 Welcome back to the eating channel, it's your favorite village boy Mr. Ghana, baby. I mean, it's Christmas, yeah? It's almost two more days to Christmas. Are you going to America to celebrate Christmas or are you going to celebrate Christmas in here? I'm going to America to celebrate Christmas with my mother and it's important to her and so that's why I'm going back as well. I mean, I met her today and she was supposed to be in Ghana for like a week and I think how long have you stayed so far? Six weeks. Six weeks. And I would stay longer if I could. I definitely would. I mean, what brought you to Ghana in the first place? Oh my goodness, that's a story. It was the best way I can say it was a spiritual calling, an instinct almost. It sounds, not everybody understands what that means, but there is a point where I knew I needed to leave for my own sanity and health and Ghana was it. Ghana was it. It wasn't just about Ghana, it's about being on the continent and stepping foot on this continent as a Haitian-American woman finding my roots, going back to source. It was really the spirit of Sankofa that really brought me here as well. You know Sankofa. Yes. What is the meaning of Sankofa? To go back and retrieve what you have left behind. Wow, so many people don't know what is the meaning of Sankofa. But you know, I met her today and she told me, hey Maya, I'm in Ghana because of your videos. I'm like, hell no. I mean, my videos brought me to Ghana. I mean, I thought I'm having fun. I never knew the videos had an impact. Of course they do. You have like half a million subscribers. They're impacting people. And I am one of your faithful subscribers, absolutely. I've been following you for a while and I'll tell you what you're doing is giving people a positive light on Africa in the diaspora. And I don't know how much you've heard of it, but how we speak about Africa in the diaspora is very negative. How negative? Basically we've been lied to. We've been lied to for centuries about our own heritage, about this place, about who we are as people. And when you come here you realize that everything is false. Everything's been, you know, made up about who we are as people and what this place is about. I mean look, I've had people ask me to carry two toothbrushes in case I lose one. Because apparently there's no place to get toothbrushes in Africa. What? Or people get concerned about where am I going to live? Where am I going to stay? Like they think you're all still living in trees or something. By the way, even if we were living in trees, what's wrong with that? Listen, in America people pay a lot of money for tree houses. In Africa even if you live on trees, you don't have to pay for it. I was like what's wrong with that? I was like even if it was, even if that was true, what's wrong with that? You know, there's a cultural difference. But we have modern things here. There's nothing that I've gone without since being here. You mean so it's your first ever visit? Yes. To the continent? To the continent. And I started with Accra Ghana. You're not scared of coming? Absolutely not. What am I supposed to be scared of? My own people? My own kind? If I'm scared of being here, I'm scared of myself. So why are so many of you guys reluctant to visit the continent? You know, we're reluctant to visit this continent and it comes from other African Americans, other Africans in the diaspora. We have been subdued into a state of complacency and belief that this is a dark place, a dangerous place, that there's no value here. There's no value in who we are as people. You know, so the images that we see in the diaspora are of starving people, kids, you know, disasters of some kind. You know, just, it's never a positive image. I mean, you've been here for six good weeks. You're living today. I mean, I feel so sad that, like, I met you just today. And I've taken you to some places that you yourself are going to be blown away that, hey, is this Ghana? You know, let them know, yeah, why must every African diaspora, why must they visit Africa? Because you have been here. It's a must. It is mandatory that people step foot in this continent because if, in order to know yourself, you have to know your history. You, in order to know yourself, you have to know where you're from and who you are in order to find your power. And that was one thing that I realized here, like, my goodness, it was affirming of my power, of our power as black people, as Africans. And so while we're suffering out in the West, coming here is a way to reclaim that power and that sense of self and sense of identity of who we are. There's so much richness here. This is, this is us. This is us. Yes. My goodness, I feel like you have a lot to say if I should give you the whole day to speak to me. I do, I do. You've been here for six weeks. How was the experience, like, how was the people relating to you? I mean, when you're coming, did you know anybody around? I only knew one person here. And that was a big help. So there's lots of forms to connect with people here just so you have somebody to call to ask a question to. Exactly. And I do recommend that. So I was very fortunate to know at least one person here. But I'm leaving with so many more friends now. I've met so many wonderful people here and had so many wonderful experiences and conversations. And mind you, I'm traveling alone. I came here by myself. And I've been able to make some really wonderful connections with Ghanaians here and other people from the diaspora here as well. So, yes. Beautiful. You know, just let us know. I mean, I have so many fellow brothers and sisters in the diaspora who are looking for where to take that step just like you. What are the kind of preparation that we need to have before we step our foot on the continent? Oh, my goodness. You know, you have to have the right mindset. The preparation is mental. This place has everything else you need, materialistically, right? So you don't need things per se. It's your mindset and your vision and your purpose for being here. That's the most important preparation that needs to be made. So, letting go of expectations, letting go of an American colonialistic mindset, you know? We don't even know that we're doing it sometimes. You know, we're so conditioned in the West to be comfortable with everything, to be complacent with a lot of things that are even happening right in front of us. So we have to condition our mind to come here. That's the most important preparation. And how many places did you visit when you came to Ghana? Oh, my gosh, I've been in a lot of places. I went as far east as Tema. I went up north to Abrea. I went out west to Cape Coast. Went to the Kakum rainforest. Kakum National Park. Yes, National Park. And then I've just been traveling around the city in different neighborhoods. Try our food. Of course I have. Oh, okay. I've been eating... Listen, I've been eating so much Ghanaian food. Like, which one did you do? Your favorite Ghanaian food? Kelawele. Kelawele. Did you try Fufu? Yes, I've tried Fufu. Did I give you Kako? You know Kako? I don't have Kako, but I have Fufu. But I did the Ambanco. Yeah, but... That's a heavy diet. Eat it with my hands. And let me tell you, the food tastes better when you eat with your hands. Thank you. Tell them. Because anytime I do videos eating with my hands, I forget America's complaint. Oh, it's not hygienic. You don't have to do that. Listen, listen. It's part of us. No, no, no. We're going to leave that American stuff behind. Okay? Because when I first came, it was actually from the airport. I went to... It was like the street spot on, you know, the food smell good, the fish look great. And what people don't know if you're from the west is that once I sat down on the street, they brought me a bowl of water and soap. You wash your hands? Of course it's hygienic. Thank you. We're not doing that in the States. But we're doing it here. We're doing it here. It's part of the culture. Just for the culture. I'm so happy to meet you and I wish you all the best. And I just hope you move to Ghana someday. That's a good possibility. Are you planning to move? It's a good possibility. The way I'm feeling right now... Listen, if I didn't have to go back for Christmas, I'd still be here. I would still be here for sure. I want to say thank you so much for talking to me. Thank you. I appreciate your time. Wish you all the best and wish you a safe flight. Thank you. I mean, I have so many men that watch my videos. So definitely they'll be so angry if I don't put your Instagram. Because they'll be like, why would I mind? Why would I mind? If you're just going to put your Instagram, make sure you go follow her. But just a friendly test. I know you people. I hope you guys enjoyed this video. Don't forget to like, share and subscribe. I'll see you in the next one. I am Maya. Come to Africa. It's mandatory. Thank you.