Circumspecte

Want a Ghanaian film to watch? Skip the perfect pictures and hearts of men and go straight to "Bronx Princess". Even though this film isn't produced in Ghana or by a Ghanaian, I found more elements of Ghanaian culture and society in it than in other so-called Ghanaian movies. The film maker, Yoni Brook, and his team have certainly done a great job!!!! And it makes me wonder, how come foreigners seem to appreciate and highlight our own culture better than we do? The film's website is  http://www.bronxprincess.com/ , and I believe it's showing in a number of select independent theaters, at least in NY. I also happened upon it on Pbs.org where you can watch it for free until October 23rd! Here's the direct link for watching the film:  http://video.pbs.org/video/1248747353/program/1154485580  . So spread the news!! "Bronx Princess" is definitely a breath of fresh air! Here's a trailer for the film: Some of the things in the movie I found inter...

Time and space Whoever thought him/herself so wise So as to determine the value of these two Hast surely thrown mankind, into insurmountable vice For no matter how absolute they seem on papyrus They’re always relative in the mind’s sight -- Photo Source

Yesterday, the Library of Congress hosted the annual National Book Festival at the National Mall here in D.C. After finding out about it in the weekend newspaper, I knew I definitely had to be there. So even though it was pouring outside, I grabbed my trusty umbrella, plugged myself in (to my ipod lol) and trekked over to the National Mall. It was spectacular! It had been quite a while since I felt extremely giddy with excitement, and that's exactly how I felt once I stepped onto the program grounds. There were pavilions/ tents set up everywhere, with notices indicating what genre of books were housed there: Poetry and Prose, Teens & Children, History & Biography, Mystery & Thrillers etc etc. There were authors who gave speeches and had book signing periods, and even though I didn't get to see John Grisham (his talk was scheduled for 10am), I got to listen to some spectacular authors! Unfortunately (and quite mysteriously), some of the pictures and videos I took dis...

It's interesting now that I think about it, but I have never wanted for housing. There has always been someone out there who has been willing to open up their home (and heart) to me when I was in dire need. And with each person I encounter, I get the sense that indeed, our paths are to some degree, already chartered, and that the 'meeting' had in fact been on the drawing board a gazillion years before we even happened upon this life. Once again, I have come upon a unique living situation. And just as was the case in summer 08 when I  stayed with a wonderful MHC alumna and her family, I am realizing that the MHC network and connection is a very special one. I won't mention any names, but this lady is indeed a phenomenal woman. It's been exactly a week since I joined her in her beautiful house, and I've already learned a lot about Mount Holyoke, U.S. History, African History etc. And although we are from two entirely different eras, there have been a number of ...

Eid So it's Eid in Ghana today, and it's also Kwame Nkrumah's birthday!! Talk about celebration and holidays!!! Eid was yesterday here in the US and in most parts of the world, and I had a pretty memorable Eid. Spent it with family in Virginia, and boy, what an interesting time it was. Showing on the T.V. was a Nigerian Cable Channel, and it was really interesting to see all the news segments commemorating Eid in the various Nigerian states. I even got a glimpse of my birth town Kaduna, which I definitely need to visit soon. I also got a chance to see my "husband" and other cousins. Gosh, the last time I saw him, he was shorter than me, and now, he's towering over me! It was quite the surreal moment lol. My Ramadan Experience On one of my posts on Ramadan, someone asked what I hoped to achieve throughout the Holy month. Basically, my goal was to reflect on my life, on the Qu'ran and on the teachings of Islam. I got a new Qu'ran before Ramadan star...

Monday, September 21 2009. That date is important for two main reasons: Eid ul - Fitr and Kwame Nkrumah's 100 th anniversary. Going along with the GhanaBlogging .com "Nkrumah" theme, I'm gonna focus on what I think Nkrumah's most important legacy to Ghanaians and Africans is. I don't idolize him, but I definitely do admire and applaud him. I strongly believe that the true mark of an individual's success is in how (much) he or she is able to positively impact others. Nkrumah definitely did that. Heck, he is STILL doing it. With Ghana's population quickly approaching 24million, it is a wonder that we're not bursting at the seams. The fact that our economy is being sustained by infrastructure and systems put into place by this man who, mind you, was an ordinary human being like ourselves, is even mind-blowing! Sure, he had his issues, but that's the beauty of it all! Despite all the criticisms against him, this man achieved what no Ghanaian ...

Over the past week, I've spent time with my cousins and a visiting "sister" from Ghana who recently had a baby girl. The baby is adorably cute, and my would-be "maternal instincts" immediately kicked in. I've always found it amazing how a tiny baby can grow up to be an individual with dreams, hopes, fears, opinions and the whole hammock of complexities that form a human being. One thing that sticks out to me about babies is the fact that they want to be treated as anything but what they are. You lay her down, she squeals, you cradle her in your arms, she throws a fit, you put her in her crib; are you seriously asking for a full-fledged tantrum? The trick is to treat them like adults. And by 'treat them like adults,' I don't mean throw a suit on her, throw a briefcase into her hand, and sit her at a desk for hours on end. No, what I mean is talk to her. Yes, the baby, talk to him/her. Now, that suggestion might sound incredulous, and I can definit...