Supermodel Alek Wek is the epitome of global style that is authetically African to the core. The dark chocolate statuesque Sudanese beauty adds the allure of royalty to everything she wears. A true globalnista needs just the right luggage to travel in style & Alek has come to the rescue with WEK 1933 (named for the year of her father’s birth).

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Travel With Alek

The most remote place you have been?
Sudan. Sometimes we were in the middle of nowhere. I’ve been to parts of Morocco that are pretty remote, too. I had a small part in the film Four Feathers with Heath Ledger, shot in the desert seven hours’ drive from Casablanca, out in the dunes. We ate couscous under the stars.

Most hardcore experiences?
Living in a tent in Niger. There were terrible sandstorms, so we had to wrap our faces in scarves. Going on safari in South Africa was hardcore but a lot of fun – though my friend Maura was absolutely freaking out about all the bugs in her hair and having to pee in the sand.

Travel tips?
Be comfortable. Wear comfy boots or shoes on the plane. Take a shawl sprayed with a favourite scent, in which to wrap yourself. Moisturise. I use La Prairie for my face, cocoa butter for my body, Juicy Tubes for my lips, and Aromatherapy Associates lavender or jasmine oils. I love rubbing on their De-Stress oil after a shower; so soothing.

Travel rituals?
I always light a candle in my hotel room, so it doesn’t feel so foreign: a Diptyque (RED) Vanilla and Rooibos, because a percentage of the money from each candle sold goes to fight Aids in Africa. I’ve seen how just two pills can save someone’s life, so if I can buy anything that supports (RED), I do. I also read wherever I am. It might be the Dalai Lama, or something inspiring like Lighting the Way: Nine Women Who Changed Modern America, or Say You are One of Them by Uwem Akpan. The beauty of reading is that it lets you travel in a way you could never know. My iPod is always with me, too: I might play Alicia Keys, or Santana, or Norah Jones if I want something soothing, or Zairean music, such as Koffi [Olomide] , who does amazing dance music and videos. Wow, those girls can dance! Full on!

Favourite New York haunts?
Atlantic Avenue in Brooklyn, where there’s a great deli called Sahadi’s, with food from all over the world: big beans with feta and onions, falafel, chickpeas with chilli. Delicious. Also Layla, a boutique on Hoyt Street, where everything is hand-picked or handmade in India and Afghanistan, to help women feed their families.

Best places to eat in New York?
For brunch, Schiller’s on Rivington Street or Pastis on 9th Avenue in the Meatpacking District, for its sandwiches, its salad niçoise and the best crème brûlée in town. For dinner, I go to Japonais, on 18th Street, which serves little portions of Asian food to share with friends, and a hot pepper to sprinkle on it. And, obviously, Nobu in Tribeca.

The most romantic hotel?
The Horned Dorset because it is so private. When you walk off your balcony, you are surrounded by birds and butterflies.The Delano in Miami is pretty amazing, too: especially those deep bathtubs made of beautiful grey marble.

Best hotel rooms?
I like unique little boutique hotels, such as Blakes in London. If you’re going to stay in a big hotel, though, the Mandarin Oriental Hong Kong has one of the best spas and pools. After a swim, a herbal tea and a massage, you disappear into la-la-land.

Favourite shops abroad?
The souks of Marrakesh, for mirrors and old swords. Frette in Milan for sheets. Colette in Paris, for things you don’t get anywhere else – and great European music. I bought Cadenza Classics last time I was there, and I play it all the time.

The best airline?
Virgin, because when you walk on, it doesn’t feel like you are on a plane. The crew are friendly – and you can get a massage in the air. British Airways is good, too. The seats are comfortable and I like that shutter you pull up for privacy.
Source:telegraph.co.uk- Read More Here

Alek Wek recently shot an amazing fashion spread for “Financial Times-How To Spend It” that truly served her royalty right. The beautiful colors of global fabrics with styling by Damian Foxe truly lived up to the name of the fashion spread entitled: Global Gathering!

Check out the full fashion Spread Here

Miami is one of those places that I have always had a love/hate relationship with. I love to go there because it is a quick, cheap trip from New York that most often guarantees you great sunny weather, particularly during the cold months on the East coast. The hate part comes in because after about 4-5 days max, I am ready to get the hell out of dodge. I guess it’s because I often stay in the small area of South Beach which has become extremely commercialized with mega events, conventions & raucous spring breakers, so you must choose the time of year you go carefully & decide what it is you are really going for.

I escape to Miami for relaxation from the hustle, bustle & cold of New York City. The club scene in Miami is not for me because I am not into the ecstasy infused, smoke filled, techno/latin/hip-hop/euro house mash up of confusion that is often found in many of the clubs. I prefer the lounge atmosphere that you can find at many of the hotels like the Delano & some hot spots on Lincoln road or Alton.

Best Time To Go:
The annual Winter Music Conference (WMC) in Miami is what many of us lovers of global, other worldly, not your usual radio play list type of music will be fleeing to Miami in droves for from March 23 – 27, 2010. If you are a global music lover or someone who loves to dance & meet other people who love global music &  dance then you need to be in Miami during the Winter Music Conference.

Established in 1985, WMC is the largest music industry gathering of its kind in the world. Winter Music Conference, in its 25th consecutive year, is one of the most publicized annual music gatherings in the world. A pivotal platform for advancement of the industry, WMC 2009 attracted 1,910 artists and DJs, 3,228 industry delegates from 62 countries and over 70,000 event attendees for a concentrated schedule of more than 500 events presented across 5 days. Music, as one of the world’s most accessible cultural art forms, gives WMC the unique ability to cross economic, geographic and social boundaries. Over 1.3 million visitors from 183 countries log on to the WMC website each year. Find Out More .

When I think of the days when I went religiously to Miami for the WMC debauchery, the song “Make a Baby” by Vikter Duplaix comes to mind. It is just a feel good type of song that makes you want to follow thru with the title of the song-LOL. This song just brings back so many wonderful, sweaty, hot & intense moments in dance under the blistering Miami heat amongst a global crowd of music lovers. WMC is coming up & I am sure many are ready to rip off the layers & let the brutal winter be nothing but a past memory as we embrace spring & call upon the heat of summer with sweaty hardcore music lovers & dancers converging on the beach & pool parties throughout South Beach. As I reminisce of WMC past, another one of my WMC evoking songs come to mind, Bra by Cymande, to remind me that “it’s alright we can still go on & home” to gather with friends & family in Miami at anytime without ever missing a beat. You must check out the Giant Step line up with globally superb DJ’s who are guaranteed to bring the hotness like, Bobitto Garcia, Nicodemus & Questlove of the legendary Roots crew, who will all be at the Delano + I  hear Estelle will be in Miami performing at this year’s WMC as well. Also check out my fellow NYU alum, Jew with a chocolate soul & all around superb DJ Herbert Holler & global music maestro DJ Scribe. If you attend just the events with the aforementioned DJ’s your WMC music experience will be more than filled with great stories to tell of how you felt like you did not stop dancing the entire time you were in Miami. You can Thank Me later!

The Week of Art Basel in December is also a great time to be in Miami. It’s similar in events & parties like the WMC just with a global art lovers crowd which often overlap into the same WMC crowd & vice versa.

Where To Eat:
The food in Miami can be devine from Argentinean influenced Novencento 900 to authentic Cuban at Larios on the Beach, owned by Miami’s pride & authentic Miami Cubanita, Gloria Estefan & her husband Emilio. You can even find deliciously authentic Haitian cuisine at Tap Tap Restaurant  & yummy sushi at Sushi Samba on Lincoln Road & Nobu located inside the Shore Club. I can’t say enough about perhaps the best & most delicious variety of pizza I have ever had, found at Pizza Rustica -coming from a native New Yorker who has had pizza in the home of Pizza- Naples , Italy -that’s a pretty big compliment. The great variety of toppings on delicious thin crust squared pizza is decadence in your mouth at a price you can easily afford off or on a budget, but it comes with an addiction that your bikini body will pay a hefty price for if you eat it everyday while you are in Miami like I like to do.  The irony or maybe just a testament to how delicious Pizza Rustica is , is that I am not really a big pizza fan & I rarely eat pizza in New York, Italy or anywhere else.

The battle with the bikini body & temptations continue as you get to the beach & get tempted by the Love Food Cafe trucks strategically located on the beach so you can spend your entire day at the beach without having to leave to get food, for those of us who love food & refuse to starve ourselves. Do not miss out on the delicious frozen lemonade from the Love Food  Cafe -it is the perfect cool down drink as you escape into the intoxicating daze of Miami sunshine! You can’t go to Miami without indulging in Miami mainstay, Big Pink on Collins. The type of portions of salads, burgers, yummy sweet potato fries & wraps at Big Pink is why there’s an obesity problem in America. There is no need to eat that much food in one sitting for 1 person- especially in SOBE heat- so go with a hearty appetite or share with a friend, otherwise be ready to waste a lot of food or take home leftovers! You can’t miss Big Pink, just look for the super cute Pink Beetle that sits in front of the restaurant. Dessert & wine at the Delano Hotel’s Plat Bleu restaurant is a must. Try the sickening decadence of their take on churros Y chocolate & Spring rolls-chocolate filled spring rolls that you dip in dulce de leche cream -Stop the presses ! I am not a chocolate lover  but this was absolutely divine & the Russian River Valley , CA Syrah(Shiraz) was delicious! Syrah may have been birthed in France, but it has ben perfected in the USA,who knew that you can get a great Syrah right here in California wine country. I must say it is not something that is commonly found at any wine store because I have been having a difficult time finding a bottle, but if you are into on-line wine shopping, you can definitely find it online. Last but not least, you are in Miami so you will find some delicious Cuban style empanadas & the yummiest cafe con leche at local convenience/grocery stores- have a taste & a sip for your morning inexpensive pick me up or afternoon quick snack on your way to the beach or to party.

Tipping in Miami :
Here’s a tip about tipping in Miami- many restaurants add the gratuity to your check particularly if you are in a group of 4 or more-so read carefully because the wait staff will often conveniently forget to tell you so they can get double the gratuity. This also makes for not so great service in some places because the wait staff have no real incentive to work toward, since they know the gratuity is automatically charged.

Miami Natives

Miami is filled with a blend or gumbo of Cubans, Haitians & Jews with Italians, French & South Americans from Argentina coming in to stake their claim in the sexy Latin Caribbean beach vibe of Miami; however the designated culturally specific areas are dominated & separated into Cubans, Haitians & Jews. Unfortunately so much has changed in SOBE that my favorite place for crepes on Espanola Way is no longer there & one of my favorite Argentinean restaurants, Gaucho Room Restaurant at the Loews Miami Beach Hotel has also disappeared, but Loews has some new good eateries to make up for it.  Espanola Way is by far my favorite little tranquil street in South Beach-there’s just something about the bohemian, quaint European yet authentically ethnic feel about such a small little street  that makes it the direct opposite of my least favorite chaotic street, Ocean drive. This time around I manged to completley stay off of Ocean Drive even though I kind of miss News Cafe, the once ubiquitous O.J. spottings & crazy times at Wet Willies & the always entertaining Mangos. If you have never  had a wacky drink like “attitude adjustment”  at Wet Willies, rolled up into 24 hr. News Cafe before or after a hangover, or been to Mangos Tropical Cafe  & got drunk enough to dance on top of the bar, then you must do it at least once because they are South Beach staples &  you are guaranteed to have stories to tell -good, bad, indifferent, scary, or exciting!

Where to Shop:
The fashion in Miami is very stripper style specific unless you find great native designers like Karelle Levy of Krelwear, who will blow your mimd with her beautiful knit creations that are perfect for Miami weather or any resort customer from Capri to St. Barts. There are many high-end retailers & designer stores found further up in the 20’s toward Aventura, if you have some cash to burn & a special occasion to attend where you need that special outfit or maybe you just snatched up one of the many sugar daddies & sugar mommies looking for an upgrade of their eye candy to flaunt around town. Since stripper chic is in this season with cut-out dresses, super mini minis, super tight Hervé Léger style bandage dresses & the highest Pamela Anderson style stilettos-you will be in luck in South Beach for some cheap finds because it has never gone out of style there, so they have plenty to spare. Oh by the way, the “Karfashians” AKA Khloe & Kourtney Kardashian have come to town with their retail store “Dash” as well & since they are doing yet another reality show season based on their Miami store, you may even end up getting a walk on role just by walking in. If you are in need of a swimsuit – you are in swimsuit mecca from your local convenience store to designer shops -you will find a swimsuit to suit you at any price & style. You can also find some great cheap vintage fashion & rare vinyl at some of the thrift stores on Alton & Lincoln Road so be on the look out if that’s your speed.

Where to Stay:

Miami can be done luxuriously or on a budget if you stay at a moderately priced hotel like the Richmond Hotel & have drinks, breakfast, lunch, dinner or dessert while utilizing the pool & other amenities at celebrity hot spots & luxury style places like the Shore Club, the Delano, The Raleigh , The Standard & the Gansevoort -which will all run you in upwards of over 150/200 (USD) per night. If you are into luxuriating in the perfect spa experience that is off the beaten path from the SOBE madness, you should definitely book a night or some spa time at the Standard, located at the old Miami landmark, The Lido Spa hotel . Spend some beach time at Nikki Beach as well because even though it’s so overplayed , over-Euroed & every wannabe model or cool kid’s favorite hangout spot, it’s still chic & great for people watching. Somethings that never change in SOBE  are that the pot heads still hang out between 1-5 street side of the beach & the gay boys still hang out on the beach directly parallel to Versace’s mansion -which is now The Villa by Barton G. ,catering to your  every decadent pleasure  if you have deep pockets to match the indulgent lifestyle worthy of fashion’s Liberace, the late great fabulous Gianni Versace!

Enjoy, Exhale, Relax & Go Crazy -It’s Miami Baby!

& then for nostalgia sake 2 the present, the one song that will guarantee TRUE house heads go into Orbit

For me Africa , Ghana in particular, will always represent my beginning & my future. As I go back to my beginnings to reach out for my future, I realized that I am a stranger in this land, in this land that I love, in this land of mine. Ghana is the rapture of nature, the keeper of ancestral history, the smell of jaloff rice, grilled tilapia, kontonmire stew with ampesi & the special nighttime aromas of kelewele, wakye & grilled plantains with groundnuts on an open fire by the road side, putting a most intoxicating spell on me with the most freeing jubilation of rhythmic sounds & motion in an inviting surround sound type of blaring sound system that only the black star nation can deliver. From the kpanlogo drum to the seperewa, to the funky guitar strings of hi-life; from the borderline insanity & fanaticism of football that brings the nation to a standstill, to the overwhelming crowds, banter & fast paced motion of mokola market; from triumphant Ashanti kings & queens, to the painful history of our global fusions in the slave trade from Elimina to Cape Coast; from colonization to the freedom of independence; from libations of apeteshie, palm wine & black star beer poured in honor of celebration & mourning, to mother nature’s blessings of bountiful cocoa, diamonds, gold, richness of culture & beautiful, smiling, shining black stars -This is Home!

I feel so alive upon my arrival as I see the colorful welcoming of Akwaaba! From the peaceful serenity of my grandmother’s village in Awukuga- where I learned to give & receive the love, respect & protection of an entire village as one family, to the gritty city hustle & bustle of Accra, where I learned how to be tough & hard in order to fight for what was rightfully mine, as I embarked on the journey back to my place of birth, the toughest city around -where they say if you can make it here, you can make it anywhere –New York, New York- so nice they had to name it twice! As I journey on to find the innate feeling of roots & belonging where Africa is the future, I look to the innocent, powerful, curious & smiling faces of the children, who represent my childhood days in Ghana, bringing me a sense of welcoming with something to believe in!

Explore the 10 regions of Ghana with a collective & separate rich history of cuisine, sites, people, language & culture!
Ashanti Region (Kumasi)
Brong-Ahafo Region (Sunyani)
Central Region (Cape Coast)
Eastern Region (Koforidua)
Greater Accra Region (Accra)(Tema)
Northern Region (Tamale)
Upper East Region (Bolgatanga)
Upper West Region (Wa)
Volta Region (Ho)
Western Region (Sekondi-Takoradi)

Akwaaba- Welcome Home to Ghana http://www.touringghana.com/

Credits:
Photos:Aretha Amma Sarfo (Global Fusion Productions Inc.), Stanley Lumax (Stone Face Photography), Craig muMs Grant
Music: Joy Denalane (Stranger in this Land), Nina Simone (I put a Spell on You), Osibisa (Welcome Home), C.K. Mann (Asafo Beson), DJ Spinna Ft. Heavy (We Can Change this World), Wanlov the Kubolor (Human Being),Blitz the Ambassador (Something to Believe) & sax over VO by Marquis ‘q’ Sayles (Amazing Grace)

I found it very interesting to read this article in the New York Times, stating the fact that there are many Africans living today that have never been exposed to White people/Anglo-Saxons/Caucasians. Can you imagine walking on to a picturesque beautiful island in West Africa, with dark brown & black skinned people speaking Portuguese who have never seen a White person before in the 21st century?

I recall my uncle, a native of Ghana, West Africa, who was studying engineering in Bulgaria telling me how little children in Bulgaria would come up to him & wipe his face to see if his skin was really Black or just dirty because they had never been exposed to Black people before & during the winter months he had to cover every part of his body except his face because he had never been exposed to such cold. I also recall the same uncle while I was growing up in Ghana, telling me how my European teacher looked so weird because she had pale skin & blue eyes-so I guess it all depends on perception & exposure. My uncle moved to New York after attaining his degree in Bulgaria. We had Russian neighbors in a predominately Black neighborhood , who instantly bonded with him because he spoke their language since he had studied in Bulgaria & had to learn the slavic languages to survive. Language can bring about a bond from distance that goes beyond color or social class, whether you have ever been exposed to a certain area of the world & its people or not-the bond can come from being able to communicate in the same language.

I had a conversation with a Black American who said just the opposite about Blacks in America-that they have all had to be exposed to White America all their lives, whether in their towns, work or school yet they still did not feel a sense of real bonded connection, while at the same time there are still White Americans that have never been exposed to Blacks in America whether in their towns, workplaces or schools. We are all living in a world that is becoming more & more globally fused in terms of everyone being exposed to one another whether in the physical sense or virtual sense with the growth of the internet & other technological advances fusing our interactions globally. I look forward to the day when there are truly no borders virtual nor physical. Explore your world because the world is Ours!

The cultural divide between Africa & her Diasporan counterparts seems to be growing wider in America even with the first Black president of the U.SA. being of direct African parentage. The New York Times recently did an article on Africans in the Bronx who have steadily been on the receiving end of victimization & divisionist stereotypes from their American counterparts. I grew up in the battle between the two communities as a first generation American of Ghanaian parentage, but I didn’t realize that decades since my youth that this divide would be as strong as ever. I have heard Africans say “well Obama is part African that’s why he was able to have the type of drive & achievements to become president whereas someone like Jesse Jackson could not accomplish that because he does not have they same drive, intelligence & work ethic as an African”. I have heard African-Americans say that Africans think they are better than them & many other divisionist & hateful things from both sides instead of us realizing that we are all in this together.

When CNN does the next series of “Black In America” or better yet when BET decides to be truly a hub for the voices of all of its people, they should take a look at this divide & bring it out in the open, so we can move forward knowing that we are one people of African decent, who’s history started at the same side of the Atlantic ocean before we were divided & conquered. We need to be honest in our stereotypes & where they came from & even more honest & genuine about wanting to bridge the gap/ocean that has divided us for centuries. It seems a young man from South Africa brought the dialogue wide open on you tube when he asked should African-Americans call themselves African-Americans? This subject truly hit home for many Africans & African-Americans/Black Americans judging from the countless video responses.

Take a look at the stories below & remember to set your mind free!

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/20/nyregion/20africans.html

20 GREEN CARD AGAIN (PR_ BOSCO)August 2009

“Have Patience with all things but chiefly have patience with yourself. Do not lose courage in discovering your own imperfections, but instantly set about remedying them. Everyday begin the task Anew.”

As I landed in Ghana & began the journey thru the different regions, this quote has become my mantra & reminder of exactly why I am here & must continue thru all obstacles & doubts of what my future & the future of Ghana can be. The journey began in the Volta Region- home of the Ewe people. I have never been there before & now I know why. It is a different world from where I come from (Accra & Awukuga, Eastern Region via New York). The roads are beyond deplorable, if you can even call them roads. Most of Ghana has infrastructure problems with the roads, gutter systems & just the idea of being able to have clean or just continual running water, especially hot water, being a luxury for the majority of Ghanaians;however the people of the Volta seem to be way behind most Ghanaians on these things that most Americans couldn’t imagine being considered a luxury even though in the deep south & a few other areas in the US, you can find places with these same issues.

Traveling thru the Volta Region which should take minutes or hours from town to town takes days because the roads consist of rocks, huge potholes & areas where you are basically driving thru mini rivers from rain fall or just the plain fact that the infrastructure in this area has been completely overlooked & underserved, even though Ghana’s former president/dictator/military coup leader, J.J. Rawlings, who ruled over Ghana for 20 plus years hails from this part of Ghana & is the pride & joy heralded by the people of the Volta Region. What makes a horrible situation even worse is the fact that for mere survival some people of the Volta have decided to set up a system very similar to an accepted form of organized crime where there are only certain cars that can take you from town to town. If you want to get thru the Volta to the next town & you do not have your own 4X4 or SUV, you have no choice but to succumb to a system where only a few literally taped together vehicles are the only form of transportation & you must stop in every town, pay another fare to take a different one of these taped together vehicles even if you are willing to pay to take you straight to your destination because they all have their own territories where only their cars can operate. A 4-5 person car insists on packing in around 7-10 people & leaves you with no choice but to entertain this because it is the only way you can get to the next town. If you wish not to be packed in a car like sardines or wait minutes-hours for the car to be packed with passengers, then you have no choice but to pay for the extra seats in order to be able to have any breathing room on the hot roller coaster of a ride because the idea of these cars having air conditions will have people looking at you like you were from another planet. This is why I call it an acceptable form of organized crime because it is much like the Mob or your average block drug dealer where someone from another town/territory can not & will not be allowed to operate their business in another’s territory & there is a system where they have to tip the person who controls the business in the area as well as the police, or do favors for the police such as transporting goods for them from town to town before they are allowed to proceed with their business. I had the privilege of this experience of basically putting my life in danger by sitting in these vehicles a few times trying to get to the Northern Region , which is only a few miles away but took days to get to, with hotel stays in between because this was the only way. These vehicles really have no business being on any road let alone the barely there dangerous roads of the Volta, which would give even a hummer a challenge.

This experience wasn’t all bad because I was allowed to see the beauty of Ghanaians in the fact that when our taped together vehicle broke down on the road there was such a wonderful sense of everyone stopping in their cars, on bikes, on foot etc. trying to figure out how they could help or just offering an apology for our unfortunate experience or a sweet smile to brighten up a dark experience. There was even a family whose home we broke down in front of who graciously offered to feed one of my companions, on their very menial means that they were surviving on with about 6 children living in a hut like house. This is what I see as innately Ghanaian regardless of what tribe one represents.

After about 2-3 days of traveling we finally made it to the Northern Region of Tamale, which is a large bustling city much like Accra with a mostly Muslim population. Tamale is the home of the Larabanga Mosque, Mole National Wildlife Park & Paga Crocodile Pond-where the people are one with nature so much that they can swim with & ride on top of the crocodiles. We moved on from Tamale to the historic Kumasi, homeland of the Ashanti tribe -the historical Kings & Queens who ruled the Gold Coast (Ghana’s former name during colonization), heirs to the golden stool & rulers who were complacent & compliant in the sale of fellow Ghanaians/Africans in the Trans-Atlantic slave trade. What struck me most in Kumasi in its historical irony is the fact that Chinese contractors/investors who come stock piled with their own Chinese workers with just a few locals on staff were in full force in their so called partnership without political interference in the development of Ghana & most of Africa, which I see as the takeover of Africa/African resources by a new modern day colonizer- with little or no regulations or standards set to ensure that the overwhelming amount of Chinese investment in Ghana goes toward actually benefitting the everyday Ghanaian & the country as a whole. Once again in unplanned irony we proceeded from Kumasi to Cape Coast, home of the Fanti tribe & the historic Cape Coast Castle, the dungeon that held millions of slaves from Ghana & all over Africa awaiting transport across the Atlantic to the Americas, Caribbean, & Europe. The sad part about this journey was to hear from the tour guide at Cape Coast Castle that a large majority of the slaves were taken from the Volta region & Northern region after I had just been told by the Ghanaians of Tamale & the Volta that they still felt like second class citizens in their own country & not fully accepted as being just as Ghanaian as the Ashantis, the Fantis & other fellow Ghanaians from other regions.

I realized through this journey how far back Ghana had gone since the days of Independence. It seems not much has changed since the days of Dr. Nkrumah except for undoing much of the greatness of the Black Star Nation, which was truly the leader of Africa, with priorities such as education with a focus on the sciences, infrastructure, universal healthcare, agricultural development, the arts & culture, job creation particularly for the large population of young people, women’s movements & a great sense of pride & love for nation & continent that was to unite Africa as a self contained & sustained independent & thriving continent. Don’t get me wrong because you will find your modern day luxury 4-5 star hotels, luxury multi million dollar homes, luxury cars etc. but this is still exclusively a lifestyle afforded to members of parliament, footballers, drug dealers, foreign businessmen & some Ghanaian entrepreneurs who have earned their wealth from legitimate means.

Classism in Ghana is the ultimate divide & is extremely prevalent in every day life. You can clearly see the haves from the have nots. The haves make it a point to let everyone know just how much they have with excessive grandiose lifestyles giving rise to armed robberies by some who are just fed up with with an unchanging system that seems to never benefit them as well as envious individuals who just seek easy money-many of which are foreign nationals & not Ghanaians because the vast majority of the have nots of Ghana are extremely hard working happy people who just beg & thirst for the opportunity for a better life. The haves even have their own areas & nightclubs such as Citizen Kofi & Rhapsody catering exclusively to the wealthy & elite visiting & of Ghana. Now the Ghanaian or African dream for most of the have nots on the continent is to be able to get a visa to go abroad for a chance at opportunity, which costs in upwards of $700 if you are lucky & do it thru the legal process, which offers no guarantees of passing the interview test to get a visa nor is your money refundable if you do not past the test even though on average a Ghanaian who is making a decent wage makes about $100 a month. It seems for the average Ghanaian the only opportunity that seems to be knocking here is to bombard tourists to buy their goods, hope to befriend an “obroni aka white person or foreigner” who will hopefully give them some money for whatever services they provide, or at the most sinister, getting involved in armed robbery or internet schemes, or the new get money quick scheme called “Sakawa”, which involves murder, armed robberies & fetish rituals where children & other things are given up as sacrifices in order to bring wealth to individuals. Where has Nkrumah’s Black Star Nation gone & how do we get her back!

What made you decide to cut out all the drama of family, friends etc. & just make it what it is supposed to be –about the two of you?
Well, it actually happened somewhat by chance. Basically we looked into having a small wedding in a fabulous loft space called “Marvimon” in downtown LA, one of those spots you can’t believe that exists in your city all the years you’ve been living in it. We checked it out, brought Marlon’s brother and wife to sort of validate it (after all, it’s our first wedding, how is one to know that this plan is supposed to work). We were set on this idea, felt confident, but… The “BUT” was after putting our list, repeatedly trying to downsize it to avoid cost, people we didn’t want to leave out, were being left out. When you share a love like we do, or you have friends and family that truly value how special you are, individually even, it’s hard to invite who NEEDS to be there. We didn’t want to invite people, hoping they wouldn’t come. It was a tough decision. So we decided to think on it, while time was ticking – with the occasional ‘bug’ in our ear, “so did you decide yet?” where we really wanted to be like, NO do you mind not BLEEP calling us JUST to ask this? So together we realized how pricey this would actually cost plus knowing that Joy’s parents weren’t 100% thrilled that she was not marrying into her faith she kept envisioning drama, level of discomfort and that was definitely not wanted for the two of us, plus Marlon’s parents and family are so different, accepting and ready to focus on the joy of this big step with support, this potential mix was very disturbing to Joy. After all, on what is supposed to be one of the most special days of our lives, we didn’t want to hear people comment on the food, music, flowers etc… The usual stress at ALL weddings that frankly, we didn’t want to have to fight through…

How did a Trini & A New York Jewish Girl end up having their wedding in Tanzania?
We both very much enjoy African culture, music, people, food, fabrics, jewelry and art , we both have special ties – Marlon being of African descent but from the Caribbean, and I have always dreamed of going on safari being a lover of animals so it was something on our minds to think of. Just this thought excited us, because the more we thought of Africa, in a selfish way, the more we thought of LESS stress of a traditional wedding. The main spark that confirmed this was something we were destined to do, was a day at the nail salon after being introduced to a girl named Joy (yes same name) whom was also in the fashion industry and over the summer before returning from her wedding which took place on Mnemba Island. I remember this day like it was yesterday coming home to Marlon and telling him this is what we must do, the idea was coming together not in our minds, but from outside forces. It was a signal to really jump on what we were thinking all along – destination baby! There is a reason I met this woman besides her becoming a new friend and this was the reason. Being not your typical NY Jewish girl and typical island man from Trini, Africa seemed to be a fit, plus we’re always looking to be a step ahead in whatever life experiences we can be a part of, it’s always been like this for us – naturally. Not in a forceful way at all, newness and change and trendsetting comes our way more than we chase after it – and here it was again – Africa’s shores were gently wetting our feet, welcoming our idea to take the chance and set foot onto her.

Why Tanzania –why Africa?
After meeting Joy and hearing about Mnemba Island and seeing the pictures of this magical island, Marlon and I researched daily and we knew no matter what we plan this was the island we needed to get married on. The figuring out of the details, was more a formality afterwards, but our idea of vacationing with the safari being our main focus, then a wedding on this island after, was what our ideal situation would be. I mean, our ideal situation would be to have our friends and family by our side too, after seeing the pictures and realizing in a far off place like this, the one person to start stressing, would have to get kicked off the island – because this was truly an atmosphere we were looking at through pictures on the internet, that seem to be heavenly. We called a travel agent that Joy recommended to us plus I asked a dear friend whom I also work with about her experience knowing she went to Zanzibar, and Marlon continued to research and read and follow details to ensure what we were about to decide, was right. After some research and back and forth with the travel agent and friend, we realized that safari in the beginning, then relaxing afterwards in an atmosphere like Zanzibar and ending this trip with of course the wedding. Sort of backwards, yes, but we knew Mnemba Island should be the last destination – peaceful and relaxing 1-mile circumference around, island in the Indian Ocean off the coast of Zanzibar. C’mon, it don’t get better than that as far as relaxing. PLUS we’d be truly FAR away. It wasn’t an easy decision at first, because we love our families and friends dearly, but as soon as we saw photos it was a done deal. We worked with some really professional people as part of the travel plans, and every step of the way, we had family and friends’ support.

Most Memorable moments?
Joy-My most memorable moments were arriving at the first hotel in Kenya and realizing what an incredible trip this was going to be; driving to our second hotel and seeing a couple giraffes from a distance; waking up early in the morning in Zanzibar – a 95% Muslim country – hearing people praying in the near distance around the entire city in Arabic; and the last memorable experience by far would be the day we took a boat from the island of Zanzibar to Mnemba island and got married.

Marlon – My most memorable moment was arriving in Jomo Kenyatta International Airport and realizing, I’m on African soil; taking our first small plane to an airstrip where our safari experience awaited us; being on my first safari (Masai Mara) in Kenya, realizing with the sights of Elephants in the distance, Giraffes gliding across the far distant hills, that this can’t be a park in San Diego or elsewhere; the incredible hospitality and accepting ways of most Africans from Kenya, Tanzania, Zanzibar and to when our butler on Mnemba Island cried softly because it was our last day on the island; and as far as our wedding, I had no idea Joy was going to be arriving by boat with the theatrics of this ritual of people surrounding her, singing and chanting, bringing her to me like a true Queen. But then again, should have known, I’m a KING

Moments you could have done without?
Joy-One that sticks out in my mind is an argument that Marlon and I had the night before our wedding and the last day of our trip when we had to leave Africa. Probably wedding jitters, second thoughts, or simply my sometimes neurotic way I chose the worst times to cause friction.

Marlon-Similarly, yes, it was just totally unnecessary to be in the negative space, all the way in Zanzibar, where I had to pour a lot of energy into fighting, when it’s supposed to be a day before our wedding. Forces of nature I guess. One other thing that I could have done without, was the food at our first Safari – too American, European and predictable. Everywhere else was exotic in terms of the food, fusions and choices – but Kenya’s safari cuisine was like high end version of Denny’s!

Must see/Must do while visiting Tanzania?
-Must see and interact with Maasai tribes in their village – can’t even describe!

-Must go on safari – cheetahs, lions, elephants, leopard, you name it, truly fascinating!

-Local foods – ugali!

-Parts of Tanzania (Zanzibar, and the many exotic island resorts surrounding – including Mnemba Island).

-The people of Tanzania, no offense to Kenya, but these people were just special. Untainted. After all, this is where the first human being is said to have originated from. It all makes sense, because these people possess what I believe is the TRUE human spirit, many of us, have lost over time…

Name: Uraline Septembre Hager
Current Global Location: Harlem, New York
I rep for: native Harlemites (folks living in Harlem pre-1990)

Personal Stats: Artist and Special Education Teacher

Down with: Malcolm X Grassroots Movement