Cameyah

We all, are products of our society. We all want to survive. Some of us have to fight harder, others less. Some of us need to do certain things, which others don't.

I see the lights and a big party, While my children are robbed in the dark. I see people wasting food, While my children are crying of pain. I see you buying cheap clothes, While my children are working as slaves. I see you enjoying, Thanks to us who are suffering.

You refused to help a crying child She fell down and now she is dead Your forgot to turn around towards a waiting love She ran away and now she is lost She needed a simple shelter You felt too big and you just left You went to the kitchen But your chef was not there You were looking for clean laundry But your cleaning lady did not show up today You stepped outside your house But you came too late They already left

I believe that my spirit, life and mission are predestined. I could force to change it, but it would never go to my benefit. I live for my spirits and if I satisfy them, they in turn will satisfy me. In order to get, you have to give. They want to live a certain life and I am their tool. The Almighty gave me life and a certain mission, I am his daughter. He is my father and creator. To him, I am always his child, no matter how disobedient I am. I try to find my own way in life, yet he just laughs. He knows the answers before I do. I try to close my ears and not to listen, again , he laughs. He knows that one day I will realize my own good. Sometimes, I try to imagine myself as an ordinary person, yet I fail. My creator has chosen a life for me. I try to run away from my duties, but instead I get punished and I cry. I fall, crying for help. My mother reaches out to me. Once again I try to run, only knowing that sooner or later I will dive into my mother's ocean, once again. My husba...

If only, nobody tried to create a life for me, without asking for my opinion first... our society was not so strict and our history so dramatic... I was encouraged to do what I loved doing… passion could win over the money… people could spend time on encouraging and helping each other as opposed to break one another… If only you listened, cared, appreciated me, encouraged, didn’t try to change me, tried to understand… I would have not run, I would have been there Maybe not the way you would’ve preferred But at least we would have been happy. All I wanted was your love.

We set up many different goals for ourselves everyday. While I am doing my best in trying to become a better person by sharing my soul with the ones who need it, people in the West are trying their hardest to get hold of the latest electronic equipment and get the flashiest outfits. Now tell me, how am I supposed to react to that? People in the West forget about how you should treat the people you care about. Some invite you to their house, but they don’t even welcome you when you get there. If they don’t value themselves on the inside, how can they gain respect from the outside? If you haven’t put down any thought and expression in your actions, then how will you achieve anything? How will you gain if you don’t spend, first? Why are we always rushing and what we running from?

Africa cannot passively stand back and let anybody decide over her fate. She cannot rely on the outside help to rise up, she has to do that by her self. It is up to her people to decide over themselves and get where they want to get. The African countries do not have a sense of nationalism, which is not strange if you look at the fact that the African boundaries were not constructed by Africans, it was done by the Europeans who drew the lines, without taking into consideration which ethnic groups they put together. They did not consider their differences and the fact that they might not get along with each other. The migration of the African people into the western world is not the solution of the problem, which Africa is facing today. To abandon your country and your beautiful continent, which is full of a culture and treasures, is not something you would choose to do in the first place. Your family and friends, which you will not be able to see and get the necessary support from, the...

I feel that the best that my mom ever done for me, was to take me away from a country full of misery and no hope. When we make up our mind to go for something, when we are responsible, not only for our own lives but for our children and relatives, then we become very determined. It is then not a matter of selfishness, it is simply a matter of giving your children a better place to live in. It is your responsibility as a parent to look beyond your own needs and put your child’s first. Some mothers’ actions are very difficult for us to understand. We might feel abandoned and not loved, but in the end we realize that all they did was for your own good. The double shifts they worked, the late nights at work, their tiredness, and finally the moment when your mother would leave you to go out in the world and make a new future for you. As a child of nine years, I realized already that the country I was living in was not good for me. I was unhappy with the way the school was operating , I was ...

Qualifications, when do we really know what we master and who is the one to tell us that we qualify? The problem in my society is that the ones above ones rather stop us from learning as opposed to creating the possibilities for us who are different and who do not fit into the category. Where do we go and to whom can we turn to? The administration does not consider us as different individuals with the needs, which are quite different from the rest. Why cannot I attend a program in English, when my entire university education has been taken place in English speaking countries? Why do not I qualify for a course about my literature and culture, when I speak the language and have already a certain skill in terms of prose and literature? Who is more qualified? Who is the one to judge? I am not qualified to take certain courses, which I am actually qualified to teach.

From time to time we nee to meet our neighbors, our teachers and family to upgrade our skills, compare and share our knowledge. We all go away and learn new things, depending on where we go. The knowledge is there for everybody and no matter if one’s conditions do not allow one to go, it does not mean that the ones who do go, will not share what they have learnt. We do not forget who we are and no matter how much time passes, we always remember each other. If you really want to stay true to your students, you need to, from time to time, take a trip out and test your knowledge. You have to meet your advisers and the people who are into the same thing as you are. It is very important not to forget the size of the world and not to get stuck in the same place, thinking that, that is it. You have to go further and set up you goals even higher than you would ever think you would reach.

It is hard being together with a performing artist. Right now I am referring to dancers in particular. We are born with a goal and a mission in our minds. Some of us are even pre-destined and the spirits have chosen our paths already. Our actions are mostly surrounded by our career, everything we do has to do with dance. At times we could have rehearsals from morning till night, performances, tours and if we do get time in between, then we need to take care of our bodies by eating right, exercising and sleeping. Our schedule is different from the rest of peoples’, it is irregular and very unpredictable. In a relationship like that, your partner not only needs to love you for who you are, but he also needs to be understanding and very patient. Dance business is different from the rest of the professions and it demands all your energy and dedication. It is very competitive out there and if you will not be different and something special, then you simply will not have a job and this busin...

How do you know that you are a fabulous dancer? You can have the greatest technique, master many different styles, take part in many productions and be very well known. But when we meet in an improv jam it is your spirit, daily life experiences, what you ate an hour ago and your environment that matters whether you are able to give and take your partners’ energy. Personally, I bring my emotions with me into the space. All my daily experiences which I never had a chance to let out are being shared and resolved when I improvise. Being a very emotional person gets it’s’ advantages in situations like this. In this jam we are people from many different backgrounds with different experiences, still we meet together as one, with no fear of each other creating a trust, which is very rare for a group who has only been practicing together for a week. We are in it completely with our body, mind and spirit, taking risks, throwing each other, catching and throwing again. We have a certain attitude ...

APPLICATION FOR EXTENSION OF VISITOR’S PERMIT Dear Chief Immigration Officer, My name is Eugenia Efremova, I am a Swedish citizen. In May 2007, I have completed a one year course study at the School of Performing Arts, University of Ghana. I have a residence permit until November 2007; I wish to extend my stay for six more months. The reason for that being is that I would like to study the Ghanaian dance culture deeper than what I have had the chance to, so far. As I was schooling at Legon I did not have the time to travel and train with cultural groups. I was very busy with school work, productions and late night rehearsals. As I have completed my education I have more time to travel around Ghana and visit the villages where the traditional dances are done in its’ original environment. I also have time now to make my research, teach children and gain a deeper appreciation of the culture which I have only learnt briefly. After six months in Ghana I will be able to go back to my countr...

Identity… It’s tricky to talk about one’s identity. Who are we? Are we a one particular character or a fusion of several personalities and nationalities? Is it possible to remain passive without other nations’ influences? Do we change character and customs? Do we still remain under the name which we were born under, or is it the color line that always will decide who we are supposed to be? Are we always going to be judged by the way we look? When will our actions speak for our identity and when will we start looking at the individuals’ customs as opposed to at the outer appearance?

When there is light off in Madina, the streets are dark. It is quiet, the fans are out, no television, only mosquitos, buzzing around your head. When there is light off in Madina, I feel a bit scared, cause I cannot see the people, coming towards me at the estate junction. I cannot see the gutter and I am scared to fall inside. It is also a favourite time for the robbers to come out. When there is light off in Madina. I cannot cook, so I buy the fried rice and chicken, thinking, how I wish I could have some chinese instead. When there is light off in Madina, we cannot sleep. Odruo is outside, sleeping on a small matress. Inside is very hot and outside is cooler small. Still the mosquitos are disturbing him, big time. When there is light off in Madina, we like to disturb. Me and Kwame sit outside and we talk. We look at Odruo and we laugh plenty. He twists and twists, this way and that. We know, he will not sleep. We make some movement and we play xylophone . Odruo will never sle...

My dear babygirl, learn to love yourself and everybody else around you. We are all humans and most of the times we commit mistakes. We are not perfect and even the kindest will loose temper, once in a while. Darling, learn how not to judge anybody. We can never be somebody else, than ourselves. We can never completely understand another person, therefor, we do not need to judge them. Learn how to see love in each and everyone. Nobody is completely evil and sometimes it is not evilness that causes us to act, but a simple need to survive. Do not let yourself be bothered and disturbed by actions, which in fact are not relevant to your life, live for the moments of love and happiness. Do not let jealousness and prejudice to enter your pure and beautiful mind. We are all special and unique. There is no one like you and you are my beautiful pearl. Respect your elders. When I look at you, I see your daddy, also he, sees me in you. Learn to see us in each elderly person and your angel will ...

You know you are a bush gurl when: Your phone is so heavy, that you can use it when working out. You have to run 12 m away to get reception, when your phone rings. You notice small pieces of seaweed on your body, after taking a bucket shower. You start chasing the goats and you find it very amusing. You go to the bush to take a shit. You forgot how to use a stove. You go to bed at 7 pm, because there is no light. You dream about fried rice and chicken. You see a lot of cars and you get frightened, running around in a wild panic. You wash your hands inside the Ethiopian dish, in the Ethiopian restaurant. You wake up in the morning with some sand in your ears.

Around New Year 2007 I just got back to Accra, from a village in Benin and a very good friend of mine is telling me about his holidays. Something very sad happened to him, but of course to a natural laugh maniac this also had a humouristic twist. Names and details gotta be confidential, I am really trying. So hear me out... Right after I left for my travels, my friend got into a car accident (partly because of me) and had to stay in the hospital for about three days. Terrible, Christmas started out really bad, I felt so guilty. A couple of days before Christmas, when we need love and harmony more than ever, his three pairs of jeans got stolen, while hanging on the line, drying, from just being washed. Man, some people are just too greedy! Well, you know we gotta move on, so he decides that he wants to celebrate the New Year like a big man. For sure, he deserves it! So, he decides to go to somewhere around Cape Coast (about three hours away) to get a nice and juicy goat (extra cheap) an...

She is a princess Give her just one look and you can tell That she is a princess Her eyes are mysterious So joyful, kind and mishivious She knows, She is a princess She will give you her smile Which makes you feel as if you are Also a princess She will give you her flowers And you will adore her forever She lights up the sky Because she is the most beautiful star She glitters in the sand Because she is the most beautiful pearl She sings like a siren Because she has the most beautiful voice She swims like a mermaid Because she is a goddess She loves the fullmoon, Sweets and honey She dresses in white Like the purest of all She loves all the children Even though she is so young She is so loving And that's why I love her She is my hope, inspiration and wonder She makes the impossible She is such a sweetness This beautiful princess I bend down when I see her And give her my offereing Then we dance until the sun comes up Forget about everything and travel in time When I come back I don...

Do you remember the time when you showed me how the waves talk? We came to see them on a one fullmoon night. They were very far, but they came closer, just to see us. They always speak, but you are the one who showed me how to listen. I went to great them with my simple gift. They embraced me tenderly and the foam swept around my ankles. They are powerful and fierce, yet they know how to be gentle with their child. They told me if I disobey, they will beat me hard and I saw the proof of it, the giant waves were forming by the horizon. You told me not to be afraid, just don't forget them, because it is not nice to be forgotten. I said that you are very powerful and wise, you laughed and said that you are very simple. Everybody speaks, you just have to know how to listen. The power is the nature and once you are one with the nature, you are one with the power. The power is within the universe and you become a part of it. The universe is within you and once you have found it, you d...

I have travelled to see the most beautiful things on earth. The most romantic, the most precious, but if you are not there to see it with me, I would rather not see it at all , because there is no beauty without you. I can watch the waves and become mersmerized, but if I share it with you I become complete. I can stand next to the castle made of gold, which has no value to me, unless you are standing next to me. I can jump of the cliff, with no fear, knowing that you're jumping with me. Because this life has no beauty without you.

By looking for the society, where i am supposed to fit in, I meet the random people, who always make my day, keep constantly surprising me and giving me inspiration. Even though I haven't completed my journey, I can defenetly say that I have met a lot of people and have seen a lot of places. For everyday that goes, I get small clues and visions about where I am supposed to go, all I am doing is following my spiritual guidance. I move to different countries, every two months. I speak five different languages. People say that I'm intelligent, some say that I am crazy, it varies, depending on ones's own perception. I see things, people either choose not to see or have no idea that they exist. I'm not a diplomat, neither a woman an a suit, who is travelling with a laptop. I am a very ordinary person, who simply chooses to see and experience life, they way it is and not the way it is presented. Some people say that I am selfish, arrogant, ignorant and confused. Some others s...

The deities' names signify the origin of their birth. The name of a country, city, river, etc. That's how we can trace the customs of the African religions in the New World back to where they are coming from. They were given these names to remember, to distinguish the different ethnic groups from each other, to preserve one's identity and to make resistance against the colonial rule. The different ethnic groups were forced to come together and unite. There of, the different names of the ethnic groups could represent a specific dance, service, or a diety. These names in Africa do not represent exactly the same custom, because the traditions and ethnic groups there, were not threatened in the same way as the traditions of the enslaved Africans in the Americas. The emphasis in the Caribbean was put on the remembrance and the preservation of each ethnic groups' culture. The ethnic groups, which I have focused on are the: Ewes, Fons and the Yorubas. The countries which they...

Just a few quotes: " Why do we have to run away from our own country? Why can't we fix it?" " ... will the truth feed your children? When do we speak out? When the soldiers are appointed lectures and students attend lectures with guns to their heads? When do we speak out?" " God take power from the devil."

I find so much peace in an African village. Away from the city, away from the crowds of people, the traffic and the noise. The village is quite, filled with so much tradition, respect, kind people and religion. I love walking down a bushy road with high grass on both sides. The sand is red brown and for as long as the eye can see, there is nobody around you. Nobody who is calling your name, no cars, just you, one with the nature. In the afternoon hours, when the sun is beginning to set, when you no longer feel the burning heat hitting against your forehead, the temperature is nurturing your body, telling you, that the life is sweet. Walking with my slippers in the sand, I feel, as if I am a tiny being on this large continent, which has such a power to either swallow you up, or embrace you with all its' love. I see children approaching me, calling out to me with curiosity. As a stranger in their village I great them respectfully. Being older and as a guest you are treated with respe...

They call us barbaric Without manners Traditions, nor religion Meanwhile, all we want is to be proud They say we have no democracy We always fight and kill Meanwhile all we want is peace Most of us are lost and do not know where we are coming from and where we are going. Truly, all we want is to belong. We have been lied to, deprived of our pride and freedom. We are not welcomed in other countries, but neither in our own. All I want is to be proud. Our country is poor, the richness is only for a few privileged, but still I want to be proud. Our leaders are not to be trusted, they use the system for their own benefit, but still, I wish I could be proud. I cry, because I can never go back, I cry because I can never stop crying. I cry, because sometimes people accuse me of hating my country, of traditions, which can never be revived again. I cry, because, actually it is them hating it and blaming it on me. I am tired of this jealousy, between the people on the outside and the people on th...

When I look at the Cuban people I always ask myself, what makes them more special than the rest of us? Why do they love their culture more than any other people on this earth? What spell do they use on us to make us fall in love with their culture and forget everything we have ever known? What is it about them that makes them be who they are? What is it that they have the rest of us miss? In one and the same moment you will se sensuality, sensivity, strenght, joy, sorrow, war, peace, love, hate, everything and then all of a sudden nothing. Their dance takes you on journey through time and space to a distant land. A powerful land, born in the time before you and me. A powerful kingdom, with a ruler so strong and fearless, that even when he is dead he will not stop ruling your world and mine. Their song will cut through your skin and lift you up in the air, it will not bring you back down again until the music has stopped. If you are not carefull your spirit will get lost up there and th...