The luggage situation was really a blessing in disguise because home hunting while lugging luggage would have been physically impossible. After bouncing around a bit we found a spot we couldn't resist. We rolled up to the oceanfront Rising Phoenix Magic Beach hotel, greeted by the sign: “Magic! Come!” OK, we're in. Who can resist magic? Our room is delightfully named Saturn, painted in my favorite colors – marigold on the inside, light turquoise on the outside. Incredible what a good coat of paint does for my psyche. Picture us on our pastel-painted balcony, the ocean breeze teasing our locks, drinking a local brew...in really dirty socks. A day in the life of “emerging entrepreneurs.” In a word, fancy.
Since we are rooted for a few days I can now focus on the main event: textile shopping for the Afia summer collection. I perused around Accra today visiting the small vendors that line the streets, attempting to chat with my basic Twi, and absorbing my options. Sweet heaven! I live for this ish. I’ll sleep and dream on it, and return tomorrow to buy.
As of today, Afia is now expanding the line to include…wait for it…fanny packs! Our new chale (Twi slang equivalent of “dude” “bro” “homes”) Jah B, in a serendipitous moment, flashed me his Ghanaian print fanny pack. Pure gold. The fanny pack, after years of scorn, is on the up and up, paralleling the return of terribly awesome 90s club music i.e. Whoomp There It Is and The ScatMan. I saw many model assistants rocking fannies during NY Fashion Week. Jah B introduced us to the creator, Christiana, constrained by a disability that limits her to crutches, and I promptly placed a fat order for her incredible fannies to sell on the Afia website. A disabled artisan gets rewarded for her craft while you look like the freshest cat in town. Everybody wins.
Ended the evening with a drum session and a preview from the headliner of tomorrow night's reggae festival. Magic!
Saw this for the First time! Its looking Great!
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