My My My!! What can I say! This trip has been one for the books!! As I have said many times before, I am truly thankful and blessed that I have been able to venture into another beautiful country in Africa. Senegal you made me feel at home! Nothing like discovering what the world has to offer! Senegal has just added to the wonders of amazement that I have when it comes to traveling. I have become even more informed by the history, the culture, and the people.
In deep conversation with a fellow traveler
In many ways, it was a full circle moment coming to Senegal as I remember in my MA program in Africana Studies at Georgia State University, my Proseminar professor Dr. Dunham introduced us to such greats as Cheikh Anta Diop and Léopold Sédar Senghor and then I got a chance to walk where they walked. With each African country that I visit it is as though I’m adding another piece to the puzzle. Just making one visit would dispel so many myths. Cause let me tell you, while there is a gradual rise in Black/African Americans coming to the continent, trust other folks (especially Europeans) are coming in droves. So why can’t we enjoy the splendors of the continent?! Now I do not have an exact answer as to why so many come, but part of me feels like it is to fulfill some illusion of who Africans are in society.
Senegal offers another African perspective that I feel gets overshadowed by more popular and modern countries like Ghana, Nigeria, Egypt, and South African, but there is plenty to showcase…Everything from:
The significance of the Baobab tree
To the importance of Goree Island
To growing communities like Akon City
The animal reserves and the need for preservation
How the Senegalese navigate traffic (lol)
The fact that if there is money to be made it does not matter how late in the night it could, folks will put in the work
That yummy Senegalese coffee and Bissap juice
I even got to practice my French!!
And the food, LORD HAVE MERCY…Having fresh seafood, fruits and veggies on a daily and bread that doesn’t make you feel heavy…It make sense why their skin is flawless and they barely look their age.
While yes there is a deep-seated history rooted in slavery, we still manage to come out on top! We do not have rest in the trauma and tragedy, there is light and it is shining bright!
I also appreciate how many of the locals, guides, and friends are not only welcoming but in some cases protective. It was as if I had never met a stranger. This first week has been such an inspiring time and I know our time in Ghana will just continue to build on that foundation. Even now just being able to reflect on my thoughts with the birds chirping in the background and a nice cool breeze, I’m definitely in my happy place with my people!
Confirming Moment: While taking in the day at a game reserve about 40 mins outside of Gambia, I got a chance to talk with an ornithologist and share my love for travel, especially within Africa. During our conversation, he asked me what I did and what brought me here. To which I replied I am a university professor and I love coming home. He then answered, “yes you are African…and your willingness, love, and excitement to visit proves just that without question.” Another definining moment to add to the bank! I needed to hear that when I did!!
Halfway through the first part of the journey!!
Week 1 is done and my cup runneth over! Thank you, Senegal my mind, body, and spirit are full.
The next post you see will be the second half of my #WestAfricanJourneyTravels in Ghana!! As always I look forward to sharing with you!
This was a much-needed day to rest and recoup, considering what we experienced the previous day. My mind, body, and spirit needed to recalibrate and not have to worry about anything for that day! For this day I took time to laugh with friends, sleep a few hours, hang out poolside at the resort, and contemplate the journey so far.
I will say this again, I am truly grateful and blessed to be able to have this opportunity to travel. Sometimes just escaping to somewhere far away is good for the soul.
Not too much to share for today, but as you can see below it was a good day!!
Dr. G on a rest day enjoying a “Bob Marley”
Just a few days left in Senegal!! See you all soon!! ~Dr. G
So on today’s agenda, we did an excursion trip to the Bandia Reserve (which is Senegal’s first private animal reserve) for a safari trip. And let me first start out by saying I really appreciate all of the different types of safari’s that I have done because each one provides a new experience. Oftentimes when one does a safari you are in the natural environment of the animals (basically their turf), so they are nearly as accessible. This is partly because it is survival of the fittest. This one in particular provided a chance to see many of the animals up-close and personal.
Our reserve guide Malat was definitely on point!! He had all the facts down to a tee!! And he even had a few tricks on how to find where the animals were throughout the reserve. I noticed throughout the drive he would always look at the ground. Come to find out instead of using a walkie-talkie or cell phone, he went old school and tracked them by their footprints.
Dr. G with our Reserve Guide Malat
Now here is what you’ve been waiting on for this post…A few of the animals, we got to see we either had a chance to have a heart to heart or a very close encounter, check it below:
Now these rhinoceros are what I like to think of as gentle giants until you mess with their food. For the most part, they mind their business, however, we would witness one literally scare off some antelope during its feeding time. The one monkey next to him somehow managed to stick around probably because he was less of a threat with its food.
Feeding time for the rhino
Let me tell you these monkeys have NO FEAR and will snatch your food in a heartbeat!! One snatched a slice of pizza and another a sugar sweetener packet!
Dr. G having a brief conversation with one of the monkeys on the reserve.
Now who all remembers Zazu from The Lion King? Well, we got to see him and let’s just say the movie did a great interpretation!
“Zazu” also known as a Red-billed Hornbill
We also got to see zebra, various antelope, crocodiles, ostrich, impalas, warthogs, and giraffes, and more…
In addition to the animals, I would learn a great deal about the Baobab tree. Let me just say…WOW… these trees are some resilient forces of nature!! They are considered a central symbol of Senegal and some of them can hold as much as 10,000 liters of water during the rainy season. These fascinating creatures of nature can live up to 1500-2000 years old. Their roots are very shallow and even when they split or somehow break, they still manage to grow even if it is sideways.
The above tree is a significant one as there have been over 600+ griots buried within this tree. Now you are probably asking what do you mean buried? It’s an extraordinary feeling to know that you are amongst a collective of storytellers who played a role in preserving the culture. Griots played a significant role in oral history making sure the stories are passed down through generations. They served as a vessel of resistance for those who were against certain religions and cultural traditions, and a way to push back against French colonization. If there was a problem in the community, the griots would facilitate some type of resolution and restore order. As a repository of knowledge it was only right that they would be buried inside a baobab [also known as the tree of life], that their history would live on just like the baobab tree.
The literal lived realities and collective journeys of ancestors can be found here. And you will see me repeat this alot, it is essential that all voices are heard, acknowledged, and recognized, especially those of the African diaspora. Far too long land and culture is stolen or erased. Thus, stories tied to the land become important. Our guide Malat would share with us that if a griot was buried under ground, there would be no rain. Sharing that in the 1960s, soon after Senegalese independence, the government imposed egalitarianism, this resulted in banning spiritual practices of burial, which forced Serer people to bury the griots underground. It is said that in the same year there was a drought. While I do not have complete/exact information on this, one can find a history of droughts causing major famines in the region throughout the 1960s.
Dr. G paying respects to the ancestors who have transitioned back to the roots.
Now you know I gotta drop some interesting facts for you:
While the official language of Senegal is French (due to French colonization) the most widely spoken language is Wolof. [All those years of French in K-12 and college paid off some :-)]
There are only 3 white rhinoceros in the entire country of Senegal and two of them (male and female) are housed in the Bandia Reserve (see above).
The Baobab tree not only can live practically numerous lifetimes, but also as sources of food, water, and health remedies. The roots and the fruits are edible, the leaves can be eaten as a relish, cooked in a sauce, dried and powdered, and can even be good for women and their lady parts.
The Bandia Reserve was established in 1987 and was 400 ha (hectares) [equivalent to 989 acres] and now it has grown to 3500 ha [approximately 8,649 acres]
Riding on some of the roads, I felt like I was back in Georgia looking at all the red clay dirt (see some of the above pics)…and once again it made sense why white colonizers took Africans to familiar environmental/ecological settings…While enslaved folks did not realize that was what was happening the traders definitely did!!
As the excursion came to a close there were a few things that I did find very interesting…
No one really uses GPS it’s as if everyone just knows where to go and how to get there
No stoplights, stop signs, or street signs…As a visual learner and driver, I could probably manage to a degree once I learn the places, but the initial learning would be the tricky part. Talk about Jesus take the wheel! Can you imagine just pulling out onto the road, merging in however you can fit in? I would be a nervous wreck, but I guess if I were living there I would probably become a very aggressive driver.
There is a certain level of kindness that I saw in some of the people we encountered on today, just very chill , relax, and calm. Much like in Tanzania, the people here in Senegal embody a “Hakuna Matata” spirit.
This trip so far has further confirmed that I need to invest in some property abroad, quick and fast!! And what better place than in Africa!
As I close out for the day just wanted to share this joyful moment when some of the folks on the trip got a chance to purchase these AMAZING looking mangoes. And you would not believe the price… depending on the weight one could purchase 3 mangoes for what would be the equivalent of $1.60. Let’s just we would not even come close to getting that in the U.S. Gotta love supporting the local vendors. And don’t worry, I will check in with them and let you know how they taste.
Local street vendor selling mangoes
Oh and speaking of money here is some of the currency that you would find in Senegal:
Just a little bit of the West African CFA franc ($1.00 is equal to roughly 610 CFAs)
While the value may not be the same as the American dollar, the aesthetic (particularly African currency) is so much more appealing!!
Day 4’s post is going to be a heavy one, as we will be traveling to Goree Island which from the 15th to the 19th century was the largest slave-trading center on the African coast. It’s going to be a day that I will definitely have to further process and it will probably stick with me throughout the trip. But like Maya Angelou once said, “And Still I Rise!”
Can I just say I am soooooo excited!! You ask me why?! Well in a couple of days I will be headed back to Mama Africa for a journey back home as I like to think of it!! Folks that know me, know that I LOVE to travel and that a few years before the pandemic I made a promise to myself that at least once a year I make one international!! Well on this trip alone, I will be visiting THREE countries…Portugal, Senegal, and Ghana!! Talk about collecting the stamps for the passport!!
As you know I love chronicling my travel journeys in many ways it is therapeutic and it allows me to keep a record of all the sights that I have visited over the years! And this is a special trip!! I always feel like I have this connection back to the continent that just makes me feel at peace!
So over the next couple of weeks, you can follow along with me as I chronicle my time in West Africa!! Stay tuned for a few mini-history lessons, powerful imagery, amazing food, and sooo much more!
I cannot wait to share this experience with you all!! And to get you in spirit check out the track below from Akon titled, “Mama Africa”!
Make sure to stay tuned each day for a daily dose of Dr. G’s #WestAfricanJourneyTravels !!
Let’s jump right into it this week, 2024 Times 100 list honoree and Golden Globe winning actress Taraji P. Henson just dropped her debut children’s book. Her book, “You Can Be A Good Friend (No Matter What!) was released on June 18th and tells a story that “shows kids the great things that can happen when we approach others and ourselves with empathy, patience, and love.” It’s the perfect story for classroom story time, bedtime reading, easing those back-to-school jitters, promoting friendship over bullying, and embracing the importance of standing in one’s own uniqueness. You can find her latest book anywhere books are sold
Need a refresher on Season 1 of the Onyx Collective/Hulu legal drama Reasonable Doubt ? Check out this 1-minute breakdown featuring the show’s lead, Emayatzy Corinealdi:
Season 2 premieres on Hulu on August 22, with episodes dropping every Thursday. And while you wait you can stream the first season now.
Looking for a new wine to jumpstart your summer?? As we celebrated another Juneteenth on last week, Mother New York (of Mother Design) launched Auntie Whine, a limited-edition wine that honors all the aunties and their signature dance moves. “Named for how aunties whine their hips at family gatherings, this wine captures the essence of these joyful moments.” It’s the perfect blend of cocoa butter notes and a smooth, silk bonnet-like mouthfeel just right for your next BBQ! In addition to the wine it comes with a sweet, soulful Spotify playlist of songs!!
In some more good TV news, STARZ is dropping the “Down in the Valley” premiere a WEEK early!! Aww shucks, you know who is a happy camper…that would be ME!! It is set to drop on this Friday June 28th at midnight/ET on STARZ. Hosted and executive produced by Nicco Annan, who is best known as Uncle Clifford in STARZ’s critically acclaimed tv show “P-Valley,” the six-episode half-hour docuseries follows Annan as he explores the people, sensuality, music, culture and stories of the South. “The series confronts uncomfortable truths, challenges societal norms, and advocates for a more inclusive and enlightened future.” Check out the trailer below:
This Jeopardy! host for 37 years is being honored with a Forever Stamp…Who is Alex Trebek? The well-known hostess who passed away in 2020 from pancreatic cancer is getting his own stamp!! Each stamp will read “This naturalized U.S. citizen hosted the quiz show ‘Jeopardy!’ for 37 seasons.” And underneath upside down, you can find the answer: “Who is Alex Trebek?” The new stamp will become available on July 22nd.
For all my foodies, check out these Black-owned restaurants in the Fort-Worth area of Texas:
And to close us out we got Four Features blazing this week’s Tiny Desk Concert-Black Music Month, a nice mix of gospel, soul, r&b, country, hip hop and pop!! Yes to ALL of this, check them out below:
Another year to celebrate and reflect on a moment in history! Juneteenth is about freedom! On this day in 1865 two years after President Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation, Union troops announced to over 250,000 unaware Black folks in Texas..that they were free! And over a half-century later in 2021, this day was officially named a federal holiday.
I’m still amazed and proud that I am here to see the holiday come to fruition. To think that freedom was delayed (especially for two years, any amount for that matter) is truly an injustice. I cannot even begin to imagine…BUT the dream was delayed not diminished. While the holiday is not perfect (there is room for growth), the history of Juneteenth will always be around, which is important! Freedom did come!
As an African American Studies professor, I am always talking about the experiences of Black folks in and out of the diaspora, particularly in popular culture. And when thinking about those experiences I cannot help but consider the past. As a people, we have encountered daily trauma, joy, pain, motivation, and so much more. These expressions are projected in many ways, many speaking to the ultimate goal…simply being free!! This freedom is shown through our music, food, tv shows, films, language, and so much more. In our own unique way, we have been able to unapologetically give ourselves permission to be empowered and live free in spite of what might be happening in the world.
In the spirit of celebrating being free and living in one’s purpose, I have gathered a few options of some good books to read, a few movies to watch, and some podcasts to add to your morning commute that speak to being FREE! Check them out below:
Books
On Juneteenth ~Annette Gordon-Reed
We Are Each Other’s Harvest Celebrating African American Farmers, Land, and Legacy ~Natalie Baszile
Four Hundred Souls ~Edited by Ibram X. Kendi and Keisha Blain
Magic Enuff ~Tara M. Stringfellow
Shoutin’ in the Fire ~Danté Stewart
Night Flyer: Harriet Tubman and the Faith Dreams of a Free People ~Tiya Miles
I’m Still Here: Black Dignity in a World Made for Whiteness ~Austin Channing Brown
Movies/Film & TV Series
Miss Juneteenth (2020)
Beyond the Canvas-Art: Black Women Lead (2023)
Pose (2018-2021)
Mending Walls: The Documentary (2022)
The Learning Tree (1969)
High on the Hog: How African American Cuisine Transformed America (Netflix)
Juneteenth: Celebrating Freedom and Legacy(CNN) [Airing June 19 at 10pm ET/PT]: The third annual special will feature musical performances and conversations with John Legend, Patti LaBelle, and Smokey Robinson discussing freedom, progress and recognizing the people that paved the way.
Additional documentaries, films, and television shows (provided by VCU News)
Now we cannot leave without offering some reflections on popular food and drinks that many folks consume during this celebration. During Juneteenth celebrations it is customary to partake in a feast, but particularly red foods take center stage. Red symbolizes the resilience from bondage. As noted by Chef Chris Scott who spearheaded the first James Beard Foundation’s Juneteenth celebration, “the red symbolizes the blood that was shed by Black Africans and Black Americans during slave capture, slave travel, and slave trade here in the state and in the Caribbean.” Some of the common foods found on a Juneteenth menu include:
Strawberries (especially strawberry soda pop)
Sorrel
Watermelon
BBQ
Red beans and rice
Red Velvet Cake
Deviled eggs
Remember these are just the basics, it is up to you what you want to include, you can even make your own creations or remix a recipe. Just make sure it’s with family and friends as you celebrate and reflect on the notion of freedom!!
As an extra bonus check out this past episode where I talk with my friend and academic colleague about why Juneteenth Matters!!
We are jumping right out the gate with this one!! A new documentary from Shonda Rhimes/Shondaland and Netflix tells the story of how the first Black Barbie doll came to be in 1980. Directed by Lagueria Davis and produced by Shondaland’s Shonda Rhimes, Black Barbie “shows the impact of three Black staffers at Mattel on the doll’s debut, and how they influenced generations of young Black girls and the Barbie brand as a whole.”
Want to get some fashion inspiration? Or find out just how top stylist Law Roach has created a fashion legacy… Well stylist to the stars Law Roach is dropping his first book, How To Build a Fashion Icon: Notes on Confidence. It’s available for pre-order on Banks Square Books and Amazon and will hit shelves, on September 24, 2024.
A Black Feminist icon has been immortalized with a statue in the very spot where she gave an empowering speech. On May 29th the city of Akron and the African American Cultural Heritage Action Fund unveiled a plaza and statue dedicated to abolitionist Sojourner Truth. In 1851 Sojourner Truth gave the seminal speech “Ain’t I a Woman?” to a crowd gathered at the Universalist Old Stone Church in Akron for the Ohio Women’s Rights Convention. This statue and plaza represent a space to tell one of America’s inspiring story of faith, truth, justice, and freedom!
In more inspiring news, the Kenyan government has partnered with several HBCUs to help boost STEM Education across the waters. Representatives from Clark Atlanta University, Spelman College, Morehouse College, Howard University, and executives from higher education and business circles signed a framework agreement pact to establish an exchange between Kenyan universities and HBCUs. With many STEM programs on the rise here in the U.S., Kenya has established itself as the “Silicon Savannah of East Africa”and according to Kenyan president Dr. William Samoei Ruto, it has also “been a global player in shaping the growth of the technology industry.”
During an official state visit to Spelman College last week, the president of Kenya signed an agreement with the U.S. to establish an exchange between Kenyan universities and HBCUs. https://t.co/5ZxM46Ju3u
This next feature is all about food and nourishment! Whether you are going for the first time or revisiting an oldie but goodie food spot….Check out these Black-owned restaurants that can be found all across the U.S.:
As an extra bonus, with June being Black Music Month each week I will bring you the latest Tiny Desk concerts featuring some of the hottest Black musical artists!! This year’s Black Music Month-Tiny Desk Concert series features Black women artists all across the spectrum from “veterans who’ve paved the way for what we hear today in Black music, to those who are carving out their own paths.”
While the city of Houston may be known for some famous celebrities, their basketball team, as a Black Mecca, the fourth most populous U.S. city, it also houses some prominent murals dedicated to the Black community. Everything from Black boy joy, to unsung military heroes, to a U.S. first these murals are shining bright! Check them out…
Ketanji Brown Jackson (Finnegan Park-4900 Providence St.)
Social Equity (405 Main St.)
Black Mount Rushmore (The Breakfast Klub-3711 Travis St.)
Zero Hunger (710 Crawford St.)
The Steam Crosses The Path (the Julia C. Hester House-2020 Solo St.)
The Old Soldier (Buffalo Soldiers National Museum-3816 Caroline St.)
George Floyd (3112 Ennis St.)
Whether you live in H-Town or stopping through for a visit, make sure to check out these murals! While you are at, go ahead and get a selfie with them too :-)!
Black spaces like museums, cultural sites, and landmarks have always held a special place personally and professionally. These spaces and sites hold the memories, embody the knowledge, and offer a place to be at peace. As noted by Joy Bivins, director of collections and research services at the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture “Black history museums began to exist in the mid-20th century as a response to Black Americans not being in existing museums.” Therefore, it is essential that these spaces and places exist!!
So if you are thinking about a roadtrip, wanting to take the family on an excursion, or just need a place to (re)explore, make a visit to one of these notable museum spaces:
Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History(Detroit, MI): Through dozens of permanent and visiting exhibitions, over 150 learning and engagement programs, as well as education and research opportunities for adults, children, and visiting scholars, The Wright inspires visitors toward greater understanding, acceptance, and unity by reflecting on the triumphs and tragedies of African American history.
National Center for Civil and Human Rights(Atlanta, GA): The National Center for Civil and Human Rights is a museum and human rights organization in Atlanta that inspires people to tap their own power to change the world around them. The Center’s iconic exhibitions feature the papers and artifacts of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.; the history of the civil rights movement in the United States; and stories from the struggle for human rights around the world today.
The Legacy Museum: From Enslavement to Mass Incarceration(Montgomery, AL): On the site of a cotton warehouse where enslaved Black people were forced to labor in bondage, the Legacy Museum tells the story of slavery in America and its legacy through interactive media, first-person narratives, world-class art, and data-rich exhibits. Travel through a comprehensive history of the destructive violence that shaped our nation, from the slave trade, to the era of Jim Crow and racial terror lynchings, to our current mass incarceration crisis—and find inspiration in our soaring Reflection Space and world-class art gallery.
Hampton University Museum(Hampton, VA): Founded in 1868, the Hampton University Museum is the nation’s oldest African American museum and one of the oldest museums in Virginia. With galleries dedicated to African American, African, Native American, Asian and Pacific art and artifacts. The museum contains more than 9,000 objects representing cultures and people from around the world. Within its fine arts collection is the largest existing collection of works in any museum by the artists John Biggers, Elizabeth Catlett, Jacob Lawrence and Samella Lewis.
Mary McLeod Bethune Council House(Washington, DC): This house was the first national headquarters of the National Council of Negro Women, Inc. (NCNW) and was Mary McLeod Bethune’s last home in Washington, DC. From here, Bethune and the NCNW spearheaded strategies and developed programs that advanced the interests of African American women.
Little Rock Central High School National Historic Park(Little Rock, AR): Explore the stories, people, and places that make up the moments of Central High’s desegregation by the Little Rock Nine and learn how the sacrifice and struggle over a half-century ago have provided opportunities and opened doors to those seeking equality—and education—around the world.
Mama Dip’s Kitchen(Chapel Hill, NC): Founded in 1976 by the Mildred Cotton Council Mama Dip’s Kitchen is a longtime fixture serving traditional Southern country cooking from breakfast to dinner plus Sunday brunch.
International African American Museum(Charleston, SC): The International African American Museum tells the unvarnished stories of the African American experience across generations, the trauma and triumph that gave rise to a resilient people.
Just know, this is just snapshot into where you can go!! Trust me when I say there are plenty more!! See For Yourself Here!
Here are a few new museums to be on the lookout for:
Just in case you might have missed it or you just want to enjoy a fan favorite for the second time!!
It’s that time of the year again where AMC Theatres is offering moviegoers a chance to see fan favorites for only $5 this Black History Month. AMC has announced their Black History Month $5 Fan Faves promotion set to run through the entire month of February, offering four different movies that celebrate Black culture and feature Black filmmakers, writers and actors.
The promotion is available at 175 AMC locations across the U.S. showing a different curated film each week of the month. Each week of the promotion in February, AMC Theatres will select one of the curated films for two showings a day. The included movies are:
February 2-8: “The Equalizer 3”
February 9-15:“Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse”
February 16-22: “The Color Purple”
February 23-February 29:“Soul”
“Black filmmakers and actors have given the world some of the most inspiring and captivating cinematic experiences, and that tradition has continued over the past few years with some amazing films that span multiple genres,” in a statement from AMC.
Moviegoers can check their local theatre’s participation and get tickets online at amctheatres.com.
Black Future Feminist 