African roots run deep in our travel, art & food experiences
Our co-producer and host Diana O’Gilvie just returned from an incredible trip to Accra, Ghana. She shared dispatches via Instagram while on the journey: the food, adventures and art scene.
She also connected with her history: a Ghanaian descendant, Diana was raw with emotion as she came face-to-face with the history of her ancestors - victims of the Transatlantic slave trade - during a visit to Cape Coast Castle:
“At the Last Bath, we hung on to each other, surrounded by the spirits of those who went before us. I poured out my mother’s and the aunt’s ashes into the river. We have come full circle - because of them and our ancestors, I have returned. I wrote their names on the wall:
George O’Gilvie
Ruby O’Gilvie
Sandra O’Gilvie
Hyacinth O’Gilvie”I give thanks for you, your life and mine.”- Diana
We are privileged and honored to share Diana’s stories and experiences from Ghana. Look for podcast conversations and blog posts, starting here, and stay tuned for our next full YouTube episode from her trip.
D’s reconnection with her ancestral roots made us think about the contributions and impact of the variety of cultures from the African continent on the rest of the world. So we looked back at the places Team WTAF have been, noting how much we truly are touched by African cultures.
Los Angeles: The History and Impact of Hip Hop
From the rhythmic drumming reminiscent of African beats to the art of storytelling passed down through generations, hip hop embodies the spirit of Africa.
But hip hop is more than a music genre; it's a cultural movement that has transformed the world and given a powerful voice to communities, shaping art, fashion, and social activism on a global scale. Just listen to music today: hip hop and R&B has intersected nearly other popular music genres. The music lives with society, evolving with the communities that build it.
We filmed our LA episode of WTAF Show in the same year as hip hop’s 50th anniversary. While there, we checked out the largest collection of black-owned wine brands in the country at 1010 Wine & Events!
When you listen to the latest hip hop track, remember that you're tapping into a centuries-old African legacy that continues to resonate with communities, food, art and cultures worldwide.
Check out the video
Jamaica: A piece of Africa in the Caribbean
A segment in our second episode, filmed in Jamaica, is a step back in time: There’s a sovereign nation on the island. The Maroons are descendants of African slaves who won their freedom in the 18th century from the British, led by national hero Queen Nanny, and eventually established their own thriving community. From guerilla warfare to jerk cooking, the Maroons were innovators as well as fighters.
The Maroons today are known for their environmental respect and unwavering commitment to preserving African traditions, music and languages from one generation to the next. They pass down their heritage through oral traditions, recounting tales and legends that hold historical and cultural significance. Music and dance, deeply rooted in African traditions, remain a vibrant part of Maroon culture, serving as both a celebration of their heritage and a means of community bonding. Many Maroons continue to speak African languages or dialects influenced by them, maintaining linguistic ties to their ancestral roots. Rituals, ceremonies, and celebrations mirror African customs, reinforcing their cultural identity, while the crafting of traditional items, like baskets and masks, keeps alive the symbolism and designs with deep cultural meaning.
We visited the original base of Queen Nanny and the Maroons: hiking into the Blue Mountain jungles as a guest of Kromanti Experience, swimming in Nanny Falls and celebrating Heroes Day with members of the Moore Town community. Check out the scene!
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Puerto Rico: West African Culinary Influences
Team WTAF’s Farhanah Ali currently lives in Puerto Rico and experiences first-hand the West African influences in the meals she eats each day. The Transatlantic slave trade brought African ingredients, techniques, and flavors to the shores of Puerto Rico, where they melded with the local Taino and Spanish traditions.
One example of this fusion is the dish known as mofongo - inspired by the West African dish fufu - which combines fried and mashed plantains with various savory ingredients like garlic, pork, and seafood. The result is a tantalizing blend of flavors that captures the essence of Puerto Rican cuisine, all while honoring the African heritage that helped shape it.
Farhanah has her own WTAF Show segment, “Where in the World is Farhanah?” (because we never actually know where she is in the world). Here, she’s making friends with monkeys and swimming with piranhas (for real) in the Amazon rainforest.
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Until next time,
Team WTAF
