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, Titi, this week's subjects: Embracing 2024 Christmas Fashion in West Africa, Accra Fashion Week 2024 (AFWK24), Welcome to Ghana, Does that size (still) fit me? Restaurant Grill Cyril at the Bulgarian Cultural Centre, and +233 Jazz Club and Grill Bar

Embracing 2024 Christmas Fashion in West Africa: As the holiday season approaches, the vibrant and diverse cultures of West Africa come alive with color, tradition, and creativity. Christmas in this region is a unique celebration that honors centuries-old customs and showcases contemporary fashion trends. In 2024, the blend of traditional attire with modern styles offers a beautiful tapestry of looks that are both festive and fashionable. Here’s a glimpse into what to expect this holiday season in West African fashion: Bright Textiles and Bold Patterns: West Africa is renowned for its rich textile heritage, featuring bright colors and intricate patterns. For Christmas 2024, designers are emphasizing local fabrics such as ankara, kente, and adire, reimagined into trendy silhouettes. Expect to see flowing maxi dresses, structured suits, and tailored jackets, all adorned with festive motifs that reflect the joy of the season. Styling Tip: Pair a vibrant ankara top with high-waisted trousers or a sleek skirt. Add statement accessories like handmade jewelry or a beaded clutch to elevate your holiday outfit.

Accra Fashion Week 2024 (AFWK24) took place last weekend at Ghana Dubai, Circle Roundabout, Accra for the 11th time and for the 9th year. Look out for a party to celebrate the 10th year next year. Kudos to the organizer, Nana Tamakloe, who consistently year after year has presented this show. Since a few years AFWK has started to get international recognition, with 11 foreigners showcasing this year out of a total of 24 (this should have been 13, but 2 of them could not manage to clear their things through customs, welcome to Ghana). Accra Dubai had been nicely decorated, and you entered through a row of commercial stalls manned by some of the designers, which allowed you to get a feel of what was coming up. Unfortunately the stalls were poorly lit. Models walked down a long staircase towards the (not working) circular fountain around which the public was seated, then walked around the fountain nice and cozy close to everyone, and then away again. Overall quality of the designs and the models was good. Partakers were Aba Blankson (Ghana), Ab-Martins (Ghana), Ama Serwaa (UK), Ashara (Senegal), Awulaby Aaley (Ghana), Befree (Burkina Faso), Bella Faso (Ghana), Cyboniso (South Africa), Draped by Palm (Ghana), Flat17Studio (Nigeria), Fohrella (Ghana), House of Troso (Cameroon), KimoWa (Ghana), Kustom Looks (Ghana), Malawi Terry (Zambia), Me By Lee (USA), Magbrien (Ghana), Mikoko Deluxe (UK), Myra Wallace Collection (USA), Nasheka (Ghana), Odefille (Ghana), Pelliguen (Ghana), Psalmy Exclusive (Nigeria), Terry Tobani (Malawi), and UDEFINEU (Ghana). A successful show that can make Ghana proud.

Welcome to Ghana. This blog is about lifestyle and fashion, but because of the previous article let me deviate a little. In 2020 I traveled with Africa's first-ever private female music band, Ghana's Della Hayes and her Women of Colour Band to the MASA (Marché des Arts du Spectacle d'Abidjan )in Abidjan. We had quite some music gear with us worth several thousands of Dollars. After landing at Félix Houphouët Boigny International Airport, we arrived at customs who wanted to know what was in all those packages. We told them we were partaking at MASA and we were immediately welcomed and whiskered through, “Soyez les bienvenues, merci d'etre venu (Be welcome, thank you for coming) Welcome to la Cote d'Ivoire. The French and their former colonies have understood the value of culture, in Ghana you may rather get “what's in it for me”? Oh Ghana,. When? pray that our next president puts the right man in the right place.

Does that size (still) fit me? As we get older we often gain a bit (sometimes a lot) of weight, (and especially after the X mass period) and then that size 38 or 40 does not fit anymore. But we don’t really like that move to the next higher size. Some brands have now worked out that this is a sales opportunity, so they offer a size 40 and label it as a size 38, making you feel good, “I prefer Brand X, their 38 still fits me”. Vanity....As sizes are not internationally and legally standardized anyone can do what they like, and anyway, typically an 8 in the USA is a 12 in the UK. So better put it on before you pay.

Restaurant Grill Cyril at the Bulgarian Cultural Centre (10 Kakradamu Street, Cantonments, Accra) opened recently, and curious as I am I went in on a Sunday evening, eager for a few kebabs. But the kebab man has the Sunday off, so we settled for Shkembe (tripe soup), Bobena Chorba (bean soup) and Kebabche (grilled minced meat with french fries), which sounds familiar but they are rather a sort of minced meatballs. We also took their garlic bread (Parlenka) which looked more like a cake, but nice, we finished it for breakfast the next morning. All in all, it was a nice experience, the service is correct and they know how to serve draft beer. It's a pity they have no real napkins but the small paper things that don't really do the job of protecting shirts and dresses. Recommended.

+233 Jazz Club and Grill Bar (Dr. Isert Street, North Ridge, opposite Ghana Broadcasting, (but you can get there from the Alisa Hotel, down), Accra), last Saturday had a Groove Session with the Ghana Jazz Collective and Quayba and Maami as Jazztresses. Quayba was less impressive than what I hoped for, but we all agreed that for once the +233 sound engineer had done a poor job. +233 also serves a nice mixed rice with beef chunks, fried eggs and vegetables but some of the beef in it was totally unchewable, no matter how hard I tried. Surprise surprise, their kebabs are first-class tender.

Lydia...

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