Olowo-n'djo's Blog – Alaffia
2022 Glossy Awards
2022 Glossy Awards
by Olowo-n'djo Tchala
I'm humbled to have been recently named a Glossy 2022 Founder of the Year. With every achievement and victory, I’m reminded of both my mother and her undeniably influential presence in our mission as well as my community in Togo. I also think extensively about the younger version of myself who dr...
Read MoreLessons from Ina
Lessons from Ina
by Olowo-n'djo Tchala
My mother’s name is Ina. She raised me alongside seven other children in an 8’ x 10’ room in Kaboli Togo West Africa. You may think that sounds small, and frankly, it was, but there was never a shortage of love, integrity or kinship within those walls. These hallmarks of home made it feel large. ...
Read MoreFGM
FGM
by Olowo-n'djo Tchala
FGM or Female Genital Mutilation is personal to me because my mother, Ina, was a victim of this practice. It’s not commonplace or culturally based in Africa as a standard, though you will still find it practiced as a means of controlling or governing women's sexuality. Because it’s an illegal pra...
Read MoreBeautiful Arrival
Beautiful Arrival
by Olowo-n'djo Tchala
I've long awaited this opportunity to unveil the newest addition to our community empowerment projects. Our signature Maternal Care Project, Beautiful Arrival, is expanding into the U.S. Not only is this name appropriate because of the important work of ushering in new life and helping mothers ...
Read MoreAlaffia on CNN African Voices: Changemakers
Alaffia on CNN African Voices: Changemakers
by Olowo-n'djo Tchala
As many of you may already know, Alaffia was recently featured on CNN International in a segment called African Voices: Changemakers. It is such an honor to be recognized for the change that we’re establishing in West Africa and to be given this recent springboard to further illuminate our work ...
Read MoreTogo Gets An Agricultural Reboot - Reforestation Project
Togo Gets An Agricultural Reboot - Reforestation Project
by Olowo-n'djo Tchala
As you well know, a main impetus of Alaffia’s beginning was when I met Rose in the 90’s as she was serving my hometown as a sustainable agriculture volunteer in the Peace Corps. As fate would have it, we became partners in both life and business. Her wisdom of ethnobotany, the study of the relati...
Read MoreBaby Alaffia
Baby Alaffia
by Olowo-n'djo Tchala
Abide, a midwife who served the women in our Maternal Health Empowerment Project, was riding her motorcycle and came across a young woman, Hodalo, on the side of the road who was distressed and in pain. Hodalo was in labor and had been personally affected by FGM earlier in her life, which can mak...
Read MoreWhat Happens In Togo: Agbavi Beach
What Happens In Togo: Agbavi Beach
by Olowo-n'djo Tchala
Agbavi Beach in Togo, West Africa holds a special place for me because it was where my mother, Ina, and I shared our last stroll on the beach together before she became too ill to walk. It was a kind of magical place for both of us to regroup, plan and reminiscence about how far we’d come with ou...
Read MoreThe Legacy of Chadwick Boseman
The Legacy of Chadwick Boseman
by Olowo-n'djo Tchala
Trying to process the magnitude of the loss of Chadwick Boseman and the collective outpouring of sadness is to not only realize his immense talent but also what he came to represent to so many. Chadwick’s performance of T’Challa in “Black Panther” contained such deep levels of humanity, humility,...
Read MoreMuch More Than a Basket
Much More Than a Basket
by Olowo-n'djo Tchala
There’s more than meets the eye with our Alaffia Authentic African Handwoven Baskets. Weaving the baskets is highly collaborative with multiple co-op and collective partners. Baskets are woven with wild-harvested Savannah grass—panicum or elephant grass—from the Blitta collective in Togo. Grass c...
Read MoreI Am A Dreamer
I Am A Dreamer
by Olowo-n'djo Tchala
It's my great honor to be part of the IconTalks documentary “I Am A Dreamer,” an exploration of history, social justice and economic empowerment. In partnership with the Motion Picture Association, the powerful film features commentary from a group of esteemed leaders and activists, such as the l...
Read MoreTogelese Cuisine Family Recipes
Togelese Cuisine Family Recipes
by Olowo-n'djo Tchala
It’s my joy to cook and share Togolese cuisine made from recipes passed down by my mother, Ina. I've made these recipes for people far and wide, including for many of our amazing retail partners. I’ve had so many requests about how to make these sauces that I'm considering an Alaffia cookbook! My...
Read More- Page 1 of 2
- Next page
