Promoting | Kajsa HA

Ghana as a Tourism Destination for Swedes

September 11, 2010 2 Comments

My dad just informed me of that Swedish Newspaper SvD recently ran an article on Ghana as a tourism destination: In the shadow of the slave castle.

As the text is in Swedish only, let me tell you what Swedes who read SvD now know about Ghana:

Slave Trade

The article starts with a visit in Cape Coast castle, formerly named Carolousborg. This castle was once controlled by Sweden and its Svenska Afrikakompaniet and traded in slaves and gold, often payed for with iron and glass beads (!).

Culture and Eco tourism

The rest of the article outlines the current day tourism – historic tourism around the castle, but also cultural tourism including handicrafts and festivals, and beach vacations with the growing concept of eco tourism.

Currency, Air Fare and Food

Finally, some facts on currency, air fare and food. Although the writer is correct to recommend Star and Club beer, Jollof rice is spelled “jallof rice” and a dinner is said to cost between 10-20 GHC! I had a great lunch for under three GHC yesterday, so let me politely disagree…

I also missed a section on modern day Ghana – hip life, fashion and flavor!

The article has beautiful pictures by Eric Miller. See picture for this post from Cape Coast, photo credit Eric Miller.

Personal, Places, Promoting, Sweden

My Best Home Decor Links

September 8, 2010 2 Comments

green felt — Source: unhappyhipsters.com

Do you like to wind down with looking in home decor magazines?

I do, but since moving to Ghana, the magazines are far and few in between so now I get my fix online. Predominately here:

1. Apartmenttheraphy. They have found the loveliest studios and homes, often with that personal twist that others do not. The winner of their smallest coolest apartments competition 2007, “Jewelery box”, was an all time high with its exquisite furniture, cobalt blue kitchen and custom-built shelving.

2. SvD Bostad/Hemma Hos. Swedish newspaper life style section – articles about real homes for the Swedish feel of home decor. Think IKEA, plus wood, plus white walls, plus old stuff, plus new, colorful eclectic stuff…

3. FOR FUN Unhappy Hipsters, when the magazine images stand you up to here…(via Swedish blog Tuffast)

I would love to add an “African style home decor” website to the list, but have so far not found any worthwhile sites/blogs/online mags. Let me know if you can help out!

(And no, I really do not care about home decor. I am a full-fledged political animal only allowing myself to spend time on these kinds of capitalist dreams when all other work has been done. I promise).

Ghana, Places, Positive, Promoting, Sweden

African Authors and Books in Gothenburg – Afrika2010

August 27, 2010 2 Comments

The annual Swedish book fair in Gothenburg this year has an Africa theme!

With the name Afrika2010, some 50(?) writers from 36 countries, a couple of hundred seminars and probably thousands and again thousands of book titles, the fair is opening on the 23rd September and lasting until the 26th.

“There is a strong interest in Africa right now, not at least thanks to the World Cup in South Africa in June. With the Africa focus of this year’s Book Fair, we will put the African literary scene in the lime light. Many new and already established writers and cultural workers will provide a more complex picture of this exciting continent”, says Carin Norberg, head of the Nordic Africa Institute which together with SIDA is supporting the thematic focus on Africa at the Bok&Bibliotek book fair.

Participants from Ghana includes: Akoss Ofori-Mensah (Sub-Saharan Publishers) and writers Yaba Badoe (True Murder came out last year) and Meshack Asare (many childrens’ books including Children of the Tree).

I will very sadly not be able to make it to Afrika2010, but will be following this glorious event bringing together the African continent and its literature, likely reporting in this space. Oh, and I just saw one of my favorite artists, Dobet Gnahore is opening the fair!

The only comfort I have is that it seems Nigerian writer Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie (Half of a Yellow Sun) is , just like me, too busy around this time to come to the Afrika2010 book fair in Gothenburg, Sweden.

Which African writer would have made you reschedule your plans and go to Gothenburg?

More info on Afrika 2010 here: http://www.afrika2010.se/english or download the full program or follow on twitter.com/bokmassan2010

Ghana, Promoting

Ghana World Cup Winning Videos

July 2, 2010 No Comments

While I wait for the World Cup game tonight, Ghana-Uruguay, I have found these two videos to get into the (winning) mood.

1. Y? da mo ase

Ghana Black Stars! • y? da mo ase (Thank you) from MVMT on Vimeo.

2. Black Stars Dancing

I never saw myself as a fotball fan, but I suprised myself by adding a Twibbon, a little Ghanaian flag, to my Twitter icon in support.

Go, black stars, GO!

Blogging, Ghana, Promoting

Astrient Foundation Women’s Forum: Enhancing your Work Image

May 30, 2010 3 Comments

After having sweated though the weekend, I am now assuming my malaria parasites are all gone and I will start my week with something interesting. Monday evening, I will be speaking at an Astrient Foundation Women’s Forum event.

Initially, I was hesitant. For the event with the slightly puzzling title “Enhancing your Work Image in the Corporate World” I felt I was not the right speaker as I wasn’t even too sure about what ‘work image’ was…but after some explanation from the director Phoebe Acolatse, I have prepared to talk about my blog and how I have enhanced my own career.

The Astrient Foundation provides, among other things, scholarships, community educational programs and these women’s networking seminars.

If you are interested, this is the time and place:

Astrient Foundation Women’s Forum

Ashesi University College, Labone

Building 3, Lecturehall 4

6-8pm, Monday 31st May, 2010.

And I am no more hesitant, but looking forward to this experience!

Ghana, Promoting

This Friday: Tema Bless the Mic Club Night

May 26, 2010 No Comments

Most events in Ghana happen in Ghana’s capital Accra. However, Bless the Mic every now and then takes their show to Tema.

On Friday, 28^th May 2010, starting at 8pm, they do it again! The place is Barcadi Nite Club, Community 4, Tema.

It will be a night of freestyle battles between some of the most exciting MCs from Tema and Accra including Macho Rapper, Yaa Pono, El, Ronny O, Pope Skinny, Scizo and the All Star cast from Tema. In attendance will be international guest DJ Floro (Spain) and DJ Champagne (Y Fm). Apart from music, there will also be graffiti art.

I called up the man behind BTM, Papa Yaw to find out why he is taking his show on the road:

– Because Tema is very vibrant in the music business right now and we want to promote the Tema music community, thats the reason…

As I am a proper “Tema girl”, I must say I appreciate BTM coming to Tema.

Come around 8pm on Friday and pose for pics to be posted in this space!

Battle illustration by Ghanaian artist Godfried Donkor.

Blogging, Promoting

Official Blogger for Bless The Mic All Day Festival

May 24, 2010 4 Comments

I have been asked to be the “offical blogger” for this weekend’s upcoming event, Bless the Mic Arts and Music Festival.I am very excited about this event which I believe will be rocking! I especially like the combo of visual arts and music.

From the Press Release:

BLESS THE MIC ARTS & MUSIC FESTIVAL: ACCRA’S MOST EXCITING CULTURAL SEASON

Mi Prime Entertainment in collaboration with Alliance Francaise is pleased to announce this year’s ‘Bless the Mic Arts & Music Festival’, which takes place from the 27^th– 29^th of May 2010. ‘Bless the Mic Arts & Music Festival’ celebrates the diversity of Ghanaian creativity in the Arts and Music.

ABOUT BLESS THE MIC ARTS & MUSIC FESTIVAL

Bless the Mic Arts & Music Festival is organised by Mi Prime Entertainment in association with Alliance Francaise and supported by the Foundation for Contemporary Arts, MAKSI, Pidgen Music, Ghana Cultural Fund and 2131 Banging Hiphop show.

Media Partners: Y fm, X fm, myjoyonline and ghanamusic.com

Media Sponsors: E-TV Ghana, Net2 TV, CRTV, Ameyawdebra.com, Sky Digital Network, africanmp3s.com, chilloutghana and Dust Magazine.

The main event is happening this Saturday the 29th of May from 3pm -10pm at Alliance Francaise and will include a photo/art exhibition as well as poetry and live stage performances by King Ayisoba, Nana Fynn, Gouda Traditional Music, DK Osei Yaw, Yaw Kontoh, Chuks, Chase, Crystal Tettey, Fiifi Sellah and Efya.

Find more info on Facebook under “All Day Festival”. I will be blogging from the event.

See you there?

Blogging, Ghana, Kajsa HA's Social Media, Personal, Positive, Promoting

Yours Truly on E-TV

May 20, 2010 4 Comments

I have been invited to E-TV, Ghana’s newest(?) free-to-show tv-channel, and their morning show!

I’ll be speaking to George, who found me through this blog. Heasked me to prepare for the following topics:

how you first heard about Ghana, a bit about your PHD project, your teaching, why you married a Ghanaian, and your future plans.

Tune in tomorrow Friday around 7.30 am. Tune in or I’ll tell you in this space how it went!

Ghana, Personal, Positive, Promoting

On Becoming an Artist

May 16, 2010 15 Comments

I am happy to announce that yesterday was the first day of my career as a visual artist.

Even though I have been drawing, painting and sculpting since I was a child, cheered on by my parents, and even made paintings for official spaces as a university student in Uppsala, yesterday marked something different.

I was ASKED to partake in an upcoming exhibition curated by famous Ghanaian painter Kofi Setordji at Nubuke Foundation. The exhibit which focus on Ghanaian public space will be called “My space, your space”. Together with my friend, Miss V, I had prepared a concept note which we presented to Kofi. He liked it and invited us to work on the project for the net few weeks.

At this stage, the project is TOP SECRET, but I have the feeling that in the near future it will do very well in a blog format.

Now I’m curious to know, what is your second career?

Promoting, Sweden

This Is Swedishness

May 14, 2010 No Comments

In preparation for my summer in Sweden, I stumbled across the webshop Swedishness.se. The shop ships Swedish design world wide.

And bliss, they have a Swedishness Blog too.

In the pic, a towel from Växbo Lin, a game from before Wii and some baby felt slippers.

Ghana, Positive, Promoting

Finally: Coz ov Moni Premieres

May 13, 2010 6 Comments

On Saturday May 15th, the time has finally come for this creative, fresh and rocking musical movie, Coz ov Moni, to open to the world! Directed by King Luu and produced by Panji Anoff of Pidgen Music. It is featuring musicians Wanlov – the Kubolor and M3nsa (together they form the FOKN Bois), but also poet Mutumbo and legend Reggie Rockstone as well as other Ghana celebs!

This is the plot:

On a normal morning in Gbese, Accra. The FOKN Bois wake up and plan to go clubbing with some lady friends after chasing an evasive debtor for their money. Their free-spirited and seemingly conceited attitude makes them a few enemies as the day progresses. How will this day end for the FOKN Bois? Do they deserve what awaits them at the end of it all? Come find out!

Do you remember the funky Coz ov Moni trailer I posted some time ago? For the premiere, think that x 20!

DATE: Saturday, May 15th

VENUE: National Theatre

TIME: 6.30pm & 8.30pm (Two screenings)

TICKETS: 10 Ghc

This is going to be so great! Why? Coz of Moni! See you there!

Read more about the premiere at Ameyaw Debrah, Museke, African Hip Hop , Ghana Celebrities and fellow blogger MacJordan. Also read the lovely interviews in Dust Magazine with Kubolor and M3nsa.

Ghana, Promoting, Sweden

Swedes in Ghana

April 28, 2010 3 Comments

Surprisingly, there are a lot of cool young Swedish people in Ghana.

I say “surprisingly” only because Sweden and Swedes do not really have any strong ties to Ghana; no embassy, weak colonial connections, some mining business, but nothing major. Of course it is not surprising Swedes go south – where else would we go?

Since almost two years I know Maya Maame, a Swedish/Ghanaian blogger. A few weeks ago I wrote about two Swedish DJ’s coming to Ghana (on their blog you currently get a teaser to their mix tape Gold Coast Rising!), but now it has exploded and I have also met engineers, business women, students, IT professionals, diplomats and a shipping agent!

To keep track of all these adventurous, beautiful and fun (the much missed irony, mostly) Swedish folks I started a Facebook group: Ghanasvenskar. If you speak Swedish, understand the concept “fika” and you are in Ghana, you are welcome!

Pic: Some Ghanaians and a Swede in Sigtuna, Sweden.

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