Thursday 11 October 2012

Wow Factor!




Africa most definitely has it! I believe even more so for African Americans that are connected to their African Heritage. It may surprise some of you to know that we all don’t share in that vibe. Many of us long to touch Mother Africa before we die; to know our African Roots, but others could care less. Many even totally disassociate themselves with Africa. My Mother once told me that she didn’t have anything to do with Kunta Kente or any parts of Africa that she was from Louisville! Huh, what?! Thank GOD that she did a 360 before she left this Earth.
From the moment you step off the plane in Africa that “Wow Factor” slaps you in the face! You can smell it, Africa; the smell of it is quite unique. I’m not talking about bad smells, but earthy aromas almost like you’re smelling colors. It is so vibrant, so alive that at times you will find yourself listening for the silence, Wow!
Looking around you find not quite what you expected; not quite what many picture as Africa. High-rise office and apartment buildings, not huts. Most taxi cabs are Mercedes Benzes, not Chevrolets. Beautiful people of all complexions with varied facial features and hair textures, not all jet black with wide noses and kinky hair. Fashion and more fashion whether it be western or ethnic garb, not people running around naked or partially clothed, Wow!
Listening to the differently dialects being spoken is like listening to some crazy Miles Davis piece while trying to decipher what instruments are being played. Mixtures of music in the air, *Ndaga, Salsa, Reggae, R&B, drumming and other West African sounds. There is often the humming of sewing machines near by, hammering, children laughing, playing and crying. The birds, the birds sing ever so sweetly, Wow!    
Taste treat sensations abound that are so familiar that you know where your grandmother got that variation of her recipe, Wow!
It never ceases to amaze you this Africa, because there is so much of it and it is in continual development. I can travel the same route daily and along that same route each time I will see something that makes me say or feel Wow!
I commented before about the healthcare system, well dentistry is a whole nother thing! My dentist office is state of the art. He just got back from Hong Kong from doing a refresher course and vacationing there for a short time before he moved on to Australia where his Alma Mater is, Wow! Root canal only the equivalent of $100, Wow!
If you have taken time to see and experience the colors of purple, smell the roses and soak in life you will be in awe! The strength, fortitude, creativity of some of the people, especially Africa’s Women is absolutely amazing! I get tired watching my domestic assistant clean my house, cook and do the laundry. When I come back to the states I kind at a lost for a couple of weeks trying to orient myself to doing those tedious task that have been done for me here.
It’s far from Utopia and the problems with the infrastructure will get on your last nerve, but there’s something about Africa. If you’re vacationing you may not notice the problems with the infrastructure cause hotels have stand by facilities, but visiting and residing are surely two different lifestyles, unless you’re among the rich and famous.
Wow, Africa is like a magnet to something deep inside of me, but so is Chicago. Home is where the heart is and I miss my family, but Africa has claimed or always has owned a piece of me! Wow! 
WOW!



*The Ndaga (Ndagga) music style also known as Mbalax was created in Dakar in the 1970s and its early proponents were Etoile de Dakar from which the likes of Youssou N'dour broke off and went solo.
It evolved from the Senegalese liking for Latin music combined with the Congo rumba beat which musicians from the Wolof tribe took and blended with the 'Tama' (talking drum), Sabarr (Djembe Drum) and electric guitar and lyrics to create the Ndagga musical style.

The dancing that accompanies the musical genre is uniquely African and incorporates gyrating dance with sensual overtones.

In Gambia the new genre was played and promoted by the "Super Eagles" band who were big in the 1970s and early 80s.

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