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  • Everything Makes Sense

    Everything Makes Sense

    With Accra ranking higher as one of the most expensive cities, everything makes sense.

    That is why in Accra the dirt roads are made of gold dust, when it rains the city floods with diamonds, the monopolist who provides electricity keeps the price on, but the power off, and the boys on the street who get so easily agitated when I don’t pay them after they spray dirty water on my windshield pretending to clean it… actually live in mansions.

    Everything makes sense. For a better life, some people in Accra take a private jet to visit colonizers to beg for “investments.” Some take economy class to visit colonizers to return with “expat salary status.” Others drown in Lampedusa to visit colonizers to work for “aid.”

    Come to find out, there are more nuances than meets the eye. In the same Accra, there is a new bowling alley/fun center. Cranes are in the sky & new buildings are coming up. Detty December propaganda has already begun.

    Can all of this happen in the same city? Will the movement outrun the chaos? Does the progress minimize the discrepancies? Find out next time on….kidding. This could be an entertaining show, right?

    But, what do I know? I’m just a woman thinking out loud. A dangerous combination. So, let me stay in my lane, be cute, and post a photo looking cute. That is why we are here, yes? To continue the fantasy projected on the hologram of me. Because what else can we do with this knowledge?

    P.S. I also wonder how interconnected we can be when multiple realities exist in this world. This past week, Ghana is grieving destructive floods, that happen at the same time every year in the same locations. This past week, Texas is grieving a mass shooting in a classroom, in a country where shootings spike every year in the same season. It is what it is. But it still does not need to be this way.

  • How Can A Sustainable Fashion Brand Succeed

    How Can A Sustainable Fashion Brand Succeed

    When you hear the word “sustainability,” what comes to mind? Do you roll your eyes? Or get really excited and interested? Sustainability in fashion and business continues to be a serious and trendy topic. I have found this topic becomes even more nuanced by comparing how the West is maneuvering it and how Africa lives within it. Let’s unpack that.

    In this video, I share my experience in finding a balance between innovation and tradition when it comes to sustainability in fashion and business.

    When it comes to innovation, there are a lot of initiatives, equipment, and materials that are being produced in the name of sustainability and eco-friendly. These are encouraging, but seem to still cater to hyper-consumerism and more stuff.

    When it comes to tradition, there are handmade craftsmanship and people-focused business methods that have long-established records and provide inspiration for broader sustainable goals. But, can the heavy reliance on people outrun the environmental damage and consumer demand?

    Make sure to check out the blog post over at bandelemuse.com where I elaborate further on this topic.

    What are your thoughts? Share with me so we can continue the conversation.

  • How I Heal My Fears

    How I Heal My Fears

    I know I’m not the only one who feels confused when I get scared or anxious for no immediate known reason. The interesting thing about that experience is not only its occurring but my response. Recently, I have noticed new opportunities to choose to respond differently. So, I want to share with you what I have learned so far.

    In this video, I share how I heal my fears. I discuss beliefs, mindsets, and self-talk.

    Like I said in the video, the biggest lesson I have learned so far in healing my fears is being compassionate with every part of myself. My triggers are not meant to be suppressed or dismissed, but rather nurtured and released. If you are like me, having a conference meeting with yourself can really help. Either by talking out loud or journaling…or both!

    I’m sharing my experience with you as a note of encouragement. Pay attention to how you talk to yourself. I feel our beliefs are a reflection of our reality. You have the power to reconfigure those beliefs as many times as you want, starting with how you talk to yourself.

    Have you experienced this before? How do you maneuver your fears? Share with me in the comments so we can continue the conversation.

  • What Is Afrofuturism and Africanfuturism?

    What Is Afrofuturism and Africanfuturism?

    Did you know there is now a distinction being made between Afrofuturism and Africanfuturism? As you may know, my business Bandele Muse is an inner-galactic African life and style experience. That means, among other things, futurism is a heavy inspiration and influence. Funnily enough, while reading more about this, I now recognize that Bandele Muse is a blend of both. Let’s unpack that.

    In this video, I discuss my experience with exploring Afrofuturism and Africanfuturism in books, film, and fashion.

    As I said in the video, I dive deeper into this topic at bandelemuse.com. Yes, Bandele Muse has a blog too. You can view the article here.

    What are your thoughts on this topic? Share with me in the comments. Let’s continue the conversation.

  • My First Time at PaGya! Literary Festival in Accra, Ghana

    My First Time at PaGya! Literary Festival in Accra, Ghana

    “If books are not talked about, they die.” If you are looking for Ghana’s intellectual, literary, and creative community, you need to check this out.

    In this video, I share with you my very first time at the Pa Gya! Literary Festival in Accra. Hosted and organized by Writers Project Ghana at the Goethe-Institute, this was a 3-day event featuring book readings, book launches, workshops, panel discussions, book sales, and performances. Here I share clips from the activities I attended and elaborate on the topics discussed. I really enjoyed this event and am looking forward to next year’s edition.

    Have you been to this festival? I ask you a few questions in the video. Share with me in the comments your thoughts.

  • Can I Manufacture Fashion In Ghana

    Can I Manufacture Fashion In Ghana

    The answer to that question is yes. The methods take longer to unpack. The commitment is real and worth it. The patience and discipline required are undeniable. I have spent the past 7 months on the ground exploring clothing, jewelry, and furniture production. Yes, the Made in Ghana adventure continues.

    Would you believe me if I told you that I have pushed my launch date for Bandele Muse products 3 times? Or that I caused a fight between a group of artisans? Or that I might expand my inventory options sooner than anticipated? In this post, I share all of those experiences.

    As I said in the video, timing continues to evolve. This commitment to made in Ghana and made in Africa manufacturing has a lot of moving parts that do not all move at the same pace or in the same direction.

    This experience and experiment have also enabled me to understand which of those moving parts can effectively be done in Africa and which of those parts are better done outside of Africa.

    Make sure to join my newsletter at Bandele Muse, where all the magic continues.

    Let me know your thoughts in the comments, so we can continue the conversation.