Lydia's Weekly Lifestyle blog is for today's African girl, so no subject is taboo. My purpose is to share things that may interest today's African girl.

This week's contributors: Lydia, Pépé Pépinière, this week's subjects: The Met Gala, 2024, Professor Emmanuel Ablade Glover, and Shawarma.

The Met Gala, 2024: A Spectacle of Style, Statement, and Sustainability. Formally called the Costume Institute Benefit, this is an annual fundraising gala held for the benefit of the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Costume Institute in Manhattan. It is popularly regarded as the world's most prestigious and glamorous fashion event and social gathering and is known as “fashion's biggest night”. The first gala in 1948 comprised a dinner, and tickets were 50 dollars each. Welcome, fashion enthusiasts, to a glamorous rendezvous with one of the most anticipated events of the year—The Met Gala 2024. This year's theme, “Sustainability and Style,” promised not only dazzling displays of fashion but also a crucial focus on environmental consciousness and responsibility. Let's dive into the exquisite world of high fashion and social impact that graced the renowned Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City. The Theme: Sustainability and Style. As the fashion elite graced the red carpet, all eyes were on their interpretations of sustainability within the realms of haute couture and avant-garde designs. The theme challenged attendees to rethink their fashion choices, encouraging them to prioritize eco-friendly materials, circular fashion practices, and mindful styling that reflects a commitment to a more sustainable future. Highlights from the Red Carpet Eco-Couture Extravaganza: Leading the way in sustainable fashion, A-list celebrities arrived in style, donning creations that were not only visually stunning but also ethically conscious. From upcycled fabrics to cruelty-free accessories, attendees showcased innovative approaches to sustainability without compromising on glamour.

Professor Emmanuel Ablade Glover. Art is food for the mind and the body and it is said that many famous artists live long. Our own Professor Glover may become part of this group. Born in La, Accra, 90 years ago he is still painting. Typical prices for his paintings are 25000 $ upwards. His work is held in many prestigious private and public collections, including the Imperial Palace of Japan and the UNESCO headquarters in Paris. He was awarded the Order of the Volta in Ghana and is a Life Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts, London. He was an Associate Professor, Head of the Department of Art Education, and Dean of the College of Art at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology until 1994. From 1959–62, he studied textile design at London's Central School of Art and Design after receiving a scholarship under Nkrumah who established textile factories in Ghana from 1960. Had Glover not followed a different career, Woodin might be looking very different today. Praise, Glover made money and opened an art gallery, Aritste Alliance at Omanye House on the sea coast, Labadi, Accra, (opened by Kofi Annan in 2008) where he allows other artists to exhibit their works and they only pay a fee when they sell. He also exhibits typical traditional Ghanaian artworks like kente, masks and sculptures, and a few gadgets for tourists. Entrance is free, they are open daily and I recommend a visit, more so if you have kids. Glover has had 2 main themes, women and people, but recently he added what I think are waves, I haven't seen them on the net yet, but he keeps re-inventing himself. To celebrate his 90s, there will be an exhibition in London in September, and one in Ghana at the Artiste Alliance in October this year. Come and celebrate with him.

Shawarma originated in the Middle East, maybe Turkey or Syria, and finds its origin in their döner kebab and Greek gyro and is now becoming one of the popular street foods in Ghana. Originally it was made from lamb or mutton, but in Ghana, we mainly use chicken or beef. We bought a beef shawarma from Ricexpress, near Woodin and a beef and chicken shawarma from Frankies, both on Oxford Street, Osu, Accra. Frankies' is made right on the pavement in front of the Frankie building. The Riccexpress beef shawarma was 60 GHC and a bit too saucy (we seem to like a lot of sauce on things, is it to hide something?), on the other hand, the Frankie beef shawarma was dry and the chicken shawarma was uncooked, but only 50 GHC. Here again, as with my earlier reports on beefburgers, there are lots of them sold of too low a quality, and we eat them and re-order all the same because we are not sufficiently critical. For the same money, we should be able to get a quality burger or shawarma.

Lydia...

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