Tag Archives: Africa

I stand with Cape Town – Push back Day Zero | Cuts for Him

I was disheartened when I first learned about the water shortage in Cape Town. The city is on the brink of a drought known as the worst in its history. The situation is so acute that authorities have put a date when taps will all but run dry and it is locally known as “Day Zero”. Whilst in Cape Town, Day Zero was expected in the second week of July which is a stark reminder for a visitor like myself never to take such a precious resource for granted.

To help push back day zero, local authorities have encouraged citizens to use no more than 50 liters a day per person. To think that one of my favorite cities in the world will go without water come Day Zero was enough reason to inspire this shoot.

I stand in solidarity with the people of Cape Town during this difficult period.


Continue reading I stand with Cape Town – Push back Day Zero | Cuts for Him

The rose that grew from concrete! Bo Kaap, Cape Town

The title of this article came to me this morning like a light bulb moment. I was actually doing my morning prayers when the title popped into my head. I almost grabbed my phone to type it in but then remembered that I had made a promise never to use my phone until I have done my daily devotion in the morning. I said to myself if this is the title of this post them I will remember after my devotion.

My trip to South Africa was everything I expected and more. I loved every bit of it albeit the glaring issue of race (which I won’t go into fully here).

As it turns out, Bo Kaap was the first place I visited when I was in Cape Town. I linked up with a friend and his Continue reading The rose that grew from concrete! Bo Kaap, Cape Town

Cultured in Culture | London | Cuts for Him

CULTURE! The Oxford dictionary defined it as “The arts and other manifestations of human intellectual achievement regarded collectively” and the Cambridge dictionary puts it as “The way of life, especially the general customs and beliefs, of a particular group of people at a particular time”.  People identify themselves along cultural lines and strong bonds are formed through generations. Culture is as old as humanity itself but has been misunderstood or misrepresented.

It is usually said that a person will not know where they are going unless they know where they come from. This to my interpretation fits the bill for knowing your heritage culture. I also believe that every group of people practice some form of culture possibly passed down to them. From the food we eat to the clothes we wear, from art and architecture to the songs we listen to, from things relatively insignificant as a gift to more important things such as a language all contribute to defining our culture.

So it always baffles me when people try to define a person using one of the above or even worst, their skin colour. Come to think of it, skin colour is one of the most used criteria to pigeonhole Continue reading Cultured in Culture | London | Cuts for Him

Hotel Barmoi | Sun, sea and a slice of paradise in Freetown

It was about 35 degrees Celsius on a Thursday afternoon when the vehicle I was travelling in pulled up to a gate in Aberdeen, West of Freetown. I chuckled and said to my drive “we don reach sef?”, which translates as “are we here already”. Either I was too busy on my laptop to notice the drove from IMAT (where I was stayed for my holiday), or the journey was much shorter than I anticipated.

My morning coffee fix

By the time the gatekeeper opened the gate to let us in, I was already out of the vehicle and trying to figure out where the reception area was. I absolutely dislike sitting in a vehicle waiting for gates to be opened, drivers to park properly or even being held up in the Freetown traffic. In fact I do not like to be chauffeured around but as someone who cannot drive, I have very little choice in the matter. As a result, I try to spend as little time as possible in any vehicle.  The minute I sense there could be a slight hold up, I am out of the vehicle walking towards my destination.

Cereal for breakfast

I was greeted with a big smile by one of the receptionists as I walked into the air-conditioned waiting area. Good afternoon sir, greeted the polite young lady behind the Continue reading Hotel Barmoi | Sun, sea and a slice of paradise in Freetown