Return to Source

By Araba Ofori-Acquah

Whether through stories, traditions or rituals, the wisdom of our Ancestors shows up in our lives more than we recognise. Ghanaian-British healer and writer, Araba Ofori-Acquah, interviews creatives, cultural leaders and entrepreneurs to learn how this wisdom influences their work and their lives. Return to Source is a podcast about culture and creativity, healing and heritage. As well as hearing about the innovative and impactful work of the guests, you'll gain an insight into the diverse Black and African cultures that shaped them 🌍✨

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Community, leadership and the true story of Africa w/ Caleb Mensa-Bonsu | S1E10

Return to SourceNov 22, 2022

00:00

40:42

Returnees, purpose and moving with the system w/ Michelle Konadu | S1E11

In this episode, I speak to Michelle Konadu, the founder of Villa Diaspora - a community and provider of stress-free accomodation for people looking to move to Ghana. This conversation is filled with tips for anyone looking to move from the West to Ghana, or really any other Global South location. We discuss:

The importance of community in both Michelle's Ghanaian heritage and Diasporan upbringing
Why she moved back to Ghana
Michelle’s spiritual journey and dream experiences
Aligning with purpose through starting her business
What is bringing so many Diasporans to Ghana?
Some of the tensions that exist between Ghanaians and 'returnees'
Michelle’s passion for sharing the things that connect us
The legacy that Michelle wants to leave behind

If you like what you hear, please subscribe, rate, review & share! 🌟

Want to connect with Michelle or Villa Diaspora? You can find them on Instagram @aj.konadu and @villa.diaspora or email hello@villadiaspora.com

Want to connect with me? Check out my website, connect with me on Instagram or TikTok @araba.oa, or meditate with me on Insight Timer. You can also join my mailing list for monthly musings about all things wellness.

To support the show, you can donate here: paypal.me/ashewellness

If you’re a business dedicated to culture, wellness or empowering people of colour and you’d like to sponsor, get in touch at araba@arabaoa.com

Podcast theme song created by musician and spoken word artiste Menaye 🎶 Find her on YouTube and Instagram.

If you’d like to be a guest on the show, please complete this short form: https://forms.gle/av8AuWsfGdEEvxn87

This episode was recorded at Musical Lunatics studio in Accra.

Dec 13, 202237:54

Community, leadership and the true story of Africa w/ Caleb Mensa-Bonsu | S1E10

In this episode, I speak to Caleb Mensa-Bonsu, a travel enthusiast who is passionate about depicting Africa in its true, beautiful light and promoting the importance of mental wellness in Africa. This was an inspiring and very honest conversation. We discuss:

Being raised in the Ashanti culture
Caleb’s experience in the MEST entrepreneur programme
His experience travelling around Africa
Some misconceptions about Africa
What Diasporans need to know about the continent
Talking to God at any time
How Caleb found mindfulness
Tips on being a good leader
The legacy Caleb wants to leave behind

If you like what you hear, please subscribe, rate, review & share! 🌟

Want to connect with Caleb's organisations? You can follow find them across social platforms @thetravelclan_ and @talk2mehq

If you'd like to learn more about the entrepreneur programme Caleb took part in, visit the MEST website.

To support the show, you can donate here: paypal.me/ashewellness

If you’re a business dedicated to culture, wellness or empowering people of colour and you’d like to sponsor, get in touch at araba@arabaoa.com

Podcast theme song created by musician and spoken word artiste Menaye 🎶 Find her on YouTube and Instagram.

If you’d like to be a guest on the show, please complete this short form: https://forms.gle/av8AuWsfGdEEvxn87

Nov 22, 202240:42

Christianity, theatre & the drama of life in Ghana w/ Jessica Hagan | S1E9

In this episode, I speak to Jessica Hagan, a writer and arts professional. This was a great conversation exploring the arts and Christianity from a very honest lens. We discuss:

The importance of sowing seeds in the community
The benefits of creative collectives
The theatre industry in Ghana
How storytelling aids Black liberation
Jessica’s route to Christianity
The merging of Christianity and African traditional religions
The role of religion in social order
Balancing creative writing with being a responsible Christian
Jessica’s writing process
Finding belonging as a British-Ghanaian
The legacy Jessica wants to leave behind

If you like what you hear, please subscribe, rate, review & share! 🌟

Want to connect with Jessica? You can follow her @thejesshagan on Instagram or connect with her on LinkedIn.

The book I mentioned in our conversation is A History of Indigenous Slavery in Ghana by Akosua Adoma Perbi.

To support the show, you can donate here: paypal.me/ashewellness

If you’re a business dedicated to culture, wellness or empowering people of colour and you’d like to sponsor, get in touch at araba@arabaoa.com

Podcast theme song created by musician and spoken word artiste Menaye 🎶 Find her on YouTube and Instagram.

If you’d like to be a guest on the show, please complete this short form: https://forms.gle/av8AuWsfGdEEvxn87

This episode was recorded at Musical Lunatics studio in Accra.

Nov 08, 202254:56

Embodiment, spiritual mandem and becoming your own best friend | S1E8

In this episode, I speak to Tamu Thomas, an emotional well-being coach, writer, podcaster, workshop facilitator and Non-Linear Movement practitioner. This is an excellent episode for anyone on a healing journey, with plenty of excellent tips and personal stories. We discuss:

Giving ourselves permission to be multifaceted in a world that wants us to stay in boxes
Who are our Ancestors?
Building a relationship with your Ancestors
What is non-linear movement therapy?
Meeting yourself where you are in your healing journey
The importance of embodied practices for Black people
Balancing the Divine Feminine and Divine Masculine
The link between self-care, social care and system care
How to befriend yourself
How coaching helped Tamu
How to live in everyday joy

If you like what you hear, please subscribe, rate, review & share! 🌟

Want to connect with Tamu? You can follow her @livethreesixty on Instagram.

To support the show, you can donate here: paypal.me/ashewellness

If you’re a business dedicated to culture, wellness or empowering people of colour and you’d like to sponsor, get in touch at araba@arabaoa.com

Podcast theme song created by musician and spoken word artiste Menaye 🎶 Find her on YouTube and Instagram.

If you’d like to be a guest on the show, please complete this short form: https://forms.gle/av8AuWsfGdEEvxn87

Nov 01, 202258:49

Activism, matriarchy and a history of Queerness in Ghana w/ Alex Kofi Donkor | S1E7

In this episode, I speak to Alex Kofi Donkor, a photographer, model, campaigner and community builder, and founder of LGBT Rights Ghana. This was a powerful conversation and - whatever your views - is a must-listen for an education on the history of LGBTQ+ people and politics in Ghana. We discuss:

Growing up in a matriarchal home
Radical rest for activists
What Kofi’s utopia looks like
How a Humanist approach informs Kofi’s life and work
The history of homosexuality in Ghana
How Ghanaian tradition rejects binaries
How Western Christianity has gradually demonised different groups in Ghana (and beyond)
How the global Black community can support our LGBTQ+ family
The legacy Kofi wants to leave behind

If you like what you hear, please subscribe, rate, review & share! 🌟

Want to connect with Kofi or his organisation? You can follow him @ahuoden_gh on Instagram or follow @lgbtrightsghana on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, TikTok and YouTube.

Creating change costs money! Please donate whatever you can through CashApp, PayPal or GoFundMe. If you're in Ghana, you can donate through Paystack.

If you want to donate your time and skills, reach out to LGBT Rights Ghana on any of their platforms.

To support the show, you can donate here: paypal.me/ashewellness

If you’re a business dedicated to culture, wellness or empowering people of colour and you’d like to sponsor, get in touch at araba@arabaoa.com

Podcast theme song created by musician and spoken word artiste Menaye 🎶 Find her on YouTube and Instagram.

If you’d like to be a guest on the show, please complete this short form: https://forms.gle/av8AuWsfGdEEvxn87

This episode was recorded at Musical Lunatics studio in Accra.

Oct 18, 202201:06:12

Travel, leadership and the African Renaissance w/ Vidette Adjorlolo | S1E6

In this episode, I speak to Vidette Adjorlolo, founder and CEO of Sorted Chale, a company that curates experiences across Africa. This is a great interview for anyone interested in starting a business! We discuss:

How Sorted Chale was born
Collaboration between Diasporans and Africans
Giving back to local communities as a travel business
Hearing the voice of God in daily life
How to tap into some of the benefits of travel if you don’t have the opportunity to physically travel
Tips on becoming a better leader
Vidette’s biggest highlight since starting her business
The legacy Vidette wants to leave behind

If you like what you hear, please subscribe, rate, review & share! 🌟

Want to connect with Sorted Chale? You can find them on Twitter or TikTok @sortedchale or on Instagram @sorted.chale. Check out their website to see their upcoming trips 🌍

To support the show, you can donate here: paypal.me/ashewellness

If you’re a business dedicated to culture, wellness or empowering people of colour and you’d like to sponsor, get in touch at araba@arabaoa.com

Podcast theme song created by musician and spoken word artiste Menaye 🎶 Find her on YouTube and Instagram.

If you’d like to be a guest on the show, please complete this short form: https://forms.gle/av8AuWsfGdEEvxn87

Oct 11, 202233:26

Creativity, education and casting tradition into the future w/ Ben Boateng-Owusu | S1E5

In this episode, I speak to Ben Boateng-Owusu, an engineer specialising in self-driving vehicles and co-founder of Owari Kids, an organisation focused on creating Afro-centered media for preschool kids. This is a great interview for anyone interested in how we both preserve and modernise culture and tradition. We discuss:

Growing up between cultures
The undervaluing of Ghanaian culture
The role of music and humour in culture and education
Preserving and futureproofing our culture for future generations
The story behind Owari Kids and the game owari itself
Ben’s approach to personal growth
Mental health and therapy in the Black community
The psychological impact of moving away from our culture and how we can course correct
A call for all creatives to ensure they make work for kids

If you like what you hear, please subscribe, rate, review & share! 🌟

Want to connect with Owari Kids? You can find them on Spotify, YouTube and Instagram @owarikids. Check out their website and get in touch if you're a creative keen to work with them on kids content. This is the soca song we mentioned!

Here's the Glamour article I mentioned about men and loneliness, and here's the Psychology Today piece it's based on.

To support the show, you can donate here: paypal.me/ashewellness

If you’re a business dedicated to culture, wellness or empowering people of colour and you’d like to sponsor, get in touch at araba@arabaoa.com

Podcast theme song created by musician and spoken word artiste Menaye 🎶 Find her on YouTube and Instagram.

If you’d like to be a guest on the show, please complete this short form: https://forms.gle/av8AuWsfGdEEvxn87

This episode was recorded at Musical Lunatics studio in Accra.

Oct 04, 202254:57

Elders, oral history and the African roots of Christianity w/ Kirstie Kwarteng | S1E4

In this episode, I speak to Kirstie Kwarteng, founder of The Nana Project and Doctoral Candidate at SOAS, University of London in the Department of Development Studies. This is a great interview for anyone interested in oral history and education. We discuss:

The difference between education and knowledge
The definition of first-generation and second-generation
The African roots of Christianity
The power of praying in your mother tongue
Honouring Ancestors without ‘worshipping’ them
The importance of capturing elders' stories
How Kirstie manages competing priorities
Kirstie’s biggest achievement so far

If you like what you hear, please subscribe, rate, review & share! 🌟

Want to connect with The Nana Project? You can find them on Twitter, YouTube and Facebook @thenanaproject or @the_nana_project on Instagram. Check out their website and email them at stories@thenanaproject.org if you would like to contribute.

Be sure to watch Kirstie's powerful TED talk too!

To support the show, you can donate here: paypal.me/ashewellness

If you’re a business dedicated to culture, wellness or empowering people of colour and you’d like to sponsor, get in touch at araba@arabaoa.com

Podcast theme song created by musician and spoken word artiste Menaye 🎶 Find her on YouTube and Instagram.

If you’d like to be a guest on the show, please complete this short form: https://forms.gle/av8AuWsfGdEEvxn87

Sep 27, 202245:33

Masculinity, problem-solving and going plant-based in Ghana w/ Zuu | S1E3

In this episode, I speak to Zuu a.k.a The Ghanaian Vegan, a photographer, graphic designer, podcaster and content creator. This is a great interview for anyone interested in hearing about the transition to veganism but we also talk about much more. We discuss:

The innovative nature of Ghanaians
Zuu's personal journey with veganism
Navigating veganism in Ghana
The importance of unlearning for our personal growth
Making space for men to be vulnerable
How Zuu wants to be remembered

If you like what you hear, please subscribe, rate, review & share! 🌟

Want to connect with Zuu? For his personal content, follow @zuutg on Instagram and Twitter. For foodie content, follow @theghanaianvegan on Instagram, TikTok and YouTube. For podcast clips and info, follow @staybyplanpod on Instagram, Twitter and TikTok.

To support the show, you can donate here: paypal.me/ashewellness

If you’re a business dedicated to culture, wellness or empowering people of colour and you’d like to sponsor, get in touch at araba@arabaoa.com

Podcast theme song created by musician and spoken word artiste Menaye 🎶 Find her on YouTube and Instagram.

If you’d like to be a guest on the show, please complete this short form: https://forms.gle/av8AuWsfGdEEvxn87

Sep 20, 202242:01

Pan-Africanism, privilege and Ancestral dreaming w/ Asia Clarke | S1E2

In this episode, I speak to Asia Clarke, a multidisciplinary artist and the creatrix behind Wild Moon. This episode is filled with gems for Black creatives, any Diasporans thinking of visiting or moving to the continent and people interested in African spirituality. We discuss:

Is Pan-Africanism a myth?
The privilege of knowing where you’re from/your heritage
Overcoming the Western mindset
How to create from a place of vulnerability and authenticity
Creating your own spiritual practice
Dreams and meditation as tools for connecting with our Ancestors
Asia's experiences of motherhood - from her grandmother’s presence to her mother’s affirmations to her pregnancy journey

If you like what you hear, please subscribe, rate, review & share! 🌟

Want to connect with Asia? Check out her website or connect with @wild_moon on Instagram. You can see her 'Moon Masquerade' concept I mentioned here.

To support the show, you can donate here: paypal.me/babsofori

If you’re a business dedicated to culture, wellness or empowering people of colour and you’d like to sponsor, get in touch at araba@arabaoa.com

Podcast theme song created by musician and spoken word artiste Menaye 🎶 Find her on YouTube and Instagram.

If you’d like to be a guest on the show, please complete this short form: https://forms.gle/av8AuWsfGdEEvxn87

Sep 13, 202245:24

The African concept of Divine Destiny | S1E1

Welcome to the first full episode of Return to Source! In this episode, I introduce myself and share some of my reasons for starting this podcast. It's a short episode but packs a punch! I go into:

The African concept of destiny
The difference between destiny and purpose
How the global wellness industry ignores African knowledge
Sankofa - looking back to move forward
The one key question that will guide you in living in alignment with your purpose

If you like what you hear, please subscribe, rate, review & share! 🌟

Want to connect with me? Check out my website, connect with me on Instagram or TikTok @araba.oa, or meditate with me on Insight Timer. You can also join my mailing list for monthly musings about all things wellness.

To support the show, you can donate here: paypal.me/babsofori

If you’re a business dedicated to culture, wellness or empowering people of colour and you’d like to sponsor, get in touch at araba@arabaoa.com

Podcast theme song created by musician and spoken word artiste Menaye 🎶 Find her on YouTube and Instagram.

If you’d like to be a guest on the show, please complete this short form: https://forms.gle/av8AuWsfGdEEvxn87

Sep 13, 202212:42

Introducing Return to Source Podcast

Akwaaba! Welcome! Return to Source podcast launches on Tuesday 13th September 2022 - here's what you can expect. Click subscribe to stay up to date - new episodes every Tuesday ✨

Sep 02, 202201:07