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: Celebrating Indian Craftsmanship by Amit Aggarwal, India and the Kama Sutra, and Tumblers

Celebrating Indian Craftsmanship by Amit Aggarwal. Sculptural Silhouettes and Bold Designs: Amit Aggarwal's 2024 collection is a masterclass in architectural fashion. Structured silhouettes, sharp lines, and dramatic drapes dominate the runway, reflecting the designer's penchant for blending art and fashion seamlessly. Each garment is a work of art, meticulously crafted to accentuate the beauty of the human form. Metallic accents shimmer and shine, reflecting light in mesmerizing ways. Intricate embroidery and embellishments add a touch of opulence to the collection, transforming each piece into a wearable masterpiece. Whether it's a fluid gown that billows like a dream or a form-fitting cocktail dress that hugs every curve, Amit Aggarwal's designs exude elegance and sophistication. Amit Aggarwal's 2024 collection is a celebration of India's rich cultural heritage and unparalleled craftsmanship. Traditional techniques like zardozi, gota patti, and threadwork are reinterpreted through a modern lens, breathing new life into age-old art forms. Each garment proudly wears the mark of skilled artisans, showcasing the beauty of handcrafted luxury. From vibrant saris adorned with intricate beadwork to avant-garde ensembles that defy convention, Amit Aggarwal's collection pays homage to the diversity and artistry of Indian textiles. Bold colours, luxurious fabrics, and striking embellishments come together to create a stunning fusion of elegance and extravagance, setting a powerful statement in the world of fashion.

India and Kama Sutra. India is known for its culture, tigers, movies, sarongs, temples, spicy food and the Kama Sutra. The Kama Sutra is a 2400 year old book about sexual relationships, from a time when the boy and the girl to be married often only met for the first time on their wedding day, courtesy of the parents and both families. The Kama Sutra told the boy how to be easy on the girl, get her to know him and to trust him before trying real intimacy. The book also lectures on 64 possible sexual positions and this has made it something of a hit, whilst the emphasis rather is on good partnership and mutual respect. That same India is now all over the papers for (gang) rapes followed by murders of the victims, including female doctors in hospitals. And India's new penal code does not criminalize marital rape as long as the girl is older than 18. President Modi government’s view is that criminalizing sexual assault in the marriage violates the ‘sanctity’ of marriage, that various factors e.g. the level of education/illiteracy, poverty, myriad social customs and values, religious beliefs, and mindset of the society to treat the marriage as a sacrament, etc go against criminalization. Maybe we should have used a similar language to appease the West when we tried to introduce the BBQ law (LGBTTQAP+) (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, transsexual, queer, pansexual, etc) so that they would not have threatened to cut of Aid. India, with its 1.451 million population (more than 1 in 6 people on this earth is an Indian) got away with this one. And I haven't heard much noise from Uncle. Maybe because India holds a big say in the balance of the world powers USA, China and Russia? Anyway, better think twice before moving to India. And in Ghana? Marital rape is criminalized in pursuant to the repeal of section 42 (g) (of Ghana’s criminal code, 1960 (Act 29) by the Statute Revisions Act. Under section 32 of the Domestic Violence Act, an act committed within the domestic setting is an offence, which attracts a sentence of more than three years imprisonment. According to UNAIDS we have 52000 prostitutes in Ghana, (that is slightly less than the entire population of a town like Bolga or a bit more than the people living in Swedru), so in case he wants to rape you just give him 2 shillings and 2 pence (about GHS 5.35) so he can see a toutou, using a Ghanaian word rather than ashawo, a se owo “picks money” which is the Yoruba language.

Tumblers are all the rage these days. After we were convinced that drinking water from a plastic bottle was better than (filtered) water from the tap (despite researchers from Columbia University and Rutgers University having found roughly 240,000 detectable plastic fragments in a typical liter of bottled water) we are now going for tumblers, also made out of plastic. Which plastic? There are different types of plastic, some of them are “food grade”, some are not, and some can even be put into the microwave, (YOUR TYPICAL TAKEAWAY PLASTIC TRAY SHOULD NEVER BE PUT INTO THE MICROWAVE FOR REHEATING). In countries with a strong FDA (Food and Drugs Authority) like maybe the EU, Japan or the USA, one could hope that these tumblers had been tested before they were allowed onto the market (and even there one hears of plenty recalls, let alone the ones which pass through the net undetected). In Ghana, I am told that our borders are porous and that the FDA is under-equipped so anything could come in. And knowing that the majority of these gadgets come from China, which, knowing we are poor, sends us the cheapest (and lowest quality) they have, I am not convinced that drinking water out of a tumbler is safe. Are you? Use glass, wherever you can. And filter water from your tap and save yourself about 100 GHC a month, 1200 GHC per year, or 12000 GHC in 10 years. Did you say you wanted to buy your first car?

Lydia...

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