Author: Dagny Zenovia

Being Healthy in Ghana at VegFest

When it comes to being healthy, what you choose to eat and put on your skin are just as important as anything else. Ghana has a variety of local ingredients that provide a wholesome lifestyle, including ground nut, shea butter, and African black soap. The question is, are we using all of them? I attended VegFest Ghana at the W. E. B. Du Bois Center in Accra to find out. The Vegetarian and Vegan community is growing in Ghana and it was nice to see so many healthy people in one place. In this video, I speak with some of the vendors and organizers, including Sheroes Foundation, Skin Gourmet, VegGhana, Earth Seed, and Wear Ghana, to get a sense of what this community offers and how it has evolved. Enjoy!

I really loved how much community was involved and represented at this event. Initially, I expected to stay for about an hour or so while walking around the vendors, possibly purchasing a few things, and be on my way. Instead, in addition to that, I sat down with a group of wonderful people to eat and chat.

Have you ever had a conversation with someone, or a group of people, where you did not notice time passing and you felt as if you solved all the problems of the world during that discussion? I feel that sort of experience can only happen with like-minded people. That doesn’t mean you agree with everything, but your priorities match. I had a lovely conversation at this event. We discussed how Ghana could incorporate more healthy methods in their daily life. For example, all food vendors, from restaurants to kiosks to sellers on the street, serve their meals in plastic or Styrofoam. All of that packaging ends up on the floor, which contributes to the unacceptable trash issue. What if we could use sustainable materials to serve food? Like cassava leaf. Or bags made out of bio-degradable material. Could that work?

This inspired me to think of more ideas. I have been vegetarian for 8 years now and leaned into vegan this past year. This choice really transformed my life, or, at least, it inspired me to continue to transform and evolve. I don’t insist everyone should follow this path, but adding more greens and colors in your meal through vegetables and fruit is a good thing for everyone. In Ghanaian traditional food and original Soul Food, most of the meals are focused on a variety of meat or fish with a starch. Unless you make an effort to have greens or a salad, you can go for days without eating any vegetables or fruit. How can we make healthy choices more of a habit in our lifestyle? If I give you a recipe for vegan kebabs, you might refuse it because it sounds foreign and lacks soul. If I give you a recipe for kebabs that promise you clear skin and a bouncy booty, will you try it immediately?

Distinguishing between the trendy version of being green, which has been hijacked by a certain portion of the population and capitalism, and the historical origins that show how Black people have been eating “green” for centuries is very important. In Ghana, we really should not be importing the majority of produce and food in general. I can feel quite full after eating bambara beans, spinach stew, jollof rice, fried plantains, grilled mixed vegetables, and bofrot. All of that is traditional food and is healthy. Maybe you can try Meatless Monday, where you choose to not eat meat on Monday. Maybe you can try to include mixed vegetables in your meal. The key is to adapt a lifestyle that makes you feel happy and comfortable.

Well, make sure you check out the video above for more details about the Vegan community in Ghana.

What else would you like to know about being vegetarian or vegan? Would you like to hear more about using food, to eat and on your skin or hair, to improve your life? Let me know in the comments.

Also, I always love hearing from you. Feel free to connect with me on Instagram or Twitter.

April 6, 2020
December in Ghana during the Year of Return

I think it is safe to say that everyone was in Ghana in December during the Year of Return. I attended a number of events during the holiday season, including Decemba2Rememba, Afrochella, The Black Gala, African Royalty Night, The Polo Beach Club, and Plantain Fest. In this video, I share my feedback on the events that stood out to me and give tips on how to leverage Beyond the Return.

So, let’s dive in deeper.

The CirqMixer is the first event I mention in the video. I was really excited about this event because it focused more on dialogue and connection. At the beginning of the event, they had a variety of icebreakers. First, they had a map of the world. We had to use three different color pins to show where we were born, where we studied or worked, and where we live now. Looking at the map, it was so cool to see how Africa’s diaspora almost represents every part of the world. The next icebreaker was bingo. We had to ask guests if they had certain skills or experiences to fill the bingo boxes. The type of traits listed included living abroad, speak 3 Ghanaian languages, drive in Ghana, etc. This activity lead to chatting with different people with interesting stories of what they are doing outside of vacationing in Ghana. The main activity was kind of like speed networking. Each guest had to choose three categories out of socializing, creativity, social impact, living in Ghana, and business in Ghana. There was a table for each category with a panel of individuals who spoke on the subject. We had 30 minutes at each table. Then everyone gathered in the middle space of the venue to discuss identity.

Like I said in the video, I really loved the concept of this event and hope they continue to expand with it. The biggest suggestion I would make is taking extra note on who to invite to be on panels or direct activities. I got the sense, in my experience and from other guests, that throughout the different directed conversations, guests did not really learn anything new. The conversations that started naturally during intermission as people mixed and mingled seemed more enjoyable.

Plantain Fest was delicious. I really enjoyed my food and the way the set up the event. In spite of the heat, they managed to create an enjoyable space. Make sure to watch the video above for more details and clips.

The Black Gala was nice and has a lot of potential. I loved the concept of having a high fashion event focused on Afrofuturism that also promotes local art. The venue was the Museum of Science and Technology. They set up a variety of photo booths as well as displayed artwork. They also had a silent disco with an awesome playlist by SoundHive. Seating include mini couches and stools to encourage mingling and moving around. Later they also hosted an art auction.

Like I said in the video, I was really looking forward to this event. I even got a dress made for the theme…because you know how much I love Afrofuturism. The main suggestion I would make is to put more effort on the activities and entertainment. Even though the decor was lovely and the displays were nice, I could walk through and admire them in less than 10 minutes. After that, what are your guests supposed to do? There was a bit of a wait until the event officially started. Guests really made an effort to dress up, and some left before the event started due to waiting too long. It was obvious guests wanted to have a reason to mingle more and interact. However, the music was too loud, acoustics were not pleasant, and there was no real ice breaker to get people moving. Also, the attempt to control the temperature in the museum was ineffective. This made it uncomfortable for guests who dressed up expecting to not sweat. There is also so much more that could have been done with the Afrofuturism theme. From entertainment, to artwork, to food, to activities. I do hope they host it again. It was one of the more elegant events for the December season.

Afrochella was the event everyone was talking about. My favorite part was standing in line and seeing all the celebration of blackness from all over the world. It was so colorful, fun, and empowering to see so many of us come together to support celebrating our culture. That was awesome. After getting in, I will admit I was disappointed. I’m not sure what I was expecting, but I felt like I had arrived when the first shift had closed and the second shift had yet to set up. The crowd around me seemed to have the same feeling. We waited for a while, first standing and later finding some seats, for the show to start. Finally, after seeing the MC’s and the back of Tina Knowles head, we left the stadium. So, I did not get to enjoy the concert.

I know a lot of effort was put into Afrochella and it really paid off. The main suggestion I would make is to have a real agenda and schedule for the event. Also, stick to the schedule. That stadium is not a place to hang out all day if there are no activities to keep you occupied outside of taking pictures. I am looking forward to more of the events they host outside of the main concert. I think I have come to prefer more intimate sized gatherings.

The Polo Beach Club for New Year’s Eve was the best event of the season. The decor was great, the mix was awesome, the customer service was on point, and the vibe was fabulous. It was the only event that really felt like a good party. The type where you can really dance. So, the day before the event I went to Labadi Beach Hotel to purchase a table. This is one thing I learned during the season of activities. Purchasing a regular ticket online for any event meant you get in, but won’t get a seat. Which is different from shows or events I am used to: regardless of your ticket type, you can enjoy the show.

Anyways, I met with the organizers who were setting up. They were very knowledgeable, polite, and helpful. I chose the location of my table and purchased it on the spot. They also had a proper website and social media presence illustrating all the information you needed. At the event, my table was ready, we had a dedicated server take our order, and one of the organizers checked on us periodically. They made you feel like you were really being taken care of. As if all you need to focus on is to have a good time. The guests were more of a mixture of Diasporans and Africans from outside of Ghana. They were all so generous of spirit. Dancing with strangers and hyping each other up while wishing each other a happy new year. It was really wholesome. I have not been to a party that fun in a long time. I was really impressed.

An African Royalty Night was beautiful. One of the more elegant events, it featured a round-table dinner and fabulous decor. The MC, Mawuli Gavor, did a nice job keeping the guests engaged. The DJ, Nana Kwabena, had the smoothest mix I heard in the entire December in Ghana holiday season. It was lovely. The main suggestion I would make is also to have a time schedule to stick to so that guests know what to expect.

Overall, I am really glad I took the time to experience December in Ghana during the Year of Return. The Diaspora really answered the call and showed up to celebrate. I really hope this increase in interest and exposure leads to even more benefits for Ghana and its Diaspora.

How did you spend your holiday season? Were you in Ghana? How did you spend your time? Let me know in the comments.

Also, remember to connect with me on Instagram and/or Twitter. I love hearing from you.

March 29, 2020
The Year 2020

Living in a time and space where all beings can co-exist wholesomely, peacefully, and equally seems to be a dream that drifts further and further. It is as if everything and everyone is burning. As a royal member of the Vibranium Seals, it is my duty to protect our peace. My peace. But, I can’t help but wonder how we could influence time to keep that peace.

I am a 1st generation moon child. A descendant of afropolitans, androids, and healers.. An intergalactic citizen. The only life I know about Earth is what I have swiped in textbooks. The space station I grew up in hovers above Africa, at least what is left of it. My childhood was beautiful and carefree. I traveled to different planets with my family, had friends from different galaxies, and always felt loved. Now, things have changed.

The United Planets has been hijacked by a robotic clan, but we think they are being supported by The Republic, a human society that has been in hiding for centuries. Their mission is to erase the history and legacy of all free spirits. Some say they are building a weapon. Rumor has it they murdered one or our royal elders. We are no longer safe.

I can’t tell you the details of our defensive strategy because…you know…secret agent stuff. My friends and I had planned a vacation at the Pluto Polo Club for next month. My company is launching our new collection of tech-suits next week. My fiance & I finally agreed on where to have our honeymoon. My parents are retired, but I know they are still searching for my twin brother. But, my mission is to travel to a time when the pedagogy of the oppressed was flipped on it’s head. The year when truth was revealed. The year when flames cleansed the Earth. The year when pure hearts overpowered cursed souls. The year when everyone lifted each other up for freedom. The year 2020.

Well, Happy New Year. Above is an excerpt from a project I am working on. A story that has been in my head for way too long. Trust, you will get to share in the adventure soon enough. Now, back to 2020. There really is a lot going on. Not only personally, but all over the world. It is exciting and concerning at the same time. As I reflect on life, time, and space, here are a few things I am focusing on.

Now is the time to show up for yourself. Speak up for yourself. Stand up for yourself. We are all going through an internal transformation. Habits and thoughts that served the old you, positively or negatively, will no longer fit the new you. Distinguishing between your heart’s true desires and expectations imposed by others will become crystal clear. I feel this year we are all coming to a point where we no longer have to question “when will,” or “how long,” or “only if.” Everything you deserve is right here. The question is, are you ready?

This year, I will no longer rationalize the incidents, people, and thoughts that do not serve me. All my life I had to fight…ok…not exactly. But, I have always made excuses for how people treat me or why things don’t turn out the way I thought it would. Concluding there must be something wrong with me and withdrawing further into my mind. It’s 2020. We done with that! I need to be loyal to me. I need to be the bigger person for me. It is time to find that balance. Allow yourself to shine without being concerned of others comfort or approval. Dive into the unknown trusting you are blessed and brilliant. Say yes to expanding your horizons. When it comes to people and circumstances, interact with your surroundings with love. If they are down to ride the train with you, cool. If they can’t keep up with your train, that’s cool too…keep it moving.

Listen to yourself. Where are you in life right now? There is a lot of focus on vision boards and goal action plans. Steps to succeed in finances, health, love, career, etc. That is all great. In addition to that, take a moment to reflect on how you want to feel in this new year and new decade. It can be one word or a paragraph. Then, reflect on what you need to release, heal, and/or forgive to experience that feeling. I have taken the time to release disappointment, heal pain, and forgive myself. The depth of love and gratitude I feel within in myself right now is deeper than I have ever experienced. Almost like I am a kid again, but with more clarity and insight. I think doing this makes your vision board and action plan more real. As you release, heal, and forgive, you gain more clarity on what your higher plan is. This brings you closer to aligning your goals and attention with your soul’s purpose.

This new year and new decade will be as magnificent as you make it. How are you setting the pace for this new chapter? Share with me below.

Style Details! This dress was custom designed by Ometsey. Check out her Instagram and my interview with her. I collaborated with her for The Black Gala , an event in Accra showcasing art and music. The theme was Afrofuturism, which is my true love.

As always, I love hearing from you. Share with me in the comments. Let’s connect on Instagram and Twitter.

January 11, 2020
Where In The World Is Dagny

It is finally time for me to come back to YouTube. I am so excited to be filming again and to share all my new content. So, first, where in the world I have been?

As of filming this clip, I have been living and working in Accra, Ghana for one whole year. Crazy, right? The growth I have experienced during this journey is really wonderful, which is why now is the perfect time to share my adventures and tips. Check out the video for my life updates, new content coming to my channel, and all that good stuff.

November 10, 2019
Why Does Technology Steal All My Time

In a world where immediate satisfaction is almost faster than the speed of light and privacy is a joke from a 1990s comedy, are our lives better with technology and social media? Or better yet, do you really think what you think? Or is it a product of what you are consuming?

Whenever another headline is published announcing a data leak, bulk password breach, or digital ownership rights, I always wonder if we are really using technology to the best of its ability. Don’t get me wrong, I am not about to advocate for banning smart phones and/or the internet. Rather, I want to discuss how we can use these powerful tools to further enhance our lives in a positive way.

Take for instance the film and book The Circle. I will admit I have only seen the movie, props to Tom Hanks and Emma Watson. That story is set in the not so distance future where your entire existence is attached to a cloud server for everyone to interact with. One of the messages the characters were debating was whether transparency is true democracy or just creepy. I feel that depends on what the information is being used for. Scrolling through someone’s feed cannot substitute active communication with the person when you are trying to get to know them. Neither is scrolling through meme’s and videos for hours at a time the most productive use of your time. So, how do we improve this?

Social media is a great tool to reach more people and ideas then you would without it. Take it as an introduction to the person or idea. As you consume information about people, events, culture, and news, take the time to develop what you think about what you are seeing. How do you feel after watching that clip? What do you already know about that topic? If you were having a discussion with that person or about that topic, what would you contribute? Make an effort to look beyond the sound bites and the viral comments.

Privacy and social media is also an interesting balance. The way things are going, it seems like we only have two choices: one, make every effort possible to remain off the grid by living in an underground laboratory, or, two, accept that every aspect of your life is accessible for entertainment and capitalism purposes. Not much of a balance, is it? I remember there was a time when my friends and I would freak out if we searched for our name on Google and there was one search result that showed some obscure web page from a newspaper or school post. Now, it is common for private information that the Yellow Pages never listed to be accessible with a click or small subscription. Is that a big deal? If we are not all members of a secret ninja society, should we care if this information is floating around? I still find it concerning.

What does this mean for networking and opportunities? Even if you do choose to make your social media accounts private or under alternative names, does the overload of private information help or hinder your prospects? Does it create more biases or openness? Ideally, it should give us space to be more inclusive. If you are building a team you want to be proud of, it could make sense to know what everyone’s opinions, struggles, passions, and dreams are to better understand how everyone will grow within what you are building. To better understand how to push it forward.

Ok, let’s get back to using social media as a positive tool. I love that Twitter now has a bookmark feature. It is better than messaging myself links to things I want to take the time to indulge in later. One of things I finally got a chance to see is Alex Wolf’s mini-documentary “Attention for Sale.” As she spoke about how advertising and technology continues to influence our attention span, rapid clips of various pop culture history flashed across the screen. I find it fascinating to take note of how social media continues to influence human and consumer behavior, which Alex did a wonderful job breaking down. If you have not seen it yet, you should definitely check it out. I love how she concluded with, “we are people of the heart living in a world made for the eyes.”

Do you notice how normal it has become to have everyone and everything pushing for your attention? How difficult it is to decipher between distractions? How naked and anxious you feel when you forget or lose your phone? This goes back to paying attention to how you feel. Maintain the autonomy of your opinions and emotions.

Now, time management. Why does it feel like we have less time in a day? That is because a lot of our time is unaccounted for. Can you honestly pinpoint what you did with your time in the hour before you started reading this post? What about this morning? What about yesterday between 2:15pm and 3:21pm? What about last week? When I hear people complain about time or ask for advice on how to better manage their time, I always respond asking them what is their relationship with time. Most would say they feel time slipping from them or imposing restraints on them.

When it comes to your relationship with time, I feel it is better to view it as something you flow with. As in, you are in control of what you choose to do. The timing of how things happen is what you need to trust. If you choose to use your time sitting instead of running, can you really say time is slipping from you? If everyone is supposed to focus on the speed of their race in their lane, what determines when you choose to sit and when you choose to sprint?

Among other things, technology can be part of it. Maybe you are comparing your chapter 3 to someone else’s chapter 34 on social media. Maybe binge watching certain shows encourages you to remain in your comfort zone. Maybe playing certain video games takes your mind off of boredom or loneliness. Maybe swiping through profiles tricks you into feeling you are making progress. Maybe participating in trolling debates convinces you that you think for yourself. How are you holding yourself accountable?

I feel the key is to stay grounded. Get clear on what you want to accomplish and where you want to go. Keep an open mind as you explore new perspectives and connect to new people. Direct your time. Feel free to use some of your time to rest, to sprint, to delegate, to give, to receive, and anything else you might need. Technology is not the enemy. It really should be the tool that pushes our evolution further and enhances our reality.

So, what is your relationship with technology and social media? How is it enhancing or hindering your time management and overall lifestyle? I would love to hear from you. Let me know in the comments.

Also, remember to connect with me on Instagram and Twitter. I would love to hear from you.

October 19, 2019
Connect the Dots between You and the Boss

To work for the boss or be the boss, that is the question. As the work environment continues to shift with the changes in demand, preference, and technology, measuring the value of your time, skills, and opportunity is updating as frequently as your favorite smart phone software. So, what should be your main priority? Connecting the dots. Let’s talk about it.

The notion that if you do not focus on building your dream, someone will hire you to build theirs is true, to an extent. You can learn how to leverage both transitions. When you are working for or with someone else, you can pick up a lot of skills, contacts, and indirect mentors while assisting their goal. Depending on your personality, this can be easy or daunting. The key is not to get lost. Always connect the dots between what you are doing now to where you want to be.

The timing in how long you need to connect the dots and when you feel you are where you want to be varies. Life does have a sense of humor and you will always be the focus of the joke. Maybe that perceived dead end is where the open door is located, if you just turned on the light. Just keep reminding yourself to stay active. But also release control. I will admit that I have the challenge of holding on to things for the sake of committing to finish it and letting go of things for the sake of avoiding rejection. Promise, I’m working on it.

As you maintain that focus, the dots become clearer to connect. If you can honestly say you have been doing the work…the real work…consistently, then there is no reason to doubt or be anxious about where you are right now. You are probably doing better than you realize.

Now, what about the future of the office space. Well, according to this Medium article co-working spaces, official and unofficial, are the future for office space. Apparently, by the year 2030, over half of the workforce will be freelance in some way. Can you believe that is almost only 10 years! What does this mean? Flexibility is key. I find this really fascinating because it encourages us to refocus how we measure our value. My work or contributions are not based on a desk. They are based on my brilliance. A project or job can transform into a career with multiple branches connecting multiple industries. This really pushes us to think outside of the box. The career you are building now possibly did not exist 10 years ago and might look very different 10 years from now. Embrace it.

I will admit that I learned all of this as I was experiencing it. With all the books I have read and advice I have listened to, I feel the main thing that has kept me showing up is having faith that what is for me will not pass me. Your attitude makes the difference. How are you navigating your career? Do you have any tips to add? Share with me in the comments. We can all learn from each other.

Also, remember to connect with me on Instagram and Twitter. I would love to hear from you.

July 10, 2019