Scenes From Detty December
An encounter with a king, kenkey-making, a trip to the mountains, and more.
Welcome to Utopia 2026, y’all. While there is plenty to point to in this world that resembles dystopia, I’m feeling inspired to consider what utopia means and looks like in spite of the times. Below are images and related ideas from my trip home that remind me how important it is to remain in anticipation for the best that is yet to come.
On my way to Ghana, my Uber driver to JFK airport asked me where I was going and when I responded, he shuddered. “Africa?!”, he said with a look of concern on his face. “Yes. Africa.”, I responded with a smile. “Be careful out there”, he told me. It seemed as though his preconceived notions of the continent did not account for views and experiences like this image taken in the mountains of Aburi, situated a few miles outside of Accra.
“Oobake” is a Ga word that is colloquially translated as “welcome”. Technically, it means “you will surely come”. The image below captures from my point of view a festival hosted by the King of the Ga people aimed to bring the children of Accra and elders together in celebration of intergenerational connection. As a diasporan, the technical definition of oobake reminds me that the notion of home is both ancestral and intergenerational. And as I’ve been on my own journey to live in my Ghanaian heritage, I take comfort in knowing and feeling that my return home has always been predestined. Indeed, I will surely come home.
The future belongs to those who create it. I had the opportunity to connect with inspiring entrepreneurs like Emmanuel Buabeng. Emmanuel is the creative force behind Botto Upcycle - “a social enterprise based in Ahinsan-Bonsoum, Kumasi with the aim of training the youth and people with disabilities with self-employable skills into reclaiming, repair and repurposing fast-fashioned waste and incorporating discarded polymer into bags and other accessories to give the materials a second chance to circulate.” Based in Kumasi, he traveled hours by van to meet me in Accra, share his story, and gift me a custom Botto Upcycle Kelewele bag made with Kente cloth.
Kenkey, a firm, slightly sour and savory swallow made from fermented corn dough wrapped in leaves and steamed, is a speciality of the Ga tribe. As a Ga myself and kenkey lover, I was eager to learn how the aunties prepare it. Aside from the fact that the cardio workout required when making kenkey will likely be my most intense workout of 2026, the extensive time and dedication needed to create kenkey makes me wonder (and worry) about how such practices of authenticity will be preserved as our world increasingly incentivizes convenience and efficiency.
It’s not every day that you get to meet a king. I had the unique opportunity to meet the Ga Mantse, who is the King of the Ga people. Not only did I get to share my book with him, I also toured the palace grounds and learned about the kings and queens who have lead the Ga people who have occupied Ghana’s coastline for centuries pre and post European presence. The first question the King asked me, which I’m still thinking about and refining my answer to was: “What is my opinion on Ghana’s recent apology for the country’s involvement in the slave trade?”.
“The future belongs to those who create it.” 🙌