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I AM MY HAIR:
Reclaiming Black Hair

In Beauty by Sydney Hussett

Ages 0-10: “Nappy” Phase All of the Disney princesses that I obsessed over had long, flowing and silky hair. My hair was always in braids, little pony tails, Bantu knots, puffs, or whatever elaborate hairstyle my mom decided to style that week. Every two weeks was “wash day:” a full-day event that consisted of shampoo, conditioner, deep conditioner, and squirming …

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The Limits of the Ocean:
Ancient African Boats

In Water by Rebecca Seward Langdon

From the Maritime Silk road and the Nile, to naval warfare and exploration, boats have been built and used by African societies dating back nearly eight thousand years. Mali emperor Abu Bakr II is said to have set to sea to explore ‘the limits of the ocean’. Growing evidence suggests that the Malian explorer landed in the “New World” approximately …

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Swimming and the Black Spirit

In Water by Ola Idris

When I am in water, I am at peace. I float there, giving my soul a chance to hold the moment, of being one with this vast unknown. When I was younger, I tried to replicate this feeling in swimming pools. I remember begging my mother for a house with a pool so I can just float for hours. I …

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Poetic Tradition:
The Pilot Poem from Hadramaut to Zanzibar

In Water by Amani Omar

Humans are social creatures, we communicate through words that can transcend generations whether verbally or written. Our words connect the past to the future. An example of the beautiful connection of past and present is the verbal tradition of poetry.  Poetry can be used to express emotions, describe atmospheres and guide people on a journey of not only self-discovery but …

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Sudan: A Water Shaped Culture

In Water by Marrian Haileselassie

Home to one of the hottest capital cities in the world, water in Sudan is the most important resource in the country. Although it is characterized by the meeting of the White and Blue Nile, Sudan experiences flash floods in Central Darfur and growing desertification in the Northern regions with weathers starkly differing across the country. It is however, predominantly …

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Sailing with the Current:
Exploring the Tobagonian Waters

In Water by Chelsea Bodoe

Whether you ask a tourist or an island local, the notion remains the same: the sun shines brighter in Tobago.  As you board the plane from Trinidad to Tobago, you see ahead of you the gorgeous views of crystal blue waters, this being the first of many indicative traits of the serene, and beautiful beachfront that awaits you. Framed by …

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Merchants of Mogadishu

In Water by Amani Omar

Mogadishu is the capital and most populous city of Somalia. The city has served as an important port connecting with traders and travellers all around the Indian Ocean for millennia. Through the middle ages, there had been many visitors that had come to visit and trade in Mogadishu. The city of Blinding beauty left impressions on tourists and traders alike.   …

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The River that Flows North

In Water by Winnie Lokule

Within her body, she carries tears For she has accepted pain from those around her, Through the ages, she has taken sorrow And turned it into blazing water You do not look hard enough To see those sounds Are cries for aid, For the stream transports history, Love stories, lost families, secrets To the sea The river that flows north. …