50 Years of freedom, 50 years of independence – Ghana celebrates.

The year is 1919. The place is New York, Harlem, to be exact. Garvey rhetoric of freedom, self-sufficiency, and the black man’s great exodus back to the motherland resonate within the hearts and minds of the common ‘negro’. The plight of oppression and bare faced prejudiced cannot be tolerated forever….

The year is 2007 (March 6th). The place is Ghana, Kwahu Tafo (a small village, 3 hours north of Accra) to be precise. Hoards of men, woman and children take to the streets in celebration. Patriotism in all its sublime glory, seas of red, yellow and green, immerse this small close-knit farming community. Schoolchildren march in the street, singing freedom songs while waving Ghana flags high and proud above their heads, their smiles alone able to illuminate even the darkest of souls. The magnitude of this
occasion is significant for one reason – Ghana is 50 years free of rule today.

Avoiding altogether a historical overview of Ghana’s rise (wikipedia it if you must!)
Seeing and experiencing Ghana was akin to nothing I’ve ever done before. The spirit of the people, the richness and pride with which they revere their culture is one of the most beautiful and humbling things I’ve ever seen. People seemed happy; they glowed naturally, without the assistance of £50 facials or cheap tanning lotion – everything is kept authentic and in turn kept moving!

I’m not going to sugar coat it, there is poverty – not sign on, rock £100 kicks, enjoy Jeremy Kyle, the NHS - will - stitch - me - up - when - I - go - out - on - the - lash - on -Friday - night and - get – into with – some- geezers, get job when bothered – type poverty – I’m referring to real life poverty - Limited living quarters, not financially stable enough to pay your children’s school fees, or to buy the basic schooling amenities (maths kit, pen, pencil, ruler etc) too poor to pay hospital bills etc.

Despite the challenges, the children particularly, seemed more content with the little they have than most. The love life despite the glaringly obvious obstacles they face.

Wisdom in large amounts! It literally leaked from the pores of some of the elders we met in the village – there’s a parable and proverb for everything in the Ghana and that basic level of consciousness was both astonishing and refreshing to observe.

Economically competent, tourists flock to the gold coast in their many for a ‘taste of Africa’ One of the most enlightening places I’ve ever been to, Garvey would be more than proud.

Notting Who?! Gimme that sweet T&T anyday!

I retired from going to Notting Hill carny a few years ago. The mean mugging and gun finger skanks just became a bit over whelming. Yeah I know, the children are our future, teach them well and let them led the way...blah blah blah! (Crazy kids and their grime music!) Besides that, the routine of navigating my way through hoards of people to get to the rampage stage, only then for some genius to start a fight and cause everything to get locked off - began to bore me - I guess routine kills creativity....

Like most people I had heard countless times before that if I wanted to experience a real carnival I should really holla at the Brazilians and Trinidadians. Apparently they do carnival in a BIG way, unlike the half-heartedness of us Londoners with Notting Hill.

So as you can imagine, when the opportunity arose to 'holla at the trinidadians' quite literally and head out to Trinidad to capture the essence of one the worlds biggest and brightest street carnivals - naturally the kid didn't think twice.

In a nutshell, if you ever get a chance to go to Trinidad carnival go! It'll change the way you ever look at carnival again. I for one have never seen people who are so passionate about their music, food and culture as a whole - (all aspects which make Trini carnival what it is). Spanning over the course of 2 weeks (pre carnival - carnival - post carnival) there are parties every single night for 2 weeks straight - (note: sleep deprivation is the norm during those 2 weeks so make sure you've got that Pro Plus in full effect!) As drinking, in all its awe, vomit, regretful one nighters and GBH assault charges is king here in the UK, wine-ing is a religion over in Trindad during carnival. You could be Mr Bean, it won't matter, you'll get a piece of that sweet t&t hip rotation for sure!

Visually incredible to watch, with the array of colour and spirit, I now know what carnival is.
Carnival is Trinidad.

I guess that just leaves Brazil - know any brazilians.... anyone......