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In This Issue…

2022

Industry News

Why Mobile Passport is the Best-Kept Secret

International Travelers

You’ll No Longer Need to Show TSA Your Boarding Pass at These Airports

Hyatt Hotels Aims to Double Number of Blacks in Leadership Positions by 2025

Women in Hospitality Leadership Alliance Launched

Airlines are Trying to Increase Diversity Among Future Pilots

Voyager International Airlines: Ghana’s New Air Service

New “CONNECTED TRIP” Solution

Meet Lawrence Phillips, Founder of Green Book Global, the First Black Travel Review Site

Airlines Maps Out Route Ambitions

Hotels & Resorts Partners with UK Black Pride in Support of Ethnically Diverse LGBTQI+ Communities

Tourism Industry is at 90% Recovery

from the Pandemic and is Helping Namibia Recover Next

Feature Stories

Lagos’ Parks are Underrated – Here are 9 of the Best the City has to Offer

Nat Geo Photographer Ami Vitale on Photographing the Last White Rhinos

Entrepreneur from Michigan Opens Africa’s Newest Black-Owned Safari in Tanzania

London’s Horniman Museum to Return Benin Bronzes to Nigeria

About the Africa Business Association

The Africa Business Association is an independent international business development organization. We offer access to the latest resources, information, and best practices in advocacy and communications for the African Diaspora and the African entrepreneurs in Africa.

work to help you have access to news and events as starting points for constructive conversations and calls to action. We seek to cut through the froth of the political spin cycle to underlying truths and values. We want to be so focused on progress that together we can provide a credible and constructive generation of Africans that take seriously our previous generations and act upon all their wishes, our hopes and aspirations to make lasting change for all future generations

Africa Business Association "Travel Africa"

PUBLISHER/PRESIDENT

Ricky Katsuya

ADVISORY BOARD

Cooper, II, CEO, Black Business Association

Sheila Siwela, Ambassador

Kone L. Tanou, Ambassador

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Ricky Katsuya

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Why Mobile Passport is the Best-Kept Secret Among International Travelers

By Ramsey Qubein

Here’s

everything you need to know about the app that gets you through U.S. immigration and customs faster.

The ability to speed through U.S. immigration and customs after an international flight without wasting time waiting in line, is perhaps one of the greatest improvements to modern travel. The U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s (CBP) Global Entry program has long been touted as the fastest way to arrange these arrival conveniences. But, considering required interviews can be cumbersome to schedule and it comes at a cost of $100 every five years, it’s not for everyone.

Fortunately, there is another method of getting out of the airport (or making your tight connection) even faster. Mobile Passport Control, (Mobile Passport) which CBP launched in 2014, is a free app that lets travelers use a dedicated, and often shorter, customs line in U.S. airports and cruise ports. Here’s how Mobile Passport works and what you need to know before using it.

What is Mobile Passport?

The Mobile Passport app is available for iOS and Android devices and can be downloaded from the iOS app store or Google Play.

The app serves as a replacement for completing a traditional, paper customs Declaration form or using the Automated Passport Control kiosk when you arrive. The moment you land in the United States and connect to WiFi or data, you can fire up the app and answer the regular questions; you can even make necessary declarations, such as restricted food or large purchases, within the program.

When you first use it, you must upload a headshot and enter your passport details (it’s as simple as scanning your passport page). When you’re ready to use the app, you can enter your

Download Now: Mobile Passport, Free, App Store; Google Play

chosen PIN code or use Touch ID if your phone has that capability.

Once you’ve indicated your arrival airport and airline, and submitted the form (the process takes about a minute), the app creates a QR code that you show to an immigration officer inside the airport. The officer may ask a few questions about your trip, but the process is swift because, as a Mobile Passport user, you’ll have a dedicated lane in 31 participating airports that expedites the line to complete the standard immigration and customs process.

While Global Entry users are still completing their form on the kiosk, you might already be scanning your mobile device QR code with an officer. Any declarations would be discussed at that point, but if you have none, you are sent on your way.

For now, Mobile Passport feels like a well-kept secret among international travelers. “There’s often no one else in the Mobile Passport line when I land at SFO [in San Francisco],” says AFAR Senior SEO Manager, Jessie Beck, “Thanks to this app, I typically clear customs in five minutes or less—sometimes faster than my friends with Global Entry.”

Mobile Passport vs. Global Entry

While Global Entry users must schedule an interview appointment, go through a background check, and pay a fee once every five years, Mobile Passport is an instant download and free if you don’t mind uploading your passport information

each time you travel.

Unlike Global Entry, there is no application process, no lengthy interview appointment that requires a wait time of weeks or months, and no cost. U.S. and Canadian citizens with a B1 or B2 visa status are eligible.

Mobile Passport is not a replacement for a passport and is not a trusted traveler program. This means you have not been “vetted” in the same way that Global Entry users have been. Because not all travelers are eligible for Global Entry (due to prior customs violations, among other reasons), this app can be a great alternative.

If you have Global Entry, you can still use Mobile Passport. This allows you to opt for whichever line is shorter once you reach border control.

Like Global Entry, Mobile Passport can only be used for arrival in the United States.

Where can you use Mobile Passport?

There are currently 31 airports and 4 cruise ports in the United States that have Mobile Passport lines. Notable airports that are not on the list include Detroit, Las Vegas, and Charlotte, North Carolina. However, the number of airports on the list continues to grow.

Airports with Mobile Passport

• Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI), Baltimore

• Boston Logan International Airport (BOS), Boston

• Chicago O’Hare International Airport (ORD), Chicago

• Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW), Dallas

• Daniel K. Inouye International Airport (HNL), Honolulu

• Dulles International Airport (IAD), Washington, D.C.

• Denver International Airport (DEN), Denver

• Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL), Fort Lauderdale

• Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL), Atlanta

• George Bush Intercontinental Airport Houston (IAH), Houston

• William P. Hobby Airport (HOU), Houston

• Kansas City International Airport (MCI), Kansas City

• Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), Los Angeles

• Miami International Airport (MIA), Miami

• Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport

(MSP), Minneapolis

• John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK), New York

• Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR), Newark

• Oakland International Airport (OAK), Oakland

• Orlando International Airport (MCO), Orlando

• Philadelphia International Airport (PHL), Philadelphia

• Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX), Phoenix

• Pittsburgh International Airport (PIT), Pittsburgh

• Portland International Airport (PDX), Portland

• Sacramento International Airport (SMF), Sacramento

• San Diego International Airport (SAN), San Diego

• San Francisco International Airport (SFO), San Francisco

• Norman Y. Mineta San Jose International Airport (SJC), San Jose

• Luis Muñoz Marín San Juan Airport (SJU), San Juan

• Salt Lake City International Airport (SLC), Salt Lake City

• Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA), Seattle

• Tampa International Airport (TPA), Tampa

Cruise Ports with Mobile Passport

• Port Everglades Cruise Port (USPEF), Fort Lauderdale

• Miami Seaport (USMIA), Miami

• Port of Palm Beach (USPBC), West Palm Beach

• Port of San Juan (PRSJU), San Juan

Using Mobile Passport for family travel

Families living within the same household can complete their form on one device as a group submission, provided each person’s photo and passport details are added to the app.

Is the Mobile Passport secure?

The app includes privacy protection barriers in place to keep your document details safe. There is also the option to delete your details (instead of storing them within the app) after each trip. The QR code transmitted to U.S. CBP when you complete the form expires four hours after it is created..

Find original article here

Image credit: silverthatchcayman.com

You’ll No Longer Need to Show TSA Your Boarding Pass at These Airports

By Michelle Baran

Itseems like a simple enough request—be ready to show the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officer your boarding pass and a government ID when you get to the front of the security line at the airport. And yet, sometimes you’ve tucked the paper boarding pass into a pocket, and you can’t remember which. Or decided to fold it up into your wallet and need to dig it out. Or it’s on your phone, which is now locked.

Well, there’s good news for those of us who feel like we are perpetually scrambling to find our boarding pass when we go through security. At more than 100 airports across the United States, travelers will no longer need to scan their boarding pass at security. At these hubs, TSA is now using Credential Authentication Technology (CAT), a system linked electronically to the flight database allowing TSA officers to confirm travelers’ flight details as well as whether they are enrolled in a

trusted traveler program, such as TSA PreCheck, simply by scanning their ID.

Passengers still need to check in with their airline and obtain a boarding pass, either a paper or electronic one, and will still need to scan their boarding pass at their gate when boarding their flight.

In order to take advantage of the CAT scanning procedure, passengers 18 years old and over will need to show valid identification, which includes a driver’s license (don’t forget that it will need to be a Real ID starting in May 2023), U.S. passport or U.S. passport card, U.S. Department of Defense ID, U.S. Merchant Mariner ID, Global Entry or NEXUS card, permanent resident card, or other governmentissued ID.

These are many of the airports with the new CAT technology and where travelers are likely to not be asked by TSA agents to hand over their boarding pass:

• Alaska’s Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport (ANC)

• Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL)

• Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS)

• Bradley International Airport in Connecticut (BDL)

• Nashville International Airport (BNA)

• Boston Logan International Airport (BOS)

• Hollywood Burbank Airport (BUR)

• Baltimore/Washington International

Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI)

• Charleston International Airport (CHS)

• Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT)

• Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA)

• Denver International Airport (DEN)

• Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport (DFW)

• Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport (DTW)

• Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport in Florida (FLL)

• Honolulu’s Daniel K. Inouye International Airport (HNL)

• Washington-Dulles International Airport (IAD)

• Houston George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH)

• Long Island MacArthur Airport (ISP)

• Jackson Hole Airport (JAC)

• New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK)

• McCarran International Airport in Las Vegas (LAS)

• Los Angeles International Airport (LAX)

• LaGuardia Airport in New York (LGA)

• Orlando International Airport (MCO)

• Chicago Midway International Airport (MDW)

• Miami International Airport (MIA)

• Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport (MSP)

• Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport (MSY)

• Oakland International Airport (OAK)

• Ontario International Airport (ONT)

• Chicago O’Hare International Airport (ORD)

• Portland International Airport in Oregon (PDX)

• Philadelphia International Airport (PHL)

• Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX)

• Pittsburgh International Airport (PIT)

• Palm Springs International Airport (PSP)

• Portland International Jetport in Maine (PWM)

• Raleigh-Durham International Airport (RDU)

• Richmond International Airport (RIC)

• Reno/Tahoe International Airport (RNO)

• San Diego International Airport (SAN)

• Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport (SAV)

• Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA)

• San Francisco International Airport (SFO)

• San Jose International Airport (SJC)

• Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport in San Juan, Puerto Rico (SJU)

• Sacramento International Airport (SMF)

• John Wayne Airport in Orange County, California (SNA)

TSA posts a full and updated list of all the airports with the new CAT security systems on its website.

Eliminating the need to show a boarding pass is just one of several ways TSA is making the airport security process more streamlined and quicker.

The agency also recently unveiled new Computed Tomography (CT) x-ray systems that will ultimately allow passengers to keep liquids and laptops in their luggage, speeding up the often sluggish security lines. Four of the scanners have been installed at Lihue Airport on Hawai‘i’s Kauaʻi island, and the agency hopes to begin deploying and installing additional scanners in U.S. airports starting this summer.

“In the future, the goal is to keep laptops and 3-1-1 liquids inside of the bag during checkpoint screening,” TSA stated in its “Computed Tomography” explainer.

While we wait for this futuristic technology to hit airports, there are a few additional measures travelers can take now to cut down security wait times. TSA PreCheck already allows passengers to keep liquids and laptops in their carry-on bags and keep on their shoes, saving precious minutes in hectic lines. The service costs $85 to sign up and $70 to renew (membership lasts five years).

Clear is another option, although the service is currently only offered at a few dozen airports. The program lets passengers check in at designated kiosks using facial recognition and fingerprint scans, as opposed to showing ID at the security checkpoints. Once the machine matches your identity with the boarding pass, an agent will whisk you to the front of the security line. Membership costs $189 per year, and you can sign up on the Clear website.

Select U.S. airports are also giving travelers the option to make an advance “fast pass” reservation to head to the front of the security line—free of charge.

Find orginal article here.

Image credit: travelgumbo.com, iStock

Hyatt Hotels Aims to Double Number of Blacks in Leadership Positions by 2025

By Jeffrey McKinney

Admitting

its work is far from over, hospitality giant Hyatt Hotels Corp. has boosted the number of Black suppliers it buys goods and services to 350 nationwide — an 82% increase from a year ago.

Park Hyatt Zanzibar

The move is part of World of Care, a new Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) platform for the Chicago-based company, including sharing its diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) efforts. The company recently provided BLACK ENTERPRISE responses via email on accountability, progress and other actions Hyatt is taking to advance its DEI strategy in upcoming years.

Attempts to expand DEI activity is a big deal as Hyatt is a global hospitality and hotel brand. It had over 105,000 employees, and revenue exceeding $3 billion last year.

“By 2025, Hyatt has a goal to double the representation of women and people of color in key leadership roles,” says Malaika Myers, Hyatt’s chief human resources officer. In America, 40% of all of its managers are people of color. Yet they are the least represented among its leadership roles at 26.5%.

To help change that, Myers says Hyatt is continuing to build a talent pipeline as over 50% of its entry-level managers in the U.S. workforce are people of color and 10% are Black. The company

recently released more metrics, including such by race and gender. The company also shared DEI workforce data for the first time last year, making a commitment to provide annual reporting.

Further, Myers says Hyatt has partnered with MLT, the creators of the Black Equity at Work Certification, to support the company in developing action-oriented plans that support all three of its commitments under Change Starts Here.

Myers says Hyatt is doing more to boost its Black suppliers pool via efforts like Hyatt Loves Local. That effort aims to support small- and

Hyatt Regency Addis

diverse-owned businesses. For example, Hyatt Regency Atlanta provided kitchen space to Anna Bell‘s Kitchen Mac & Cheese. The move allowed the minority-owned business to sell its product at the hotel locally while also expanding to ship product nationally.

“To advance our vision of a world of understanding and care, we must continue to prioritize DEI across every dimension of our business and take action to make meaningful progress against our goals.”

Parallel with its 2025 DEI goals, Myers says Hyatt has introduced internal recruiting and hiring guidelines that require a diverse slate of candidates for all leadership roles. She added that Hyatt is committed to a heightened level of accountability in this area. It ties annual incentives

to progress against its DEI targets and links executive stock compensation to the achievement of the goals.

“Still, we know that until we see consistent growth across all diverse groups, there is more to be done and we are focused on continuing to increase representation across groups with efforts around talent development, retention and recruitment,” she shared among her comments.

Further, Hyatt says it is taking actions to boost its diversity efforts by 2025 with Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs).

This past spring, Myers says Hyatt convened a group of HBCU presidents and members of industry for a conference and discussion on how “we can work together to support HBCU schools and empower HBCU alumni to take bold steps forward in their careers.”

Myers pointed out that

Hyatt sponsors over 100 HBCU students annually, making it possible for them to travel and attend a large career fair where they can interview with Hyatt and other industry leaders for internships and post graduate career opportunities.

“We are focused on providing HBCU students with hands-on, interactive and invigorating training programs that will help them establish long-term careers in the industry.”

Find original article here.

Image credit: expertafrica.com, journeysbydesign.com, nomadafricamag.com, besthoteldealsgalway.blogspot.com

Hyatt Regency Algiers Airport

Hyatt Palace Hotel Kenya

Women in Hospitality Leadership Alliance Launched

By Hotel Business

Eighteen

organizations committed to advancing women in hospitality industry leadership have joined forces to maximize their efforts through collaboration and partnership. While each of these independent organizations will continue its work individually to advance women’s initiatives in the industry, together they have formed the Women in Hospitality Leadership Alliance, which will amplify all their programs, messaging and initiatives advancing women in leadership.

Founded by hotel industry veteran Rachel Humphrey, the concept behind the Alliance is that by working together the groups will achieve more to advance women into executive leadership roles, which according to research by Castell, an AHLA Foundation Project, is still one woman for every 10 men, despite women making up more than 57% of industry workers.

“There are so many organizations and leaders committed to this important initiative,” said Humphrey. “By collaborating, we’re able to advance all these efforts which will move the needle farther and faster for our industry, At a time when human resources and financial resources are at a premium, it is great to see these groups getting together and sharing with one another in an effort to maximize the impact of each and collectively of all.”

Participating organizations include:

» African Association of Women in Tourism and Hospitality: Amaka Amatokwu-Ndekwu, Daphne Spencer

» ForWard: Women Advancing Hospitality (American Hotel & Lodging Association): Katie

Moore

» AAHOA: Heather Carnes

» Boutique Lifestyle Leaders Association (BLLA)/Travel Industry Executive Women’s Network (TIEWN): Fran Kiradjian, Ariela Kiradjian

» Castell, an AHLA Foundation Project: Peggy Berg, Fern Kanter, Lan Elliott, Deb Cox

» DEI Advisors: David Kong, Humphrey, Elliott

» FAB Workshop: Randi Weinstein

» Forum on Leadership for Women by Red Roof: Marina MacDonald

» WINiT by GBTA (Global Business Travel Association): Dorothy Dowling

» Hertelier: Emily Goldfischer

» Howard University School of Business Marriott-Sorenson Center for Hospitality Leadership: Ashli Johnson

» International Society of Hospitality Consultants (ISHC)/Questex Diversity Council: Andrea Belfanti

» Inspiring Women in Hospitality: Naureen

Ahmed » Latino Hotel Association (LHA): Lynette Montoya

» Raizup: Rita Varga

» She Has a Deal (SHaD), including Fortuna’s Table: Tracy Prigmore, Viviana Wilkins

» Women Leading Travel & Hospitality: Hannah DeMaio

» Women in Travel Thrive: Silvia Camarota, Humphrey

» Women Own the Room by Wyndham: Lisa Checchio

In addition to these organizations, several individuals are also contributing their expertise

and guidance, including Andrea Foster of Marcus Hotels & Resorts and Talene Staab of Hilton Hotels & Resorts.

“These remarkable women and men are having an incredible impact with strong initiatives that are rapidly advancing women in leadership and by working together we are sure the impact will be even greater,” said Berg, founder, Castell, an AHLA Foundation Project and founding member of the alliance.

Th

The alliance began conversations in November 2021, met in person at ALIS in January of this year and has connected regularly since then. The organizations share their goals, upcoming efforts, educational resources, event information and one another’s messaging to amplify the overall and collective mission of advancing women in hospitality.

“I look forward to seeing the tremendous impact these organizations, already successful in so many ways, will continue to have on advancing women in leadership in our industry as the result of their collaboration,” said Humphrey.

Find original article here.

Image credit: Essence

Q2 Meetings & Events Pulse Survey

Polling 237 meetings and event professionals, the just-released state of the industry survey from Global DMC Partners (GDP) covered what’s trending with salaries, hiring, work/life balance, sustainability and budgets as meetings resume after the pause.

Airlines are Trying to Increase Diversity Among Future Pilots

By Laurie Baratti

Amidthis year’s unprecedented postpandemic air travel challenges, airlines are making concerted efforts to alter the way they do things.

With staffing shortages being the root cause of the widespread flight disruptions that have characterized commercial aviation in 2022, much of their current campaigns are focused on hiring. And, they’re rethinking and broadening their recruitment efforts including becoming more cognizant and proactive about incorporating diverse populations into the workforce.

Air carriers are trying to attract more women and minorities to fill pilot positions, especially since so many former aviators took buyouts and early retirement offers in the pandemic’s early days. Over the past few months, they’ve also found themselves contending with current pilots’

protesting for higher pay, etc.

Since the dawn of passenger jets, pilots have predominantly been white and male, and not much has changed. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, at least 95% of the approximately 158,000 pilots employed in the U.S. are men.

Some airlines are actively endeavoring to enlist women and people of color to fill their pilot training programs, introducing them to a career from which they’ve largely been excluded until now.

“This is a very male-dominated industry,” Dana Donati, a former

A female pilot of color in the cockpit. (photo via Getty Images/Photodisc/Digital Vision)

Republic Airways pilot, told ABC News. “It’s about time the industry looks at how they have historically operated,” she added.

Now, as CEO of United Aviate Academy —United Airlines’ 12-month pilot training program near Phoenix, Arizona—she is working to change the old system and diversify cockpit operators. When it first opened earlier this year, 80 percent of the academy’s inaugural class consisted of women or people of color.

Captain Theresa Claiborne, the first Black woman to become a U.S. Air Force pilot and a current United Airlines pilot, said that flying has historically been an “elitist” occupation. “They did not make any provisions. So, it’s been perpetuated,” said

She attributes the scarcity of people of color currently working as pilots to the overall costs of flying and training as an aviator, paired with the generational and economic disadvantages facing many minority populations.

According to Sisters of the Skies, an advocacy organization for Black female pilots, less than one

and trainee

percent of the profession are Black women, which equates to roughly 200 individuals. “It’s time that we think differently about how we’re approaching our communities and supporting students entering this career,” Donati said.

The total costs of education, earning a commercial pilot’s license and completing the 1,500 hours of flight training required by the FAA come to about $100,000, which can prove costprohibitive for many an aspiring aviator.

“That’s a lot of money. And financial institutions are not [champing] at the bit to loan that kind of money to an aviation student,” Claiborne said. “We don’t have these long generations of pilots in the family.”

Other major airlines are also actively strengthening their diversity efforts, such as Delta Airlines, which created its Delta Propel Career Path Program to provide an accelerated career path to the cockpit for selected students at 13 partner universities in the U.S.

Find original article here.

Capt. Theresa Claiborne the first AfricanAmerican female pilot in the United States Air Force. Courtesy United Airlines

Voyager International Airlines: Ghana’s New Air Service

By Riley Pickett

Voyager International Airlines, a new startup, has promised the people of Ghana that it will be offering a charter flight from Accra to London. The service will offer a more flexible regular service between the two cities. The route is set to launch on August 14th, 2022.

A regular charter flight

Recently Voyager Airlines announced that it will soon be offering a charter flight between the city of Accra, Ghana, and London, United Kingdom. The CEO of Voyager International Airlines, Thomas Coleman, personally gave the announcement. He stated that the route is set to launch on August 14th of this year.

In the statement, Coleman shared that a charter service will offer greater flexibility and convenience for passengers. The route is set to be flown weekly between the two cities. Coleman stated that the charter operation allows Voyager to better meet market demand and adjust more promptly to any changes. He said,

“Charter allows us to take advantage of market demand for travel. We are offering charter clients direct and non-stop to their destinations at competitive market pricing. Our goal is to give charter clients a unique travel experience while saving their time.”

“A charter has flexibilities and has the ability to adapt to changes to the schedules approved. We offer a unique cuisine on our flight and that includes jollof and banku,”

“Right now, we are offering a weekly service for Accra London Accra beginning August 14,”

Perfect timing

The CEO of Ghana Tourism Development, Kwadwo Odame Antwi, Shared that Ghana is currently looking to attract two million tourists per year. Antwi stated that Voyagers will play a key role in achieving that goal. With the help of this new charter airline, political officials foresee Ghana’s tourism industry increasing.

Following the announcement from Coleman, Antwi addressed the future economic growth. Antwi said,

“With tourists coming through our airports it’s important that we position ourselves and that we are ready. Tourism contributes $4 billion to the country’s GDP in two years. We hoping to get that with two million people visiting the country annually, so this could not have happened at any better time. As people travel, they want to travel in style and comfort. As you are coming to Ghana, travel through Voyager International Airlines,”

A short history

The history of Voyager is a short one, the new start-up is set to launch this route next month. Unlike most airlines, it will not be offering regularly scheduled services. This will be a charter service, meaning that it will operate on an on-demand schedule.

This will allow for a more flexible flight schedule and permit passengers to skip much of the monotony associated with airline travel. This will help passengers save both time and money.

The new start-up charter air carrier Voyager Airlines will soon be offering an on-demand flight between London and Accra. The service will offer more adjustable flight schedules and decreased wait times for passengers. The new carrier will provide the Ghana tourism industry with muchneeded support to reach its goal of two million visitors per year.

Thomas Coleman, CEO, Voyager International Airlines

New “CONNECTED TRIP” Solution

By Mitra Sorrells

Aftermore than seven years with Booking. com, most recently as APAC regional director, Vikas Bhola has spent countless hours thinking about and developing solutions to make travel more enjoyable, efficient and integrated – what Booking Holdings has been referring to for years as the “connected trip.”

Bhola says while progress has been made in making it easier for people to search, book and experience travel, early in the pandemic he began to think that decentralization, even incrementally, could hold the key to enabling a fully endto-end travel experience.

His real motivation to create a new solution came after he experienced a frustrating trip in December, with long waits at both an airport and hotel, which left him thinking, “What have I done? I’ve spent so long building stuff and still we are far away from the talked-about frictionless travel.”

Bhola and former Booking. com product manager Sebastian Honores teamed up early this year to develop a solution they believe will create a more efficient travel industry, with happier, more loyal travelers and reduced costs and better conversions for suppliers.

What’s happening is that the travelers are oriented toward what a platform has to offer and they book based on that. And it should ideally be the other way

around in this day and age: We know the customer, and the processes and the products should actually be tailored around that customer. That’s what we envision.”

Their solution is a new global identity network for travel using blockchain-based, selfsovereign ID

Known as NeoKe, it won Microsoft’s “Identity for All” hackathon in July and is now entering pre-launch, inviting both industry partners and travelers to participate in its effort to build this decentralized digital ID solution for travel.

The first step in creating a more seamless travel experience, says Bhola, is to eliminate the friction that currently exists between identity verifications, such as government-issued IDs, phones and email addresses, and identity proofs, such as confirmations, payments, boarding passes and hotel keys – which are traditionally stored in disparate systems that don’t communicate with one another.

NeoKe aims to launch its digital wallet in about a month, with potential use cases related to hotel and flight check-ins, corporate travel, luggage transport and loyalty.

Bhola says NeoKe has four elements. First is the verifiable credential, created once, that houses all of the traveler ’s identity information, as well as preferences such as type of hotel room or airline seat.

Second is connectivity, using APIs that connect service providers and with digital attributes of the traveler. Third is a back-end dashboard that holds transaction information in a cryptographically secure way, only accessible with secure key transfer. And fourth is the NeoKe wallet that is used to manage all functions such as planning, booking and experiencing travel.

NeoKe is now part of Microsoft for Startups and is working with the software giant to build its system. Bhola says the company is also developing pilots with some European hotel chains, which he cannot name at this time.

“In the first phase of Neoke we want to partner with providers. In order for this solution to work at a universal level - that vision we have of one trip and orienting travel around the customer instead of the other way around - will only happen when the integrations are at scale."

Find article here.

Meet Lawrence Phillips, Founder of Green Book Global, the First Black Travel Review Site

By Spencer Jones

Part

of being successful in business is knowing how to identify a pain point in your industry. Lawrence Phillips, CEO and founder of Green Book Global did just that by creating the first Black travel review site. Some want to know before booking that flight or cruise whether X country or city is reasonably safe for Black people. This stems from good sense, not paranoia. Thanks to the internet, The culture can share their good, bad and ugly travel experiences like never before.

“If someone were to say, ‘why can’t a Black traveler simply use Trip Advisor?’ I would say that reviews don’t reflect guest demographics,” Lawrence told Travel Noire. “We live in a time where unconscious and conscious bias is prevalent, so the experience of a white person will likely be different from that of a Black person. Many employees alter their level of service based on their own preconceived notions. Therefore, having a Black person say that a destination was amazing, or this excursion with this tour guide was excellent goes a long way because I know that this person looks like me.”

Lawrence was born in Massachusetts but you might hear a Bajan accent now and again. He knows from experience how toxic burnout can be, but the birth of his business was the silver lining. After nearly a decade as an IT consultant and having to travel between Atlanta and San Diego weekly, Lawrence was running on fumes. In 2015, he quit his job in pursuit of world travel. When globetrotting, there are two things he can’t do without: his cell phone and hair clippers, just in case the overseas barbers can’t measure up.

“While traveling I noticed two things,” Lawrence said. “One, it takes a really long time to plan for a trip and two, I was nervous going to certain

destinations not knowing how I would be received. In Paris, I ran into a Black woman at a hostel and mentioned that I loved chocolate. She said ‘you should go to Belgium.’ My question was one many Black people ask: ‘is Belgium safe for Black people?’ She assured me it was fine and the next day, I went to Brussels. I really needed that cosign from another Black person and if I didn’t run into her, I assure you, I would not have gone.”

The name Green Book Global pays homage to the Negro Motorist Green Book, published in 1936 by Victor Hugo Green. This book was key to informing Black Americans of the hotels, restaurants and other businesses they could safely patronize. Times have changed for the better, but only to a point. The infamous sundown towns referenced in Green’s book all those years ago, are still a problem for Black travelers in the US today. Green Book Global takes Green’s vision and expands it; allowing people to make informed travel decisions.

Browse through more than 5,000 travel tips written by Black travelers across 400 destinations. You can adjust the filters according to your desired destination, travel style, preferred lodging and more. Green Book Global is a one-stop shop; allowing you to book hotels, flights, activities and travel insurance. Need additional incentives? You can be paid for booking and leaving reviews if you become a Gold or Platinum member. The basic membership is free but doesn’t have the cash back perk.

Any founder wants to see their business thrive, but balancing that with family is important. Whether taking his daughter for long walks or getting ice cream, Lawrence enjoys life’s simple pleasures. His wife and daughter sometimes accompany him on trips.

“Most of the trips I have taken with my family have been to Barbados, Atlanta, Boston, or Martha’s Vineyard,” Lawrence said. “I did a 3-week trip to West Africa right before the pandemic and visited Sierra Leone, Ghana and Nigeria. COVID has definitely put a damper on things and it’s a

bit more challenging now with a two- yearold. But we make it work. Our last trip was to St. Martin in February with two other Black families. We had a blast. We were able to rotate babysitting duties so we each had an opportunity to turn-up a bit!”

Follow Green Book Global on Instagram @ greenbookglobal and be sure to visit the website

Find article here.

▲ Phillips family Photo by Randi Baird TravelNoire

◄ Lawrence Phillips, Founder Of Green Book Global, The First Black Travel Review Site TravelNoire

Turkish Airlines Maps Out Route Ambitions

The airline is targeting routes to 14 destinations, including three in Africa

By David Casey

Turkish

Airlines has outlined its route development priorities over the coming months, identifying 14 destinations it hopes to serve from its hub in Istanbul (IST).

In the Star Alliance member ’s results presentation for the first half of its financial year to June 30, the carrier mapped out six points in Europe it plans to serve, alongside two in North America, one in the Middle East, three in Africa, and two in Asia.

Among the destinations listed as “future routes” are A Coruña (LCG) in Spain; Krakow (KRK) in Poland; Lankaran (LLK) in Azerbaijan; Makhachkala (MCX) in Russia; Nantes (NTE) in France; and Palermo (PMO) in Italy. Turkish currently flies to 118 destinations in Europe across 43 countries.

In North America, Denver (DEN) and Detroit (DTW) in the US are among the future route targets—both of which have been mooted as potential destinations in the past.

The airline has been building up its US network since COVIDrelated travel restrictions were eased, adding capacity to existing points and launching routes to Newark (EWR) in May 2021, Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW) in September 2021, and Seattle (SEA) in June 2022.

According to data provided by OAG Schedules Analyser,

Turkish currently serves 12 US cities and offers 88,142 two-way Turkey-US weekly seats. This compares with 10 destinations and 48,874 two-way seats at this time in 2019.

In the Middle East, Turkish has listed Abha (AHB) as a future destination. The city is located near the Red Sea in southwest Saudi Arabia and home to a population of about 1 million inhabitants.

Three destinations in Africa are included as future targets—Aswan (ASW) in Egypt, Hargeisa (HGA) in Somaliland, and Port Sudan (PZU) in Sudan. Turkish currently flies to 62 cities across 41 countries in Africa

routes. It already serves Almaty (ALA) and Nur-Sultan (NQZ) in Kazakhstan, and Islamabad (ISB), Karachi (KHI) and Lahore (LHE) in Pakistan.

Turkish carried 7.8 million passengers in July 2022, up from 7.1 million during July 2019 before the pandemic. The airline’s load factor stood at 86.1% last month. ASK increased by 18.5% to 20.5 billion during July 2022, compared with 17.3 billion in the same month three years ago.

.

The final two destinations listed are in Asia, with the airline outlining Atyrau (GUW) in Kazakhstan and Sialkot (SKT) in Pakistan as potential

On the financial side, the airline reported revenues of $7.6 billion in the six months to June 30, 2022—a rise of 27.5% compared with the first half of 2019. A net profit of $664 million was also recorded for H1 2022, up from a loss of $193 million during H1 2019.

Credit: Airbus SAS 2016 Alexandre Doumenjou - Master Films

IHG Hotels & Resorts Partners with UK Black Pride in Support of Ethnically Diverse LGBTQI+ Communities

By IHG

IHG Hotels & Resorts,

one of the world’s leading hospitality companies, today announces a new sponsorship and partnership with UK Black Pride, Europe’s largest celebration for LGBTQI+ people of African, Asian, Caribbean, Latin American and Middle Eastern-descent.

Yasmin Diamond and Karin Sheppard, Co-Executive Sponsors, EMbrace employee network, IHG Hotels & Resorts, commented: “At IHG Hotels & Resorts we’re proud that our commitment to Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DE&I) is at the beating heart of our purpose to deliver True Hospitality for Good. For this partnership with UK Black Pride to be driven by our employee networks speaks to the passion and drive of our people to not only create a meaningful impact on the world around us, but to also encourage a culture at work where everyone – of all cultures, religions, races, sexualities, abilities, backgrounds, beliefs and intersects – is welcome.”

“This fully supports the

actions we take as a business to champion a diverse culture where everyone can thrive. A few key, recent milestones include the launch of our inclusion index in our employee engagement survey, embedding inclusive hiring practices among our hotel and corporate teams, enhanced mental health guidelines, and new programmes to support the development of our ethnic minority talent in the UK and US. We have also introduced ‘myWellbeing’ – our commitment to support our people in a range of important areas, including their health, lifestyle and workplace.”

The EMbrace network for ethnic diversity, along with Out & Open for LGBTQI+ colleagues, are two of nearly 30 employee network chapters at IHG, which are voluntary groups that provide platforms for its colleagues and promote workplace diversity across areas including sexuality, ethnicity, gender, disability, wellbeing, family and early careers.

One of IHG’s four strategic priorities as a company is to care

for its people, communities and planet, supported by its 2030 responsible business plan, Journey to Tomorrow. This plan includes specific diversity, equity, and inclusion ambitions and targets, which IHG will work to achieve over the next decade, supported by its people, programmes and policies.

Read more about diversity, equity & inclusion at IHG here.

About IHG®

IHG Hotels & Resorts [LON:IHG, NYSE:IHG (ADRs)] is a global hospitality company, with a purpose to provide True Hospitality for Good.

With a family of 17 hotel brands and IHG Rewards, one of the world’s largest hotel loyalty programmes, IHG has over 6,000 open hotels in more than 100 countries, and a further 1,800 in the development pipeline.

Approximately 350,000 people work across IHG’s hotels and corporate offices globally.

Find article here Image credit: IHG

23rd Annual AfrICANDO

Trade and Investment Conference & Trade Expo October 10-13, 2022  Miami, Florida, USA

invite you to join us for our 23rd Annual AfrICANDO. The conference and expo will take place October 10-13, 2022, at the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Miami Airport & Convention Center (MACC),711 NW 72nd Avenue, Miami, Florida, USA. Registrants unable to travel to the US can participate in the conference online. The hybrid event will feature Seminars, B2B Matchmaking, Exhibits, and a Gala Awards Dinner.

AfrICANDO assists civil society organizations (CSOs), micro, small, and medium-sized businesses (MSMEs), and the African Diaspora in creating linkages with US businesses and other stakeholders by:

Navigating US-Africa Trade and Economic Cooperation using AGOA benefits

Reaching new markets

Jamaica’s Tourism Industry is at 90% Recovery Rate from the Pandemic and is Helping Namibia Recover Next

By Kelsey Marie

Almostthree years later, tourism industries are still bouncing back from the COVID-19 pandemic. Jamaica’s tourism industry has almost reached full recovery, according to its Minister of Tourism, Hon. Edmund Bartlett.

“The good news is that Jamaica has now recovered 90% from the COVID-19 pandemic in the tourism sector,” says Bartlett during a meeting led by Namibia’s Minister in the Presidency, Hon. Christine Hoebes.

Bartlett continues, “our recovery in terms of arrivals this year is likely to be well over 3 million, and we are also expecting our earnings will be just about $100 million, or so, below our best earnings in 2019 of $3.7 billion.”

Don’t call it a comeback

Bartlett says that the main source markets in Jamaica are rebounding strongly. He shares that compared to 2019, the United Kingdom is the only market Jamaica is pacing ahead of in terms

of figures. “We are six percent ahead in the UK market,” says Bartlett.

Agreements were signed following the meeting with Namibia in areas such as tourism, urban development, logistics, and Diaspora cooperation.

“The U.S. has come back very strongly, and while Canada is lagging behind a little, progress is being made,” shares Bartlett. He also shares that since Jamaica’s tourism industry has recovered, they can help Namibia with its recovery efforts.

Helping Namibia with its tourism recovery will include collaboration in marketing, sustainability, human capital development, and resilience building.

Minister Hoebes of Namibia says, “this will strengthen the collaboration between the two countries.” She continues, “the agreement will put Namibia in a better place.”

in Jamaica, Denille Ashwood

in Namibia, tourist-destinations.com

Lagos in the Green

Lagos’ Parks are Underrated – Here are 9 of the Best the City has to Offer

By Pelu Awofeso

There are more than 300 parks and gardens across the state of Lagos, and the city continues to get greener.

Lagos holds its annual Tree Planting Day on July 14 each year as part of a bigger plan to build a greener city. Companies are adopting roundabouts to turn them into cute green spaces, and botanical gardens are appearing in public schools.

If you’re keen to explore a slice of the eco-riches of Lagos, here is a list of the parks popular with Lagosians.

LUFASI Nature Park - nature’s classroom:

The Lagos Urban Forestry and Animal Shelter Initiative (LUFASI) feels like a combination of nature’s classroom and a dozen different parks in one. Removed from the everyday bustle of the Lekki-Epe highway, every step you take in this 25-hectare (62-acre) patch of mangrove vegetation is a tutorial in all things environmental. While exploring the calm setting, you’ll find quotes scattered throughout that promote the healing powers of nature. Brief descriptions identify different species of trees and their popular local uses.

Animal rights activists will appreciate the park’s growing collection of rescued monkeys, donkeys

and horses, which enjoy professional veterinary care. There’s birdsong all around, punctuated by geese honking and ducks quacking. Try forest bathing by the rare Iron Redwood (Ekki) tree, unwind on the badminton and basketball courts or play table tennis while the kids occupy themselves on the playground.

Wave to monkeys at the Lekki Conservation Centre

The Lekki Conservation Centre is one of Lagos’ ecotourism hotspots. Established in 1990, it covers 78 hectares (about 193 acres) of wetland, mangrove forest and savannah vegetation. Lagosians troop to it – mostly on weekends –mainly for its 401-meter-long (1315ft) canopy walkway.

Each of the six towers of the canopy walkway offers unrivaled views of the forest cover. The

LUFASI

(Victoria Island) on a Saturday, chances are that you’ll meet a group of work buddies hanging out, picnicking on their patch of green ground; or celebrants marking their birthdays with friends and family, feasting and dancing through it all.

Elsewhere on the premises, a bamboo bar serves shakes, smoothies and a variety of drinks, while keeping its patrons moving to a playlist of contemporary Afrobeats.

It’s one of a few parks in the city with a small books collection, although it’s almost always locked Head to the Lekki Conservation Center to see Africa’s longest canopy walkway © Dumbra / Shutterstock

trails and canopy walkway lead to the Family Park section, where visitors can order drinks and barbecues, picnic or chill in any of the multiple gazebos. Kids will get a kick out of feeding the fish, and you’ll find tilapia and koi ponds here.

The Mona monkeys are the park’s most famous wildlife and will literally wave to you as you head out on the boardwalks. Some of the other thrills here: the east trail has a crocodile lookout, a bird hideout and swamp views; and the west trail offers a chance to climb up to a treehouse, some 20m (65 feet) above the ground.

Have a picnic in Muri Okunola Park If you dropped in at the Muri Okunola Park

page 26

Muri Okunola Park

Lagos in the Green

up. Wherever you choose to sit in the park, you’ll not miss the 40-foot fiber-glass monument, Ma’ami, celebrating motherhood. Another installation of the Eyo masquerade, made from

shows.

Spend some family time in Johnson Jakande Tinubu Park

The Johnson Jakande Tinubu (JJT) Park in the Central Business District of Alausa boasts a miniwaterfall, fountain, children’s play area, a love nest, multiple gazebos and a lush lawn fit for picnics. It’s also the public face of the drive to make Lagos greener.

The Lagos State House of Assembly complex adjoins the park. There, you’ll find three statues representing former governors of the city, in

discarded aluminum, hangs further away on the southern wall.

Spend an evening at Freedom Park

A hundred years ago, this facility was a prison run by the colonial government; over the past decade – with the design genius of local architects – it’s been transformed into a pleasant park

Rest on park benches thoughtfully planted amidst the garden trees, or take a stroll on walkways crisscrossing the grounds to discover different sections of the park: fountain, ponds, an amphitheater, food court and gallery blocks.

On weekdays, you’ll find Lagosians here sitting out the evening rush-hour traffic over drinks and live music, or attending the artistic programs which the park is also known to host, including concerts, exhibitions, craft fairs, book readings and theater

whose honor the park was built.

On busy days, the park hosts fairs and book hangouts. And while here, you’re just a stroll away from the Lagos parliament building and the state secretariat. The governor’s office (appointments only) is also within the vicinity and is decorated with a concrete-and-metal 60-foot EcoTree, a symbol of the beauty and synergy of technology and the arts.

Have a picnic and a history lesson at Jaekel House Garden

Fancy having a picnic backdropped by a

Constructed to preserve the history and cultural heritage of Nigerians, Freedom Park is a memorial and leisure park area in the middle of downtown Lagos © Fela Sanu / Getty Images

124-year-old colonial-era mansion? If so, then plan it for the Jaekel House gardens in the Ebute Metta area of the city. Tucked inside the old railway compound, you can take a guided tour of the mini-museum inside to get a glimpse of Nigeria’s railway history and the critical role played by the Nigeria Railway Corporation preand post-independence.

Check out the National Theatre lawn, then enjoy a bite to eat

The National Theatre, built to host the 2nd World Black and African Festival of Arts and Culture (FESTAC) in 1977, is one of the top architectural gems in Lagos. Beyond its eye-catching exterior, the shade trees and lawns encircling it have served Lagosians as picnic spots for decades.

A $100m renovation is underway to turn the complex into a creative and entertainment center; and by the end of 2022, visitors should be able to reach it using the surface light rail.

Sightseers may want to take a break in any of a number of bars and restaurants situated in a part of the premises popularly called “Abe Igi” for an assortment of food and drinks.

For swimming, games and even a zoo, head to Shodex Garden

Shodex Gardens is a horticulturists’ delight, packed with a diverse collection of plants. With careful labeling of the different species, you’ll come away from the experience more knowledgeable about the flora on display.

Johnson Jakande

Tinubu Park

National Arts Theatre © HorploadWorks Photography / 500px

Lagos in the Green

It’s a fine spot to have an afternoon drink if you don’t mind the sound of vehicles speeding to and fro on the ever-busy Ikorodu Road.

One of the most family-friendly spaces around, its play area, swimming pool, game arcade and sculpture garden are a hit with children. There’s a modest zoo popular with students on excursions. The garden is busiest on weekends (and it opens for longer hours too), when adults pack into the bar, snack on small chops and enjoy a musical treat from the in-house DJ.

Green thumbs won’t want to miss RF Gardens

Be warned: If you don’t care about plants, RF Gardens will likely convert you. Situated in the serene Ikoyi area, almost every inch of it is covered in plants and flowers, nicely cultivated in pots and vases of different shapes, colors and sizes. There’s a thrilling variety to enjoy and, if you’re inspired, indoors you’ll find lots of garden supplies and accessories.

Visitors could easily spend a whole day at this family business, complete with a cafe and an indoor bar and grill station.

Find article here

Image credit: ogavenue.com. ng, onelagos.com

RF Gardens

Source: Africa Tourism Association

Venue: Marriott Hotel, Melrose Arch, Johannesburg, South Africa

Format: In-Person event

Event date: 22 SEPTEMBER

Shodex Garden

We All Have a Role to Play

Nat Geo Photographer Ami Vitale on Photographing the Last White Rhinos

In2018, Ami was put into the spotlight for her image of Sudan, the last male northern white rhino alive on the planet. She documented the heartbreaking final moments leading to his passing, signaling the end of an ancient species..

“There are no words to adequately express the profound grief I felt then and still feel today,” she says when asked about the experience. Whilst discussing where the journey sat in terms of her career and life, Ami said, “It’s one of the most painful but important moments I have ever witnessed.”

Phoblographer: Photojournalism is extremely demanding. What are the positive aspects of the work that you most enjoy?

Ami Vitale: It’s an incredible privilege to continue to learn so much about this world, to be able to bear witness and hopefully remind all of us how connected we are to one another. The more I see, the more I understand that everything we do impacts all life on this planet.

What keeps me going is believing that we have a great responsibility, an obligation, to illuminate the things that unite us as human beings rather than simply emphasize our differences. We can not afford to view the world through an optic of fear and hate because if we only tell stories through our own paradigm of values, we justify the existing divisions in our world. I believe that change will

We All Have a Role to Play

never happen unless we have empathy for those who have a different viewpoint than our own. The way to common ground is by seeing ourselves in others.

Phoblographer: Going back to how close you get to the animals, how does it feel to be able to have such a meaningful and close relationship with the wildlife?

Ami Vitale: It’s incredible to be able to observe and learn the behavior of so many species we coexist with but it is also about respect and keeping a healthy distance and allowing them to be truly wild. Also, these stories are not just about wildlife. They are really about all of us, our HOME and our future. We are in an intricate web and I use nature as the foil to talk about our wildlife and our future but the stories are always about us. I also believe what happens next is in all of our hands. We have the ability to ignite action and inspire creative solutions to shape the world we want to live in. I hope we can continue to collectively shine a light on those who are caring for the environment in all its forms – from glaciers to deserts, to elephants to the tiniest of ants that inhabit the earth. Our future depends on all of them and us too.

Phoblographer: As someone who is highly decorated and has produced work that has been seen all over the world, can you tell us what you feel makes for a strong, stand-alone photograph within your field?

Ami Vitale: Photography is powerful. It transcends languages. But the real secret is understanding that it’s not only about making pretty images. A lot of people can do that. Telling stories with images is where the real craft and skills come in. It can amplify others’ voices and has this instant ability to connect people but it needs to communicate meaning.

Phoblographer: If you look back to when you first started photographing wild animals, and to the photographer you are today, what would you say you do most differently?

Ami Vitale: I don’t think I approach much of my work differently but my relationships have grown deeper with all the people I work with. I spend years, sometimes decades in the same communities. Going deep and spending time on a

story creates trust and access to unique situations.

While I do travel and witness extraordinary things, it’s not simply about jetting off to exotic places. The magic really begins when I stay in one place, often years to get beyond the surface. I found my voice by first listening and then talking about the things that connect us all. I see the best and worst of humanity and the magnificence of this planet. My day to day is never the same and this past year I’ve been on the road working in over 30 countries and home for just 20 days in a year.

Phoblographer: You’ve traveled to over 100 countries, making countless photographs along the way. Where does this photograph of Sudan sit in terms of meaning and importance to you?

Ami Vitale: It’s one of the most painful but important moments I have ever witnessed. Phoblographer: Were there any particularly big, literal life-changing moments that you’ve had along the way?

Ami Vitale: Sudan’s passing was certainly one of the most life-changing moments. I knew it was coming but nothing can prepare you for watching the last of something die. With seven billion of us, nature has a huge role to play. When we see ourselves as part of the landscape and part of nature, then saving nature is really about saving ourselves.

Phoblographer: From your encounters, can you relate to us a bit about the personalities of the two Rhinos?

Ami Vitale: I don’t want to anthropomorphize these gentle, hulking creatures but you can definitely see their relationship to one another and that these are ancient sentient creatures. It’s humbling to be able to get this close to them. Fatu is the daughter and Najin is the granddaughter of Sudan.

Phoblographer: Sudan’s final day was an emotional time for everyone involved, including yourself. As a photographer, how do you approach a moment like that?

Ami Vitale: I approach moments like these with complete reverence. There are no words to adequately express the profound grief I felt then and still feel today.

We All Have a Role to Play

The story of Sudan began nine years ago, after I heard about a plan to airlift four of the world’s last northern white rhinos from a zoo in the Czech Republic to Kenya. It was a desperate, last-ditch effort to save a species. At the time, there were only eight of these rhinos left, all living in captivity. When I saw this gentle, hulking creature in the Czech snow, surrounded by smokestacks and humanity, it seemed so unfair. He looked ancient, part of a species that has lived on this planet for millions of years, yet could not survive humanity.

Sudan and three other rhinos left the Dvůr Králové Zoo on a cold night in December 2009. They were brought to move “freely” on the Kenyan savannas at Ol Pejeta. The hope was to breed them. The air, water and food—not to mention room to roam—might stimulate them, experts thought. The offspring could then be used to repopulate Africa. Failing that, they would be cross-bred with southern white rhinos to preserve the genes.

Moments before he died, Sudan was surrounded by the people who loved and committed their lives to protecting him. They spent more time him than their own children. I gave Sudan one last scratch on his ear. He leaned his heavy head into mine and the skies opened up just as they had when he arrived here nine years ago. All was silent except for one go-away-bird and the quiet muffled sobbing of those who loved him.

Poaching is not slowing down. It’s entirely possible, even likely, that if the killing continues, these rhinos—along with elephants and a host of lesser known plains animals—will be functionally extinct in our lifetime.The plight of wildlife and the conflict between poachers and increasingly militarized rangers has received much-needed attention. But very little has been said about the indigenous communities on the front lines of the poaching wars, and the incredible work being done to strengthen them. We often forget that the best protectors of these landscapes are the local communities. Their efforts are ultimately the best immunization against forces that threaten both their wildlife and way of life. My hope is that Sudan’s legacy serves as a catalyst to awaken humanity to this reality.

Sudan’s death could mean the extinction of his species. There is a good chance that like the northern white rhinos, a whole host of other lesser known species will eclipse into myth, like unicorns. But if there is meaning in Sudan’s passing, it’s that all hope is not lost. This can be our wake-up call. In a world of more than seven billion people, we must see ourselves as part of the landscape. Our fate is linked to the fate of all these animals.

Phoblographer: Did you ever imagine such a worldwide response to both the story and your photograph?

Ami Vitale: Yes. I did. We are witnessing extinction on our watch and it’s horrifying to see how we are committing future generations to eternal poverty.

Phoblographer: How can people use their photography to further help this mission?

Ami Vitale: Sharing matters. Get involved. It’s important that EVERY one of us be a messenger. Being the VOICE for this planet matters. There is a good chance that the rhinos and a whole host of species will eclipse into myth, like unicorns.So what must we do? What happens next is in all of our hands. If more people are involved, then, absolutely, we’ll come up with solutions. Everyone has the capacity to make an impact simply by making your voice heard and in the choices of how we live. The truth of the matter is very, very few people are actually engaged in trying to care about the fate of our planet. Getting engaged really does matter. So does creativity and expression. We have the choice and it begins by first falling in love and then, having the courage to make a difference.

The challenges are formidable but no time in human history has there been a greater awareness and opportunity for transformation. People are smart. We can figure this out. If more people are involved, then, absolutely, we’ll come up with more honed solutions. Everyone has the capacity to make an impact simply by making your voice heard and in the choices of how we live. The truth of the matter is very, very few people are actually engaged in trying to care about the fate of our planet. The messenger matters as much as the message. It’s important that EVERY one of us be that messenger. don’t sit this one out.

We All Have a Role to

Black-owned

Entrepreneur from Michigan Opens Africa’s Newest Black-Owned Safari in Tanzania

By Black Enterprise Editors

Paul Allen Billings

Paul Allen Billings, an African American entrepreneur from Muskegon, Mich., is the owner of his very own safari in the East African country of Tanzania called VisitTanzania4Less.com

Africa is known for having the most wildlife in the world. It is also called the birthplace of the safari, which means “journey” in Swahili.

“We offer everyday people a chance to see the world’s best national parks while experiencing nature at its best with breathtaking views of the many animals you only see on [television]. Our goal is for you to be swept away from the excitement,” says Paul Allen Billings. Whether you’re planning a family vacation or a thrilling adventure, VisitTanzania4Less, has an African safari designed just for you, by experts who have explored the land. Your journey starts now!

VisitTanzania4Less is an African Safari

Company dedicated to providing a safe safari that will advance visitors’ knowledge of the amazing country while leaving lifetime memories.

“We are Tanzania’s best safari company. We offer unique and unforgettable customized safaris in Tanzania. From spectacular wildlife and stunning landscape to beautiful beaches and fascinating cultures, we are passionate about showing you the wonders of Tanzania,” says Tour Operator, Jasmine Laizer, who has over 15 years of experience in the tourism industry.

Visitors will get an intimate experience. The safari will allow guests to explore the beautiful scenery while observing wildlife conservation and animals in their natural habitat.

“I am welcoming people all over the world to travel and enjoy the wonders of Tanzania, Africa,” said Certified Senior Tour Guide, Ramadhani Abdalah Awadhi. Awadhi, who completed his certificate of tourism at the Data Star Training College in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania is very excited to guide you on your extraordinary journey.

Travel with an experienced and knowledgeable safari guide. For more information or to book your journey today go to VisitTanzania4Less.com.

This article first appeared on Blacknews.com. Find article here.

Image credit: Blacknews.com

London’s Horniman Museum to Return Benin Br

By Paul Sandle; Editing by Daniel Wallis, Reuters

London’s Horniman Museum said on Sunday, August 7, 2022, it would return 72 artefacts, including 12 brass plaques known as Benin Bronzes, looted from Benin City by British soldiers in 1897 to the Nigerian government.

Created from brass and bronze in the once mighty Kingdom of Benin in what is now southwestern Nigeria from at least the 16th century onwards, the Benin Bronzes are among Africa’s most culturally significant artefacts.

They were seized, along with thousands of other items, in a British military incursion, and ended up

in museums in Europe and the United States.

African countries have battled for years to recover works pillaged by explorers and colonisers, while Western institutions are grappling with the cultural legacies of colonialism.

German authorities last month returned the first of more than 1,100 priceless sculptures to Nigeria, following examples set by Jesus College at Cambridge University and the Quai Branly museum in Paris last year. read more

The Horniman said Nigeria’s National Commission for Museums and Monuments

▲pectoral mask

▲square bronze pendant or ornament

▲ artefact known as Oku’Oba (Oba Emissary)

▲ woven basket

ronzes to Nigeria

(NCMM) had requested the return of the artefacts at the beginning of the year.

“The evidence is very clear that these objects were acquired through force, and external consultation supported our view that it is both moral and appropriate to return their ownership to Nigeria,” said Eve Salomon, chair of the trustees of the Horniman Museum and Gardens.

“The Horniman is pleased to be able to take this step and we look forward to working with the NCMM to secure longer term care for these precious artefacts.”

NCMM Director-General Abba Tijani welcomed the decision, saying he looked forward to discussing loan agreements and collaborations with the Horniman.

The returns are likely to increase pressure on the British Museum in London, which holds by far the largest and most significant collection of Benin Bronzes.

article

Image credit: Horniman Museum and Gardens/ Handout via REUTERS T

’s

brass sculpture depicting a cockerel

▲ circular fan

clapper bell

▲ Oba Orhogbua

▲ carved wooden paddle

Honouring the Women Warriors of Dahomey

From Mark-Anthony Johnson

Benin unveils 30m ‘Amazon’ statue honouring the women warriors of Dahomey, the inspiration of countless movies: The presidential guard shrank to toy #soldiers at the bare feet of a towering new bronze honouring the only documented all-female army in modern history. (see cover image)

Fortified by the Agojie strike force in what is now #Benin, the #KingdomofDahomey became one of #Africa’s most powerful states in the 18th and 19th centuries. European colonisers who clashed with the #women called them the #Amazons after the merciless warriors of #Greek mythology.

Organisers of this week’s independence celebrations in Benin’s capital #Cotonou battled to keep the 30m (98ft) likeness of the Agojie leader Queen Hangbe under wraps: the veil tugged down by President Patrice Talon at the official unveiling ceremony barely reached its knee.

“We don’t celebrate enough of what is gratifying in us, and in others, enough to instill pride in ourselves and in our community. What we sing daily to the point of sometimes baptizing them “Beninoiseries”.

“It’s time to get rid of this false complex that isolates us, divides us, makes us afraid of each other, inhibits us and feeds our underdevelopment. It is time to discover ourselves and to value what is great in us”, urges the Head of State during the inauguration of the monument”

“It is time to be aware and proud of what we are Benin: the successful fusion of these ancient great kingdoms and peoples that are the baatonou, berba, wassangari, yoruba, adja, fon, goun, waama, batammariba, yom, peulh, and many others; each as deserving as the other,”

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The Amazons were known for their fearlessness and strength (Image credit: Chris Hellier/Getty Images)

► The inspiration for the Dora Milaje, the all-female special forces unit in the Marvel film Black Panther, is rooted in reality (Credit: Marvel/ Disney)

added President Patrice Talon.

FYI: The inspiration for the Dora Milaje, the all-female special forces unit in the Marvel film Black Panther, is rooted in reality. Read more on the legend of Benin’s fearless female warriors at: https://lnkd.in/egMsRwHz.

Benin is an #AfCFTA member country.

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The Legend of Benin’s Fearless Female Warriors

By Fleur Macdonald (https://lnkd.in/egMsRwHz)

Actors Chadwick

Boseman and Michael B Jordan earned high praise for their roles in the 2018 Marvel film Black Panther. But for me, the real stars were the Dora Milaje, the special forces unit of the fictional Kingdom of Wakanda. Fearsome yet principled, these female bodyguards provided the film’s moral compass.

I was thrilled to find out that the inspiration for these powerful women is rooted in reality, and that the descendants of these women still keep their traditions alive.

“She is our King. She is our God. We would die for her,” said Rubinelle, choosing her words carefully. The 24-yearold secretary was talking about her grandmother, who was sitting on a bed in one of the front rooms of a house in Abomey, the former capital of the Kingdom of Dahomey and now a thriving city in southern Benin. The elderly woman’s head was adorned with a crown.

I had been granted an audience with Dahomian royalty: a descendant of Queen Hangbe, who according to local legend is the founder of the Amazons, an elite group of female warriors. As her living embodiment, the elderly woman has inherited her name and her authority. Four

Amazons were attending to her, sitting on a woven mat on the floor. The room was relatively grand: there was a table and chairs for visitors and, in the corner, sat an old-fashioned television next to a makeshift drinks cabinet.

After indicating that I should prostrate myself before the queen and take a ceremonial sip of water, Rubinelle and her grandmother told me the story of their ancestors.

The Dahomey Amazons were frontline soldiers in the army of the Kingdom of Dahomey, a West African empire that existed from 1625 to 1894. Its remnants lie in modern-day Benin, which occupies a sliver of the coast between Nigeria and Togo. Whether conquering neighbouring tribes or resisting European forces, the Amazons were known for their fearlessness. In one of the final battles against the French in 1892 before the kingdom became a French colony, it is said only 17 out of 434 Amazons came back alive.

According to legend, Hangbe assumed the throne in the early 18th Century after the sudden death of her twin brother, Akaba. After a short rule, she was forcibly deposed by her powerhungry younger brother, Agaja. The current Queen Hangbe told me that all traces of her ancestor’s reign were erased by Agaja, who believed that only men should hold the throne. In a dusty museum that lies within the walls of the Royal Palaces in Abomey, the monarchs’ elaborate bronze sceptres are displayed in order of their reign. There is no sign of one belonging to Hangbe, and some historians question whether she existed at all.

Yet her legacy lived on through her mighty female soldiers. Oral and written accounts differ over the origins of the women-only corps. Some sources describe the Amazons as elephant hunters who graduated to human prey. The more widely accepted theory is that they served as royal bodyguards to Hangbe and the kings

who came after.

It was King Ghezo, who ruled over Dahomey from 1818 to 1858, who officially integrated the Amazons into the army. This in part was a practical decision, as manpower was increasingly scarce due to the European slave trade.

The recognition of the Amazons as official soldiers of Dahomey strengthened a duality that was already embedded in the society through the kingdom’s religion, which has since developed into Vodun, now one of Benin’s official religions and the basis of voodoo. An integral legend told of Mawu-Lisa, a male and female god who came together to create the universe. In all institutions, political, religious and military, men would have a female equivalent. The king, however, reigned supreme.

Historical accounts of the Amazons are notoriously unreliable, though several European slave traders, missionaries and colonialists recorded their encounters with the fearless women. In 1861, Italian priest Francesco Borghero described an army exercise where thousands of women scaled 120m-high thorny acacia bushes barefoot without a whimper. In 1889, French colonial administrator Jean Bayol described witnessing one young Amazon approach a captive as part of her training. “[She] walked jauntily up, swung her sword three times with both hands, then calmly cut the last flesh that attached the head to the trunk… She then squeezed the blood off her weapon and swallowed it.”

Europeans who visited the kingdom in the 19th Century called Dahomey’s female fighters Amazons after the ruthless warriors of Greek mythology. Today, historians refer to them as mino, which can be translated as ‘our mothers’ in the local Fon language. However, Leonard Wantchekon, who was born in Benin and is now professor of politics at Princeton University and founder of the African School of Economics in Cotonou, Benin, claims the contemporary term does not accurately reflect the role the warriors played in Dahomey society. “Mino means witch,” he said.

Today, the role of Queen Hangbe and her

Amazons, a unit of Macdonald)

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Amazons is primarily ceremonial, presiding over religious rituals that take place at the temple

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▲ Queen Hangbe’

near her home. When I asked to take photographs of Queen Hangbe, Pierrette, another Amazon, jumped up to unfurl a ceremonial parasol over her mistress in the dark room.

a human skull – a trophy brought back by an Amazon for her monarch to use as a fancy fly swatter.

med the soldiers Amazons after the f Greek mythology (Credit: The Picture Art

s attendants are descendants of the elite female warriors (Credit: Fleur

of Queen Hangbe and her Amazons is primarily ceremonial (Credit: Fleur Macdonald)

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TThe history of the Kingdom of Dahomey is preserved in the Royal Palaces of Abomey in modernday Benin (Credit: ullstein bild/Getty Images)

Fabric spelling out ‘Reine Hangbe’ (Queen Hangbe) had been sewn into the fabric using the appliqué technique of Dahomey tradition. A dressmaker, Pierrette designs a new umbrella for her queen every year. Loaded with symbolism, these elaborately decorated parasols once showed status in the Dahomey court. Queen Hangbe’s umbrella was relatively simple, though in the 18th and 19th Centuries, they were often adorned with the bones of vanquished enemies. Parasols also featured images of birds and animals, as well as the round-headed clubs that Amazons used in battle. These lethal weapons also feature in carvings on the mud walls of the squat palace buildings. Each king would build a new palace next to his predecessor’s, leaving the former as a mausoleum. Though Behanzin, the last king of the Dahomey Empire, burnt the palaces before the French arrived, a section still stands in Abomey, a rusty Unesco sign hanging limply at the entrance. The bas reliefs show how the Amazons used the clubs, as well as muskets and machetes, to inflict death on enemies. In one dusty cabinet, a horse’s tail springs from

There has always been a fascination with the Amazons, but its nature seems to be changing. The Black Panther film is responsible, certainly, but Dr. Arthur Vido at the University of AbomeyCalavi, who has introduced a new course on the history of women in West Africa, has another theory. “As the status of women is changing in Africa, people want to know more about their role in the past.”

Much of the interest in the Amazons centres on their mercilessness, though Wantchekon dismisses the glorification of their battle exploits. “That’s just what soldiers did,” he said. Instead, Wantchekon is more interested in what the Amazons achieved as veterans.

The village where Wantchekon grew up, to the west of Abomey, used to be the site of the Amazons’ training camp. For many years, his aunt looked after an elderly Amazon who had moved to the village after retiring from the army. Villagers still remember the former soldier as “strong, independent and powerful,” Wantchekon said. She challenged village hierarchies and “could do that without any repercussion from the local chief because she was an Amazon”. Her example, Wantchekon thinks, inspired other women, including his mother, to be ambitious and independent.

For this reason, Wantchekon believes the Amazons are still relevant today. “Where a profession that’s critical for society is dominated by men, well, why don’t we insert a unit of elite women to work side by side with men? To be equal to men.” For Wantchekon, it is not their strength or military prowess that made the Amazons extraordinary, but rather their capacity as role models. Marvel Studios can see the appeal: a spin-off devoted to the Dora Milaje is in the works.

As I took my leave of Queen Hangbe, Rubinelle rose to shake my hand, towering over me and looking me firmly in the eye. Driving away, I saw newly erected statues of Amazons along the road. They stood tall and broad-shouldered, and looked a lot like Rubinelle.

‘The Woman King’: How Costume Designer Gersha Phillips Relied on African Artisans to Create Warrior Costumes

By Jazz Tangcay

Costumedesigner Gersha Phillips drew upon African tradition while creating outfits for “The Woman King,” Gina Prince-Bythewood’s movie about female warriors in the 1800s. The film starring Viola Davis will debut Sept. 9 at the Toronto Intl. Film Festival ahead of a Sept. 16 release by Sony’s TriStar.

During her research, Phillips discovered that Agojie warriors in West Africa wore baggy pants during that time. Initially, she designed outfits in that style, but several iterations later, she incorporated wrap skirts — also seen in historical archives. Since the women were going to be moving a lot, Phillips says, “I had to consider functionality. Everybody had to fight, so we ended up using a stretch-knit fabric so they could do what they needed to do in it.”

Phillips integrated cowry shells into the movie’s costumes. “When the warriors won battles, the king would give them as gifts, or he would give the shells as jewelry,” she notes. Phillips designed a sash and

headpiece with cowry shells for Davis’ Gen. Nanisca, while other warriors had the shells woven into their head jewelry, armbands, belts or pouches.

Indigo block printing was also used on the costumes. An artisan from Gambia named Musa ended up making them in his backyard: He would hand-dye traditional batik cotton before sending outfits to the Cape Town set.

Nanisca’s designs were more elaborate, befitting her rank. “The palace tunics had gold embroidery, but Nanisca’s had the most embroidery added in,” Phillips says. “Her look was elevated and always had extra detail.”

Aspiring warrior Nawi (Thuso Mbedu), by contrast, wore a simple two-yard piece of fabric that was wrapped around her body. The strip-weave material was specially made by weavers from the Bolgatanga in Ghana. “We had our fabric woven in 10-centimeter pieces, and it’s all joined together to make what became the Agojie palace tunics,” Phillips says.

On the other end of the spectrum, the outfits for John Boyega’s King Ghezo needed to exude regality. Fabrics with metallic embroidery were used. There was, however, an unlikely source for one of the designs — a cream palace outfit. “That was actually an Ethiopian bedsheet that we took apart and made into a robe,” she says. “Things can come from anywhere.”

article here.

Gersha

Gersha Phillips

African Wild Dog

rsha Phillips incorporated wrap skirts o her costume designs so the women could move freely.

© Provided by Variety

Nanisca’s palace uniform was decorated and elevated compared to the other warriors.

© Provided by Variety

New palace recruit Nawi had a simple two-piece woven ou it.

© Provided by Variety

In character: John Boyega as "King Ghezo" and Viola Davis as "the Woman King". h ps://www.etonline.com/people/john-boyega

Time

The Gambia Ready for Tourism Re-Brand

By Chris Brooke for the Daily Mail

The tiny West African nation of The Gambia has become a haven for middle aged and older women seeking a saucy dalliance with readily available toy boys.

But the country now wants to overhaul its reputation as a sex hotspot for mature women from Britain and Europe to attract less amorous travellers instead.

‘What we want is quality tourists,’ Abubacarr Camara, director of the Gambia Tourism Board, said. ‘Tourists that come to enjoy the country and the culture, but not tourists that come just for sex.’

Officials have sought to shift the conversation away from the sex trade to focus on the Gambia’s wildlife and cultural attractions – the country has over 300 species of tropical bird and two Unesco World Heritage sites.

Sex tourism took off in the 1990s with budget package tours to the former British colony.

And the country has developed a reputation as a place where young black men are willing to go all the way with older white British women willing to pick up the tab.

Some relationships between the toy boys and women are reportedly arranged online prior to arrival – the toy boys then meet the women from Banjul International, The Gambia’s only airport.

A lack of jobs and low wages in The Gambia, which has a population of 2.5 million, means the financial perks from developing a relationship with a tourist are a strong incentive.

Known as ‘bumsters’, the young men scour the white-sand beaches looking for older women who also come from Holland, Sweden and Germany to meet them. The ‘Senegambia strip’ near the capital city, Banjul, has become a Benidorm-type hotspot for lonely British pensioners.

But the pitfalls of the industry have led to stories of love cheats, visa scams and polygamy.

And efforts have increased recently to attract younger and wealthier tourists who are looking for a higher class of winter holiday.

Tourist officials have visited the UK this summer and met with British Airways and tour operators in a bid to increase flights between London and Banjul.

The government in the African nation is said to be backing the move to clean up its tourist trade by considering laws to crack down on bumsters and officials have called on the UK government to stop British ‘grannies’ exploiting young Gambian boys.

Lamin Fatty, national coordinator at the Child Protection Alliance, told The Daily Telegraph: ‘The High Commission has shown some engagement. But it’s not only about engagement, we also need financial and technical assistance.

‘There could be much better collaboration between both countries to put solutions in place.’ The seedy liaisons were featured two years ago in a Channel 4 Dispatches documentary called Sex on the Beach. One woman told the programme the country was ‘paradise’ because ‘you can have a different man every night’.

Tourism is the fastest growing sector in the Gambian economy and accounts for around 20% of GDP. It is a major foreign exchange earner and a significant source of employment.

The Gambia gained independence in 1965 and is known around the world as ‘The Smiling Coast’ thanks in part to its welcoming population but also thanks to its position on the map, which looks like a smiling mouth.

Most tourists visit during the winter on package deals.

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Image

Travel Tips Prevue’s Top 10 Packing Tips of All Time

By Barbara Scofidio

Who better to share their best packing tips than Prevue’s editors and meeting planner readers, who are always on the road?

Here are our top 10 packing tips of all time:

1. Purchase packing cubes to separate your clothing: underwear in one, workout clothing and PJs in another; pants, shirts and dresses folded and compressed in a flat garment folder. Then you can use the packing cubes for drawer organizers in the hotel.

2. Limit yourself to two pairs of shoes, and coordinate your entire wardrobe around those. Wear your workout gear and sneakers when you travel. Sneakers take up too much room!

3. Organize your tech. Rather than take various adapters for all your laptops, phones and chargers, buy yourself a 4- or 5-way socket board (also called trailing sockets). You then only need 1 adapter and instantly get the 4 or 5 sockets you’re used to.

4. Rolling your clothes helps maximize space and minimize wrinkles. Or pack everything on hangers with dry cleaning bags on each item and they’ll be smooth and ready to hang in the hotel room.

5. Sign up for monthly makeup samples (Ipsy) that you can bring when you travel. You can set your preferences for everything, from lipstick to skincare, as well as the brands you prefer, and you will receive products from small, independent makers, as well as the brands you’ll find at

Sephora.

6. Look for clothing that never needs ironing Chicos has a line of clothing called the Travelers Collection that is easy to care for and won’t wrinkle and for more casual clothing, REI and Orvis use fabrics for both shirts and pants that don’t wrinkle.

7. Pack shoes in drawstring bags and keep their shape with socks or other items rolled up inside them. It takes up less space.

8. Keep a lightweight pair of walking sneakers, workout leggings and a top in your suitcase so you always have something to exercise in or just walk around in if there are travel delays. You don’t want to end up with only dress clothes and heels.

9. Put some dried fruit and nuts in a small plastic container, which is then useful for bringing back the occasional chocolates you may get in a hotel without having them melt or break.

10. Soak one cotton ball per day in perfume, wrap them tightly in Saran wrap, then roll them in a Ziploc bag—instead of bringing the bottle. They are so small and fit anywhere, and it eliminates the liquid issue.

Find artilce here.

Travel Gear Suppliers to Check Out

The Power Of a Good Bag

You can think of Capsoul as your new tool for reinvention. We exist so that you can work anywhere and travel everywhere with bags that can be expansive on the days when you’re carrying everything from your laptop to your lunchbox and compact enough to hold only the essentials like your keys and your phone when you’re out and about.

Our goal is to design useful bags that you will love without having to sacrifice the functions that make your day to day easier. You get luxury design, quality craftsmanship and functional features all in one.

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Welcome to The Asubi Family!

The desire to start a luggage company came from my love of traveling with my family. As a husband and father of four, traveling was a challenge. Packing for a family of six became strenuous and packing our car with many pieces of luggage became a headache -- never mind boarding a plane! We wanted to reduce space while not leaving any items behind, but couldn’t find anything that was up to the task.

This led us to producing our own premium luggage that is simple yet stylish, with a compression lining that allows you to pack

times more than your average suitcase! As a busy family, we know that when making a purchase quality, durability and resilience is of the utmost importance. With our luggage and other Asubi merchandise, you can rest assured that you are receiving products made of prime material. We believe that you will come to love Asubi and find it to be a staple in your travels!

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et Africa Embrace You

AudeSwim

was created by Aude Harris. Having a mother from Monrovia, Liberia, and being raised in the US, Aude was able to incorporate her knowledge from both countries into her swimwear. Along with a mixture of unique and bold designs, men and women worldwide can connect to this African heritage. https://audeswim.com/

Empowering Women. Embracing our Colour

Inspired by trail blazing women, Eunice W. Johnson and super model Iman, who created Fashion Fair and Iman cosmetics, Ade Hassan took the leap and created Nubian Skin. It’s been an uphill battle, but every revolution starts somewhere. Nubian Skin provides lingerie, hosiery, and swimwear that’s accessible for people of all skin tones. Bringing a whole new depth to “nude” clothing, their organic cotton bralettes and briefs will become essentials for both travel and everyday use.

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encourages self-pride & selfexpression in people of melanin-rich cultures via colorful, culturally rich, fashionable prints, made for every surface.

digitalKENTE®’s print collections are meant to evoke a sense of nostalgia. Every digital warp and weft create shapes and colors that remind the wearer of cultures they’ve visited, cultures they belong to, or cultures they want to experience. Every new print we create is a celebration of color and culture. In our online shop we digitally print our designs on products that fit your lifestyle, from mens’/women’s athleisure, fashion accessories, and even home decor. We have a product to suit your needs in a print that suits your style.

The brand is poised to create more unique surface designs printed on functional fashionable products. We would love to collaborate with you! To inquire on how we can work together to create refreshing surface designs and products please visit us at digitalKENTE.com or send an inquiry to info@digitalkente. com.

Culture/History as a Destination

Benin’s Exhibition of Artworks Returned from Showcase its Royal Past

By Alexander Onukwue

Nearly130 years after French soldiers entered the palace in Abomey in southern Benin and seized royal property as a sign of colonial conquest, month-long exhibitions in the west African country have honored the return of 26 artifacts, providing an opportunity to showcase a vibrant contemporary art tradition.

The artifacts, which include thrones of past kings of the Dahomey kingdom (in presentday Benin), palace gates and royal statues, were returned last November following years of requests by Benin’s government. A French law allowing for their return was signed in December 2020, three years after Emmanuel Macron first declared his intention for France to return looted African art.

Once reserved in the Quai Branly museum in Paris, the 26 artifacts have been on display at the Palace of the Marina in Cotonou, Benin’s largest city and major port of entry for visitors. The free exhibition first held between February and May this year, resumed from mid July to end on Aug. 28. From Benin and beyond, over 200,000 people have visited, the New York Times said citing government data.

Shegun Adjadi Bakari, a

former high-ranking advisor to Togolese president Faure Gnassingbé, attended the exhibition. “It’s a real pleasure to bring our children to discover our history and share this piece of Benin and understand that ultimately Benin does not stop,” he said. “It lives beyond time.”

Accompanying the historic artifacts were the works of 34 Benin contemporary artists, including creations by the famed voodoo art painter Cyprien Tokoudagba and an ode to women governing society by Ishola Akpo, a photographer born in Cote d’Ivoire to Beninese parents. Five of the contemporary artists on display were women.

Benin is the home of the famous all-female Dahomey military regimen that fought against French colonial rule and whose story will be depicted in the soon to be released film The Woman King starring Viola Davis. Thousands of African artworks remain in France and rest of Europe

Seeing the sense of pride generated in Benin, there could be a greater push to return the rest of African art reserved in museums and galleries across Europe.

The 2018 report commissioned

▲ Cana Tree - This throne comes from Ca the sacred city of the kingdom, located abo twenty kilometres from Abomey, the capital

m

na, out

▲ Art provided a connection to history in Benin Statues of past kings of Dahomey, in present day Benin, on display behind a glass at the Palace of the Marina in Cotonou

by Macron on art restitution found that 90% of African art is outside the continent. The Quai Branly museum in Paris alone holds over 70,000 art works, with similar numbers in Germany, Austria and England, and 180,000 in Belgium. Some artifacts were sold in Paris by the auction house Christie’s in July 2020 for around $238,000.

“It’s not possible anymore to say, ‘At the time, we looted some war spoils; too bad, now it’s ours,’” Benin’s culture minister Jean-Michel Abimbola told the Times.

French president Emmanuel Macron at the exhibition of 26 returned artifacts in Benin French president Emmanuel

Macron at the exhibition of 26 returned artifacts in Benin Macron takes in a sight of the returned artifacts on a visit to Benin

Under Macron’s government, France has returned 28 artifacts to Africa—one each to Senegal, and Madagascar in addition to these in Benin. Will the French president, who visited Benin in July to see the exhibition, accelerate the pace of restitution?

In the past, calls for restitution from France have come up against a legal barrier called the “inalienability of public French art collections.” This simply means there are laws stating any public French art collections

belongs to the state and cannot be given back (even when said assets were looted.)

The simple argument for advocating the return is that the artifacts belong to Africa. But against criticism that the continent is unprepared to manage its treasures, some governments have started making investments. Togo opened a state-funded 26,000 square feet contemporary art center in 2019 by converting a former colonial palace at the cost of $3.6 million. Benin’s exhibitions this year are said to be part of a €1 billion agenda to invest in cultural infrastructure.

Find this article here.

Source: https://qz.com/benin-sexhibition-of-artworks-returned-fromfrance-sho-1849450290

▲Traditional ruler of Abomey-Calavi, Kpoton Avounbe, Allodji III, (C) and his family arrive to attend the inauguration of a symbolic exhibition to showcase artefacts looted by the French colonial soldiers returned to the country at the presidency in Cotonou on February 19, 2022

A Cuisine History

How West African Cuisines Originated and Develope over Centuries

By Uwagbale Edward-Ekpu

Asthe popularity of African dishes rises around the world, most of the conversation has focused on their appearance, spiciness, and recipes, more intensely on ownership and appropriation, but barely on how they came about.

African dishes have gone global first via the transatlantic slave trade and most recently through migration, social media, and viral videos. The bestknown example is the Jollof wars.

The foods we all enjoy today are the product of innovations and food processing technology that emerged over centuries. Each meal is a reflection of the history, culture, beliefs, and the natural environment of their society of origin. Starch

In the Sahel-Sudan (south of the Sahara), pearl millet—which originates from an area that includes Mali and Mauritania—and guinea corn (sorghum) are the traditional staple ingredients for food, drinks (kunu), and beer (burukutu and pito). This beer tradition has however been wiped out in parts where the population adopted Islam that forbids the consumption of alcohol.

In Guinea (coastal and rain forest region in the south), Guinea yams—which originate from the area between Ghana and Nigeria—African rice, and Guinea corn were the staple sources of carbohydrates until the Portuguese later introduced cassava

The cultivation of yam is traditionally and predominantly in the eastern area of the region stretching from Côte d’Ivoire to Nigeria—with Nigeria presently accounting for about 54% of global production. African rice is predominantly cultivated in the western part of the region along the Inner Niger Delta (where its origin is in Mali) and the coastal zone spanning from Mauritania to Liberia. With the introduction of tomatoes to

Senegal as early as the 1820s—the first record of tomatoes in Africa—jollof rice developed among the Wolof people of Senegambia. Palm oil

In contrast to the Sahel-Sudan region, palm oil is traditionally a core component of the cuisines in the Guinea especially in the Niger delta, also known as the Oil rivers, which accounted for more than half of the total quantity of palm oil exported from Africa annually in the 1800s. The plant is the source of “edible worms” and alcoholic drinks— palm wine and its distilled derivatives such as ogogoro or Akpeteshie. The edible worm is the larva of the red palm weevil and it’s usually eaten with ekpukpu (kpokpo garri).

The palm oil tradition in Nigeria’s Niger delta cuisine is evident in the old traditional palm fruit dishes such as owo and banga soups and banga rice. Palm oil was added to food for its supposed medicinal powers. It’s added to garri (a granular flour) and usi (a starch dough) during processing from cassava and when cooking red kidney beans to prevent food poisoning. Cassava and red kidney beans naturally contain toxic substances.

JOLLOF RICE OR BENACHIN – SENEGAL

Cassava, the most important food crop in subSaharan Africa, was introduced to the Niger delta from Brazil by the Portuguese in the 1500s but was not important in west Africa until the second half of the 1800s—when many formerly enslaved Africans returned to west Africa from Brazil (pdf).

The dictionary of the language of the Edo people of the hinterland of the Niger delta in Nigeria which was written in 1937 by Hans Melzian, a Dutch professor of African Phonetics and Linguistics with the help of several Edo informants, shows that the societies in the Niger delta first consumed igari (cassava) as ebobozi (chipped cassava boiled and soaked for two to three days) and eferhinyea—a dish similar to garri and Brazilian farinha introduced by the Portuguese. Garri and fufu (a dough) are now the most modern and popular cassava food products.

Salt

Salt also shaped west African cuisines, a region traditionally poor in sea or rock salts until the colonial period. The hinterland societies depended on vegetable salt, which is generally potassiumbased carbonates.

“For all the in-land negroes are obliged to fetch their salt from the shore; from whence it is easier to infer that it must cost them very dear: wherefore the meaner sorts are obliged to make use of a certain saltish herb instead of salt, which their purses will not reach,” described William Bosman, a Dutch merchant, during his stay in the Gold Coast in the late 1600s.

Among the Edo people, the salt known as odo was extracted from the mangrove tree, Odo n’owse (Rhizophora racemosa), by cooking the wood and leaving the water to evaporate on the fire. When added to palm fruit juice or oil, odo, as well as kanwa (rock salt) coagulate it to produce a thick sauce or soup such as owo.

The vegetable salt called pot-ash or salt-ash was made in the Sahel-Sudan by burning the stalks or straws of millet and palms in a pot to ashes. The region also had access to rock salt from the Sahara Desert, acquired from driedup lake beds or shallow mines. Unlike sea salt, which is difficult to store and transport because it absorbs moisture and loses its qualities in a short

BANGA SOUP. PRIDE OF THE NIGER DELTA

A Cuisine History

time, rock salts are stable slabs that were traded widely.

Spices, sauces, and soup

A trademark of a west African dish, especially in the Guinea, is its hot spiciness. The region is home to several unrelated hot spices, traditionally referred to as Guinea pepper. They were a major export to Europe in the precolonial period. These spices, such as the melegueta or alligator pepper; uziza, Benin pepper or Ashanti pepper; and Senegal pepper, are the core of west African pepper soup.

Bosman’s account showed that the type made with intestines has a long history and was eaten during a religious ceremony in ancient Gold Coast: “The guts they cut into small pieces, and squeezing out the excrement with their fingers, they boil it together with the lungs, liver, and heart, with a little salt and malaget, or Guinea pepper, without warning it from the blood.”

The west African swallow-soup dishes possibly developed in the Guinea from centuries of eating rice, sorghum, yam, and cassava made into dough with salted and peppered palm oil or palmfruit juice which may be referred to as the first generation of soups. The traditional preparation of owo with a local vegetable salt and its use as

the only sauce for one of the earliest indigenous cassava products, particularly abacha (a sun-dried ebobozi), suggests it to be the first generation soup.

Bosman wrote about the dish of the people on the Gold Coast in the 1600s: “Their common food is a pot full of millet [sorghum] boiled to the consistency of bread [dough], or instead that of yams and potatoes; over which they pour a little

palm oil, with a few boiled herbs, to which they add a stinking [smoked] fish.”

The tradition of adding leaves to palm oil which is the basis of “vegetable soup,” possibly arose from the idea of integrating medicinal herbs in dishes, evident in the medicinal Edo omoebe (leaf soup), also known as black soup. This was followed by the third-generation soups made with palm oil and seeds such as ikpogi or egusi (melon), oyele or ogbono (African mango) and ikporu (cotton).

As African food becomes global it is vital that the rich history and the stories behind African dishes be shared with the world as well.

Find this article here

Source: https://qz.com/how-west-african-cuisinesoriginated-and-developed-over-1849449285

Image credit: embassydirect.co.za, nigerianlazychef. com, absmenu.com, Daily Times

OGBONO SOUP WITH SWALLOW

Century-old Family Photo Studio Preserves Ghana’s History in Black and White

By Francis Kokoroko and Cooper Inveen

Ageneration

before the Gold Coast became Ghana, local photographer J.K. Bruce-Vanderpuije opened a small studio in the then-colonial capital Accra, where his family would become the de facto visual historians of a nation that had not yet been born.

For 100 years, three generations of BruceVanderpuijes have painstakingly amassed the world’s largest collection of 20th century Ghanaian photographs under one roof. They believe their Deo Gratias photo studio is the oldest in West Africa.

From glass plates to digital files of nation-shaping events to intimate personal portraits, the family’s 50,000-image archive offers a unique glimpse into Accra’s transition from a colonial port into a bustling modern metropolis.

“The story they tell is that of [Ghana’s] history,” said Kate Tamakloe, Bruce-Vanderpuije’s granddaughter and keeper of the modern archive. “Without a history you have no future.”

Virtually unchanged since opening in 1922, Deo Gratias sits on a busy street in the heart of Jamestown, the

capital’s oldest district. Grainy archive photos reveal the area was once much quieter, before traffic and billboards clogged the streets.

Today, the faces of local families, as well as famous musicians, politicians and patrons adorn the studio’s walls. A black-and-white photo of Kwame Nkrumah, Ghana’s first leader on gaining independence in 1957, hangs near others of Britain’s Queen Elizabeth and disgraced American president Richard Nixon.

“Pictures speak tonnes, louder than what has been written,” said Daniel Tetteh, a Ghanaian historian who volunteers with Deo Gratias as an archivist. “If we don’t preserve them, it means that the nation will lose its memory.”

Tamakloe took over Deo Gratias when her father Isaac Bruce-Vanderpuije, a lifelong photographer who inherited the studio from his father J.K., began to lose his eyesight. What began as a mission to digitise the archive has since become a full-time job, one she hopes to pass onto the next generation when the time comes.

Seated in a lush garden

1) Two men sit outside Ghana's oldest op Gratias, established in 1922, in Jamestow

2) Charity Hayman, 35, studio assistant, a preview a digital photograph from the bac session at the Deo Gratias studio, Ghana operating in Jamestown, Accra, Ghana Ju

3) Portraits of Ghana’s first president, Dr. and political elite are seen as part of the a

outside the capital, Kate and Isaac flipped through an album of their favourite prints. One showed J.K. elegantly perched atop a race horse. Another

REUTERS/Francis Kokoroko

erating photography studio, Deo wn, Accra, Ghana July 22, 2022. and Sherifa Abbey, 27, trader, ck of a camera during a portrait ’s oldest photography studio still uly 14, 2022.

4

studio, Deo Gratias Accra, Ghana. August 18, 2022. NO RESALES. NO ARCHIVES

Kwame Nkrumah, and the then traditional archive of Ghana’s oldest operating photo

4) Portraits from Ghana’s colonial era are displayed at the Deo Gratias photo studio, Ghana’s oldest photography studio still operating in Jamestown, Accra, Ghana July 14, 2022.

showed a young and beaming Isaac aiming his camera towards an unknown subject.

“One must feel proud that for 100 years something has been

preserved, and the coming generation will see what’s happened,” he said, gripping his cane while Kate looked on with

a smile. “And I think that is not the end.”.

Find this article and the video here

Deep Sea Fishing in South Africa

Fromwarmer Indian Ocean species on the east coast to the cold-water fish of the Atlantic Ocean west coast, deep-sea fishing in South Africa is a lucrative and popular pastime. Ski-boat charters are plentiful, and you’re virtually guaranteed a good fight.

One of the great pleasures of deep-sea fishing in South Africa is listening to the magical names of the fish themselves: kabeljou, stumpnose, roman, elf, skate, steenbras, panga, fransmadam, galjoen and Atlantic big eye. All ruled by the ‘gladiator of the deep’: the broadbill swordfish

South African deep-sea fishing is not just about a stuffed broadbill trophy in the den – it’s about being out there on the African waters, tasting the moment, in the company of friends and a responsible skipper, enjoying the chase and fight of something like a good yellowfin tuna out of Hout Bay.

The old salts in the know say that the reefs out at Rocky Bank, about 10 kilometres south of Cape Point, are rich with Cape salmon, yellowtail, snapper and snoek, a fish that resembles a barracuda and is a delight to barbecue, with its rich and tasty white meat.

Deep-sea fishing in South Africa is enjoyed all along the Eastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal coastline. Most of the charter boats are state-ofthe-art and built for scenic ocean tours too. Some outfits will even take you to sea and then cook your catch in their restaurants that evening.

In KwaZulu-Natal, deep-sea charter tours are offered from Durban, as well as north-coast towns such as Richards Bay and St Lucia, and southcoast towns like Margate and Port Shepstone. In the Eastern Cape, Port Elizabeth and East London both host a number of charter companies.

Species you can pursue along South Africa’s east coast include blue and black marlin, dorado, yellowfin tuna, as well as various species of shark.

Who to contact:

» The South African Deep Sea Angling Association, Email: info@sadsaa.co.za

» Western Province Deep Sea Angling Association, Email: wpdsaa@mweb.co.za

How to get here

Practically every coastal spot offers deep-sea fishing charters, with harbour ports like Durban, Richards Bay, Cape Town, Port Elizabeth, East London, Knysna and Cape Town particularly popular.

Best time to visit

Fishing is enjoyed all year round in South Africa, with the annual East Coast Sardine Run a particular highlight as it attracts plenty of game fish.

Get around

Drive or taxi to your chosen charter office. Onsite parking is provided for clients heading out to sea.

What to pack

Always take a windbreaker for unexpected weather, showers and rough waves. Also ask your charter what they recommend.

What will it cost?

Deep sea fishing charters are plentiful in coastal ports, so you’ll be able to find an outfit that suits your budget. Clarify up front what is included in your outlay, like rods, bait, drinks, fishing permits, food and your catch.

Where to stay

Due to the popularity of seaside resorts there is

shortage of cottages, B&Bs, hotels and holiday flats.

Related links

South African Deep Sea Angling Association

Western Province Deep Sea Angling Association

Booker – South African Fishing Charters

Blue Fishing Charters

Image credit:

Find this article here.

gallery, dirtyboots.co.za, africanmeccasafaris. com, infiniteafrica.com, Pinterest

WORLD HERITAGE SITES

Tsodilo - Botswana

Tsodilo

is a small area in Botswana where a few massive rock formations rise above the surrounding desert. Inhabited for at least 100,000 years, these hills are sacred to the local Hambukushu and San. They are also home to one of the largest concentrations of rock art in the world. Why is Tsodilo a UNESCO World Heritage site?

Best known for its incredible gallery of rock art, Tsodilo is important for the site’s long habitation. The rock art is just the most obvious and fabulous sign of that.

UNESCO explains: “The [Tsodilo] Hills have provided shelter and other resources to people for over 100,000 years. It now retains a remarkable record, in its archaeology, its rock art, and its continuing traditions, not only of this use but also of the development of human culture and of a symbiotic nature/human relationship over many thousands of years.”

What can you expect on a visit to the Tsodilo Hills?

The Tsodilo Hills would be an interesting area to explore even if there weren’t thousands of pictographs here. But, of course, the paintings are the reason to come this far Designated trails take visitors past the pictographs and into caves that once sheltered those living or traveling through here. The rock art is located all over – some hidden in sheltered spots, a few right in the open at eye-level, and many high up on exposed rock faces. And, while many are worn and faded, a surprising number still retain their bright color.

A small museum on the site provides information on the paintings and the cultural significance of the

hills.

See what it’s like to visit the Tsodilo Hills here

Is Tsodilo worth visiting?

Tsodilo is an amazing place, but you really need to make an effort to get there. For most people, it won’t be worth the time and cost.

However, if you are traveling in Botswana or northeastern Namibia and want to do something beyond the usual safari activities, Tsodilo is worth the time it takes to get there. A San guide can connect you with the life and stories of the people who lived here for thousands of years. And, if you are lucky, they will also tell you how their people live today.

While the accommodations at the site aren’t great, if you are going to come this far, it is worth spending the night. An overnight at the site lets you watch the light change on these amazingly colorful hills, explore during the coolest part of the day immediately after sunrise, and visit the local village and its small crafts market. It also gives you

time to hike more than one trail, each of which offers views of different petroglyphs.

Where is Tsodilo?

offers views of different

Tsodilo is located in a very isolated area of northwestern Botswana near the border with Namibia. The nearest international gateway is Maun, 385 km (240 miles) south of the UNESCO site. It may be possible to arrange a private flight to Tsodilo from Maun.

The nearest town with lodging and other facilities is Shakawe (70 km or 40 miles) and up to a couple of hours north of the Tsodilo UNESCO site.

Shakawe is a remote area at the edge of the Kalahari Desert. Plan for far longer travel times than expected on dusty roads with few to no services. And, unless improved very recently, the track into Tsodilo from the main road usually requires a 4×4 vehicle.

For more information about Tsodilo, see the Botswana Tourism website https://worldheritagesites.net/tsodilo-botswana/

Travel Africa

Where To Go, What To Do

Algeria

Tamanrasset Camel Trekking

Sahara Dune Skiing

The Turquoise Coast

CAPITAL: Algiers www.algerie-tourisme.dz

Angola

Fort Sao Miguel Slave Depot

Calandula Waterfalls

Palmeirinhas Beach

CAPITAL: Luanda www.angola.org

Benin

Lake Village of Ganvie

Nakoue Lagoon

Pendjari National Park

CAPITAL: Porto-Novo www.benintourisme.com

Botswana

Okavango Delta

Central Kalahari Game Reserve

Transfrontier Park (Kgalafadi National Park)

CAPITAL: Gaborone www.botswanatourism.co.bw

Burkina Faso

International Arts and Crafts Fair, Oct-Nov

Ranch de Nazinga game reserve

Mare aux Hippopotames

CAPITAL: Ouagadougou www.ontb.bf

Burundi

Chutes de la Kagera Waterfall

Lake Tanganyika

Craftwares Village at Giheta

CAPITAL: Bujumbura www.burunditourisme.com

Cameroon

Mandera Mountains (hiking, climbing)

Bouba Ndjidah National Park

Festival National des Arts et de la Culture

(FENAC) in December

CAPITAL: Yaoundé

Cape Verde

Baia das Gatas Festival

Scuba Diving and Snorkelling at Boa Vista

UNESCO world heritage old fort site at Cidade Velha

CAPITAL: Praia

Ministry of Tourism, Praia, Santiago: +238 615 697

Central African Republic

Boali Waterfalls

Manovo-Gounda St Floris National Park

Lobaye Region

CAPITAL: Bangui

Chad

Camel racing in the Tibesti Mountains

Galawa Beach on Grande Comore

Lake Chad

N’Djamena

du Tourisme, Tel: 01 45 53 36 75

The Comoros

Climb Mount Karthala (active volcano)

Nzwani Island

Hot Sulphur Springs at Lac Salé

CAPITAL: Moroni

National Tourist Board Office, Tel: 269 73 3044

Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC)

Frère Gillet Botanic Gardens world-famous

orchids (Kisantu)

Ruwenzori Range

Virunga National Park

Kinshasa

des Affaires Foncières, Environment et Tourisme, Tel: (+243) 8802093.

Côte D’Ivoire (Ivory Coast)

The Basilica of Our Lady of Peace, Yamoussoukro

Mount Tonkoui (mountain climb)

Comoë National Park

of Eritrea (bicycle race)

Akordat

Djibouti

Egypt (Kemet)

Asmara

Ethiopia

Hewn Churches of Lalibela (New Jerusalem)

of the Queen of Sheba, Axum

Union Headquarters, Addis Ababa

Great Ethiopian Race

Addis Ababa

Gabon

Equatorial Guinea

of St Michael in Libreville

Reserve National Park

(gold mines/crafts)

The Gambia

Fishing,

Eritrea

Jufureh

Makasutu Culture Forest

CAPITAL: Banjul www.visitthegambia.gm

Ghana

Cape Coast Castle Slave Fortress

Mount Afadjato and Togbo Falls (Volta Region)

Kakum Nature Reserve (tree-top walkway and stay in a tree house)

CAPITAL: Accra www.touringghana.com

Guinea

Kindia (cloth market)

Kinkon Falls

Îles de Los

CAPITAL: Conakry www.ontguinee.com

Guinea-Bissau

Bijagos Archipelago

Cantanhez Natural Park

Museum of African Artefacts

CAPITAL: Bissau www.guineabissautourism.com

Kenya

Mount Kenya National Park

Tsavo West National Park

Watamu-Malindi Marine Park

CAPITAL: Nairobi www.magicalkenya.com

Lesotho

Bushmen Rock Paintings

Ski Lesotho Highlands (www.afriski.co.za)

Sehlabathebe National Park

CAPITAL: Maseru www.ltdc.org.ls

Liberia

Sapo National Park

Kendeja National Cultural Center

Firestone Rubber Plantation

CAPITAL: Monrovia www.micat.gov.lr

Libya

Akakus Mountains (prehistoric rock art)

Ubari Lakes (dune surfing)

Leptis Magna (tribute to African Roman Emperor Septimus Severus)

CAPITAL: Tripoli www.libyan-tourism.org

Madagascar



Fianarantsoa (Capital of Wine)

Montagne d’Arbre National Park

Queen’s Palace

CAPITAL: Antananarivo www.madagascar-tourisme.com

Malawi

Lake Malawi Marine Park

Nyika National Park

Liwonde National Park

CAPITAL: Lilongwe www.malawitourism.com

Mali

Festival in the Desert

Timbuctou

La Boucle de Baoule National Park

CAPITAL: Bamako www.le-mali.com/omatho/index.htm

Mauritania

Parc National du Banc d’Arguin

Chinguetti, a holy city of Islam

Oualata

CAPITAL: Nouakchott www.tourisme.mr

Mauritius

Black River Gorges National Park

Ile aux Aigrettes Nature Reserve

Rodrigues Island

CAPITAL: Port Louis www.mauritius.net

Morocco

Todra and Dades Gorges

Talassemtane National Park

Essaouira

CAPITAL: Rabat www.visitmorocco.com

Mozambique

Maputo Elephant Park

Gorongosa National Park

Namibia

Game Reserve

National Park

Coast

Windhoek

Niger

National Park

River National Park

Palace, Kano

City

Lagos

Republic of the Congo

Falls

(main embarkation port for slaves)

Rapids

Brazzaville

Generale du Tourisme et des Loisirs,

830 953

Reunion

Piton des Neiges

d’Affouches

Voile de la Mariée (The Bride’s Veil)

Saint-Denis

Cards From Africa, Kigali

National des Volcans Gorilla Trek

Nyungwe Forest Canopy Walk

Kigali

Market, Guinea visionguinee.info

www.rwandatourism.com/

São Tomé & Principe

Bom Bom Island Deep Sea Fishing

Humpback Whale Watching

Agua Izé Plantation

São Tomé www.saotome.st

Senegal

African Renaissance Monument

Retba (Pink) Lake

Maison des Enclaves (House of Slaves),

Island

Dakar

ce@aol.com

Seychelles

Marlin Fishing in Denis

St Anne Marine National Park

Aldabra

Victoria

Sierra Leone

Outamba-Kilimi National Park

Freetown Peninsula

Bunce Island, Slave Trading Station

Freetown www.welcometosierraleone.org

Somalia

Hargeisa National Park

Neolithic Paintings Las Geel

Indian Ocean Coastal Beaches

CAPITAL: Mogadishu www.somali-gov.info/Tourism/index.html

Somaliland

Hargeisa National Park

Neolithic Paintings Las Geel

Indian Ocean Coastal Beaches

CAPITAL: Hargiesa www.somalilandgov.com (Ministry of Tourism & Culture 252-225-7917)

South Africa

Nelson Mandela Centre of Memory & Dialogue, Johannesburg

Great White Shark Festival, Cape Town/ Gansbaai

The Elephant Coast, Zulu Kingdom

CAPITAL: Johannesburg www.whitesharkfestival.org www.nelsonmandela.org www.zulu.org.za www.southafrica.net

South Sudan

Boma National Park

Nimule National Park

Nile River

CAPITAL: Juba www.goss.org

Sudan

Port Sudan, The Red Sea

Gemmeiza Tourist Village

Pyramids of Meroe

CAPITAL: Khartoum www.sudan-tourism.gov.sd/english/index.php

Swaziland

Mkhaya Game Reserve

Phophomyane Nature Reserve

Usutu River (white-water rafting)

CAPITAL: Mbabane www.welcometoswaziland.com

Historic Battlefield KwaZulu Natal zulu.org.za

Tanzania

Bagamoyo Slave Trail

Katavi Plains National Park

Ngorongoro Crater

Stone Town, Zanzibar

Dodoma

Togo

Koutammakou (World Heritage Site)

Whale Watching, Gulf of Benin

Fosse aux Lions (Lions’ Den)

Park

Lomé

Tunisia

Desert Trekking from Douz

Matmata (Star Wars film site)

Sidi Bou Saïd

Tunis

Uganda

Mountains of the Moon (Mount

National Park)

Bwindi National Park (view gorilla)

Source of the Nile,Owen Falls Dam, Jinja

Kampala

Western Sahara

City of El-Aaiún

Dakhla (surfing)

El-Aaiún

Zambia

Walking Safari, South Luangwa National Park

Musi oa Tunya (Victoria Falls), Livingstone

Zambezi White Water Rafting

CAPITAL: Lusaka

Zimbabwe

Great Zimbabwe

Lake Kariba

Chizarira National Park

CAPITAL: Harare www.zimbabwetourism.co.zw

Sources:

www.internationaltouristboards.com www.worldtourismdirectory.com/directory/africa/ index.html

Nimule National

Rapids

Ski Africa

Overview: Skiing in Africa

Thereare currently 10 indoor and outdoor ski resorts set in the nations of Kingdom of Morocco, Republic of Egypt, Republic of Algeria, Kingdom of Lesotho, Republic of Namibia, and the Republic of South Africa. There are 4 unconfirmed ski resorts. The following facts provide an overview of the ski regions of Africa:

Elevation of the Ski Resorts

70 m - 3268 m

Elevation Difference max. 658 m in one ski resort

Slopes

21 km (max. 10 km in one ski resort)

Ski Lifts

23 (max. 7 in one ski resort)

Ski Passes

€ 14.40 to € 30.74

Oukaimeden

www.skiresort.info/ski-resort/ oukaimeden

The ski resort Oukaïmeden is located in the Marrakesh-TensiftEl Haouz Region (Morocco). For skiing and snowboarding, there are 10 km of slopes available. 7 lifts transport the guests. The winter sports area is situated between the elevations of 2,610 and 3,268 m.

Chréa

www.skiresort.info/ski-resort/ chrea/

The ski resort Chréa is located in the Province of Blida (Algeria). For skiing and snowboarding, there are 0.5 km of slopes available. 3 lifts transport the guests. The winter sports area is situated between the elevations of 1,460 and 1,550 m.

Afriski Mountain Resort

www.skiresort.info/ski-resort/ afriski-mountain-resort

The ski resort Afriski Mountain Resort is located in the ButhaButhe District (Lesotho). For skiing and snowboarding, there are 1.8 km of slopes available. 2 lifts transport the guests. The winter sports area is situated between the elevations of 3,030 and 3,222 m. AfriSki, the only skiing resort in the Kingdom of Lesotho, is located 3222 m above sea-level in the Maluti Mountains. It offers a main

Ski slope, a beginners slope and operates during the winter months.

Tiffindell

www.skiresort.info/ski-resort/ tiffindell

The ski resort Tiffindell is located in the Province of Eastern Cape (South Africa). For skiing and snowboarding, there are 2.4 km of slopes available. 5 lifts transport the guests. The winter sports area is situated between the elevations of 2,700 and 2,930 m.

Tiffindell is the highest resort in South Africa. It is nestling snugly on the slope of Ben McDhui (3001m), the highest pass in South Africa and the highest peak in the Cape. Within 15 acres of terrain, there are pistes suitable for all abilities. In an average season, Tiffindell is open for skiing and snowboarding in June, July and August. It has slope-side accommodation available for 150 guests and many more day visitors in the surrounding valleys. There is a restaurant, coffee lounge, 2 bars,

Lesotho Slopes

hindustantimes.com

ski clothing shop and ski school. Non aspiring skiers join in to enjoy a unique experience, making snowmen, throwing snow balls or tobogganing, making it the perfect family holiday for young and old.

Matroosberg

www.skiresort.info/ski-resort/ matroosberg/

The ski resort Matroosberg is located in the Province of Western Cape (South Africa). For skiing and snowboarding, there are 2 km of slopes available. 2 lifts transport the guests. The winter sports area is situated between the elevations of 1,794 and 2,132 m.

Michlifen

www.skiresort.info/ski-resort/ michlifen

The ski resort Michlifen is located in the Meknès-Tafilalet Region (Morocco). For skiing and snowboarding, there are 1 km of slopes available. 1 lift transports the guests. The winter sports area

is situated between the elevations of 1,880 and 2,060 m.

Ski Egypt

www.skiresort.info/ski-resort/ ski-egypt/

The indoor ski resort Ski Egypt is located in the Mall of Egypt, 6th October City, Cairo (Egypt). For skiing and snowboarding, there are 0.6 km of slopes available. 1 lift transports the guests. The winter sports area is situated between the elevations of 150 and 180 m.

With over 7,000 tons of snow, Ski Egypt is launching the first ski resort in Africa with the world’s largest indoor snow park, offering everything from skiing, slope snowboarding, sledging and a Polar Express Train to a jolly kids area and a professional Ski School, all in a one stop, breathtaking experience for family and friends.

Jbel Hebri

www.skiresort.info/ski-resort/ jbel-hebri

The ski resort Jbel Hebri is located in the Meknès-Tafilalet Region (Morocco). For skiing and snowboarding, there are 1 km of slopes available. 1 lift transports the guests. The winter sports area is situated between the elevations of 1,950 and 2,090 m.

Azrou

www.skiresort.info/ski-resort/ azrou

The ski resort Azrou is located in the Ifrane Province of the FèsMeknès region (Morocco). For skiing and snowboarding, there are 1 km of slopes available. 1 lift transports the guests. The winter sports area is situated between the elevations of 1,800 and 2,000 m.

Ski Namibia

www.skiresort.info/ski-resort/ ski-namibia

Options for Dune Skiing in the Namib Desert, Namibia (high dunes, breathtaking landscapes, long dune belt) are manifold. Not only the fast ski runs on the dunes bring the kick, but also the landscape and nature aspect are simply one-of-a-kind amidst the world’s oldest desert. For information and arrangements: www.ski-namibia.com, henrik@ ski-namibia.com, P.O. Box 8140, Swakopmund, Namibia.

Unconfirmed Ski Resorts

Cape Town, South Africa (In development, possibly) www.skiresort.info/ski-resort/ snowfun-cape-town-planned

Kingdom of Morocco (mountain climbing resorts that may include skiing opportunities) www.skiresort.info/ski-resort/ djebel-bou-iblane www.skiresort.info/ski-resort/ hoher-atlas www.skiresort.info/ski-resort/ rif-gebirge

www.skiresort.info/ski-resorts/ africa

John

curtain raiser golf

Royal Nairobi Golf Club, Nairobi

The Golf Park at the Jockey Club of Kenya, Nairobi

Windsor Golf Hotel & Country Club, Nairobi www.windsorgolfresort.com

Mauritius

Ile aux Cherfs, Trou d’Eau Douce

Le Paradis Hotel & Golf Club, Le Morne Peninsula www.paradis-hotel.com

Legend Golf Course, Poste de Flacq www.bellemareplagehotel.com

Links Golf Course, Poste de Flacq www.princemaurice.com

One&Only Le Saint Géran Golf Course, Poste de Flacq http://lesaintgeran.oneandonlyresorts.com

Shandrani Golf Club, Blue Bay www.shandrani-hotel.com

Troux aux Biches Golf Club, Troux aux Biches www.trouauxbiches-hotel.com

Morocco

Anfa Royal Golf Club, Casablanca

Cabo Negro Royal Golf Club, Tetouan

Royal Golf of Dar es Salam, Rabat www.royalgolfdaressalam.com/english/index.cfm

Club Med les Dunes, Agadir

El Jadida Royal Golf Club, El Jadida

Fes Royal Golf Club, Fes

Marrakech Royal Golf Club, Marrakech

Meknes Royal Golf Club, Meknes

Mohammedia Royal Golf Club, Mohammedia

Settat University Royal Golf Club, Settat

Tangier Royal Golf Club, Tangier

Nambia



Keetmanshoop Golf Course, Keetmanshoop

Okahandja Golf Club, Okahandja www.okahandja.net/sport/default.html

Orandjemund Golf Club, Oranjemund

Rossmund Golf Course, Swakopmund

Tsumeb Golf Club, Tsumeb

Walvis Bay Golf Course, Walvis Bay

Windhoek Country Club Resort, Windhoek www.windhoek.co.za

Nigeria

IBB Golf Course, Abuja

IITA Golf Club, Ibadan

Ikeja Golf Club, Lagos www.ikejagolfclub.org

Reunion

Golf du Bassin Blue, St Gilles les Hauts

Golf Club de Bourbon, Etang Sale les Bains www.golf-bourbon.com/spip/spip.php?lang=en

Club du Colorado, La Montagne

Senegal

Golf de Saly, Mbour www.golfsaly.com/intro/presentation_fr.htm

Golf International du Technopôle, Dakar

Windsor Golf Hotel & Country Club Nairobi, Kenya https://kenyaholidays.travel/golfing-in-kenya/

Le Méridien President Resort & Golf Club, Dakar www.starwoodhotels.com/ lemeridien/property/overview/index. html?propertyID=1821&EM=VTY_MD_1821_

DAKAR_OVERVIEW

Sierra Leone

Freetown Golf Club, Freetown South Africa

Akasia Golf Clue, Pretoria www.akasiacountryclub.co.za

Atlantic Beach Golf Club, Cape Town www.atlanticbeachgolfclub.co.za/capetown/ index.asp

Bellville Golf Club, Cape Town www.bellvillegolf.co.za

Benoni Country Club, Johannesburg www.benonicountryclub.co.za/pro/Default.aspx

Blair Atholl, Fourways www.blairatholl.co.za

Blue Valley Golf & Country Estate, Olifantsfontein www.bluevalley.co.za

Bryanston Country Club, Bryanston www.bryanstoncc.co.za

Centurion Country Club, Centurion www.centurioncountryclub.co.za

Champagne Sports Resort, Winterton www.champagnesportsresort.com



Clovelly Country Club, Cape Town

www.clovelly.za.net

Crown Mines Golf Club, Johannesburg www.g-i.co.za/clubs/?c=274

Darling Golf Club, Darling www.darlingtourism.co.za/sportdetail. htm#golfclub



De Zalze Winelands Golf Estate, Stellenbosch www.golfdezalze.com



Devonvale Golf & Wine Estate, Stellenbosch www.devonvale.co.za



Durban Country Club, Durban www.dcclub.co.za



Durbanville Golf Club, Durbanville www.durbanvillegolfclub.co.za



East London Golf Course, East London www.elgc.co.za



Emfuleni Golf Estate, Vanderbijlpark www.emfulenigolfestate.com



Fancourt Hotel & Country Club Estate, George www.fancourt.co.za

Gary Player Country Club Golf Course, Sun City www.suninternational.com/Destinations/Resorts/ Golf/Pages/Golf.aspx

George Golf Club, George www.georgegolfclub.co.za



Germiston Golf Club, Germiston www.germistongolf.com



Glendower Golf Course, Johannesburg www.glendower.co.za



Hermanus Golf Club, Hermanus www.hgc.co.za

Tiger

Houghton Golf Club, Houghton www.houghton.co.za



www.metropolitangolfclub.co.za



Humewood Golf Club, Port Elizabeth www.humewoodgolf.co.za



Milnerton Golf Club, Cape Town www.milnertongolfclub.co.za



The Country Club Johannesburg, Rivonia www.ccj.co.za



Modderfontein Golf Club, Modderfontein www.mgclub.co.za



Killarney Country Club, Johannesburg www.killarneycountryclub.co.za



Kingswood Golf Estate, George www.kingswood.co.za

Monks Cowl Coutry Club & Lodge, Winterton www.monkscowl.co.za



Mossel Bay Golf Club, Mossel Bay www.mosselbaygolfclub.co.za



Kleinmond Golf Club, Kleinmond www.kleinmondgolfclub.co.za



Mowbray Golf Club, Cape Town www.mowbraygolfclub.co.za



Kloof Country Club, Kloof www.kloofcountryclub.co.za



Knysna Golf Club, Knysna www.knysnagolfclub.com

Paarl Golf Course, Paarl www.paarlgolfclub.co.za



Pearl Valley Signature Golf Estate and Spa, Cape Winelands www.pearlvalley.co.za



Koro Creek Bushveld Golf Estate, Nylstroom www.korocreek.com



Langebaan County Estate Golf & Leisure, Langebaan www.langebaanestate.co.za

Leopard Creek Country Club, Malelane www.leopardcreek.co.za

Lost City, Sun City www.suninternational.com/Destinations/Resorts/ Golf/Pages/Golf.aspx

Malmesbury Golf Club, Malmesbury www.malmesburygolfclub.co.za

Metropolitan Golf Course, Cape Town

Pecanwood Golf & Country Club, Hartbeesportt www.pecanwoodgolf.co.za





Plettenberg Bay Country Club, Plettenberg Bay www.plettgolf.co.za



Pretoria Country Club, Pretoria www.ptacc.co.za

Randpark Golf Club, Randburg www.randpark.co.za

Reading Country Club, Alberton www.readingcc.co.za

River Club Golf & Conference Center, Cape Town

see

Muthaiga

http://riverclub.co.za



Riviera on Vaal Country Club, Vereenigning www.rovcountryclub.co.za



Royal Cape Golf Club, Cape Town www.royalcapegolf.co.za



Royal Durban Golf Club, Durban www.royaldurban.co.za



San Lameer Country Club, Margate www.sanlameer.co.za

Scottburgh Golf Club, Scottburgh www.scottburghgolf.co.za

Selbourne Golf Estate, Pennington www.selborne.com

Silver Lakes Golf & Country Club, Pretoria www.silverlakes.co.za

Somerset West Golf Club, Somerset West www.somersetwestgolfclub.co.za

St Francis Bay Golf Club, St Francis Bay www.stfrancisgolf.co.za

St Francis Links, St Francis Bay www.stfrancislinks.com

Steenberg Golf Club, Cape Town www.steenberggolfclub.co.za/ Framework/index.asp

Stellenbosch Golf Club, Stellenbosch www.steenberggolfclub.co.za/ Framework/index.asp

Umdoni Golf Course, Pennington www.umdonipark.com

Umhlali Country Club, Umhlali www.umhlalicountryclub.co.za

Westlake Golf Club, Cape Town www.westlakegolfclub.co.za

Wingate Park Country Club, Pretoria www.wingateparkcountryclub.co.za Swaziland

Royal Swazi Spa Country Club www.suninternational.com/Destinations/Resorts/ RoyalSwaziSpaValley/FacilitiesActivities/Pages/ Golf.aspx

The Gambia

Tunisia



Djerba Golf Club, Midoun www.djerbagolf.com

El Kantaoui Golf Course, Port El Kantaoui www.portelkantaoui.com.tn/golf

Flamingo Golf Course, Monastir www.gol

amingo.com/english/flamingo.htm

Golf Citrus, Hammamet www.golfcitrus.com

Palm Links Golf Course, Monastir www.golf-palmlinks.com/english/presentation. htm



Tabarka Golf Course, Tabarka www.tabarkagolf.com/en/index.htm

Fajara Club, Fajara www.smiles.gm/fajara.htm



Yasmine Golf Course, Mannamet www.golfyasmine.com/en/index.php

African Cuisine! Republic of Botswana

Botswana

might just be Africa’s most touristfriendly country. Welcoming people, remote lodges, exceptional wildlife viewing and, most importantly, food that you’ll never experience elsewhere! The cuisine of Botswana is unique but shares some characteristics with other cuisines of Southern Africa. A food unique to Botswana is seswaa, salted mashed-up meat. Watermelons are believed to have originated in Botswana (Kalahari Region).

Seswaa

https://www.gadventures.com/blog/recipe-seswaabotswana/ Seswaa is the national dish of Botswana. This meat dish is made from beef, goat, lamb or chicken and boiled with onion and pepper until soft and tender. Like every good stew in southern Africa, it is cooked low and slow in a three-legged cast iron pot. Once the meat is soft, it is pounded

Directions:

• Season the meat with salt and pepper, and place it in the slow cooker; add bay leaves and water and cook on high for 4–5 hours.

• Check on the meat after 4 hours. If it falls off the bone easily, it’s about done. If it’s still clinging to the bone, give it some more time.

• When cooked, remove the meat from the slow cooker and let it cool to room temperature.

• Using a mortar and pestle, pound the meat down until it resembles pulled or shredded beef. If you do not have a mortar and pestle, you can pull the meat apart with two forks until it’s fully shredded.

Morogo

https://www.botswanayouth.com/recipe-morogo-wa-dinawa/

Morogo or moroho, also known as African spinach, refers to a group of at least three different dark green leafy vegetables found throughout Southern Africa harvested for human consumption. It is considered a traditional dish and forms an important part of the staple diet in rural communities. In Botswana, the leaves of the common cow pea (setswana bean) are used fresh as a leafy green.

Ingredients:

• 1 medium onion, chopped

• 1 tbsp vegetable oil

or shredded and served on a bed of a pap.

Ingredients:

• 1,000g / 2.2 lbs beef, bone-in (chuck shoulder suggested)

• 2 tsp salt

• ¼ tsp black pepper

• 4 bay leaves

• 1-2 cups of water, or enough to cover the meat

• 2 generous handfuls of cow pea leaves

• 1 medium tomato, diced

• salt, to taste

• tomato paste

• peanut butter

• barbecue spice blend, to taste

Directions:

• Crush the dry leaves to the most minimal size. Boil water then soak for 15 minutes. Wash the bean leaves then set in a colander to drain.

• Heat the oil in a pan, add the onion and fry gently over low heat for 3 minutes. Add tomato and fry for 3 minutes more.

• Pour in 250ml water then add the bean leaves. Bring to a simmer, cover the pot and cook for about 15 minutes, or until all the ingredients are tender.

• Season to taste with the salt and the spices. Add a tbsp of tomato paste and another for peanut butter and stir in.

• Check the liquid levels. If too dry add a little water, if too wet continue cooking until the mixture is moist.

Matemekwane

https://spar.co.bw/matemekwane-botswanas-popularbread-dish/

Matemekwane is one of Botswana’s most popular bread dishes. These little dumplings have become a part of the country’s staple diet. Matemekwane is a seasoned dumpling often stuffed with meat and vegetables. They are crispy on the outside and fluffy on the inside and usually served with hot soup or a dip.

Serves 3-4

Ingredients:

• 6 cups plain flour

• Pinch of salt

• Pepper to taste

• 2 teaspoons sugar

• 2 teaspoons instant yeast

• 1 cup warm water

• Oil for frying

Directions:

• Mix all the above ingredients together to make a fairly stiff dough. Knead well for about 2-3 minutes, but be careful to not over-knead the dough.

• Cover the dough and let it stand in a warm place until it has almost doubled in size.

• Knead and divide into 10-12 balls.

• The dumplings can be deep fried in balls and served hot with a dip or soup; or the dumplings can be rolled flat and stuffed with pre-prepared meat or vegetables. Enclose the stuffing with the dough and fry until golden brown.

• Deep frying is recommended but for a healthier alternative, place the Matemekwane on a lightly greased baking tray and brush with oil. Bake in a preheated oven at 180°C until brown..

Dikgobe

https://togetherwomenrise.org/recipes/gbotemi-spicerecipe-tested/

Dikgobe, also known as izinkobe, is a South African word for samp and beans cooked together. The dish is commonly served at Setswana celebrations of life, such as marriage, and those marking death, the passage out of life. For funerals, dikgobe is one of the two acceptable starches to be served, with sorghum as the other.

Serves 5.

Ingredients:

• 1 cup sorghum grains

• 1 and a half cups beans

• Mixed vegetables to your preference (example potatoes, carrots, corn, peas, onions, cabbage)

• Salt and pepper to taste

Directions:

• Soak the sorghum grains and beans in lightly salted water for an hour, keep the sorghum grains and beans separate.

• Boil the sorghum grains for 20 minutes and then add the beans.

• Boil for 40 minutes, or until the mixture is well done.

• Lightly stir-fry the vegetables and flavour them to your taste.

• Add the vegetables to the mixture, mix well and simmer for about 20 minutes.

• Serve immediately.

Phaphatha

https://ahungryafricanoriginal.wordpress.com/2014/07/23/ phaphathadiphaphatha-from-botswana/ Phaphata is basically a flattened dumpling that is cooked without water. The composition of the dough is pretty much the same as well as the preparation method but the shape of the phaphata is flat and circular and it is cooked dry in a frying pan.

Phaphatha is usually consumed at breakfast (butter them, stuff in a fried egg, bacon and a slice of cheese) or as a snack. Because it is so plain, it’s usually paired with a protein stew. Nothing quite like a hot cup of tea or coffee and fresh warm phaphatha stuffed with chicken liver or chicken stew

Ingredients:

• 500g flour (bread flour is fine too)

• Half a packet of yeast

• About a cup or so of lukewarm water

• Extra flour for kneading

• 2 tsps sugar

• Half a teaspoon salt

Directions:

• Sift the flour and yeast into a bowl.

• Add the sugar and salt

• Gradually add water and combine with your hands to form a dough. Only add enough water to form the dough.

• Knead the dough for about 5 minutes till it’s soft and pliable.

• Put aside in a bowl covered with a damp cloth and leave to rise for 30 minutes.risen dough

• On a floured surface, roll out the dough to about half an inch thickness. Using a round object like a plastic cup or cookie cutter, cut the dough into circles.

• Dust the phaphathas liberally on both sides and place in a flat pan on medium heat with enough space between them to allow for rising. The heat should not be too high or the phaphatha burns before it fully cooks on the inside.

• The phaphatha should rise while cooking. When bubbles appear on the surface of the dough, turn over to cook on the other side.

• Remove from heat when cooked through and enjoy while warm.

Image credit: https://pemburytours.com/ botswana-foods-to-eat, Pinterest, https://www. tasteatlas.com/phaphatha, www.united-statesflag.com

Events Around the African Continent and the World

South

Addis Fashion Week

19th to 23rd October 2022 Hyatt Regency

Addis Ababa, Ethiopia Africa Women in Trade Expo/Conference/ Awards

20th to 22nd October 2022

City Hall , Darling Street, CBD, Cape Town, 8001,

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