New Documentary Explores What It Means To Be Black In Tokyo
James Baldwin left the United States for what he felt to be fairer climes. “African Americans discover in Paris the terms by which they can define themselves,” the writer said of one of his homes away from home. “It’s the freedom to work beyond the assumptions of what we can and can’t do as African […]
Bandung: An Escape from Jakarta, Indonesia’s Capital City
My first trip to Jakarta was a sensory assault. The contrasting sights of grand mosques, imposing shopping malls, and roadside food stalls swirled in the cacophony of buzzing motorbikes, taxis, and rickshaw carts. A simple trip across town easily became a three-hour tour, crawling through the maze of traffic. Watching the taxi meter tick away, […]
10 Major African Music Festivals You Don’t Want To Miss
Many African cultures hold traditional festivals in a bid to keep their art and traditions alive. In the 21st century, music festivals across the continent have built on that tradition and have become premier cultural and tourist events throughout the region. Ayiba brings you a list of music festivals to add to your bucket list. Asa Baako– One […]
Culture Through Food: An Explorer and a Chef Take on Africa
Three countries in 30 days. A 30th birthday treat of sorts, my partner (in crime) Chef Hiyaw Gebreyohannes and I were on a mission: to explore business, culture, and family ties in Ethiopia, the Republic of Congo, and South Africa. What we’ve always known on our trips back home to the motherland (he’s originally from […]
5 Ways to Travel More Without Quitting Your Job
It seems every week there’s another story of someone who quit their job and flew off to some far corner of the globe to spend the next decade, or the rest of their life, “on vacation.” As tempting as those stories may be, they can also be unrealistic, overly idealistic and sometimes dishonest. Many of […]
The Music Lover’s Guide to Montreal
Kendrick Lamar, Nas, Joss Stone, Beres Hammond, Lady Saw, The Black Keys, Destra, and the list goes on. These are just a few of the thousands (yes, thousands) of musical artists passing through Montreal this summer. As the largest city in the Canadian province of Quebec, Montreal is often referred to as the Paris of […]
Say ‘Yes’ To Austin City Limits
As a fellow “analogue girl in a digital world,” like Texas native, Erykah Badu, visiting Austin struck a chord with me since it’s a city that literally revolves around music boasting festivals eleven months out of the year. Last October, I flew out to Austin City Limits, aka ACL, and highly recommend a pilgrimage for fellow music […]
The Highs and Lows of an Adventure Trip
Costa Rica was a learning experience for my friend Jamie and me. We took a week-long surf and Spanish trip to Montezuma, Costa Rica. Although it wasn’t the trip we would’ve imagined, we left feeling grateful and full of new experiences. The Journey There Arriving to Montezuma was a journey. Jamie and I flew into San […]
3 Museums to Visit in Madrid
Spain is known for its unique culture practices: from the midday siesta to tapas and the never-ending nightlife. How the Spanish engage in these cultural practices varies by region. For instance, siesta is more common in smaller cities, and the Spanish language becomes harder to decipher due to the prevalent lisp in southern areas of […]
Making Mochilas in Colombia
Vibrant reds, blues and oranges filled the room on a daily basis. The patterns, images and shapes were unlike anything I’d ever seen before. For three months, I found myself gazing into the window of a local yarn shop’s bag-making classes in Bogota, Colombia. One day, I decided to stop gazing into the window of […]
Traditional Chinese Tea in NYC
In a city like NYC, you expect to find everything you could ever want right under your nose. If you’re itching for the vibes and tastes of Latin America, you can go to Jackson Heights. Want to connect with sounds of the Jazz era, then head to Harlem. Craving Greek-head downtown. But until now, there […]
5 Reasons to Visit Accra
Located in West Africa’s lush forest region, Ghana’s capital, Accra, is a vibrant yet easygoing hub worth adding to your list. This heaving metropolis was the backdrop for the birth of African independence in 1957 and continues to capture the hearts and affections of many today. Here are a just a few of the city’s […]
Essential Panama City
Panama City truly is a city of contrasts. On one side of the city, ultra modern skyscrapers create a skyline that brings to mind Dubai, while on the other side, colonial neighborhoods are a mix of revitalized and crumbling buildings. There is so much beauty in the city’s contradictions, so much of the old and […]
The World Cup: Passion. People. Pride.
“You have to learn to be comfortable with being uncomfortable; it’s the only way to grow…” -Jeroson Williams In May 2014, Taylor Harris and Jeroson Williams stepped off the commencement stage of Morehouse College onto a one-way flight to Peru. Leaving their degrees and luxuries behind, the pair set out for what would soon become […]
48 Hours in Muscat
Tucked in the corner pocket of the Arabian Peninsula lies a quiet sultanate of which most people are unaware. This oasis cannot claim the tallest skyscraper or the largest shopping mall in the world, but it possesses a natural beauty that no manmade luxury can contest. Visitors from all over the world are increasingly meeting […]