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Hanging out with some guys in Jamestown, Accra, Ghana
"I am glad to tell our people that there are more things to be seen in Africa than lions and elephants. They never told us about your beautiful, magnificent hotels, beautiful houses, beaches, great hospitals, schools, and universities.”
Muhammad Ali, American boxing champion & activist
Reporting is a chance to go in a community and document everyday life, capturing scenes that may seem mundane, like burnt trees, tire marks in the mud, chipped nail polish on a toenail, a fallen mango.
"People in the United States still have a 'Tarzan' movie view of Africa. That's because in the movies all you see are jungles and animals . . . We [too] watch television and listen to the radio and go to dances and fall in love."
Miriam Makeba, South African activist & singer
I’m very fond of the elderly. They’re not only good sources of information, but I also find that they’re the best place to start when I arrive in a town and I want to understand the culture of that place. In many societies across Africa, it’s respectful to seek out the elders first and greet them before you bring out the notebook and camera. When you do that, they’ll honor your respect. They give you their blessings and goodwill.
"For Africa to me...is more than a glamorous fact. It is a historical truth. No man can know where he is going unless he knows exactly where he has been and exactly how he arrived at his present place."
Dr. Maya Angelou, American writer & activist
Children bring me so much joy. Sometimes, my work is traumatic. I often report on tragedy, conflict, cultural clashes, discrimination, suppression - heavy subjects that can stir strong emotions. Children have a way of bringing much needed relief. So, I seek them out wherever I am and together, we laugh and laugh and laugh about absolutely nothing. It's a beautiful thing and does wonders for the soul.
I was hanging out with these guys who are members of a vigilante fighter group. They're protecting their community of Chibok (that's the town in northeastern Nigeria where almost 300 schoolgirls were kidnapped by Boko Haram in April 2014) against Boko Haram. They're getting ready to go out into the field and they drink this potion to give them spiritual power. They gave me a sip so I can tap into some of that power as well. It tasted like.... water.
This is just a glimpse of my blog, Afrocentric Confessions. My blog captures my observations on culture and news and shares stories about people of Africa and the African diaspora. Check it out: www.chikaoduahblog.com