Ghana, 2006

Back to Africa. My first trip to West Africa. I’m interested to see if it feels the same or different to other parts of Africa. Is there truly an African unity, a continental identity? Is there something that binds South Africa to Egypt and Kenya and Ghana? Will I feel the same sense of exhilaration and at-home-ness that I have felt in other parts of Africa? I expect I will. The sights and smells, the taste and feel of Africa is unique. Still, it is the diversity within Africa that makes it so exciting, so fascinating.

Ghana will have its own delights and surprises, its own flavour of history and culture, its own set of rhythms and colours, its own tangle of city life and beauty of nature. I am particularly hopeful that I might get a chance to visit the tropical forest near Accra; perhaps even do a canopy walk. Whatever happens, it will be good to be back on African soil again, albeit briefly. Africa, where my mind is at ease, my heart is at home and my soul is at peace.