A Summary of West Africa (2012 Trip)

I came home to the news of the passing of a dear newly found friend. Suddenly so much has shifted. The plan was to share how amazing the trip was, how much fun we had and how much I learnt. But as I sit here now, this is my truth. Life is dear and it is short. Those who shine brightest, too often leave us too soon. To summarise, I felt at home in West Africa, I was embraced by many beautiful friends and surrounded by incredible favour. I'm busy preparing a list of the top 'Wow' moments from my trip and when I'm done I will share them on the blog, yet for now so much of what seemed so important just hours ago, feels insignificant. The few things that remain are the ones that I am now able to feel...

There's this thing about Knowing. When you know you know, you know. Lagos was beyond anything I could have imagined, the madness, the noise, the rush, the grandeur, the energy... the pulse! I saw in that grungy *bad-ass* city, a reflection of me. So many flaws, yet so much achievement and even more hope. I can't begin to describe what it felt like to hear that people have to figure out how they get electricity, their own water and how those in power are only known for taking from the poor to fill their already bulging wallets. I cannot judge, but I can understand. I am in awe of the spirit of Nigerians. People who don't wait for a saviour, but become their own saviours in a dog-eat-dog world. I could relate to that animal instinct, that need to survive no matter what it takes. When you know that you're not meant to live as a slave/peasant, everything within you gives you what you need to survive.

Yesterday I visited Cape Coast in Ghana, and went to Cape Castle. A world renowned slave trading centre for centuries. The triangular trade model had me totally baffled. Europe traded cheap jewellery, rum and weapons with Africa in return for slaves, which were then sold to the Americas for raw materials, which were then processed in Europe for re-sale to the globe. It left such a bitter taste in my mouth to know that Africans sold their own for alcohol, weapons and cheap jewellery? When we were the richest in minerals and resources. As we walked through the dungeons of the slave trade centre, I remember telling my friend Vumi, it's not those who executed this plot that are monsters, but the man who designed this castle so efficiently for it to carry out such monstrocities. The saddest part was hearing that above the largest dungeon there was a church. So, whilst people were dying from malnutrition and mistreatment, above them people were worshipping. I agree with the guide when he said: 'There's never been a cleared depiction of heaven above, and hell below.'

As an advocate for this continent, I always believe in sharing the endless possibilities that abound in Africa. We have hard working people, beautiful landscapes and numerous natural resources. But it would be a shame to not be honest about the truth of what Africa is really like and what these strong and beautiful black people have been through. I'm proud to be African, there's no where else I'd rather be from, yet as a writer, I need to allow the truth to speak for itself.