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)