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: The Everyday Girl’s Guide to Slaying in Stripes, Taking the law into your own hands, Prostitutes, and Saffron Saga Indian Restaurant

The Everyday Girl’s Guide to Slaying in Stripes. Hey fashion fam! This week, we’re talking about one of those timeless trends that never misses— stripes! Whether bold, subtle, or totally dramatic, stripes have a way of turning even the simplest outfit into a statement. From the office halls of Airport City to rooftop brunches, stripes are serving main character energy all over town. Stripes, darling, are not just lines on fabric—they’re a lifestyle. Bold, confident, a little unpredictable… just like the Accra girl herself. Whether you’re catching tro-tro to work, brunching at cafés, or hitting a night out, stripes are the easiest way to look effortlessly stylish without even trying too hard. So if you’ve been wondering how to wear your stripes without looking like a traffic cone (we’ve all been there ), relax—your girl’s got you covered. Here’s your ultimate guide to rocking stripes like the confident, stylish Everyday queen you are. Let’s get into it! Monday to Friday: Boss Babe in Pinstripes. Work clothes don’t have to be boring. A tailored pinstripe blazer or wide-leg trousers says, “Yes, I came to the meeting — and yes, I look amazing.” Go for light fabrics like cotton or linen — because this Accra heat doesn’t play. Vertical stripes elongate your frame and make you look super polished. Pair them with solid colours (think white, beige, or navy) and finish off with comfy loafers or block heels. Now that’s executive realness, Ghana edition.

Taking the law into your own hands. Is not allowed. But still? In 1998 Spanish María del Carmen García's 13 year old daughter got raped. The rapist, Antonio Cosme was sentenced to 9 years jail. In 2005, on temporary release, Antonio taunted Maria near her home, suggesting he would have another go at her now 20 year old daughter. She went to a petrol station, bought a few gallons of petrol, found Antonio in a bar, poured the petrol over the rapist and lighted the fire. He died after 8 days. She got sentenced to 9.5 years in jail but on appeal this was reduced to 5 years. Her case received public sympathy, and petitions for her release or a pardon were signed by thousands. A court suspended her sentence in 2011 pending a pardon application, and she was released after serving about a year. However, the government denied the pardon, and she was ordered back to prison in 2013. She was granted open prison in 2017 and finally released in 2018. Right? Wrong? Your daughter?

Prostitutes. These days if you drive through Accra in the evening, and especially during the weekends you'd think the town is full of them. I have sort of respect for their daredevil attitude, to step into a completely unknown stranger's car just like that? Some guys have different motives than simple sex, and if you get out of it alive reporting to the police may give you another unpleasant experience. But who are those girls? Some indeed reckon that a few customer's a week allows them to sleep long and do their nails during the day, why get up at 4:30am to get to an underpaid job at 8 and get home at 10pm? But for some it is a way of survival, get sufficient money to continue their education, or pay their mother's hospital bill. Well paying jobs are not as plenty, especially if you don’t have the right background, connections or education. And hustling often gives little return, and needs starting capital. Guys are different from girls, and a young fit male can “do” it several times a day. Most often they don't, and for some of them this is a problem, the urge to have sex can become too much. Great, there are prostitutes, go there and keep your hands off my 14 year old daughter. So though one may have her opinion about the morality of prostitution, at least some of the potential rapists have a way of getting rid of their urges. And if you really think that sex for money is bad, evil, just ask yourself why you expect hubby to give you money. Don't be too quick in condemning others.

Saffron Saga Indian Restaurant 12th lane, Osu, Accra. This Indian restaurant used to be called Koh – I -Noor after a big 190 carat Indian diamond (38 grams) which ended up as one of the British crown jewels (the ownership is still controversial, in any case the Brits did not pay for it). Former owner of Koh – I – Noor Indian restaurant, Mr. Cheema sold to the new owners after he had to suffer a triple by pass operation. And the new owner made the place look 21st century, when you enter you feel like entering a party. Not knowing much about Indian food we asked the waiter to serve us an introductory dinner, but without milk, they use lots of that, also lots of yoghurt, because one of us was lacto intolerant (like 75% of us are). We had mutton seekh kebab, nice and differently spiced than our kebabs, kadak roomali, a very thinly baked bread, baked on a hot wok, a bit like the original Napoli pizza which was a thin crusty dough with some toppings, this one came with various spicy crumbly things on it, and chicken dum biryani and schezwan fried rice chicken, both chicken dishes a bit like what would be chicken jollof and chicken curry jollof, except that the chicken came in very very thing slices. An interesting meal with interesting combinations of spices. Not everyone supports the Indian spices which are many more than the traditional Ghanaian ones, and we all reacted to this in our own ways, though no disasters happened..... Service is prompt, friendly and knowledgeable, prices are what one should expect in such an “up” place, though not up like some of the up places. And here too you discover a service charge at the end of the bill, 5 % in this case.

Lydia...

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