Happy New Year everyone! It has been a long time! So allow me to reintroduce myself, my name is Olivia Untamed and I have truly missed this. I know how much I loved and enjoyed blogging and knew that in this new year I had to RETURN to my roots.
In case some of you did not know, this year has been coined “The Year of Return” by Ghana and its hospitality planning committee. In short, ” ‘The Year of Return, Ghana 2019” celebrates the cumulative resilience of all the victims of the Trans Atlantic Slave Trade who were scattered and displaced through the world in North America, South America, the Caribbean, Europe and Asia.” This celebration of return marked 400 years since slaves were displaced from their home and although I am aware that the theme created a lot of revenue for Ghana this past year, I could not complain at all about my wonderful experience in Ghana. I traveled with some girlfriends this past holiday and got to see first hand the beauty that Ghana has to offer.
We woke up hearing the waves of the ocean every morning and when I say “peace” I truly mean it. We got to do so much while we were there from visiting Hamamat’s Shea Butter Village and getting deep tissue massages, eating a Fulani dinner by Expert Chef Binta, to turning up with Burna Boy at Afronation. I think the most beautiful part of it all was seeing all the people who came during the holidays. I heard accents from the UK and saw East Africans, Nigerians, and many African Americans and Canadians who felt so comfortable being there, it was beautiful! All this to say, Thank you Ghana for giving so many people the refresh and reboot that they needed ( I know I did).
We had to make sure that we visited Cape Coast Castle while we were there. One of the castles that held many slaves before they were shipped and sent of to the Americas and surrounding areas. Just entering the slaves cells gave me chills.
Please enjoy the few pictures I included of the surrounding areas of the castle as well as a room that was not mentioned during the tour but I am sure you can make a proper assessment of the stains.
I felt the theme “The Year of Return” to be so fitting as I mentioned before because I have been so far gone from my creative side. I felt something building up inside me that showed I had to return to what I love. So this is just to tell you all that I am back. I am getting back to creativity something I hold so dear in my heart! So please join me in our journey of creation! I hope you stay tuned because I have a lot in store!
Until next time, don’t get too crazy!
-Olivia Untamed