Winter is approaching and I am really excited but I know many of my fellow afro-canadians are not. One thing I notice is how many of my peers struggle to integrate their culture into their day to day lives, which is understandable. How do you blend the warmth of your ancestry with the Canadian cold?
Although it took a lot of trials and experimentation, the authors of afrocentrism eventually learned a few ways to use our cultures to amplify our winter experiences.
Lesson One: Shield yourself from the cold
I was in the eighth grade. It was 6 in the morning and I was waiting for the bus. The weather forecast said it was going to be chilly that day, so I was quick to buy a cozy coat and a cute pair of winter boots. However, after a few minutes being nice and snug, a frosty feeling started creeping down my neck.
I forgot to bring a scarf.
The next day I decided to wear a boring, bland winter scarf that kept me warm but lacked style. I don’t know what’s worse, freezing to death or wearing an ugly scarf?
If you have ever been in a similar dilemma to me, don’t fret. David Laate has the solution.
Use traditional scarfs to shield you from the cold. The Ghanian kente cloth is a great option. The kente cloth is a textile piece, inspired by the complex nature of a spider spinning a web, is made of handwoven strips of silk and cotton. The cloth’s tight knit weave pattern is strong enough to shield you from the cold, while offering color as a form of cultural expression.
- Red signifies strength or political passion.
- Blue stands for peace, love and harmony.
- Gold signifying the wealth and royalty of the nation as well as its people.
- Green to signify our rich ancestral lands flowing with fertility for agriculture.
- Black signifies spiritual strength.
- White signifies purity, cleansing rites.
Having been reserved for Ashanti royalty throughout Ghanaian history, a hand woven kente cloth is very expensive. Fortunately, many small business owners and seamstresses sell kente cloths at a range of reasonable prices.
Lesson Two: Invest in good music
By the end of junior high I had eventually learned how to style weatherproof, African inspired winter fits. Although the right clothes keep you warm on the outside, Daniel Sango would say that “Music warms the soul.”
It wasn’t the holiday season until I heard my mom sing Benjamin Dube’s “This joy,” Mariah Cariehs “All I want for Christmas” or Nicole kings “My Redeemer.” And I will never forget the hour of my life I spent listening to Christmas R&B music. Can I even claim it’s the holiday season if my sister hasn’t played Chris Brown’s “This Christmas” or Destiny’s Child’s “8 days of christmas.”
Unfortunately, around the holiday season I would get on the bus and hear all the cliche christmas songs play over and over and over again. Although these tunes bring me lots of joy on November first, by the one-hundredth time of listening to jingle bells I would start to despise the school bus radio.
But why listen to the same Christmas songs on repeat, until your ear starts to bleed, when you can invest in some cute headphone that drown out the radio. Not only are they cute but they protect your ears from the cold.
From afro-beat to indie melodies, listen to some Christmas songs from all sorts of cultures and genres.
Lesson Three: Own a pet
But eventually the partying will dial down and you’ll have to go home. Most winter’s after celebrating the holidays I would spend the winter at home with my family but this year is different.
I’m in university. I’ve moved out. I no longer live with my family. So I decided to do what most young people do when they leave the nest. I have started searching for an adorable animal companion. My parents never bought my sibling pets growing up. When I was younger my parents used to tell me that I can buy all the pets I want… when I move out.
I wasn’t really sure what pet to buy but Clement Moyo, he simps for dogs, suggested that I should buy a Saluki, one of the first dog breed. The Saluki originates from Norhtern african. Not only are these medium-sized dogs highly affectionate, but they do not shed a lot. Next winter I hope to be snuggling with an adorable Saluki descendant.
If you’re struggling to find the winter, put on a ghanian scarf, buy headphones and find an adorable animal companion. These tips will help you conquer the cold.