The post 6 South African Designers Who Are Bringing Pattern Into the Spotlight appeared first on Chicamod.
]]>
Meet the pattern makers:
The post 6 South African Designers Who Are Bringing Pattern Into the Spotlight appeared first on Chicamod.
]]>The post Discover These Holiday Destinations in Ghana appeared first on Chicamod.
]]>As a way of guiding you through your subsequent visits to Ghana, we list out some of the best holiday destinations this beautiful nation has to offer:
Cape Coast Castle is one of the ‘forty slave castles’ built by various European powers during the 17th Century in Ghana. Due to its historical importance of being used in the trans-Atlantic slave trade, the Cape Coast Castle serves as one of the most fascinating old forts in Ghana. Records have it that the Castle was built by the Swedes in 1637, which makes it 379 years this year. The Castle has been converted into a National Museum, where visitors can browse through readings about the history of Ghana, the trans-Atlantic slave trade and the Ghanaian culture. If you plan on visiting this monumental Castle, ensure you are taken through the dungeons and the famous “door of no return”.
If you are well versed in history, the name ‘Kwame Nkrumah’ shouldn’t sound strange to you. Apart being dubbed the ‘founding father’ of Ghana for leading the country to independence, Kwame Nkrumah also served as the first president and prime minister of the former Gold Coast. As a way of paying tribute to this Great Ghanaian, a mausoleum was designed in his name in downtown Accra, the nation’s capital. Visitors to the Kwame Nkrumah Mausoleum and Memorial Park have a chance to get to learn about the life of Nkrumah in details and have a view of his burial ground and that of his wife.
If you are someone who loves fishing, you should consider making a trip to Elmina. Apart from its fishing characteristics, visitors to Elmina also get to visit St George’s Castle, which was built by the Portuguese in 1482. The Castle is famous for being one of the spots where the historic slave trade were carried out. The castle harbors a small museum, where various historical artefacts can be found. Tourists can also take advantage of the available guided tours.
Kakum National Park is a forest which houses more than 40 species of large mammals that include forest elephants, forest buffalo, Mona-meerkats and civets. Tourists can also have the opportunity to see the over 250 species of birds living in the forest. A trip to the Kakum National Park is incomplete without experiencing a walk on the 30m high Canopy Walkway, which spreads through several bridges and is 350m long. A stroll on this Walkway will offer you the special chance to have a more captivating view of what the forest has to offer.
Kumasi is home to the famous Ashanti people who were known for their art prowess. From gold jewelries and trinkets to Kete cloth and wood-carved stools, Kumasi has a lot in stock for prospective visitors. Visitors can also tour the National Culture Center, the ever-bustling Kejetia Market as well as various craft villages on the outskirts of the city. For tourists interested in understanding how ancient Ashanti royalties lived, a visit to the Manhyia Palace Museum can be helpful.
Other notable places you can consider in your next holiday trips to Ghana include the Bojo Beach, the Aburi Botanical Gardens, the Wli Waterfalls, the Accra Mall and the Labadi Pleasure Beach.
The post Discover These Holiday Destinations in Ghana appeared first on Chicamod.
]]>The post Top West African Food Blogs to Follow appeared first on Chicamod.
]]>
If you are a Nigerian or someone that enjoys Nigerian delicacies, Dooney’s kitchen is your dream online kitchen. This food blog offers you the virtual chance to connect with other foodies and share tips, recipes and real life stories among yourselves. Dooney’s Kitchen offers its followers one of the best resources to guide them through preparation of top Nigerian delicacies as well as new inventive dishes. The blog hopes to assists its followers in ‘creating lasting food memories’.
Mukasechic is run by a Ghanaian foodie who is passionate about Ghanaian cuisine. If you are crazy about learning tips or recipes about top Ghanaian delicacies, Mukasechic is one of your best bet. Followers of the blog also get to learn some non-Ghanaian recipes.
Aftrad Village Kitchen is a foodie’s blog that put together the best of Ghanaian cuisines on a weekly basis. According to the owner of the blog, an expat living in London, the blog main focus is helping “people connect with their African identity through food”. Followers get to enjoy tips and recipes that cuts across mains, desserts and sides.
The objective of the owner of 9ja Foodie, Ronke Edoho is to help “simplify popular Nigerian recipes and to create delicious new ones along the way”. Apart from sharing cooking recipes and tips with her blog followers, Ronke also knock up wealth loss tips as well as other health tips frequently on 9ja Foodie.
Through numerous video walk throughs, Freed, a well-travelled Ghanaian expat, guides followers of My Burnt Orange through the best insights on how to prepare top African dishes. Followers of this blog also enjoy the blog’s special fusion elements with the cosmopolitan nature of the blog’s recipe lists. Freda’s wide cooking experience is helped by her being born in Botswana to Ghanaian parents and marriage to a Zimbabwean. She has also lived in Melbourne and London, hence followers can be rest assured of her cosmopolitan flair.
West Africa is home to some of the most delicious delicacies in the world. The above-listed food blogs and many more can guide you in exploring these delicacies with ease. Enjoy!
The post Top West African Food Blogs to Follow appeared first on Chicamod.
]]>The post Enjoy the Quiet of Greystoke Mahale, Tanzania appeared first on Chicamod.
]]>Greystoke affects visitors in a way that no other place does; perhaps because of its remoteness, and because of the mountains rising from the beach at the back, the wide lake with its many different moods and the feeling that you are the only one there.
Greystoke Mahale has just 6 wood and thatch bandas set on the edge of the forest line at the base of the mountains.
Each one has an en-suite bathroom – accessible by a short boardwalk – with hot and cold running water, strong showers and flush toilets. Dressing room and upstairs chill-out deck.
Dine in the main mess banda on the beach and enjoy sundowners in the bar on the rocks at the end of the beach.
Your days can start here, eating breakfast whilst waiting to hear news of the chimps and deciding what to do with your day. Evenings end with sundowners on the rocks of the headland, where drinks are served around the lamp-lit bar whilst the mountains, rising behind camp, disappear into the darkness.
Bandas are open fronted, with heavy canvas curtains you can pull across if you choose. Made of old wood, not one is the same, but all have a dressing room behind and then a short boardwalk to the bathroom with flush toilet.
For more information on the camp site and its various outdoor activities, visit the official website for Nomad’s Greystone Mahale.
The post Enjoy the Quiet of Greystoke Mahale, Tanzania appeared first on Chicamod.
]]>The post 5 Must Try Southern African Cuisines appeared first on Chicamod.
]]>There are some delicacies from this region that you should try; we’ve highlighted five of them below.
Also known as Bunny, this delicacy is a South African fast food meal that is made up of bread and curry sauce. A loaf is bread is hollowed and filled with curry sauce (and meat).
It is especially popular in the Durban area where it is believed to have originated.
Get the recipe HERE
The combination of Kapenta (Tangayika sardine) and Sadza (cooked cornmeal) is one of Zimbabwe’s top meals; the fish’s crispy taste will get you asking for more.
Kapenta can be prepared fresh or dried and is usually made as stew with groundnut powder.
Get the recipe HERE
Muamba de galinha (chicken Muamba in English) is a popular Angolan stew made with chicken and a lot of spices. It is usually eaten with mush (a traditional dish made from cassava flour or corn flour).
Get the recipe HERE
Potjiekos is literally translated to “(small) pot food” due to the fact that is actually prepared on a small, 3-legged pot. The stew-like delicacy is originally from South Africa and has spread to other Southern African nations especially Namibia.
There are several types of potjiekos and these usually depend on whic type of meat one decides to use. Examples include oxtail, hot mutton curry, chicken and beef potjiekos.
Traditionally, it is cooked outside on an open fire with a social gathering of sorts.
Get the recipes for the different types HERE
A boerewor is a spiral-shaped type sausage with roots in South Africa. It contains 90% coarsely minced beef and 10% spices. The meat can be lamb, beef or pork.
It is usually grilled with a lot of spices and is so loved that it has an annual competition dedicated to it.
Get the full recipe HERE
Think we missed any delicacy? Let us know in the comment box below.
The post 5 Must Try Southern African Cuisines appeared first on Chicamod.
]]>The post Unwind in the Open Spaces of High Atlas in Morocco appeared first on Chicamod.
]]>In the winter, when the weather is clear and cool they are the backdrop of Marrakech. While in the summer they hide behind the haze. A short car ride of thirty minutes brings them into sight.
The ride from Marrakech to Imlil is only a little more than an hour. But the slow climb up the mountains is worth the journey itself. Staggering rock cliff faces mixed with sweeping valleys and villages dotting the vistas break up the drive. Unlike many drives up the mountains that are roads of constant switchbacks the road to Imlil is much smoother – a great asset especially for those who get car sick.
Kasbah du Toubkal is an escape that needs no words.
It should be noted however that guests who might have mobility issues might not be best suited to stay here. While there are mules available to ride up and down to the kasbah it’s still a climb and should be taken into consideration. You can stay overnight at the kasbah or arrange for a day trip from Marrakech. Both are excellent options!
For bookings and more information, please click here.
The post Unwind in the Open Spaces of High Atlas in Morocco appeared first on Chicamod.
]]>The post Glamping – The Ultimate Guide to Glamorous Camping in Kenya appeared first on Chicamod.
]]>Travelers keen to get off the beaten path are best suited for this new form of travel and Kenya has not been left behind in terms of serving you with some of the finest glamping destinations.
Kenya gives you a glamping experience with no barriers; wide, scenic views of the plains and colorful sunsets from your deck with a couple of wildlife looking to make a friend or two popping up at your doorstep to say hello. Here you are immersed in nature with high-end comfort.
Your accommodation tents are a far cry from the poles in the ground you might be picturing; they feature hardwood floors, private bathrooms, and four poster beds, in room Wi-Fi in camps situated in massive acres.
Say goodbye to pitching tents, unrolling sleeping bags, and building fire. There’s nothing like the allure of a luxury experience in the wild taking you back to Ernest Hemingway days.
So, if you really didn’t like your last back-to-basics camping experience, it might just be time for an upgrade. You might consider these destinations:
This award-winning tented camp in the Masai Mara, is one of the best places in the world to see the annual wildebeest migration. This natural spectacle happens on the camp’s doorstep and you may catch glimpses of it from the private verandah of your tent!
Ashnil Samburu Camp sits in Buffalo Springs Game Reserve which takes its name from an oasis of crystal clear water at the western end of the reserve. It is separated from Samburu National Reserve by Ewaso Nyiro River and is less hilly and dense yet equally very attractive.
This tented camp in the Lewa Wildlife Conservancy, overlooks Mount Kenya and the reserve. The conservancy is a terrific place to view the endangered black rhino as it is home to about 10% of Kenya’s rhino population. The game viewing in Lewa is excellent.
Set amid the 60,000 hectares of the Mara Siana Wildlife Conservancy, directly bordering the Masai Mara itself, Mara Bushtops boasts a sensational location. Set in its own private conservancy, the camp has been designed to blend in with the natural habitat to ensure minimal impact of the environment. No expense has been spared on the fittings provided in the 12 spacious and fabulously appointed luxury tents, open on three sides to the great outdoors and each with its own special view. Featuring beautiful interiors solely designed for ultimate comfort and convenience, the camp’s private accommodation has everything you need for a luxurious stay.
This classy tented camp perched on the banks of the Sand river in the Mara is a winner. Located in a quieter area of the Mara the camp has outstanding resident wildlife and is brilliantly located for the migration before it re-enters the Serengeti. The layout of the camp lends a sense of privacy & the decor is relaxed yet luxurious.
The post Glamping – The Ultimate Guide to Glamorous Camping in Kenya appeared first on Chicamod.
]]>The post 5 South African Ceramicists Who Are Firing Up the Industry appeared first on Chicamod.
]]>Thanks to a rich history in the medium, South Africa has a wealth of ceramic artists, and I’ve rounded up my favourites talents who are blurring the boundaries between art, craft and design.
The post 5 South African Ceramicists Who Are Firing Up the Industry appeared first on Chicamod.
]]>The post Q&A with Philippa Thorne, Zinhle Vilakati and Sapna Shah – Founders of KhoKho Collection appeared first on Chicamod.
]]>What was the inspiration behind the Khokho collection?
Rich in colour and textures, the landscape of Swaziland is an integral source of inspiration. During the winter, there is a stark contrast between the charred branches and vibrant flora. The collection palette encompasses these through the colour stories Winter Blaze,Acacia, and Charred Earth. The silhouettes – a clutch, shoulder bag, cross body, and satchel, are interpretations of classic styles re-imagined through the unique weaving patterns.
What is the significance of the name Khokho?
Khokho means Great Grandmother in Siswati. It is a reference to the women who inspire and teach us.Culture and techniques are passed down over generations,particularly among the women in Swaziland. In creating this new collection and product, we wanted to respect these traditions and wisdom of generations before us. For us it important to evolve a craft while keeping its essence in our hearts and minds as we design.
Can you tell us about the collaborative efforts of the brand?
Khokho is the result of a cross-continent collaboration, a weaving together the strengths and skills. New York-based Sapna Shah has designed luxury handbags for over 10 years and discovered her interest in artisan work after returning to her roots in India and uncovering her grandmother’s antique collection of hand-woven saris.
She met Swaziland-based Zinhle Vilakati and Philippa Thorne through Nest, a non-profit organisation supporting artisan businesses. Zinhle Vilakati was taught to weave by her mother and has made it her life’s work to train women in home industries in order for them to earn income and uplift the community around her, as well as breathe new life into traditional skills. Philippa and her three siblings were brought up by their mother after their father passed away; she moved to Swaziland after completing her fashion studies at Central St.Martins.
These three women, all inspired by the inspirational women in their own families, shared a vision to elevate and build appreciation for the craft work of women. Zinhle set about training a group of women in different weaving techniques, while Philippa and Sapna set up a leather atelier in Swaziland for the construction of the bags, eventually bringing in Italian craftsman, Carlo Bisceglia to train graduates from a local upholstery college.Today, the woven panels are made by the Buhleba Khokho Weaving Association and are transformed into handbags at the Khokho Atelier in Swaziland.
It is great that you are showcasing Swazi weaving techniques – how are these unique?
One of the techniques we use originates from a traditional winnow or cutting board called a sitsebe. Only a few women still know this technique of weaving in our region, as the product no longer has a practical application around the home. After refining and re-introducing this technique, we have incorporated it into our satchel and zip pouch styles.We spent two years developing and training, both in the weaving and in leather. We have adapted a traditional basket technique into panels that can then be incorporated into handbags, refining the size and pattern to best fit the silhouette and the hand-crafting process.
You are using products from three countries – can you tell us more about this?
In terms of our materials, we combine natural fibres from Swaziland with South African veg-tanned leather and Italian hardware. The lutindzi grass used is an indigenous grass that is sustainably harvested from rocky outcrops in the Swazi mountains. The woven panels are bought from the Buhle Bakhokho Weaving Association, a co-operative of 12 women weavers. We source materials locally wherever possible and maintain our mission of each piece being 100% handcrafted in Swaziland. Whether in sourcing or manufacturing, quality always plays a key part.
What is the social impact of the company?
Preservation and elevation of traditional hand skills, which builds appreciation and increases the value of craft work. A renewed pride among artisans who previously believed their skills no longer had value in today’s world. As well as the impact the training has had on the team of leather craft graduates, who say they are proud to learn handbag making at this level. The Weaving Association receives a percentage of each sale and they are currently using these funds to procure some land, which they plan to farm.
What are your goals for this brand?
To continue to challenge what is possible within this space. To keep improving and strengthening our collaborations and, in an ever–changing environment. Our handcraft and techniques are finally being seen as the luxurious commodities that they are, appreciated and valued, as with any other handcraft in the world.
For stockists and more info, visit the Facebook page.
The post Q&A with Philippa Thorne, Zinhle Vilakati and Sapna Shah – Founders of KhoKho Collection appeared first on Chicamod.
]]>The post 5 Designs Taking African Weaving Techniques to the Global Stage appeared first on Chicamod.
]]>
Khokho is a luxury accessories brand that combines Italian workmanship with traditional Swazi weaving techniques. The brainchild of Philippa Thorne and Sapna Shah, Khokho uses the ancient craft of weaving to create stylish, contemporary handbags. What’s more, all artisans who work on the bags receive a percentage of proceeds from the sales.
Uganda Crafts’ range of functional and decorative woven baskets are not only aesthetically gorgeous, but ethically produced too. The organisation works with women’s groups throughout Uganda to help create employment and provide training, and all the baskets are woven with sustainable banana and raffia fibres, making them a Fair Trade organistaion too.
Senegal-based Johanna Bramble is a weaver and textile designer who has spent years creating products for architects and designers around the world. Bramble makes the most of her country’s expertise in weaving and textile design, and employs the unique Senegalese weaving technique in all her home textiles. The finished products all show an incredible play of texture, light and transparency, thanks to this ancient craft.
While their furniture may come across as sleek and Scandi-inspired, we love the fact that all Vogel’s pieces have a uniquely African twist. A perfect example is the Twig chair, with its woven plastic seat.
Studium recently launched their furniture design with the playful Rotunda drinks cabinet. The façade is made from traditional woven fabric, spray-painted to create a bold geometric design. The play of modern and traditional converges perfectly in this feature piece.
The post 5 Designs Taking African Weaving Techniques to the Global Stage appeared first on Chicamod.
]]>