Tourism
How HBCUs Are Bringing African American Students Home to Ghana
A growing movement is connecting African American students to the African continent, and historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) are leading the charge.
In March 2026, a group of students from Clark Atlanta University traveled to Ghana for a seven-day immersive experience that took them from the solemn dungeons of Cape Coast Castle to the wildlife of Safari Valley.
The journey, organized through the university, reflects a broader push by HBCUs and the HBCU Africa Education Coalition to facilitate diaspora reconnection through educational travel.
For many of the students, it was their first time setting foot on the African continent.
A Journey of History and Healing
The itinerary included visits to Assin Manso, where enslaved Africans took their final bath before being marched to the coast, and Cape Coast Castle, a UNESCO World Heritage site where thousands were held in darkness before being shipped across the Atlantic.
At the castle’s Door of No Return—historically the final exit for millions who never saw their homeland again—the students participated in a Returnee Ceremony, a symbolic reversal of history that welcomed them back as family rather than captives.
“They didn’t just walk out in chains. In fact, they were welcomed back,” the video documenting the trip noted.
Student Reflections
For McKenna Williamson, a junior psychology major from Clark Atlanta, the experience was deeply personal.
“I feel like I’ve really found myself here and I’m home,” she said. “I haven’t felt home in a while. And I feel like just being here and experiencing everything has just really—it’s transformational. It’s indescribable.”
Salem Margarita Walton, a third-year political science scholar, described the journey as life-changing.
“I remember the last bath and experiencing nothing like that ever,” she said. “I feel like my life has changed. I’m so grateful for this opportunity. We’ve built family. We all went to the same campus, but we are now actually meeting each other.”
Giani Malloy, a second-year fashion design major, said she gained a new perspective on community.
“I feel like the people here have a very deep sense of selflessness that I also want to bring back to my home,” she said.
A Broader Movement
The Clark Atlanta trip is part of a larger initiative facilitated by the HBCU Africa Education Coalition, which works to create pathways for HBCU students to study, travel, and connect with the continent. The coalition organizes educational tours, study abroad programs, and cultural exchanges designed to deepen ties between African Americans and Africa.
Organizers of the March trip noted that there are many more students waiting for similar opportunities. A call for donations to support the next group traveling in May has been issued, with funds going directly to student participants.
More Than a Trip
As the students departed Ghana after seven days, the journey was described not as an ending but as a beginning.
“Leaving Ghana didn’t feel the same as arriving,” the documentary narrator reflected, “because they weren’t just leaving Ghana, but they were leaving a part of themselves.”
With HBCUs and organizations like the HBCU Africa Education Coalition continuing to facilitate such experiences, more students are expected to make the journey—turning what was once a forced departure into a voluntary return.
Taste GH
Konkonte and Groundnut Soup: Ghana’s Comfort Bowl With a Deep, Nutty Soul
The first spoonful of konkonte with groundnut soup rarely leaves a person unchanged. Steam rises from the bowl carrying the rich, roasted scent of peanuts, while the deep brown mound of konkonte sits quietly beside it, ready to soak up every drop of the flavorful soup.
Konkonte—sometimes playfully called “face the wall”—is made from dried cassava flour stirred into hot water until it forms a smooth, elastic dough. Its earthy colour may appear modest, but that simplicity is part of its charm.
When paired with groundnut soup, one of Ghana’s most beloved dishes, the result is a meal that feels both humble and deeply satisfying.
The soup itself is where the magic begins. Ground peanuts simmer with tomatoes, onions, ginger, and pepper, creating a thick, creamy broth with layers of warmth and spice. Pieces of goat meat, beef, or fish often swim in the pot, adding richness that turns the dish into a full meal.
Across Ghana, this combination shows up everywhere—from roadside chop bars to family kitchens where pots bubble gently on charcoal stoves. Many people enjoy it in the afternoon or evening, especially when they want something filling but comforting. The dough’s mild flavor allows the soup to shine, each bite absorbing the nutty, peppery sauce.
@foodheartedly I made this delicious Konkonte and Groundnut Soup with this package I received from @la ferme Victoire. It cost just 130 cedis and it’s so convenient ☺️ Contact @la__fermevictoire on WhatsApp via 0598884460 INGREDIENTS IN THE PACKAGE: Konkonte flour Groundnut paste Garlic Onga seasoning Fresh tomatoes Fresh peppers Ena Pa seasoning Fresh chicken Onions Garden eggs Okro Tomato paste . . . . . #foodheartedly #groundnutsoup #konkonte #lafermevictoire ♬ original sound – ghclassicsongs
For visitors exploring Ghanaian cuisine, konkonte with groundnut soup offers something memorable: a dish that speaks to resilience, tradition, and the country’s love of bold, satisfying flavors.
It’s not flashy, but it’s unforgettable.
Travel
Where Wildlife Meets History: Exploring the Shai Hills Resource Reserve
Just after sunrise, the savannah begins to glow. Golden light spills across wide grasslands while rocky hills rise abruptly from the earth like ancient watchtowers.
A troop of baboons darts across the path, pausing long enough to study the arriving visitors before disappearing into the brush.
This is Shai Hills Resource Reserve, a striking stretch of protected land less than an hour from the bustle of Accra, where wildlife, history, and landscape meet dramatically.
The reserve sits between Accra and the Volta Region, covering more than 50 square kilometers of savannah plains and rocky outcrops.
Unlike Ghana’s dense rainforest parks, Shai Hills feels wide and open. Tall grasses sway in the wind, acacia trees dot the terrain, and clusters of hills break the horizon.
These hills once sheltered the Shai people before colonial conflicts in the late 19th century forced communities to relocate to nearby settlements.
Today, remnants of that past remain in the caves carved into the rock faces—quiet spaces that once served as homes, shrines, and lookout points.
Exploring Shai Hills is as much about movement as it is about scenery. Visitors often begin with a guided drive through the reserve, where antelopes graze calmly in the distance and zebras wander the plains.
Birdlife is everywhere, bright flashes of color in the trees, accompanied by constant chatter in the warm air. For travelers eager to stretch their legs, hiking trails lead up the rocky slopes, rewarding the climb with sweeping views of the savannah below.
One of the most memorable stops is the Obonu Tem Cave, perched high within a hillside. The path up is steep and rocky, but the view from the entrance stretches across the entire reserve.
Standing there, with wind moving through the grasslands and the quiet hum of nature all around, it’s easy to imagine how the Shai people once watched the land from this very vantage point.
@_mtravels_ Here are a few things I noticed during my visit to Shai hills and if you’re visiting soon, I hope you’ll find this video helpful. If you’ve visited already, share your thoughts in the comments and share to help someone. #ghanatiktok🇬🇭 #fyp #travel #traveltips ♬ original sound – Mtravels
Beyond wildlife and hiking, Shai Hills offers smaller moments that linger with travelers—the rustle of grass underfoot, the distant call of birds, the sudden appearance of a curious baboon along the roadside.
Its proximity to Accra makes it one of the easiest nature escapes in Ghana, yet once inside the reserve, the city feels far away.
For travelers searching for wildlife, culture, and open landscapes without a long journey into the interior of the country, Shai Hills delivers an experience that feels both wild and deeply rooted in Ghana’s past.
Sights and Sounds
Azonto: The Ghanaian Street Dance That Sparked a Global Movement
Long before playlists were filled with Afrobeats and dance floors pulsed to Amapiano, a different rhythm captured global attention. It didn’t start in luxury studios or international charts. It started on the streets of Ghana.
Azonto wasn’t just a song. It was a movement.
In the early 2010s, young people in southern Ghana—particularly within Ga communities around Accra—began transforming a traditional dance known as panlogo into something new. Panlogo already carried a strong identity: expressive hand gestures, rhythmic footwork, and movements that told everyday stories.
But a new generation reimagined it.
They sped it up, added humour, and turned everyday activities into dance gestures—mimicking phone calls, driving, washing clothes, or even acting out jokes. The result was Azonto: playful, expressive, and instantly addictive.
Soon the streets became stages.
Ghanaian musicians quickly caught onto the energy. Artists like Sarkodie, E.L, Gasmilla, and Stay Jay began weaving the dance into their music and performances. Tracks built around the dance flooded local airwaves, parties, and clubs.
Azonto was no longer just something you watched. It was something you joined.
Social media and early YouTube dance clips helped push the movement further. Tutorials popped up everywhere, showing fans how to master the signature gestures and rhythmic footwork.
Then the wave crossed borders.
UK-based Ghanaian artist Fuse ODG played a key role in carrying Azonto beyond West Africa. After spending time in Ghana and working with producer Killbeatz, he returned to the United Kingdom with a clearer understanding of the sound and culture surrounding the dance.
What followed helped ignite a global craze.
Songs built around Azonto rhythms began circulating internationally. One of them even broke the dance down step-by-step, making it easy for anyone—anywhere—to learn the moves. Soon, dance floors from London to Paris were filled with people mimicking the playful gestures born on the streets of Accra.
The internet amplified the spread.
Videos of Azonto dancers began appearing from cities across Europe and North America. What had started as a local reinterpretation of a traditional Ga dance was now part of global pop culture.
As often happens when trends explode, imitations followed. Nigerian duo P-Square introduced a dance called Alingo, which many fans saw as heavily inspired by Azonto’s style and rhythm. Debates followed, but for many observers, the origin of the spark was already clear.
Azonto had already written its name into global dance history.
Today, newer sounds like Afrobeats and Amapiano dominate international charts, but Azonto’s influence still lingers in the way African music connects with dance culture worldwide. It proved that a local street movement—driven by creativity and community—could shape global trends.
For Ghana, Azonto was more than a viral moment. It was a cultural statement.
A reminder that sometimes the world’s next big wave doesn’t start in corporate boardrooms or international studios.
Sometimes it starts with a group of friends dancing in the streets of Accra.
-
Ghana News1 day agoNewspaper Headlines Today: Friday, March 27, 2026
-
Ghana News17 hours agoMahama Says Ghana’s LGBTQ Stance is Rooted in Culture, Court Clears Way for Abu Trica’s Extradition to the US and Other Trending Stories in Ghana
-
Africa Watch18 hours agoPan Africanist Otchere-Darko Rebukes UK Conservative Leader Kemi Badenoch Over Recent Comment on Slavery Reparations
-
Ghana News2 days agoEscalating Violence in Oti Region Town Claims 5 Lives, Parliament Passes Legal Education Bill 2025, and Other Big Stories in Ghana Today
-
Ghana News1 day agoMajor Change Comes to How Lawyers are Trained: 10 Things to Know About Ghana’s Newly Passed Legal Education Reform Bill
-
Ghana News1 day agoLatest Update on Ofori-Atta’s Case, Ghana’s Upcoming 7-Year Domestic Note, and Other Big Stories in Ghana Today (March 27)
-
Business24 hours agoGhana Cedi Expected to Weaken Further in The Coming Week, Traders Say
-
Ghana News2 days agoAmerican Expat Shares Fleeing Philadelphia for “Softer Life” in Ghana
