Are you looking for a platform to create your newsletter? Are you wondering what type of content you should make for your newsletter? I did a lot of searching and experimenting before choosing a platform for my newsletter. In this video, I share why I use Flodesk for my newsletter and a breakdown of how I produce content for my newsletter. I have been using Flodesk for over a year and can attest to how it has enhanced my creation and community experience for me and my business.
If you are interested in using Flodesk, go ahead and use my link to sign up and get 50% off your 1st-year subscription: https://flodesk.com/c/BANDELEMUSE
Who does the “African luxury” rebrand benefit? What is the “why” behind the overall rebranding we all are doing? Is it for us or the foreign gaze? Does it provide an economic benefit or return? In this video, I discuss these questions and share my thoughts. I feel it can benefit a lot of us, depending on how we navigate it. Let me know what you think.
Every new year or cycle, I like to choose a word that describes the intention behind that new experience. At this time, my words are embody and ease.
Of course, I have the perfect incident that happened recently to share with you. Story time.
I edited a few photos and video clips to post together as a carousel on Instagram. I already wrote my desired caption on my phone. I uploaded the photos and videos…I think there were 6 in total.
Before moving on to the caption, the Instagram app opened another window stating “this would be a great reel. Let us create one for you to try out.” I had never seen this before. Naturally, I was curious. So I pressed “ok.”
The app created a 30-second reel with the photos switching quickly and the video slightly cropped with a very generic tinny song playing in the background.
For a moment, my mind went into fix-it mode. Ok…what song should I choose?….what mood should I portray?….how do I change the speed of the photos?…what text should I add? Then, I paused. How did I allow this app to give me more work to do on my time? Also, this reel did not illustrate the story and message I wanted to share. Instead, this reel felt performative, bland, and uninspiring. The exact opposite of what I wanted to share.
So, can you guess what I did? I deleted the app. I’m kidding. I’m not that dramatic…most of the time. Actually, I canceled the reel, reuploaded my photos, videos, and caption, and posted what I wanted.
This is the energy I intend to start carrying more. Anything that does not align with the reality I desire to embody and the ease I deserve to feel…I respectfully decline. This is something I have been experimenting with for almost a year now. Would you like to hear more about it? Ok, let’s unpack it.
Instead of having a list of things I want or looping on things that did not work out, I have been focusing on how I want to feel with what I desire. I have given myself permission to desire things I have never had before. That is a big one. How can you embody what you have never experienced? What if you do not have an example of success, love, being on the winning team, having no financial concerns, substantially making an impact, belonging to a community, and/or maintaining boundaries that actually resonate with you?
It’s not easy. I have been using my vivid imagination. Even with that, limited beliefs bubble up to the surface at every other step. But, I have learned that this is a sign of progress. Now that I am on this side of the journey, I feel more comfortable with the unknown. More grateful for the present. More open to receive. It’s a really beautiful experience.
Thus, for this new year, cycle, or chapter (however you prefer to define your time), I hope and trust you embody:
…the abundance you deserve,
…the community you deserve.
…the success you deserve.
…the health you deserve.
…the love you deserve.
…the fun you deserve.
…the healing you deserve.
…the celebration you deserve.
…the freedom you deserve.
…the wealth you deserve.
…the patience you deserve.
I hope and trust you are open to receiving ease in:
…the support you deserve.
…the flexibility you deserve.
…the justice you deserve.
…the recognition you deserve.
…the evolution you deserve.
…the care you deserve.
…the rest you deserve.
…the luck you deserve.
Of course, this list is not exhaustive. I encourage you to add to it. Individually and collectively, I feel there are so many beautiful and good things about to blossom for everyone. With that in mind, I want to tell you congratulations in advance. I am so grateful for your presence. I am looking forward to all the magical adventures we are going to have during this time.
What are you looking forward to embodying with ease? Share with me. I love hearing from you.
The selection
Ok, you know how I love to experiment, right? This is the reason why I will always reference Dexter’s Laboratory. So, “the selection” is a section of my newsletters that includes a variety of links to things I feel you would find interesting. Please feel free to check them out and share your thoughts with me. Enjoy.
5 ways to use and care for your crystal jewelry. Click here.
What good things happened in Africa in 2022? Read here.
Morocco’s identity as Arab, African, and Amazigh. Read here.
Woven Vibraneeum Earrings from Bandele Muse. Shop here.
I hope you enjoyed this post. This is actually a letter I shared within my Bandele Muse newsletter, where I share encouraging notes, fun gifts, interesting topics, and more. If you would like to join the Bandele Muse community, please sign up here. I would love to have you. Plus, you get 10% off your first purchase and a free affirmation pack created by me. Looking forward to seeing you there.
Style details from photos
I’m wearing: Bandele Muse earrings; Cuadra women’s cowboy boots; Dress made in Ghana
Crystals, also referred to as gemstones and semi-precious stones, are a great way to set and carry intentions within your life. With the variety of colors, shapes, and meanings, there is a crystal for everyone. With my business, Bandele Muse, I provide crystal gemstone jewelry. I selected gemstones for their healing properties and combined them for a wholesome and powerful experience for you.
Did you know there are different ways to use your crystal gemstone jewelry? In this video, I share with you the ways I use my crystal gemstone bracelets, how I take care of my crystal jewelry, and details on a few of the crystal gemstone bracelets I have available at Bandele Muse.
For more details on my experience with crystals and the different ways you can use them, check out my blog post at Bandele Muse.
Also, remember to join my newsletter for 10% off your first purchase.
Come with me to the Web3 Accra conference. Did you know Ghana is the hub for esports and gaming in Africa? Did you know the first NFT collection dedicated to tourism and cultural diversity showcases Ghanaian culture? Hello! In this video, I share my experience and reflections on the Web3 Accra conference and the questions and possibilities around the success of Web3 in Accra and Africa.
Regarding the projects I mentioned in the video, check out the RoyalsNFT and Ghana Esports.
What do you think about Web3 and its possible challenges and advantages? Let me know in the comments. Let’s continue the discussion.
The art exhibit featured in the above image is from Samuel Olayombo‘s exhibit “Unchained: The Cotton Candy Cowboys” in Accra. Everybody was taking photos here. The texture and expressions in his art are fabulous!
Now, let’s talk about country music and Africans.
Did you know Africans love country music? When I moved to Accra, I started noticing Country Music being played on the local radio plus in restaurants and some homes. I found this really fascinating. Sometimes asking in my head, “what do you know about country music?”
Oh. Silly me. Let me share a disclaimer with you. I have lived most of my life in Texas. Purro 956! H-town Going Down! Remember The Alamo! Don’t Mess With Texas! Howdy, that’s what I am familiar with. Thus, country music, in English and Spanish, has been around me for a while. Now, for those unfamiliar with Texas, let me share this: No, I do not drive a pick-up truck, live on a ranch, or have a country music playlist on my laptop. Yes, I own a pair of cowgirl boots, attended a few rodeos, and performed in a Charro Days dance celebration. There is a spectrum when it comes to the Texas experience. We do not all exist like the country music videos.
Ok, back to our main discussion.
Fast forward to a few months ago, I find myself teaching a country line dance at a kizomba dance social. Everyone enjoyed it and we might do more.
Then, like how all synchronicities work, I come across this Twitter thread on my feed. This documents the history of country music’s influence in Africa, ranging back to the 1970s. Turns out, this love for country music spans all of sub-Saharan Africa, inspiring African artists to produce similar music, country-themed parties, and unique African covers of classic country music songs. Isn’t that cool? Make sure to check out the thread below for more elaborate details.
Now, my next question is, could we host a rodeo in Ghana? Or another African country? What could that look like? Would people attend? Is there a demand for such an experience?
What do you think? Please share with me in the comments. If you are in Ghana ( or would come for this), would you be interested in an Afro-Rodeo? If you are familiar with rodeos (or are from the South in the USA), what experience or activity would you suggest is important to introduce the rodeo to beginners?
Dagny Zenovia 