,” Rondel Holder of Soul Society 101 told Travel Noire.
Originally from Brooklyn, Rondel is now making it his mission to help other Black travelers within the Diaspora to see the continent of Africa at least once in their lifetime.
Since he was young, he’s had an interest in learning about other cultures. Once he became older and ventured beyond the Caribbean, he realized that seeing the world was better than any textbook he could open.
Courtesy of Rondel Holder
In 2012, he created the platform Soul Society 101 to give Black travelers a safe space to talk about their travel experiences around the world.
“We aren’t always given the chance to tell our experiences directly,” Rondel said. “I wanted a platform where we could feel comfortable doing so.”
To help aid in bringing more info to the travelers on his platform, Rondel took his first trip to the continent of Africa in 2016. Before that, he could find little to no information on traveling to certain countries in Africa and he wanted to help connect the dots.
Courtesy of Rondel Holder
He also took an ancestry DNA test and has decided to trace his lineage and document it via a docuseries titled “Heritage Journey.” In this series, he explores the history of countries in his lineage while sitting down with other creatives on the ground for an open dialogue on pressing issues surrounding the relationship between locals and Black Americans.
“For me, it’s been healing. It’s been a great immersive experience.”
This is a self-funded project, so Rondel will document and release content as he is able to travel to the actual countries. The latest episode releasing this month will focus on Ghana with an episode from Congo to follow in March.
Courtesy of Rondel Holder
To help other Black travelers throughout the Diaspora make their way to Africa, Rondel started a concierge service called Global Royalty. This venture is an extension of Soul Society 101 and was created to make it as easy as possible for those wanting to get to Africa, get there with no excuses or obstacles.
He curates trips for solo travelers, groups, couples and even honeymooners. No matter your interest, Rondel has contacts and connections on the ground to help plan a memorable journey.
“I want to eliminate the fear and misconceptions,” Rondel explained. “There’s been so many lies told to us that has created fear around visiting. But, it’s time to break that curse. The same people who instilled the fear are the same ones on the plane heading to Africa. If you just open up your mind to the experience you will have a great time.”
Courtesy of Rondel Holder
To keep up with Soul Society 101, you can follow them on Instagram: @soulsociety. If you need help with planning your trip to Africa, check out Global Royalty’s website: www.weareglobalroyalty.com. To follow Rondel’s next adventure find him at: @kingronthedon.
Afrochella is Ghana’s premier festival of the year, highlighting Africa’s thriving community of creatives and entrepreneurs while celebrating the continent’s art, food, music, culture, and history.
The festival will be hosted by MC/entertainment journalistLolade Olayokun, actorCharles Okocha, and comedian Young Prince and attended by over 10,000 music lovers who saved for months and traveled from all across America, Australia, London, and more to be surrounded by 400 years of history. This event is so grand that the festival’s official flight sponsor, South African Airways, has offered up to 15% off all flights to Accra.
Since last year’s event, CEO Abdul Karim Abdullah has maximized his organized team to help raise awareness for hunger and aiding the youth through new charity initiatives.
Afrochella Feeds will provide over 500 meals to people in Accra and other undeveloped neighborhoods via Afro Food Trucks, a highlight at the festival. Promoting quality education, Afrochella Reads will help aid in renovating the Genesis School of orphans in Jamestown since its demolition earlier this year. “This is the most important part of the initiative because without the renovations the children have no place to learn and create,” said Communications Lead Danica Samuel.
This year’s theme, “Diaspora Calling,” focuses on displaying how African culture has transcended across borders for centuries while still paying homage to its roots. A 12-day celebration of Africa through live music performances, discussions, art exhibits, leading to the main event Afrochella, the official closing festival for the Year of the Return on December 28th.
Photos by Steve Morris M.
Discover how to make traditional jollof rice and other popular African dishes at the Afro Chop Bar for an authentic taste of Ghana. Take a journey through Nigerian photographerAmarachi Nwosu’s At A Glance photo exhibit of the Slave Castles of Cape-Coast, where thousands of slaves were held captive. Today, the Cape Coast is a vibrant fishing port lined with colorful boats and kids running around.
Organizers purposefully added fashion installations, noticing the apparent fashion-forward aesthetic each year. Imagine thousands walking around in African-print and elegance, wearing braids, locs, twists, and other naturally curly hairstyles for Royalty Night at the New Years Gala and Awards ceremony on January 1st, 2020. This is what you can expect this year at Afrochella.
Photos by Steve Morris M.
“Afrochella is looking to produce an unimaginable event this year,” according to Production Lead Kelvin Quartey. “We are welcoming home African talent, music, and culture from all over the globe. It’s a celebration.”
Photos by Steve Morris M.
Africa is in a hyper-alert state, fueling people to understand how to take better care of themselves when it comes to health and wellness. When CEO Abdul Karim Abdullah was younger, he recalled his father making comments about people in Africa walking around with diabetes and not even knowing it. In his culture, health wasn’t something that was discussed at home and going to the doctor was somewhat taboo. There weren’t community health centers at the time.
He mentioned Ghanaian television series Things We Do For Love and Yolo as his only points of reference when it came to learning about cleanliness, your health status, and what it meant to take care of yourself. He hopes to use this platform to create funding mechanisms to help establish Africa’s pharmaceutical structure. He wants to show the government the benefits and importance of investing in the people.
“I want to empower people on the continent to do their research and help their own communities,” says Abdullah. “I think community health centers are one of the ways you change that. People can go in and get the information they need about the importance of knowing your health status.”
Photos by Steve Morris M.
Although Afrochella organizers have yet to disclose their steller star entertainment lineup, the festival has organized a list of tempting tour experiences and events, allowing guests to experience Ghana like a local. Stroll through Ghana’s romantic Aburi Gardens, spend time with the animals at the Shai Hills Reserve, or feast on authentic Ghanaian cuisine while visiting the country’s landmarks on a food crawl.
Other exhibits and artists to look forward to include some of Ghana’s artists: award-winning graffiti painter Mohammed Awudu, Dennis Owusu-Ansah, and visual character storytelling by Artsoul Kojo.
Afrochella will be held Saturday, December 28, 2019, at the El Wak Stadium in Accra. Ticket prices and packages on sale now at Afrochella.com.
You don’t tame the sea. You learn how to ride it the way birds take to wind.
This concept is a way of life in the Caribbean. The Bahamas is a place where ships wrecked on the rocks and reefs, an inevitable, lush green stop on the Trans Atlantic slave trade.
Many view the islands as a beautiful getaway but the spirit of resistance, a spell turned solid at Junkanoo or in the villages and towns crafted by freed slaves, is why anyone learning more about the history of the African Diaspora should visit.
It’s a story of living within the reach of God’s hand. Of springing life back out of the sea.
I went to the Bahamas in the last week of August. It was a trip myself and my best friend spent months and months planning and saving for. We had five sun drunk days in Nassau and somehow managed to get out on a flight that skirted the oncoming winds of Hurricane Dorian.
Wanting to learn more history, we were lucky enough to connect with the Ministry of Tourism before we left. The audacious spirit of revolt is stamped across the African Diaspora. If you’re Jamaican like me, you know Queen Nanny, the black woman who organized freed slaves in an ongoing series of revolts against the British. Haiti made global history when they revolted against the French, establishing the first free Black nation in the Americas.
Our first stop was the Educulture Museum and Resource Center in Nassau. Founded by Arlene Nash Ferguson in 2000, the museum serves as a physical space that embodies the spirit and history of the Bahamian Junkanoo festival. The building, on a parcel of land her great-grandfather bought in 1900, houses bursts of color in the form of Junkanoo costumes. Many of them belong to Ferguson herself, who has participated in the Junkanoo festival since she was four years old.
Photo Courtesy of Arielle Gray
As a Jamaican, I’m familiar with the brightly colored costumes, the elaborate headdresses, and feathered embellishments of Carnival, Barbados’ Cropover, J’ouvert, or the many other Caribbean festivals celebrating emancipation and freedom. Junkanoo has a similar history. While there’s debate concerning the origin of the name, the celebration, which takes place between Christmas and the first of January, commemorates the days off that the slave masters would give their slaves for the holiday. The slaves used this respite to recreate festivals resembling those of their various homes in West Africa, like the Homowo Harvest Festival of the Ga people or the masked, robbed dancing of the Egungun in Benin.
Junkanoo costumes didn’t start off as overtly colorful, elaborate affairs, however. Slaves had to source their materials from their environment and employed straw to create intricately woven costumes, crafted suits made from sea sponges and even made some from newspaper scraps. This was an additionally subversive statement as slaves weren’t allowed to read and could’ve been punished if found with newspaper. Today, modern Junkanoo participants craft costumes from crepe paper, using cardboard stencils, wire and supports to build pieces that can weigh over 100 lbs.
Photo Courtesy of Arielle Gray
Each year, Junkanoo jubilantly proceeds down Bay Street in Downtown Nassau.
Our next stop was the Pompey Museum of Emancipation and Slavery, which also sits right on Bay Steet. It’s at the Vendue House, an old site where slaves were sold or auctioned off. Now, the vividly painted exterior of the museum is a corporeal reminder of the Bahamian push against British colonialism.
Here, we’re reminded of water. The curator of the museum points us to a diorama of the wreck of the slave ship, Peter Mowell, at Lynard Cay. The American owned ship was attempting to avoid what they thought was a Royal Navy Ship.
“Slavery was already outlawed in the British colonies by then,” he pointed out. “But the Peter Mowell, in an ironic twist of fate, struck the shore of Lynyard Cay. Bahamians helped those aboard get to shore. Almost 400 Africans, who would’ve been sold into slavery in the United States, found freedom in the Bahamas.”
Photo Courtesy of Arielle Gray
Bahamians coming to the rescue of those on slave ships wasn’t an anomaly. Bahamian mariners were known to construct fake lighthouses and utilize other methods to urge slave ships to run ashore. Because of the Bahamas’ proximity to the United States, the islands were often seen as safe havens from the terrors of slavery, which wasn’t outlawed in the U.S. until 1865. “And then there’s the Creole,” the curator says. “It was transporting slaves from Virginia to New Orleans but they revolted and took control of the vessel. They knew about the Hermosa, another slave ship that wrecked on the islands at Abaco. They knew that sailing to the Bahamas meant freedom.”
So that’s what they did. When the Creole landed in Nassau, the ship was boarded by the harbormaster and his crew who were all Black Bahamians. They told the slaves to evacuate immediately. They were free. Descendants of both the Creole and the Peter Mowell still live in Nassau and across the Bahamas.
The water has always taken life. But somehow, the Bahamas has always been the receiver of it too. Our last stop touched on this point. Bahamian artist and sculptor Antonious Roberts carves figures from wood, all sourced from the islands. They rise from a rocky peninsula along the beach of the massive Atlantis resort on Paradise Island. Roberts walks along with us to the site. “These figures are carved from local wood, the Madeira tree,” he says.
Photo Courtesy of Arielle Gray
Roberts has a profound interest in the Bahamian environment and uses his art to tell a story of transformation and preservation. “I use the opportunity to gather the broken wood after storms,” he says. “I reuse them. That adds to the power of the work. The whole process is guided by the old belief that the spirit lives in all things. Wood is one of those things.”
The tall, elegant sculptures are feminine in form but represent Bahamian history and resilience and, perhaps most importantly, the give and take relationship the islands have with the sea. The wood is exposed to and weathered by water. But still, the space is sacred.
Photo Courtesy of Arielle Gray
While the beach is a getaway for Atlantis hotel guests, many locals, who work in the area or at the hotel, visit “Sacred Space.” Around the sculptures, stacked towers of white stone spring from the sand.
When asked if these are also a part of his work, Roberts shakes his head. “No. But perhaps someone felt moved to put them here.”
Hip-hop music and the artists behind the hits influence what we know as today’s pop culture. From fashion and slang to what’s trending on Twitter, hip-hop artists and black culture, in general, dictate what’s cool.
Hip-hop artists are well aware of their influence and some of the biggest names in the industry are using their wealth and star power to give back to impoverished African communities.
Here’s how hip-hop’s most influential are giving back:
Jay-Z
Yes, Jay-Z has 7 Grammy nominations, 22 Grammy awards, and is married to Queen Bey, but he is also known for giving back.
Jay-Z, Beyonce, and many others raised over $7 billion during the Global Citizen Festival: Mandella 100 in South Africa last year. The money went to supporting issues like HIV/AIDS and increasing literacy for 121 million people.
But prior to then, the Brooklyn-born rapper had already done his share of philanthropy in Africa. During a trip to South Africa in 2006, Jay-Z built ten water pumps that are able to work in villages without electricity.
These children showed American Rapper Jay Z the six miles they have to walk to get drinkable water for their families everyday. Jay Z then spent millions of dollars to build a pipeline and well which supplies 3 different villages to this day. And this was 11 years ago. pic.twitter.com/uMI06DWQTT
— King👑 of the North®👑 (@Mai_Martaba_) March 9, 2019
Lil Jon
Atlanta native Lil Jon has brought us some of the biggest hip-hop hits of the 2000s. He has been nominated for five Grammy’s and is now worth millions.
Lil Jon has used his wealth to fund two schools in Ghana. After becoming a father, he was inspired to donate $70,000 to the funding of Abomayaw D.A. Kindergarten and Mafi Atikepo DA Primary School.
The rapper said after visiting schools in Ghana: “[In] one community they had a big mango tree and two classes were sitting under the mango tree and that’s not a condition conducive with learning.”
He became adamant about creating an environment where children can reach their goals and dreams.
French Montana
French Montana, whose real name is Karim Karbouch, was born in Morocco and migrated to the U.S. at the age of 13. He has been nominated for a Grammy three times in the categories of Best Rap Song and Best Rap Performance.
Montana paid homage to Uganda in his video for the song “Unforgettable”. While shooting, he became inspired and raised $500,000 for the Suubi Center of the Mama Hope Foundation. Some of the funding was raised from his donation of the proceeds for his song “Famous”.
American Rapper, French Montana has financed the building of a hospital in Uganda, Suubi “Hope” Health Center, which serves 300,000 people. He donated $100,000, The Weeknd and Diddy also donated $100,000 and $200,000 respectively to the hospital's building and equipping. pic.twitter.com/gzTrgeBeyS
The Suubi Center serves mothers in Uganda and provides maternal and child healthcare.
As a result of help from French Montana and other hip-hop artists giving back to African communities, the Suubi Center is currently building a second hospital so they can continue to provide of the communities in Uganda.
Akon
5 x Grammy-nominated rapper Akon, born to Senegalese parents, is not only responsible for giving us hip-hip and pop hits like “Right Now (Na Na Na)”, “Locked Up,” and “I Wanna Love You”, he’s also responsible for ushering in the careers of iconic artists such as T-Pain and Lady Gaga.
When he’s not topping the charts, Akon chooses to give back to Africa, where his family is from. In 2014, he launched the Akon Lighting Africa initiative, providing solar lighting to countries across Africa including Mali, Niger, Senegal, Guinea, Burkina Faso, Sierra Leone, Benin, Guinea Equatorial, Gabon, Republic of Congo, Namibia, Madagascar, Kenya, and Nigeria.
Kanye West
With 140 million records sold worldwide and a total of 21 Grammy Awards, love him or hate him, Kanye West knows how to keep the people going. Last year, Yeezy took a trip to Uganda to meditate, focus on his mental health and work on his Yandhi album.
While there, Kanye and his crew stopped by Masulita where they visited children at a local orphanage. Every kid was gifted a pair of Yeezys and Beats by Dre headphones. They seemed to enjoy the impromptu visit so it’s the thought that counts.
50 Cent
We know 50 Cent as a multi-platinum rapper, actor, businessman and entrepreneur but many may not immediately know him for are his philanthropic efforts.
In 2011, 50 Cent launched Street King energy drink and as part of his “Individual Social Responsibility” project, he committed to donating one billion meals to the World Food Program over the course of five years. Every energy shot purchased was a meal donated. In just a year, it had already been reported that 50’s efforts had provided millions of meals to needy children in Africa.
The cuisines of Africa are so diverse and tell a rich story of culture using distinctive spices from the continent’s various regions. Locally-grown fruits, grains, and vegetables are often used to make up their hearty dishes.
The African diet also features an abundance of meaty dishes but there are also lots of vegetarian-friendly options as well. Each region (Central Africa, East Africa, North Africa, Southern Africa, and West Africa) has a unique flavor and various preparation techniques.
For example, West African foods have a lot of spice while Southern African food focuses on grilling meats with minimal spice.
If you’ve yet to take a trip to the Motherland, or just craving African food, here are 50 African restaurants you can try across America.
Ghion is the first Ethiopian restaurant in Alabama. They offer a wide array of vegetarian and non-vegetarian options. The owner, Amanshwa makes sure diners get a true Ethiopian dining experience.
This Ethiopian restaurant serves a taste of East Africa with family-style menu options. Their injera is perfectly made to scoop up meaty stews. There are also lots of vegetarian/vegan options.
The owners of Kontiki are from Sierra Leone and one of the first to introduce African cuisine to Arkansas. Be sure to try their rice Akara, fried plantains, and meat dishes.
Although the owners are Ghanaian, they offer dishes from all over the African continent. They even have sample plates for diners who are new to African food. The plantain fufu is a great comfort food option.
Try Southern Nigerian foods with gluten-free and dairy-free options. Everything is made from scratch and there are no artificial ingredients used in their dishes.
Opened in 1998, 10 Degrees is the first South African Restaurant in the U.S. The restaurant features the decor, lifestyle, and food of South Africa. Be sure to try their Peri-Peri chicken for a true taste of South Africa.
Voted Honolulu’s Best Ethiopian Restaurant, Ethiopian Love prides itself on serving the most authentic experience. Try their coffee ceremony and immerse yourself in Ethiopian culture while in Hawaii.
This Senegalese restaurant has been open since 2004 and is the first Senegalese restaurant in Chicago. Their Yassa chicken is a great choice if you’ve never had food from Senegal.
Taste of Africa features dishes from Somalia and East Africa. The portions are huge and they serve dishes such as chicken curry, tandoori meats, and sambusas/samosas.
Benna’chin serves dishes from the Gambia and Cameroon and has been in business since 1992. Try their specialties, Nyeaturing (fish pie) and Kone ni Makendo (black beans, plantains, and rice).
This Minnesota restaurant was named after a neighborhood in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia where the owners were born and raised. They pride themselves on serving only the most authentic dishes from Ethiopia.
This West African restaurant serves home-style cooking and is 100% halal. The rice and pumpkin seeds and spinach stew with chicken is a great choice when dining here.
Located in Hudson, New Hampshire, Fharah is inspired by the flavors of Nigeria, Kenya, Uganda, Ghana, Benin, Zambia, Togo, and Senegal. They serve a variety of meat and vegetable dishes.
Jambo Cafe has been named Best International Cuisine by the Santa Fe Reporter for ten years straight. This restaurant serves up authentic Kenyan food such as Lamu coconut Pili Pili shrimp.
The master chef at African Small Pot has over 40 years of experience in food preparation and serves up West African dishes to hungry diners. If you’re craving something meaty, try the dibi (grilled lamb).
Kebbeh serves Liberian and Nigerian food and is located in Providence, Rhode Island. Popular dishes include plantains, cassava leaf, and palm butter curries.
African Hut serves dishes from West Africa in a homely environment. The stewed Okra-Liberian style is an amazing choice when dining here.
Wyoming
Unfortunately, there aren’t any African restaurants in Wyoming. If you live there, the closest place for African cuisine would be Nyala Ethiopian Cuisine in Collins, Colorado.
D.C. has so many African restaurants to choose from. Our absolute favorite is Keren Restuarant on Florida Avenue in North West D.C. Their Ethiopian dishes are amazing.
The Year of the Return is Ghana’s campaign, declared by President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, encouraging African descendants to come home to the Motherland. Involved in the campaign are celebs like Boris Kodjoe, Gabby Sidibe, Jidenna, Steve Harvey and Bozoma Saint John.
Recently, Saint John documented her trip home to Ghana, sharing local hotspots, partying with Kofi Siriboe, and dining with royalty in fashionable threads.
Check out Bozoma experiencing the beauty of Ghana below.
Visit the Independence Square.
Also known as Black Star Square, this monumental area is located in Accra and was commissioned for construction in 1957, the same year Ghana gained its independence. The Black Star Gate, the second-largest independence square in the world, symbolizes the essence of the people in Ghana. Normally empty, this huge square open to the public and now hosts special celebrations such as military parades, concerts, occasional fashion shows, and national festivals. It is also known as a memorial of the Unknown Solider.
Gather Amongst Royalty at the Presidential Palace.
She was honored to be sitting in the presence of black excellence and the next generation of changemakers at the Jubilee House, the presidential palace and residence of President Nana Akufo-Addo. Bozoma also met with Ghanaian basketball executive 𝐏𝐨𝐩𝐬 𝐌𝐞𝐧𝐬𝐚𝐡-𝐁𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐮, who plans to establish a professional basketball league in Ghana under the African Basketball league and music exec and label owner Tunde Balogun, helping to advance black industry executives.
Bozoma was “shooketh” after she fell in love with the Ghanian Jollof, made with quinoa at a catered dinner. It was prepared by entrepreneur Femi Adetola of Madame Butterfly, an Asian-fusion restaurant in Accra. She also enjoyed chocolate from the best chocolate makers in Ghana, Bioko Treats.
Get Pampered and Polished at Polish’d Nail & Beauty Bar.
Bozoma spent her self-care Sunday getting in a quick workout, followed by some pampering at Polish’d Nail & Beauty Bar for a pedicure.
Learn Adowa Dance.
This was her first return to Akwamu after being crowned as the Odupomma (Queen) of Akwamu, accompanied by activist Colin Kapernick. The pair celebrated Queen Mother’s 55-year reign, amongst family and friends performing Adowa dance, created for people to express themselves using their hands and feet in costume.
The first capital of Brazil, Salvador was founded in 1501 and is home to around three million people, many of them Afro-Brazilian. The city serves as Brazil’s center of soul and rhythm with a world-famous nightlife. Located in the Northeast state of Bahia, Salvador is just two hours from Rio by plane, but often gets bypassed by tourists. These are just a few of the reasons why Black travelers are putting down roots in the UNESCO-declared City of Music.
With colorful colonial architecture and over 30 miles of coastline, Salvador has plenty of sites to explore. Residents are known for being welcoming and the city’s prominent Afro-Brazilian influence makes it an ideal destination for those wanting to study capoeira or Candomble spirituality. The city sits on a sharp rock escarpment that separates the cidade alta (high city) from the cidade baixa (lower city) at sea level 280 feet below. The world’s first public elevator, which carries an estimated 750,000 people every month, connects the two sections of the city.
Salvador’s tropical climate makes it appropriate for travel all year round, but it becomes especially popular during the months of February and March for the Feast of Iemanja (Yemaya) and Carnaval.
The Feast of Iemanja takes place annually on February 2 in the Rio Vermelho neighborhood. It’s a celebration of the mermaid-like Orixa of the sea, who Candomble practitioners praise by dressing in all white and heading to the shoreline to offer the goddess flowers and gifts. Afterward, the city erupts with music and dancing that lasts into the early morning hours.
Salvador claims to host the largest street party in the world during Carnaval, with over 2.5 million people taking to the streets for six days of around-the-clock celebrations. While Rio’s Carnaval is more of a spectator sport, guests at Salvador’s celebrations are encouraged to join the festivities. Afro-Brazilian culture features heavily in the celebrations, with floats decorated to honor different Orixas and African percussions that blend with reggae beats.
Another draw is the region’s cuisine, which can be easily sampled in the three-story Mercado Modelo, which hosts everything from food vendors to arts, crafts, and souvenirs. Moqueca is a Brazilian staple, but best-tried in Salvador, where locals combine fresh shrimp and white fish with coconut milk, palm oil, and spices to make a rich stew that’s served over rice. Vatapa is another must-try seafood stew that features a spicy curry flavor and a creamier consistency than moqueca. For lighter fare, try acarajé, a shrimp and bean mixture that’s shaped into a ball then fried in palm oil. Made with shredded coconuts, eggs, and condensed milk, Salvador’s cocados make for a simple and refreshing treat.
Salvador has also gone to lengths to protect the bordering Atlantic Forest, which is much smaller than Brazil’s more famous Amazon rainforest, but provides similar benefits such as ensuring a consistent and clean water supply, regulating temperature, purifying the air, improving hydroelectric generation, limiting flooding, safeguarding unique plant and animal species, and encouraging local economic development. Severe deforestation has threatened the area and currently less than 20% of the original forest remains. Salvador is doing their part to revive the region with their “Dial Atlantic Forest” program, which delivers free native tree seedlings to anyone who messages them via WhatsApp. The program has helped residents plant over 4,500 trees since its launch in 2017.
As committed to honoring its past as it is to innovate the future, it’s no wonder why Black ex-pats are settling down in Salvador, Brazil.
If you haven’t heard of Sho Madjozi yet, its time to get him to this South African rapper making waves in the music industry.
Sho Madjozi recently won a BET Award and released a new single entitled ‘John Cena’. The track, named after popular WWE wrestler John Cena, is really garnering attention globally. John Cena even publicly acknowledged the rapper on his Instagram account which has over 12 million followers.
Cena posted a photo of Sho Madjozi on his Instagram with no caption which we assume means he approves of the song named in his likeness. After all, his IG bio does say: “Welcome to my Instagram. These images will be posted without explanation, for your interpretation. Enjoy.”
Even music legend Missy Elliott praised Sho on social media after her performance on Colors went viral.
You might not be able to see it, but you can certainly HEAR the newest song of the summer "John Cena" by South African rapper/songwriter @ShoMadjozi! @JohnCena 💥💥💥 https://t.co/sEbBTFRfTw
Since then, Sho Madjozi has received massive love and her performance on colors hit more than 1 million views in a week making her the first South African artist to receive a million views on the Colors channel.
Sho shared her reaction with her fans saying: “I just love you guys because you are doing the most on a song that is literally from a performance video. The world is ours, trust me!”
In ‘John Cena’, Sho mixes her languages of Xitsonga and Swahili over broke Gqom (a genre of South African music).
The bold, geometric style of imigongo art is found in huts located in the traditional villages of Rwanda. It can also now be found in the lobbies of boutique hotels, fashion design shops and artists’ studios across the capital city of Kigali.
What’s most impressive about imigongo art is its process using cow’s dung. Incorporating natural dyes and pure artistry, the cow dung is transformed into a remarkable art form.
Imigongo art almost disappeared during Rwanda’s 1994 genocide but 25 years later, it’s making its way back on the art scene.
The Process
Imigongo art is traditionally found in huts but is now being displayed as smaller-scale artworks. Although on a smaller scale, the process remains the same.
The artist starts with a wooden base plate (ranging from a tiny frame to largely-sized wall mural). The wooden plate is then divided equally using banana fibers which help the finished product to be proportional.
Geometric patterns such as zigzags, spirals, diamonds, and squares are sketched on the plate using charcoal. Fresh cow dung is then used with ash to kill bacteria and smell. The cow dung is applied by the artists who trace the pattern with their fingers to create a raised texture.
The finished product takes about a day to dry and is then sanded and a base coat of ochre is applied.
When the work is fully dried, designs are painted by the artist using traditional colors of white, red, yellow and black.
Traditional Background
For centuries, owning a cow in Rwanda meant you were wealthy and of an upper class. Local beliefs reveal that art using cow dung was invented by King Kakra in the late 18th or early 19th century.
The king would mix cow dung with ash and clay and decorate the walls of his hut with the paste. He began teaching the local women the art form and it was then passed on through generations.
The Resurgence
It has been 25 years post-genocide which, at the time, divided the nation of Rwanda.
Today, the capital of Kigali is one of the cleanest cities in the world and has a special vibe which indicates the nation’s resurgence.
Imigongo art is found in design ships and studios located in Kigali. The art form is traditionally done by female artists but is now also attracting male artists.
To find the true essence of imigongo art, drive 90-minutes from Kigali to Kayonza and visit the Imigongo Art Center and craft coffee shop.
There is a new event in Nairobi, Kenya devoted to women having safe nightlife spaces.
Strictly Silk was created by Njoki Ngumi, Njeri Gitungo, and Akati Khasiani, who are all members of the Kenyan arts collective known as The Nest Collective.
The all-women dance party started in 2018 for a very important reason. Founder Njoki Ngumi says, “2018 was a difficult year for a lot of Kenyan women. There were a lot of stories about violence and people were becoming bolder about misogyny online and offline.”
She goes on to say, “There were a lot of stories around sexual harassment. We just wanted to curate this energy in celebration of women in spaces that are not usually welcome for women and especially things to do with nightlife.”
Kenya has been in the public eye in recent years because of rape cases and an alarming amount of femicides. Nairobi was ranked #6 of 22 cities globally where women were more likely to be sexually harassed, according to Plan International in 2018. Women were reported as having a 50 percent chance of being sexually harassed while in a public space. The Federation of Women Lawyers Kenya recorded over 50 cases of femicide in 2019 during the first five months.
Strictly Silk is held in a residential outdoor space with a dance floor. Jane, one of the attendants of the party, tells BBC, “You have to be super strict in a place with men. You just want to go out with your friends and men interfere. So having a space where it’s all women immediately feels safe and you feel you are with people who understand you.”
Since I became aware of myself as a person I have never been in a space where I felt completely safe until yesterday when I went for #StrictlySilk I felt so safe that I eventually felt anxious at how safe I was So you mean to tell me men walk around feeling like that every day?
Music plays loudly and women are able to dance without worrying about being harassed at men at this female event.
There are security guards present and the only men allowed in are the ones dropping off women who are attending — the men are asked immediately after.
I like this thing. This shows and tells us(men) that we shouldn’t think that every lady we see into night clubs is for after men, some are there for their enjoyment. Good step
Another great aspect of the party is all bartenders, security, DJs, sound mixers, MCs and ushers are women.
This space is also welcoming ad safe to Muslim women and lesbians.
“Some of us have to remove our hijabs to blend in when we are out dancing. When they see you with a hijab, people are surprised and wonder what you are doing there,” says one of the party-goers, Khadija.
Since starting Strictly Silk, there have been rumors that it’s just a code for a gay party. Ngumi dispels this misconception, saying: “We are deliberately queer-affirming and queer-celebrating but people would imagine that this is an exclusive queer event. There are events that are exclusively queer but this is not that kind of party. We welcome all people, including non-binary people.
Ngumi has hopes to expand the all-women dance party to other parts of Africa. She says: “This is a worldwide issue. There are conversations around the toxicity of club culture and nightlife particularly towards women, gender identity and orientation. As we shift towards mainstream club culture, we must have spaces that celebrate women but exclusively and in the mainstream.”
There’s a new six-part series on Discovery which shows the beauty of the African continent. Serengeti takes you on an inside journey into wildlife as you’ve never seen before on television.
The show uses spy-camera technology and camouflage equipment to get the stunning shots shown throughout the series. Experience baboons, cheetahs, elephants, and more as they live and survive in northern Tanzania.
The series is narrated by Oscar winner Lupita Nyong’o, who is of Kenyan descent and spent some of early life there.
“The Serengeti National Park is a place that although I have never visited is very close to my home. Being part of the series, Serengeti has offered me a chance to visit these animals in a very personal way,” says Lupita to The Hollywood Reporter.
She goes on to say: “In watching the incredible footage captured by the team in the field, I was able to really spend time with each animal in an intimate fashion — understanding their relationships, struggles, fears, and even their desires. Spending this kind of time with them, I was able to see how the experiences of these animals aren’t too far away from ours; they want similar things: to survive and thrive.”
Serengeti was created and produced by John Downer, an Emmy award-winning wildlife filmmaker. Downer made sure to accurately tell the stories of the animals’ lives on the African continent by highlighting their unique stories.
Viewers will get to know Kali the lioness, Shani the zebra and Zalika the hyena amongst others.
Serengeti makes the wildlife animals relatable and unites us as being inhabitants of the earth.
The series premiered on August 4th on Discover with new episodes premiering on Sundays at 8 p.n. ET/PT.
Byas & Leon is a collective house specializing in Haitian craftsmanship, dedicated to curating sustainable fashion & pushing the African diaspora forward through Haiti.
Haitian owners Rony Byas and Harvey Leon are building their own legacy by upgrading from an online retail shop to a storefront in Brooklyn. The duo pledged to help provide sustainable and ethical jobs and income to the people of Haiti. Seven years ago, this concept was only an idea but before they knew it, they were walking the streets of Haiti and shaking hands with artisans they had built relationships with over time.
As one of the poorest countries in the Western Hemisphere, Haiti has struggled to rebuild itself since the devastating 7.0 earthquake in 2010. Harvey had a front-row view of his homeland’s economic status, having lived there for a few years.
“My growing interest in fashion, is really what set the stage for me to dive wholeheartedly into this initiative,” Harvey said.
Rony worried Haiti was being used as a source of cheap labor due to their lack of infrastructure. He received his master’s degree in urban planning at Hunter College, fully grasping how successful brands work andputting a focus on fashion and Haiti.
“There’s a lot of people who want to work but they can’t because there is not enough opportunity,” co-owner Rony said. “When opportunity presents itself, it’s in the form of these foreign companies that invest, they exploit that. they pay them next to nothing for the work that they do.”
Rony and Harvey traveled to Haiti after buying all their materials, including fabric and buttons, to be hand-cut and sew by Haitian artisans. The store’s clothing racks are filled with vintage clothing, textured prints, colorfully patterned hats, bags, shirts, accessories, and other gender-fluid attire. Made in Haiti by Haitians, it doesn’t get any more authentic than that.
The duo is known for their ’60 and ’70s aesthetic attire.
The Byas & Leon Shoppe currently serves as a culture pub, preserving Haiti’s culture and history through pop-up shops, events, book readings, art exhibits, and other hostings.
Shop black this summer at Byas & Leon, located at 404 Tompkins Ave. in Brooklyn, open Wed-Sunday.
If you haven’t been already, I’m sure a trip to Africa is already on your radar.
The continent of Africa is bursting with festivals and musical celebrations preserving their heritage and culture with respect to legends like Fela Kuti. Local and international artists draw in crowds from all over the world to enjoy the fusion of Afrobeats and African sounds with hip-hop, pop, rock, and other genres of music. You can expect epic adventures, outdoor camping, and a combination of sights, sounds, and cultures at almost any music festival in Africa.
If you plan on journeying to the Motherland, here are 14 must-attend music festivals in Africa that will blow your mind.
Attendees say Lake of Stars is more than a music festival. The annual celebration of artistic expression showcases some of the hottest South African acts. Past performers include rising singer/songwriter/producer Wandile Mbambeni and Gqom king DJ Lag, who co-produced on Beyonce’s The Gift album. The festival first launched in 2003 encouraging tourism and providing an international audience for Malawian artists.
You won’t be able to resist the urge to dance at this festival. Highlighting underground music and musicians in Africa, the annual event stands for PEACE, LOVE, JOY, and pushing boundaries always with a sense INCLUSIVITY. Enjoy four days of non-stop partying, various music styles and creative workshops.
Experience the beauty and magic of South Africa for an unforgettable weekend camping music experience, featuring an amazing lineup of local and international artists. US artists such as Russ, Smino, UK rappers, and international hip hop artists Cassper Nyovest, Nasty C, and Shekhinah. Hurry fast before tickets sell out.
The countdown has begun and we’re less than 90 days away from the annual week-long celebration to honor of the contributions of late Nigerian icon Fela Kuti. The festivities will also include a dance and art competition.
Ghana has become one of Africa’s most desirable destinations, hosting the biggest urban music beach festival. Headliners include WiztheKid, Davido, and African Giant Burna Boy, who dropped his debut album last week. It’s one of the most exciting festivals of the year.
Afrochella, Ghana’s answer to Coachella, is back for it’s third year. The festival is designed to elevate and highlight the thrilling and thriving millennial talent from and in Africa. It introduces an interactive event that encourages collaboration, explains and explores the culture with a pioneering approach.
Party into the new year at the Vic Falls Carnival. You’ll spend the first day dancing into a world of mystery and freedom on the lively carnival train and secret bush party. An electric night of fun all the way into the new year with traditional dancers, fire breathers, and other popular artists during the final concert.
The lineup for Afropunk Joburg is insane. Solange, Masego, GoldLink, Busiswa, Nao, the Destruction Boys and more will all be taking the stage alongside the hottest female DJs,Gina Jeanz,DBN GOGO, Fif Laaa,and multi-talented creativeLelowhatsgood.
Celebrate African culture with 400+ musicians and live performances carnival style-over four days and three enormous stages. Every year, Stone Town, Zanzibar is buzzing with music, dancing, fire eaters and an appetizing food market with Zanzibari favorites and delicacies, visited by thousands around the world.
International music powerhouses like Chaka Khan, Sho Madjozi, Amanda Black, and London saxophonist Nubya Garcia gave stellar performances at this year’s festival in March. Next year will be just as stellar.
Bringing people together through dance, music, and love for Ghanian culture is one of the most inclusive. He music and line up are incredibly varied hosting established and local emerging artists, playing Afrobeats afro house, funk, dancehall, hip hop, afro-UK bass and more. Asa Baako also offers an endless amount of parties and activities, surfing, yoga, volleyball, boat trips, workshops their mentionable Jungle Party. I’ve never been but I hear they’re pretty legendary, so you may want to check it out.
A 3-day festival focused on Africa’s most innovative and progressive creators. Showcasing to the world the beauty that is African art, which can be fun, fierce, innovative, with the purpose to increase joy. This year’s experiences include fashion, film, virtual reality, non-stop music, and a unique camping site for overnight attendees.
Nothing but good vibes were felt at last year’s Bushfire Festival. Hailed as one of the top African festivals by CNN and BBC, this African festival hosts panel discussions, workshops on regional partnerships and live performances from the hottest international artists like Nigeria’s Mr. Eazi, CJ Cybos, and all-female band The SheKings Emakhosikati.
Discover old and new music–pop, rock, reggae, jazz, hip hop–at this music festival in one of the most magical cities in Morocco. Since the late 90s, the festival has preserved Gnaoua traditions and music. Gnaoua music is a combination of African, and Arabic religious songs for prayer and celebration. Expand your horizons at this four-day event.
The internet has been divided over the announcement of Halle Bailey of Chloe x Halle’s casting in Disney’s The Little Mermaid live-action remake. Half are ecstatic that the brand is making strides to represent diversity in their princesses, and the other half are incensed that Disney would dare to depart from Ariel’s origins as a red-haired, pale-skinned mermaid. Some even argued that it’s “unrealistic” for this mythical being to be played by a Black actor.
What Disney’s detractors don’t know is that mermaid lore had a long and rich history before Hans Christian Andersen penned The Little Mermaid fairy tale.
Here are five examples of ancient mermaid folklore that prove these fabled sirens can be Black (or any other ethnicity):
Yemaya
Yemaya is a powerful Yoruba Orisha (or goddess) who rules over the oceans and is the mother to all living beings. It is believed that she gave birth to the sun, moon, stars, as well as many orishas. She is known for her protective and nurturing qualities and represents both change and consistency. She was synchronized with the Mother Mary by enslaved West Africans who were brought to the Caribbean and sought to protect their beliefs from Spanish colonizers. Often pictured with dark brown skin, cowrie shells around her neck, and a flowing blue dress that morphs into ocean water, Yemaya is still worshipped in West African Yoruba religions as well as Brazilian Candomble, Cuban Lucumi, and Haitian Vodou.
La Sirene
La Sirene is a lwa, or powerful, spiritual being, from Haitian Vodou, which draws upon African traditions, but was highly influenced by the traumas of the transatlantic slave trade. La Sirene rules over wealth and is thought to bring love, romance, and success to her faithful worshippers. However, this lwa shouldn’t be approached casually and is known for luring those who offend her into the depths of her oceans, never to be seen again. She is considered one of the most important lwa and translates the secret wisdoms of the sea into songs that she sings for her children.
Mami Wata
Mami Wata, or Mother Water, is a pantheon of water spirits that belong to the old, matriarchal religious systems that dominated Africa for thousands of years. They are often depicted as mermaids, snake charmers, or both and thought to bring wealth and healing to those who follow them. These water spirits are highly respected and feared, representing mystery, sacred knowledge, and protection. They are worshipped throughout Africa, the Caribbean, and the Americas.
Iara
Translating to “Lady of the Lake,” Iara is a Brazilian water nymph that draws from ancient Tupi and Guaraní mythology. She is often depicted as a beautiful young woman with green hair, light brown or copper-colored skin, and brown eyes with the body of a freshwater dolphin, manatee, or fish. She spends her time lounging on river rocks and waiting for men to seduce with her songs. Legend has it that no man can resist her charms and that they would gladly abandon their lives to live in her underwater lair for eternity.
Marakihau
Marakihau is a guardian, or taniwha, from New Zealand’s Maori folklore. Pictured with human heads, long fish bodies, and tube-like tongues capable of slurping down schools of fish or toppling wayward canoes, marakihau are more like sea monsters than a siren, but their ancient origins likely influenced how mermaid folklore developed. These protective beings were believed to harass and prey upon sailors and those who live upon their shores.
Ghana is pulling out all the stops for 2019. In an effort to reach Africans in the diaspora, Ghana has created a campaign to make it easier for them to return to the Motherland.
2019 marks 400 years since the first Africans were ripped from their families and forced into slavery. 77 million African people shipped off to the Caribbean and the Americas. The majority of those people came from West African countries, then known as the Gold Coast. Ghana is now calling its people home to visit, and hopefully, to live.
The initiative, known as ‘Year of Return, Ghana 2019,’ is headed by the Office of the Diaspora and backed by the Ghanaian president Nana Akufo-Addo. For the year of 2019, there will be a series of events, festivals and more welcoming and encouraging those on their spiritual birth-right journey.
‘The Year of Return, Ghana 2019’ celebrates the cumulative resilience of all the victims of the Trans Atlantic Slave Trade who were scattered and displaced through the world in North America, South America, the Caribbean, Europe, and Asia. It was announced in September 2018 but officially kicked off in December 2018 at Ghana’s Full Circle Festival. Boris Kodjoe, Michael Jai White, Djimon Hounsou, Anthony Anderson, and Jidenna were just a few of the Hollywood stars who attended. In July 2019, a Pan-African festival of arts and culture will take place countrywide and a ceremony of ‘healing and atonement’ will take place on Emancipation Day in August.
As part of a year-long campaign 200 African-American and African-Caribbean people who live in Ghana will be granted citizenship. Visa fees have also been reduced from $150 to $75. The goal is to make it easier for those in the diaspora to travel to Ghana. They’re even partnering with airlines.
There are tons of ‘Year of Return’ events scheduled throughout the entire year of 2019 with Afrochella on December 28th, being the perfect way to cap off the year.
