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: Gen Z's concern with Tying the Knot, Nigeria’s Textile Disaster, Physical Aggression in the house? and Nguni Bar and Grill

Gen Z's concern with Tying the Knot. Colours Beyond White: A Palette of Possibilities. White has long been the colour archetype for brides. However, Gen Z's playful aesthetic embraces a rainbow of hues, from soft pastels to bold jewel tones. Coloured wedding dresses are not just a trend; they are a celebration of individuality. Popular Choices: Muted Pinks and Blues: Subtle, romantic shades that add a touch of uniqueness without overwhelming tradition. Bold Reds and Greens: For the fearless bride, these colours represent passion and confidence. Metallic Accents: Gold, silver, and shimmering fabrics are making their way into bridal wear, offering a modern twist on classic elegance. Sustainable Choices: Ethical Fashion for the Conscious Bride. With climate change and sustainability at the forefront of Gen Z's concerns, many couples are choosing to prioritize eco-friendly practices in their relationships. From opting for sustainable wedding venues and zero-waste celebrations to incorporating green living habits in their daily lives, they are all in an effort to reduce their environmental impact and promote a more sustainable future.

Nigeria’s Textile Disaster. Only 35 years ago, Nigeria had about 150 textile factories, employing hundreds of thousands and producing good quality Nigerian prints for local consumption and export. But apart from cotton, Nigeria did not produce dyes, chemicals, or starch. Other countries, like China, produce all, and are thus able to produce textiles cheaper. And a bit of copying of Nigerian designs, and labelling their print as 'made in Nigeria' and supplying polyester, which is more affordable than cotton, and of course, the majority of the Nigerian customers will go for the cheapest, no matter that the Chinese colours fade quickly. Even thinking that they bought Nigerian and thus concluding that Nigerian is now inferior, and happily buying cheaper goods because they were smuggled in. And of course, there is the importance of second-hand, which completely undercuts everything. But despite all this, a few factories are surviving, like Da Viva and Sunflag, and there are others. But things are not getting any better soon. Now read this article again and replace the word Nigeria with Ghana and you will understand why Vlisco, owner of GTP and Woodin, is for sale for 1 $, that is, if you take over the debt as well.

Physical Aggression in the house? Don't accept it or it will never end. Once he’s realized he can win the argument by using physical force, he will continue doing it. Mind you, 1/3 of reported cases are the woman hitting the man. It is very unfortunate if your man feels that physical aggression is the answer to the problem you and he have. I am saying you and he, try to look at his side of the story as well. Communicate. Force to communicate. Not only in front of family or a pastor, but just between the two of you. It can be a complicated issue, but most often it starts with a lack of communication. And if that does not work? Tell him not to aggress you ever again, or you will report him. And then do report him, there is the Domestic Violence and Victims Support Unit (DOVVSU), especially for that. Don’t bark if you are not prepared to bite. Most often, they then cool down. Worst case scenario is that you either leave, but think about the kids, or quietly learn self-defense and next time, when he wants to have a go at you, hit his balls hard and break his little finger. Most men are, in fact, not very courageous.

Nguni Bar and Grill (8 Abokobi Road East, Cantonments, Accra). This is a very big place in the open, though roofed, with several big screens, an ideal spot to watch a football match whilst having a bite and a drink. As said, several screens and several different matches were shown at the same time. So we asked the waiter where our match would be shown, and were seated accordingly. To see the beginning of a different match. So we softly cursed the waiter and reseated ourselves near the right screen. We didn’t miss much, but still. When our drinks had come, the screen changed and we saw a different match. This time, we cursed loudly until the screen went back to our match. And this happened 3 times. Obviously some novice was trying to find out what all those buttons were for. Eventually he stopped messing us up (and all the others). The beer and the virgin pina colada cocktail we had were fine, but the beef sausage turned out to be a very thin merguez (beef or lamb sausage with chili peppers and other spices). The proudly announced homemade chips were more of boiled potato strips with a little crust on them. I like them crunchy and salty, but it took 3 efforts to find a working salt dispenser. The chicken kebabs were rather dry. Out of frustration, I ordered a beef burger, but they didn’t have that but offered a Nguni special bacon and cheese burger. Then the guy asked me if I wanted it well done, medium or rare, and this should have warned me. I ordered medium rare. It was not bad, but I didn’t really taste the cheese and the bacon; it was a bit sweet and the bread bun was not crunchy. The spiciest part of this burger was the bill of 380 GHS for the burger alone, that's about 24 USD! The service was okay; they were really trying to make up for the mess, but I will not go again, not for their food and for their screens.

Lydia...

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