Begging Me to Stay: Senegal Nudges Real Living
SENEGAL
We first visited the Renaissance Monument by night, where a full moon party was so supremely saturated that we had to swap venues. In daylight this time, we mounted the bronze statue which showcased an African mama, her buff beau and their baby positioned in a powerful, resilient and hopeful stance.
The point was to display Africa on equal terms with the globalized world, reborn, yet with its African spirit still strong. Isn’t this the hope we have for the Motherland?
Mosques on beaches made me muse more … while Jeddah has one perched just at the shoreline, this one was plunked further back on the sand - like the family that has so much stuff that they sit at the first seat they see, or like how my feet force my body to pause on initial contact with the sand’s warmth and exfoliation, even though my spirit is swiftly striving to get seaside.
Either way, I wonder why there are so few sacred spaces that capitalize on Nature’s surround sound, sights, serenity and light (even if this illumination comes from the Sun’s rays).
Dakar has an allure that imbeds immediately and intimately inside of you, almost requiring surgical extraction. Enjoying a few corniche splurges and flings at fancy clubs, we headed to Hotel Lagon for an afternoon of sumptuous seafood situated on a themed pier where plunging in the water was as inviting as sunbathing on top of it.
Hopping over to nearby Ile de Gorée, a more rustic experience was in store compared to the more artsy and picturesque sister island we visited earlier. No matter, these moments will be replayed when I watch legit Afrobeats music videos … after all, I walked these lanes, I met these artists, I moved and danced (but just not quite like them ;)).
Randomly, I ended up having a philosophical discussion with a Rastafarian photo making sand art on the origins of love and how understanding each other was a critical ingredient (if not a prerequisite) in ensuring its longevity.
On both islands, as I turned a corner here or happened to look up there, I restrained the National Geographic-esque photographer inside of me who wanted to capture each scene so worthy of postcards and screensavers.
While we were soon to jet set to the next country, Senegal was begging me to stay. Translated: I threw away my plane ticket to linger a little longer …
The hope was to see Youssou N’Dour live (and to time travel back to the days I regularly replayed his song 7 seconds), but even our dancer friends couldn’t help coordinate a last minute concert ticket. So instead, the entire gang regrouped to see Obree Daman live. Being serenaded by an up-and-coming artist over a tasty dinner seemed more than just a silver medal option! Watching others jam while I did too, my toes thanked me for dancing in Africa – the place where rhythm and movement is as voluptuous as are its people.
From the get go, my gut (and others) told me Senegal was going to be epic. As theory translated into lived experience, there was a peace that permeated not only the process, but also the plays and partnership of my days. I’ve thought of the ways I could reroute back here, but until I do, I feel beyond blessed to have had the tour that I’ve had. Extrapolating this to everyday, I wondered how to create these sentiments in the humdrum of life?
It seems to me that magic is made in moments and memories where we feel like we’re Really Living in the main event - and not just a rehearsal dinner, or worse yet, a play that we’re not starring in, have no say in, nor leniency to change the lines at any time.
S l o w i n g the pace or swapping the schedules gives us a chance to spotlight the trends and themes of the choices we make.
I suddenly see what vacation and my faith have in common. Not only do they both provide reprieves, but also, an enticing invitation to reflect on what elements bring us heartfelt joy, peace, ease, fulfillment and feeling full.
So Senegal, thanks for not only offering me this fairytale escape, but also, ammunition to consider how I want to recreate this kind of living in my life, over and over and over.
May we be able to circle back to the places and people that satiate us,