What do you get when you put a food scientist, an artisan tea manufacturer, and an innovative chef in the same room? A unique and memorable dining experience. I had the pleasure of attending the first Sip and Savor dinner experience hosted by Crescendo Foods in collaboration with Aguma Tea and Chef Britney. It was a 3-course meal tea pairing. Did you know you could pair tea with every course? Did you know you can cook with tea, too? Let’s indulge, shall we?
The event included a 3-course meal specially created by Chef Britney Andoh incorporating tea from Aguma Tea as a key ingredient. Here was the menu:
With each course, both Clarissa, from Aguma Tea, and Chef Britney joined us at the dining table to explain the inspiration and taste expectations for each course. I was the resident vegan guest and I enjoyed each of my courses. This was my first time at a tea pairing experience and I was pleasantly surprised at how each tea added an extra layer of flavor and personality with each drink and course ingredient. The Vegetable and Mushroom Dumplings in Lippie Tea Soup was spicy and delectable. The Jasmine Tea Rice and Mushroom Steak Bowl had a nice blend of sweet and savory, while still being flavorful and satisfying. The Chai Vegan Cheesecake was yummy. Like, I have no words because I need seconds…yummy.
As a kid, tea was something I was only given as an aid when I was feeling sick or as an aid to fall asleep. However, my mother and brother drink tea casually. My adult experience with tea has been varied, with a few memorably delicious experiences. Trying the variety of flavors Aguma Tea offers has inspired me to step up my tea game and be more intentional in cultivating a worthy tea collection.
The space at Crescendo Foods provides a great ambience for intimate and collaborative dining events. You feel as if you are visiting a good friend’s home, which also happens to feature a private chef, for this event, a co-cooking space, a co-working space, and office space. It’s colorful and cozy.
The Collaboration
I love seeing brands and people collaborate because it provides room to innovate and grow. This event was a collaboration between three brands.
Crescendo Foods is the first food coworking space and shared kitchen hub in Ghana and West Africa. Dr. Wanida Lewis, founder and CEO of Crescendo Foods is filling the gap in food incubators by providing not only events and workshops, but also specializing in recipe development and food safety. Read more about her story here.
The Aguma Tea Company specializes in African teas, flowers, infusions, and herbals. They source their products and packaging from different African countries. Learn more about Clarissa and Aguma Tea here.
Chef Britney Andoh is one of the lead chef’s at NsuomNam Restaurant in Accra. Her dishes are known to be a fusion of traditional African ingredients and modern cooking techniques. She graduated from the Cesar Ritz Colleges in Switzerland with a Bachelor’s Degree in Culinary Arts and Business Management.
Cheers To Pioneers
Sitting at the dining table with the other guests encouraged a variety of interesting conversations. The group of guests were a mixture of Ghanaian, 1st generation diasporan, and diasporan. Naturally, we had to talk about the thought process behind choosing to move, work, or invest in Ghana and Africa. It was lovely to hear and hold space for the different perspectives.
I feel this event is part of the answer to that never ending conversation topic. Part of the thought process is about feeling called to be a pioneer. Each of these ladies are bringing innovation, expertise, and passion to their industries. Filling a gap and contributing to community. The question should not be “why do this in Ghana or Africa when (insert endless list of problems and excuses)?” Instead, it should be “how can I support or connect this to reach who needs this?” Food for thought.
Overall, I enjoyed my time at the first Sip and Savor dining experience at Crescendo Foods in Accra. The collaboration with the Aguma Tea Company and Chef Britney Andoh was informative, delicious, and pleasant. Make sure to check out the other events each of these brands have coming up. It’s worth it. You will enjoy it.
Have you been to a tea pairing dining experience before? Are you into food incubators? Are you are tea enthusiast? Let me know in the comments. I love hearing from you.
As you may know, social dancing continues to be a gift that keeps on giving in my life. From the community to the music to the different dance styles, there is so much to learn and grow with, if you are open to it. I had the pleasure of attending Kizinfinity‘s Night With The Kiz Stars, #NWK23, in Accra. They planned to provide back-to-back enjoyment, and they did not disappoint. The festival included tours to the Central Region, Eastern Region, and Greater Accra, plus dance workshops and parties focused on Kizomba. Here, I would like to share with you a mini-recap of parts of the program I attended, what stood out to me, and why you need to come and support the next one. Let’s indulge, shall we?
The Program
I only attended the dance workshops and parties.
To begin, the opening party was at Soho at Marina Mall. The DJs provided a nice mix of traditional Kizomba, Salsa, Bachata, Urban Kiz, and Afrobeat fusion. The guests were giving what they needed to give.
Next, the workshops, parties, and performances at Wiggles Bar in the Trasacco area. This covered two days.
The workshops were enjoyable and provided a nice variety of style and fun. Each session went pretty fast. I really appreciated that the instructors included some tips for technique within their choreography routine. I also liked the tips on mindset that some of the instructors shared: set your intention to come to dance with your enjoyment as a priority + share your smile and fun with others.
I really appreciate how Kizinfinity dedicated time and effort to organize this program. Communication is one of the most important factors that can make or break an event. NWK23 had a separate Whatsapp group for all guests to be notified of announcements, ask questions, and share event related content. Leading up to the event, Kizinfinity shared (1) a calendar schedule with activity, location, and attire information, (2) short form videos for details on the location, what to explore in and around Accra, and attire inspiration, (3) and an IG live to answer questions, introduce special guests, and reiterate the activity schedule. During the event, Kizinfinity shared in the Whatsapp group welcome messages to guests traveling to Accra, branded text images as reminders for what to expect on each day, and announcements for schedule changes. While on Instagram, they shared branded professional video recaps for each day. At the end of the program, heart-felt “thank you” and “goodbye” messages were shared all around in the Whatsapp group.
The branded media was also on point. There was one official photographer, Kidjo Photography, and one official videographer, EriCarL Appa, covering this event. That is a big deal for one person each. First, timeliness. They both delivered edited media in a very short amount of time, considering how much photos and footage they must have taken. Second, they both did a great job in showcasing the program authentically. I know I am not the only person who sometimes might give a discreet boombastic side-eye to event photos and videos that seem to only show certain angles and cuts to make the event look bigger or better than it actually was. The photos and videos above genuinely represent the size, fun, and hype that this program had. You can see more of the photos on their Facebook page.
The Kizinfinity team also did justice to the level of hospitality Ghanaians pride themselves for. At any given moment during the program, they were checking in with and showing up for their guests in person and online to make sure everyone was comfortable and having fun. As a guest, you came not feeling as if you were attending an event alone, but instead, feeling as if you were a star among a family of wholesome stars.
A few activities inspired me to envision a remix for that activity. Are you open to hear my insight? Are you sure? It’s not by force.
Ok. This is only an imaginative suggestion. Take what resonates with you and, if you choose to, implement it in the way that feels aligned for you. Here we go…
We had one activity where we were taught a dance to do with a traditional African drum. It was fun and an intense workout for some, me included. This got me thinking. I understand the sentiment to incorporate something to showcase traditional culture, especially for the guests who traveled to Accra for the event. Since the majority of the guests are African, could we take more creative license with the traditional African drum? Ok, hear me out. Imagine this. We have the drum / dance instructor with 10 additional different drums. Everyone who wants to participate gets a chance to play one of the drums. The activity begins with learning the significance behind each type of drum and certain rhythms. Then we are taught a 2 or 3 part rhythm to play together. Simple enough to get the hang of it quickly, but a little complex to be interesting. Those who are not drumming are given the challenge to dance Kizomba (or some variation of it) to the rhythm the new drummers were taught. We go maybe 2 or 3 rounds so the new drummers also get a chance to dance, if they want to.
Do you see how beautiful such an experience could be? Looking at the types of people who attended this program, by all means some will add there own singing or special effects to the rhythm. In this way, you are able to incorporate traditional culture with the theme of the program plus provide an opportunity for creative collaboration, which would seamlessly flow into the next workshop dance activity.
It’s an idea. Flow with it. I’m sure you can add more to make it work better for you.
Things We Can All Take Note Of For Social Dances / Festivals / Fiestas
Venue
For social dances in general in Accra, I have observed how finding and convincing a venue to participate can be tricky. Most of the time, the venue is a restaurant / bar that has agreed for the social dance to occur on a day they either have low traffic or have customers that will see the social dance as free entertainment. As the social dance community in Accra continues to grow and evolve, I hope and trust more quality venues in Accra continue to recognize its value and continue to enhance the experience. That way, there can be more venues that provide the right floor for dancing, temperature control or relief, comfortable seating, appropriate music equipment, and genuine interest in the dance community.
Timing
There is a fascinating need to balance the intricate dynamic between CP time (Colored People Time), GMT (Ghana Man Time), and scheduled time. During this program, the organizers, instructors, and DJ’s were ready at the time they were scheduled. The opening party was scheduled for 8pm on a Wednesday. At 8pm on that Wednesday, the music was playing and the floor was ready. The workshops were scheduled to start at 4pm on Friday and Saturday. At 4pm on Friday and Saturday, the music was playing and the instructors were ready. However, the guests were not all ready. This was not as much of a glitch for the parties, but this did cause a change in schedule for the workshops.
I understand that some guests come to these festivals only for the dance parties, which is fine. However, for the ones who sign up for the workshops, we can do better. On the organizer side, it might be beneficial to have more of a gap of time between the workshops and parties, but again, that is dependent on guest attendance. Would it make a difference if program tickets were divided for parties only and workshop + parties to get a better sense of who will attend the workshops? How can we entice guests to show up closer to the start time? On the guest side, if a program has already demonstrated they are punctual, why keep them waiting for you? Would a different time schedule work better for you?
I feel we can create a win-win situation for all sides. It will get there eventually.
Etiquette
Kindness and boundaries are important and should be respected. This is something that came up during this program (and has come up a number of times in social dancing in Accra in general), so it stood out to me. This is not to generalize or indict anyone, but I feel as a community, being more open in communicating how we are making an effort to ensure this is a safe community for everyone is beneficial for all of us.
Kizomba is a fun dance. There are variations of it that can make the dance more intimate, which requires balancing each dance partners comfort zones. Up to this point, I have primarily danced as a “follow.” The main glitch I have experienced and witnessed is a mismatch in understanding and a mismatch in accommodating or correcting when a boundary or request is articulated.
This is not to single out one particular gender or one side of the dance. “Follows” are also capable of overstepping boundaries or being a mismatch. Sometimes, a “lead” does not know there is an issue because a “follow” did not articulate it or speak up. For all of us who are supportive of this community and genuinely are not here to cause harm, I feel we can create a win-win situation. We can all continue to hold space for each other to learn and evolve our comfort zones, articulate our boundaries, look out for each other, and accommodate different requests and styles without feeling concerned about being judged or ostracized.
What To Expect At Night With The Kiz Stars, NWK
If it is not already obvious, you can expect back-to-back enjoyment at Kizinfinity’s Night With The Kiz Stars. A diverse community who share a common passion for dance and fun. A program that is organized, intentional, and understands the assignment. An experience in Accra that is different from your typical night life or tourist attraction. Memories that you will cherish forever. An opportunity to “show dem.”
Thank you to the Kizinfinity team and the dance community. I am looking forward to the next one.
Let’s go outside! Did you know the Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park and Mausoleum is now re-opened to the public? Would you like to know what to expect? I had the pleasure of visiting the newly renovated Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park and Mausoleum on a beautiful and sunny Saturday afternoon. I also picked up a few observations and thoughts I wanted to share with you. Let’s indulge, shall we?
First, logistics. As of the time of posting this, the ticket prices are as follows:
Regarding the renovations, I feel they did a beautiful job in enhancing and redefining the space. The moment you walk through the entrance gate, you meet a large Welcome sign and a profile illustration of Kwame Nkrumah. You feel as if you are being transported into a full dedicated experience. Uplifting music is playing nearby. On the day that I went, people of all ages were enjoying their time as they took photos and explored.
Yes, the sky was actually this blue and beautiful on a Saturday afternoon in July. Lucky me.
The reception hall is decorated with a pleasant blend of minimalistic clean lines and Ghanaian colorful culture. The high ceiling and large windows make it feel spacious and refreshing. Depending on when you go, there might be a bit of a line to purchase your ticket.
The architect behind the new design, who is Ghanaian, was able to enhance the park with a signature millennial aesthetic by creating multiple spaces that cater to ambiance, easy photos and videos, and history in a relaxed and pleasant vibe. The fountain sings a different upbeat song every hour. The garden is lush and green. All the architecture doubles up as the perfect backdrop. It is giving what it needs to give.
Now, for the museum. This is where I feel there is room to do a lot more.
There are two parts to the museum. Upstairs, you walk through a hall. The floors, walls, and ceiling are black with quotes from Kwame Nkrumah written in gold font. As you are walking, you hear in the distance Kwame Nkrumah’s voice as he speaks announcing Ghana’s independence. At the top, there is a screen looping the video of that speech. Downstairs, you walk through a room to view key points of Kwame Nkrumah’s life. This room includes photos and artifacts.
This is where I feel a lot more can be added. For me, walking through this room felt as if I was reading facts from a Wikipedia page or encyclopedia. They were all factual, but they did not include any context. For example, on one side of the room, there are images of Ghanaians celebrating Kwame Nkrumah as president. On the other side of the room, there are images of Ghanaians celebrating tearing down Kwame Nkrumah’s statue. There is nothing in the middle to explain these two extreme positions. As another example, there is long blocks of text listing all the factories, schools, hospitals, industries, and initiatives Kwame Nkrumah developed and established. Again, no context on what that did for Ghana.
Are you open to hear my feedback on what would help with this? Are you sure? Ok.
I feel details on what Kwame Nkrumah’s writings were about are important to showcase in the museum to better illustrate what his definition and thoughts were on Pan-Africanism, Ghana, freedom, etc. The gap between independence and coup d’état should include details of the CIA’s involvement, the Ghanaians who participated in it, and the historical use of the illusion of democracy vs communism propaganda. The image of the “big 6” should include details on who among them were involved in the overthrow of Kwame Nkrumah and how since that day Ghana’s presidency continues to only involve the families of the “big 6” with a few breaks in between due to military coups. It would be cool to have an infographic depicting every industry and initiative Kwame Nkrumah established illustrating when it was opened, how it impacted Ghana, when it was closed or destroyed, and who was responsible for shutting it down.
I feel the library, which at the moment of this post is an empty room and will most likely be completed later, should have copies of Kwame Nkrumah’s books available to read physically and on screens.
Ok, ok. I hear you. This might be too much pepper. But I believe we can handle it. We deserve it.
To be transparent with you, I did not go to school in Ghana. I see what Ghana represents inside and outside of Ghana. Outside, Ghana is a beacon of hope for Pan-Africanism, freedom, and liberation. Outside, Ghanaians are respected for their work ethic, culture, achievements, and hospitality. Outside, Kwame Nkrumah is a legend. Inside, Ghana is hard paa…depending on which bubble you exist in. Inside, Ghanaians are divided, distracted, enjoying, and progressing. Inside, Kwame Nkrumah is a list of dates, depending on whether your family supported him or not.
None of these things are good or bad. It is what it is. Please understand that I am not trying to instigate insults or belittle anyone’s experience. But, do you see why it is so important to make Kwame Nkrumah’s full story be accessible to all? Yes, this park is a tourist attraction. So, it is an opportunity to set the record straight. I’m sure this will not interrupt US-Ghana relations. But also, this park is one of the few places in Accra to learn an aspect of Ghana’s history. Ghanaian students should be going on field trips to visit this park. Does Ghana’s school system teach the full story? These students should be able to come to the park and learn how strategic one needs to be to make a difference for their people. Or do we still want to make sure no one can pick up from where Kwame Nkrumah left off?
I understand, everyone is tired. But, your children are not. They will grow up and hopefully say no to the enemy of progress one day. Why not give them the tools to develop that confidence now?
Again, this is an intellectual and social conversation, respectfully. I am keen to hear different perspectives on what this could look like. What are your thoughts? Share with me in the comments. I love hearing from you.
Also, make sure to visit this park. It is definitely worth the visit.
I’m in Benin! Bonjour! This was my first time and I have a fun adventure to share with you. I attended the West African Kizomba Festival, featuring dance workshops by instructors/ dancers from across West Africa, and dance parties. Also explored the cities Ouidah, Ganvie, and Cotonou, featuring slavery history, the biggest city on water in Africa, the Graffiti Wall, and sites/ information that were the direct inspiration for the movie The Woman King.
If you know me, you know I have wanted to explore the world, including more of Africa. But, in particular, explore beyond tourism and incorporate more community and fun. I’m so grateful I got the chance to experience this in Benin. This is also my first time sharing with you one of my hobbies: social dancing. I started learning Kizomba and Salsa in Accra around September/ October 2021. Dance has always been a love of mine since I was a kid doing ballet, tap, jazz, folkloric, drill team, and Hip Hop. I had always wanted to learn ballroom dancing, but never had the chance. So, a number of my inner children and inner teens have been very happy with me being consistent with social dancing. Not only for the dancing but also for the community and the new fun experiences that come with it.
ENG: For my French speakers, please turn on the captions for the video and select settings to translate to French. I made sure to include subtitles to make this video more accessible to you. (All my videos include subtitles like this, if you feel inspired to explore the other content)
FR: Pour mes francophones, veuillez activer les sous-titres de la vidéo et sélectionner les paramètres à traduire en français. Je me suis assuré d’inclure des sous-titres pour rendre cette vidéo plus accessible pour vous. (Toutes mes vidéos incluent des sous-titres comme celui-ci, si vous vous sentez inspiré pour explorer l’autre content)
As always, share with me in the comments so we can continue the conversation.
Arriving in Cotonou
As I mentioned in the video, I stayed at the Golden Tulip Diplomate in Cotonou. This hotel was very nice. Great location, good customer service, and a comfortable room.
Exploring Ouidah
Our first-day tour was in Ouidah. We visited different monuments paying tribute to the slave history that exists here.
Next, we visited the Door Of No Return.
We then visited a Python Temple to learn more about the voodoo religion and culture.
Finally, we visited a wet area village known for fish to have lunch and take a clay bath.
Exploring Ganvie
Our second-day tour was in Ganvie. This is the largest lake village in Africa. We spent the whole day here floating through Ganvie, had lunch, and did water bikes.
The West African Kizomba Festival
The main reason I came to Benin was to attend the West African Kizomba Festival. The full program includes two days of tourism and three days of dance workshops, socials, and parties. This was the 8th year they hosted this program. Harold is the founder of the festival and the OG for Kizomba in Benin. He started dancing Kizomba in 2011. Basically, everyone who knows how to dance Kizomba in Benin was probably taught by Harold. He was a wonderful host. He is pictured below picking me up at the airport.
I took more videos than photos of the festival to be able to share more of the ambiance and experience. Big thank you to Real Ability for taking these photos below at the workshops and socials.
Exploring Cotonou
After the festival, we did a little more exploring on our own.
The Amazon statue pays tribute to the Amazon warriors of the Dahomey tribe. This is the original Woman King.
We went to the Graffiti Wall twice. The first time was early in the afternoon when we discovered it was way too hot to see the whole thing. We still got some epic photos. What do you think? Later we continued to explore the city. Big thank you to Mubarak for taking photos of and with me.
Of course, I am wearing Bandele Muse earrings in these photos.
We returned to Ouidah to add more to our exploration. Starting with the Zinsou Museum.
While still in Ouidah, we visited the Sacred Forest.
Back in Cotonou, we ate at this lovely restaurant.
The second time we went to the Graffiti Wall was in the evening. Now we were able to take our time and indulge.
Dancing In Accra
As I said in the video, if you are interested in joining the social dance scene in Accra with Kizomba, check out Kizinfinity and Kizomba Queens.
As I mentioned above, this is my first time sharing with you one of my recent hobbies: social dancing. I learned Kizomba and Salsa in Accra.
It’s funny how reality evolves when you contribute to the internet. People connect with you during different phases of your journey, but may never experience the full masterpiece puzzle that is you.
For some on here, you know me as the ultimate magical entertainer. For others on here, you would be shocked to discover I can moonwalk circles around you literally & figuratively. Maybe this is a great time to recognize how nuanced and complex we (definitely me) truly are. It would help to remove the box and timeline you need people to fit in.
Anyways, social dancing is different from my other dance experience. It’s more of an energetic teleport conversation instead of solo or group formations. It can be a beautiful and fun experience, depending on your partner and venue. It’s a nice way to practice coordination, vulnerability, and balancing physically & emotionally.
It’s fascinating to witness reactions to social dancing in Accra. Some see it as something only expats do because they only hear about Afrikiko( I don’t dance there much. So don’t come for me unless I call you 🙃). Some share in the excitement because they, too, love it and want to learn more. Some see it as evidence to label you as indecent and easy prey. Again, this is a great time to remind you….do you boo. People will think whatever they want to think regardless.
We need a proper ballroom. A space where you can dress up to go dancing. Mingle with like-minded community. Be consistent and reliable with music, refreshments, schedules, respect, dance floor, and temperature control. I have the design ideas when you are ready to build it.
Do you do social dancing? What’s your favorite genre?
Thank you for supporting me and my blog.
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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.
“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.
Dagny Zenovia 