To kick off 2019, I had the pleasure of visiting the cradle of the African Diaspora as we know it today: Ghana!
As you may or may not be aware, Ghana has labeled 2019 as the “Year of Return;” a time for descendants of the Transatlantic Slave Trade in particular (and of course, others whose ancestors and families have relocated off the continent) to come on home and see what’s popping in The Motherland these days.
Having visited Kenya back in 2015, I think I stepped off the plane with a lot fewer of the preconceived notions Americans tend to have about what a visit to an African nation entails — namely, spotty-to-nonexistent internet access, dirt roads, antiquated amenities, and general third world-iness. However, East Africa and West Africa were still vastly different experiences, and I was still pleasantly surprised by the luxury, prosperity, and expensive vacay vibes I ran into on African soil.
But in reality…GHANA IS WAKANDA. Minus the whole Marvel Superhero ruling the nation aspect (that I know of, anyway) the nation has just about the same level of affluence and technology as you’d see in any European nation or America, it’s diverse, and developed. To top it all off, Ghana has about everything any American could want on a vacation; be it picturesque beaches with seaside restaurants and bars, local historical sites, activity and adventure on open water or deep in the jungle, or shopping and bustling nightlife.
Needless to say, it was a dream vacation. First, we made the journey to the Gold Coast to visit Elmina Castle. While the word “castle” evokes the idea of royalty and glamour, this particular castle is the home base for the most heartbreaking chapter in the African Diaspora. This was the final holding place before millions were shipped off to slavery via trans-Atlantic trade.
Next, we made a stop by Kakum National Park to take a (somewhat nerve-wracking) walk across the famed hanging canopy bridges. The outing kicks off with a semi-challenging uphill hike for about 20 minutes, before arriving to the 7 hanging bridges perched about 160 feet above the ground. The bridges definitely do a little shimmying when more than one person is on them, which they encourage.
Overall, it was an amazing experience, though it isn’t something I’d run back to do every weekend.
Next, back to Accra for some sight-seeing and shopping. This included stopping by the Kwame Nkrumah memorial, visiting the W.E.B. Dubois home, snapping pics in Black Star square, grabbing souvenirs in Makola Market, having custom clothing made by local seamstresses and tailors, and of course, the obligatory hair braiding experience.
I chose to get my tresses tended to at Twists & Locs salon in Osu, a natrual haircare salon focused on growth and health of African hair. Now, having had my hair braided in Kenya in a local market, I was expecting to come to Ghana and have my hair styled by five or more women at once in an outdoor booth…but I was pleasantly surprised to have the opportunity to have my hair braided at an upscale salon suite with modern amenities, a plethora of Black haircare brands at my fingertips, and a friendly and knowledgeable English-speaking staff. My hair was washed, detangled, moisturized, and braided in long thin plaits by a group of four women….for all of $65 USD WITH HAIR INCLUDED. If you’ve gotten your hair braided anywhere in the states you know what a steal of a deal this was. And I just couldn’t quit whipping my new hair all over the place, I loved it so much.
A few days later, we stopped traveled to Tema and visited a local island resort owned by a family friend, Treasure Island. While there, we ate and drank to our hearts’ content, relaxed in a poolside cabana with a little hookah and music, and took in the sunset over the Atlantic ocean.
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