
VONA Travels & Panorama Journal
I'm thrilled to announce that I've joined Panorama: The Journal of Intelligent Travel as Senior Editor in charge of VONA Travels, a new section debuting graduates of VONA Travel Writing, the only writing workshop in the USA exclusively for people of color. In April the section launches in the LOST issue with a series of travel journals from Mary Ann Thomas's journey bicycling the length of India. (We ran into each other at the Taj Mahal, which is another reason I'm so excite

11 more days to apply for VONA Travel Writing!
5 years • 42 graduates • 50+ publications • 4 publishing partnerships • 1 world We're back the the Bay Area. Now non-residential. Apply here! #VONAVoices #travelWriting #writingworkshop #writersofcolor #travelersofcolor #travel #travelwriters

Two Writing Workshops, One Deadline (2/19)!
Time to get cracking on your New Year's resolution to write more! Or to support a loved one who has a story. I'm teaching a community-based Meditation & Writing workshop in Oakland Feb 24 & Mar 3. It's generative and appropriate for all levels. And Travel Writing for People of Color this summer in Berkeley. 5 years ago VONA/Voices and I teamed up to launch the nation's 1st writing workshop exclusively for travelers of color! 50+ published articles and 4 partnerships (Away Jou

VISIBLE: WOMEN WRITERS OF COLOR: FAITH ADIELE
Fresh from my summer in Finland, I sat down with long-time pal Deesha Philyaw for her crucial column VISIBLE in The Rumpus. According to The Rumpus, I talk about being a good literary citizen, the Finnish debut of her PBS documentary, and telling the truth about Black lives. According to my sources (i.e., my mum and Facebook feed) this detailed interview - with its shoutouts to digital platforms Ruskeat Tytöt (Brown Girls) and On She Goes; anthologies Family Trouble, Creating

My African Nordic Summer
What a summer! In early June I presented at the NonfictioNow Conference in Reykjavík Iceland, where I finally met Stockholm-based Nigerian travel photographer Lola Akinmade Åkerström (not pictured) and a cousin (pictured) joined me. In late June / early July I presented at Documenta 14's Gathering of Biafran Children Survivors in Athens, Greece (pictured with Chris Okigbo's daughter Obi) and had lunch with a friend I hadn't seen in 34 years. Now I'm at the Afro European Con

Off for a Viking Weekend in Minneapolis!
So excited to be teaching "Stories of Arrival" for writers of color over MLK Weekend as part of a partnership between VONA/Voices & The Loft Literary Center. I plan on bringing some African warmth to the Twin Cities' Viking cold. On Saturday January 14, the faculty (Chris Abani, Natalie Díaz and Elmaz Abinader & I) will be reading for the public at 7PM, The Loft Literary Center, 1011 S Washington Ave, Minneapolis, MN #VONAVoices #Reading #Travel #POC #Minneapolis #TheLoft #Wr

Back from Mexico
I'm back from a month-long DIY writing retreat in San Miguel de Allende that was filled with lazy mornings in the garden, sunset views from the rooftop, delicious meals, and contributing to the Frida Economy. Lots of friends came down to join me for a week or two. #Mexico #Travel #Retreat #Writing #Food #Arts #SanMigueldeAllende #FridaKahlo #Residency

Lions & Orphans & Selfies, Oh My!
I've been working on a travel piece that touches on sex tourism, which led me to the amazing Instagram parody, Barbie Savior, which 80K people discovered before me, leading me to sign up for Instagram TODAY! The taglines and hashtags alone (#offensifabulous #gonativeorgohome #stayprayedup #notqualifiedcalled) are worth the price of admission. I am a HUGE fan of Barbie as Art, such as my tribesman Obi Nwokedi's Black Barbie & Ken’s Nigerian Traditional Wedding, and have some p

Jungles in Paris, Off Assignment & Me
I'm performing - not my own but someone else's - work at this Evening of Travel Films & Stories tonight. Off Assignment is launching an interesting Letter to a Stranger series, while Jungles in Paris does one of my favorite things of all times - documentary photography and filmmaking about travel! #Travel #Film #photo #writing #storytelling #letters #JunglesinParis #OffAssignment #WeWork #global #stranger