GRIOTS REPUBLIC - An Urban Black Travel Mag - March 2016

W H E R E T H E R E ' S T R A V E L , T H E R E ' S A S T O R Y
IRELAND
NEW PROGRAMS
IRISH CULTURE
AND FOOD
1845
FREDERICK
DOUGLASS
SEX
WORK
MONTSERRAT
YOUR NEXT
ST. PATTY'S DAY
DESTINATION
ON TOUR
While Performing in Dublin, Rapper
Illa J Talks Touring, Hip Hop & J Dilla
MARCH 2016 | ISSUE 03

Archivists Note
We are three months into this journey and with each passing month and new
issue of Griots Republic, the GR team gets more and more excited (no, you
really don’t understand just how excited we really get!!). As we bring you
images and stories that span the diaspora, we would be remiss in our duties if
we did not take the time to thank you for reading this, our labor of love.
Trust us, you really have not seen anything yet. With that said, let us go!
Next stop citizens of the Republic?
Ireland.
Landing on the Green Isle, the team expected to be mesmerized by the
majestic beauty of rolling hills, impressed by snow-capped peaks, intrigued
by historic castles and warmed by tasty fare, but we got even more than
expected as we connected with our cousins who have chosen Ireland as their
home. The Archivists sat down with some of the most beautiful people to be
found anywhere and they opened their hearts to us, as well as their lives, to
share how they as former denizens of The Motherland found their way to
Ireland and are proud to call it home.
From Irish Comedians to Gospel Choirs and all the way over to International
Powerlifters, we packed this issue with genuine Irish Soul. We even caught
up will Detroit Rapper Illa J on his European Tour and spent hours in his
dressing room talking (and eating) as he prepared to take the stage. His own
words perhaps summed up our time together best, “Yo, it feels like my
cousins came by to visit.”
So, before you turn the page and take your first step onto the Green Isle to
meet your family abroad, we think it is only appropriate to bless you with this
traditional Irish prayer:
May the road rise up to meet you, May the wind be ever at your back. May
the sun shine warm upon your face and the rain fall softly on your fields. And
until we meet again, May God hold you in the hollow of his hands.
Travel safe and well citizens of the Republic.
T H E A R C H I V I S T S
Irish comedian and internet
star, Fabu D, has an
inspiring story to tell of low
lows and high highs. He
also sings and it's
absolutely unbelievable.
If there's anything to be
gained from Arlette
Bamahou's interview it's a
sense of "I can do it!" She is
driven and passionate
about women in sports!
Watch!

Giving our time back to the
community is as important as
travel. So in celebration of
Black History month, we cohosted
a Black History Month
Reading Event at Ralph Waldo
Emerson Elementary School in
Indianapolis, Indiana.
How we ended up on the radio
in Dublin talking about Griots
Republic will consistently go
down as the most random
travel moment ever. Yet, there
we were on Dublin City FM
103.2 and afterwards we went
and ate chicken - because
that's what family does.
It's insane, sometimes, when
talking to other travelers and
they simply "Get It!" They
understand your passion, your
heartbreaks, and every other
experience you've had while
abroad. That's exactly what it
was like talking with
Entertainer Illa J. Definitely
catch his interview!

from the citizens of the Green Isle and
he blessed them with his presence in
1845 and 1846 to discuss and promote
his book “The Narrative of the Life
of Fredrick Douglass: An American
Slave.”
One of the most poignant quotes from
“My Bondage and My Freedom”:
It is virtually impossible to have a conversation about Slavery in
America without including a rather robust conversation about
orator, abolitionist, statesman, social reformer, and the former slave
known as Fredrick Douglass. The author of “My Bondage and My
Freedom,” which is still required reading in many schools is arguably
one of the most influential African Americans of all time and while
he may be tied to many anti-slavery discussions, what many do not
realize is that he was also an avid supporter of women’s rights and
his views earned him the respect of not only Americans, but the
Irish as well. In fact, Douglas found both support and admiration
“I find
myself
regarded
and
treated at
every turn
with the
kindness
and
deference
paid to
white
people.”
“Eleven days and a half gone and I
have crossed three thousand miles
of the perilous deep. Instead of a
democratic government, I am under
a monarchical government. Instead of
the bright, blue sky of America, I am
covered with the soft, grey fog of the
Emerald Isle [Ireland]. I breathe, and lo!
the chattel [slave] becomes a man. I
gaze around in vain for one who will
question my equal humanity, claim
me as his slave, or offer me an insult.
I employ a cab—I am seated beside
white people—I reach the hotel—I
enter the same door—I am shown into
the same parlour—I dine at the same
table—and no one is offended... I find
myself regarded and treated at every
turn with the kindness and deference
paid to white people. When I go to
church, I am met by no upturned nose
and scornful lip to tell me, ‘We don’t
allow niggers in here!”
This passage speaks volumes about
the admiration Douglass felt for the
Irish and in his book, “TransAtlantic”,
Colum McCann proves the Irish
admired Douglass equally. Douglass
makes an appearance in this work
of historical fiction as the now freed
slave, who has found kindred spirits
in his Irish brethren as they struggle
for equality in a society that was
engineered to keep them under the
heel of the wealthy and powerful.
There is more however, to this book
than Douglass’ visit to Ireland.
McCann ties in two additional stories.

Two pilots, Jack Alcock and Arthur Brown,
who are determined to make history in
1919 by being the first to fly across the
Atlantic to the Green Isle and the son of
an Irishman, Senator George Mitchell,
travelling from the United States to Belfast
in 1988 to become the voice of Northern
Ireland during their peace talks. All three
journeys are all intricately woven together
by several generations of women; Lily
Duggan, her daughter (Emily) and granddaughter
(Lottie) then wraps up with
Hannah Carson.
Whether you are lover of well written
historical fiction or just simply looking for
a good story, McCann delivers both.

It is recommended that you
help your body overcome
the virus by getting plenty of
rest, drinking lots of fluids
to prevent dehydration and
treating muscle aches and
headaches with Tylenol.
It is best to prevent the
contraction of Zika by
wearing long sleeves to
avoided mosquito bites
and knowing the areas
that mosquitoes tend to
flourish, which are areas
with open water or stagnant
water. Also, wear mosquito
repellent to help prevent
mosquito bites.
Zika virus was first discovered in Africa during the mid 20th century
and has been known to cause symptoms similar to dengue fever.
Initally, it was limited to Asia and Africa, but due to globalization
and increased access to different parts of the world, the Zika virus
became an emerging disease throughout the world. Yet, only about
20% of people that have been bitten by the Aedes aegypti mosquitoes
will become ill from the Zika virus.
Note that Zika has been
linked to miscarriages and
microcephaly in babies
born to mothers who have
contracted the virus. So
The most common symptoms of Zika infection are rash, fever, joint
pain, red eyes (conjunctivitis), muscle pain and headache. The
incubation period for Zika is not exactly known, but it is believed to
be within about one week after the initial inoculation with the virus.
Their illness is usually mild and symptoms last for several days to
about over a week, most people do not die from the illness. However,
Zika usually remains in the blood of an infected person for about a
week and can be found longer than that in some people.
Zika is transmitted via the same mosquito which transmits dengue
and chikungunya. If you have traveled to any of the areas that are
known to have an outbreak of the Zika virus and have any of the
symptoms mentioned above, it is recommended that you go to seek
medical care so that a diagnosis could be made to see if you have
dengue fever, Chikungunya or Zika virus.
There are no treatments for Zika at this time and there isn’t any
vaccine developed against the virus at this time. Treatment is mostly
symptomatic, which means that you treat the symptoms that you have.
before you travel, I would
recommend that you check
the CDC website in order to
identify the areas where you
will be traveling to see if it’s
an area that has reported the
Zika virus. Then you can take
the necessary precautions to
prevent infection.

Written By: Remi Daniel
Not so long ago, the forms of
entertainment you found in
Ireland were mostly the Irish
traditional music and any such
events that promote and target
the Irish culture and audience
respectively.However, all that
has changed in the last few
decades as this Celtic nation
has experienced, and is still
experiencing, a shift both in
its cultural and entertainment
landscapes.
Today, every industry that
matters in Ireland looks and
feels differently as the world
becomes even smaller. Irish
people love to travel. Irish
people are good story tellers.
And the same passion with
which they share their travel
experiences is how they share
their own story abroad, which
may have set a trend for people
in their host countries to want
to come and visit this small, but
boisterous country of 5 million
people.
Ireland offers almost 9,000 miles
of coastline and its rich history
dates back to prehistoric times.
So visiting Ireland may seem like
a clean break for many, which
probably explains why half a
million people from 192 nations
now make this place their
home. As a result, new events
and festivals are promoting and
targeting issues and audiences
on a global scale. One such
events is the Neo Soul Brigade
hosted in Dublin on the first
Tuesday of every second month
by a three-piece band called
Vice & Verses.
Vice & Verses is a soul-jazz
spoken word trio comprising of:
Giovanni Agostini, Venezuelan/
Italian, on bass; Enda Roche,
Irish, on guitar and Clara
Rose Thornton, American,
vocals. They play at the jazzera
decorated Liquor Rooms
on Wellington Quay, featuring
rotating international guests
and traditional African-American
music both evolved and
updated.
“The Neo Soul Brigade focuses
on wordsmithery, evolved soul,
jazz and hip-hop,” explained
the Chicago-born, two-time
Leinster Poetry Slam Champion,
founder and host Clara Rose
Thornton. “This is a celebration
of storytelling and music like no
other in Ireland.”
“The Neo
Soul Brigade
focuses on
wordsmithery,
evolved soul,
jazz and
hip-hop...”

If you’re a lover of music and language and
you enjoy live poetry, then you should check
out this band on your next visit to Ireland. Or
maybe you have such a flair for writing poems
and lyrics or you just like to bond with an
enthusiastic and lively new audience, either
way, the Vice & Verses: Neo Soul Brigade gig
is worth a visit. Here’s the best part: as we
celebrate the commemorations of the 1916
Rising, I couldn’t recommend any better time
to visit to Ireland.
Remi Daniel is an Irish writer, producer,
director and photographer. Nigerianborn
and Irish resident for over 10 years,
he has written several scripts for dramas,
documentaries and promotional videos. His
travel experiences, especially across the
countries of Ireland including Northern
Ireland, have brought him in contact with
very interesting people in most unusual
places and inspired him into writing yet
another story.
Remi doesn’t just write for the sake
of writing, he fills his pages with life
and soul thus inviting his audience
into living the experience with him.
Raised by a restaurant-owner mom and
military-contractor dad, he has strong
opinions on food, accommodation and
entertainment, hence his keen interests
in restaurants, hotels, cinemas, theatres
and venues. Remi is the writer that tells
his audience as it is.

I traveled to India with friends in March of last
year for the Holi Festival of Colors. During that
week, we traveled to Agra to see the Taj Mahal
in all its majestic glory, and rode camels through
the Pushkar Desert. We even celebrated Holi
with a local family and danced and drank under
sporadic clouds of pigmented chalk. But it was in
exploring the streets of Jaipur when I experienced
the true magic of India.
Roaming about, allowing myself to become
enveloped in all the sights, sounds, and smells that
Jaipur offered, I began to see the world through
a new pair of eyes. In a country that is overrun
by poverty and still seen as “developing,” I was
only able to see its beauty in the bright smiles of
those who call India home. It was while walking
the streets that I discovered that I needed to see
more and do more with this life that I had been
given.
I know there are people who say that visiting a
certain place or having a particular experience
while traveling “changed their life.” It’s pretty cliché,
I know, but traveling to India definitely was that for
me. It was there that I rediscovered myself and
made the decision to move abroad with my son.
Perhaps it was the spirit of Holi in the air. The
festival signifies the victory of good over evil, a time
to reflect, forgive and forget, and to repair broken
relationships. And I did. I thought about my life and
the things I wanted to change within myself and
with those around me.
India still speaks to me and she continues to
reintroduce me to myself.

Guinness Storehouse.”
The Storehouse, located on St. James Gate in
Dublin proper, is truly a must see for visitors of
the city, particularly if you are a lover of stout,
historical sites, and authentic Irish cuisine. The
Storehouse, the site of a 19th century brewery
turned tourist attraction, was founded by Sir
Arthur Guinness in 1759. Today, Guinness
produces over 2.5 million pints of stout per day!
Within its walls, visitors can learn how Guinness
Stout is made, eat, drink, and make merriment.
Ask any cab driver, bell boy, police officer or
any random person walking down the streets
of Dublin, Ireland what is “a must do” while in
the city and it is guaranteed most will say, “The
Cover charge for entry to The Storehouse
is 20 euro and includes a pint of its famous
stout, which you can draft yourself after a brief
tutorial. If you choose, you can simply sip it
while enjoying a tour of the facility or save it
and have it with your meal.
It must be mentioned that you have never truly
tasted Guinness Stout until you’ve tasted it in

Foodies who
enjoy Caribbean
style oxtail
stew will be
surprised...
Ireland on tap. There is a noticeable
difference in the texture and taste.
The bottled version available in the
US, is noticeably thicker and has
bitterness to it while the tapped
version on the Isle is smoother, less
bitter, and arguably lighter. Visitors
are encouraged to take their included
drink or purchase another reasonably
priced one to the top floor in the
Gravity Bar to enjoy the nearly 360
degree view of Dublin and the
surrounding area. What makes The
Gravity Bar remarkable is not just the
view. It manages to look like a highend
bar/club, feel like an Irish Pub,
and is quite sexy all at the same time.
About the food…
On the fifth floor is a wonderful pub
with live bands playing traditional
Irish and modern music. There is
stout aplenty and food that is not your
typical tourist-type food. What you
get is real good food. Real good...
The menus tout burgers, pulled
pork sandwiches, and a pretty good
salmon. The meal of choice is Beef
Stew prepared with Guinness Stout
and served with mashed potatoes
on top and (lest we forget) the best
soda bread ever! Foodies who enjoy
Caribbean style oxtail stew will be
surprised how remarkably similar the
two taste. What is there not to like?
Paired with a pint or two (or three),
this is certain to be one of the best
meals you will have while in Dublin.
Sláinte!

Passionate about weight training,
Arlette decided to start competing
in powerlifting in August 2013.
She has since gone on to win the
World champion title in Dusseldorf
in 2014 where she broke the
World record in the deadlift and
also picked up the Silver medal in
unequipped deadlift, according to
the blog “Black Women In Europe.”
Arlette has also won the European
champion title in the full power
Championship in 2014; the
European champion single lift title
in 2014, where she broke two World
records, and the World Champion
title in Glasgow in 2013.
Her dream is to join the national
Irish training squad in a year and
train to compete in the Olympics in
2020 representing Ireland.

It's all about the Food with a new series
of Cooking Classes, Lectures & Exhibits

Cooking Irish? Is there even such a thing?
Retired Chef and Irish American Heritage
Museum Board of Trustees member, Harold
Qualter thinks the culinary genre is underrated.
“Many food critics find the idea of Irish
Cuisine as a contradiction in terms,” said Chef
Qualters. “Hardly ever do you hear someone
state, ‘I’m cooking Irish tonight.’ Mexican,
Italian, French, absolutely…but Irish, not so
much.”
Irish Benedict
Constantly looking for new ways to connect
Irish American’s with their culture, the Irish
American Heritage Museum, located in
Albany, NY, decided to start looking into
the often hidden and forgotten part of Irish
heritage and culture, its food. Everyone can
relate to food, everyone eats.
Ireland offers more than potatoes and stew;
the culinary offerings are endless. Other
foods include whiskey-laden desserts and
marinated meats, an assortment of baked
breads, stuffed cabbage, smoked salmon
and shellfish.
In 2015, the Irish American Heritage Museum
partnered with the Irelands’ Department of
Foreign Affairs through the Emigrant Support
Programme and the Office of the Consulate
General of Ireland’s office in New York to
create a project that is able to foster a vibrant
sense of Irish community and identity through
“Cooking Irish.”
Irish Oysters
Corned Beef & Hash
The Museum is currently in the midst of an
ambitious series of programs that combines
lectures on the history of Irish food and
indigenous ingredients, cooking classes,
an annual Irish Soda Bread Competition,
and an exhibit to share this unique idea of
having people get excited over their heritage
and culture through food. The Museum has
brought together a fantastic group of Irish
American chefs to explore the idea of if there
is actually an Irish cuisine, and if so, what is
it?
The history of Irish food tells a story of
tradition, disaster and resilience. In the
15th and 16th centuries, the story shows a
country overflowing with a bounty of diverse
foods amidst an island of agricultural fertility.
Much of the “traditional cuisine” that came
from Ireland during this period had a distinct
British flair. However, this would all change as
Ireland adapted to constant invasions, war,
and a crushing poverty that would lead to
the dependence on the potato for survival- a
dependency that ultimately and tragically led
to the Great Famine of the 19th century. As
the country tried to survive these hardships

Irish Soda Bread
and instability, little thought was put into
creating an “Irish cuisine.”
Irish food, in the 21st century, is experiencing a
rebirth. Through the work of chefs like Darina
and Myrtle Allen, Irish cooking is emerging
and continuously evolving. It is reinvented,
using the incredible native and timeless Irish
foods and new multicultural elements. A new
generation of Irish chefs are building onto the
cuisine, inspired not only by their traditional
and ancestral dishes, but by the European
and American culinary scene. Some, as Chef
Qualters said, “might even call it Modern Irish
cuisine as it continues its commitment to
outstanding ingredients, treated simply.”
One of the highlights of the Museum’s “Cooking
Irish” program is the 4th Annual Maureen
Farrell McCarthy Irish Soda Bread Competition
taking place this March. Soda bread, a quick
bread that gets its name from the use of baking
soda as a leavening agent instead of the more
common yeast, is one of Ireland’s staple foods
and the competition has attracted entrants
from all over the northeast. The Museum’s
staff and board are excited to welcome both
amateur and professional entrants to the event
and hope this competition inspires people to
learn about a very unique part of Irish culture
and life, especially as we approach St. Patrick’s
Day when interest in all things Irish peaks.
In the past the Museum has received around
70 different entries in three different categories,
drawing national attention.
The Irish American Heritage Museum’s mission is
to preserve and tell the story of the contributions
of the Irish people and their culture in America,
inspiring individuals to examine the importance
of their own heritage as part of the American
cultural mosaic. As such, the Museum is unique
in the United States, where almost 36 million
individuals claim Irish ancestry. It is committed
to the basic tenet that preserving one’s heritage
is vital to providing a cultural and historical
foundation to future generations of Americans.
Rather than promoting a stage version of what
it means to have Irish ancestry, the heritage
museum focuses on preserving the actual
culture and history of Irish Americans. It strives
to be a living, breathing institution that offers
an assortment of enrichment programs. In
addition to “Cooking Irish,” historical lectures,
plays, movie screenings, a storytelling series,
genealogy programs, concerts, and open
sessions are available to the public. Families
can also participate in the annual Irish American
Heritage Day at Saratoga Race Track and the

Ireland offers
more than potatoes
and stew; the
culinary offerings
are endless.
Corned Beef & Cabbage

18
Family Festival at the annual Albany St. Patrick’s Day Parade.
Founded in 1986, the Museum has created a number of original exhibits including The Irish
Influence in the Adirondacks, Dublin Then and Now, The Irish and the Erie Canal, Visions of
Ireland: The Artwork of Michael Augustine Power O’Malley, and most recently Walking with
Ireland into the Sun: Women Revolutionaries and the Easter Rising. These exhibits, amongst
others, travel the United States on a regular basis, and even exhibited at the National Library
in Dublin.
The goal of all these programs and exhibits is to create transformative moments. We want
kids and adults to be excited about learning and develop a passion for education that will
stay with them for the rest of their lives. We want people to become interested in their culture
and heritage and preserve it for future generations. It’s your heritage, pass it on!
So, is there such a thing as Irish cuisine?
Absolutely, but as mentioned before, it is constantly evolving, just like the Irish American
Heritage Museum.
Guinness Beef Stew

BLACK HISTORY

SALSA CHOKE: THE DOUGIE MEETS SALSA
Written By: Jeremiah Meyers
The first time I ever heard the music
genre salsa choke was just last year
when my girlfriend Cici took up a oneyear
work assignment in Cali, Colombia.
If you know anything about Cali, then
you know that it is the epicenter of
salsa dancing. Many
of the most famous
dancers and clubs call
Cali home, and it’s
impossible to explore
the city without being
immersed in salsa
culture.
Having grown up in
Miami, Cici is quite
familiar with salsa, but
what she discovered
while living and
learning in the city
of Cali was a genretwisting
form of song
and dance that was
an undiscovered gym
to our uninitiated ears. As I listen to the
track, it had so many elements familiar
to me but felt totally new. You had no
choice but to move to the infectious
tune. Needless to say, I had to know
more about what I was hearing.
Salsa choke’s roots can be found in the
Pacifico region of Colombia. What’s
unique about this region is its rich history
in Afro-Colombian culture. Much of
the culture from the
original African people
brought to Colombia
as slaves, has been
preserved in many
ways, especially in
music.
Salsa choke blends
melodies and sounds
of classic salsa with
the rhythms and bass
of contemporary
urban music, including
hip hop. The end
result is a youthful and
energetic dance that
adds modern urban
style to a timeless
music genre. Think salsa music mixed
with “the Dougie!” If you like to dance,
then you’ll love salsa choke.
The genre has become so popular that

RE:UNION Music Fest is a global music festival aimed
to assemble the music of the African Diaspora into
one unforgettable, unique experience. Hip-hop, R&B,
Reggae, Kompa, Cuban, Salsa, Afrobeat, South
African House, and more will be brought together on
ONE stage to celebrate our narrative.
the Colombian World Cup soccer team did
the salsa choke after a goal which took its
popularity to a new level of craze.
It’s essentially the equivalent of what happened
birthday weekend, Festival Petronio Alvarez
came to Cali, and I was fortunate enough to
be in town visiting Cici. This is the premiere
Pacifico music festival in Colombia. What’s
more exciting is that the Grammy-award
when Cam Newton of the Carolina Panthers
made the “Dab” dance famous during the
2015 NFL football season. Everyone from
weathermen to sportscasters were seen
doing the Dab. Such examples show just how
influential African Diasporic contributions are
to the mainstream culture of countries all
over the world. This should not be forgotten or
overlooked.
The coolest thing about salsa choke I can
share is that it actually provided me with my
best memory while visiting Cali! During my
winning band Chocquibtown performed live!
This Afro-Colombian group is originally
from the Pacifico region and the festival was
something of a homecoming. It was pretty
amazing to see one of the top bands in
Colombia at their peak playing salsa choke
and Colombian hip hop to a huge outdoor
crowd – can’t beat that!
As with most of my posts, I encourage all to
check out Spotify to hear more salsa choke
music! You won’t be disappointed.

John Derek Yancey better known as
“Illa J” is an American rapper/singer
& songwriter. He is a solo artist but
also is currently an active member of
Detroit based groups Slum Village and
Yancey Boys. He taught himself how
to play the piano, had bass lessons
and continuously has vocal training.
As an independent artist, he has
released three albums, 2008’s solo
album Yancey Boys, 2013’s Evolution
and 2013’s Sunset Blvd (as Yancey
Boys along with Frank Nitt and Illa J’s
big brother, J Dilla, on the production.)
He’s been touring since 2007 and
magically has released all this work
without being signed.

NOMAD
NESSTM
#WhatsNext in Urban Travel
@nomadnesstribe
nomadnesstv.com

DERRY TO GALWAY
Céad Míle Fáilte: A Hundred Thousand Welcomes
Written By: Keith Swingle

19
Church Ruins in Inishmore
Sitting in a dimly-lit corner of a local Irish pub
allows you to, unassumingly, take in the activity
around you. Expectant eyes await your story, as
though your stool has been waiting for your return
since you last sat down, even if it’s your first time
visiting. A shared history provides the breadth and
depth of interaction with every patron, even in a
thinned room. Ireland’s farms, like a quilt of green
patchwork, provide myriad shades appropriate for
the country’s Emerald Isle moniker. It also happens
to be directly proportionate to the wealth of
different experiences awaiting you when you visit
the picturesque- and deceptively small- country.
While whimsical Irish travel, like grabbing a sameday
train ticket and trekking across the country for
a U2 concert for which you don’t have a ticket, is
well-documented and can keep a traveler content
for quite some time, it’s also important to recognize
that Ireland (both the Republic and Northern Ireland)
has its own history, much of it hotly contested.
Nowhere has this been as overtly expressed, in
terms of conversation as well as artistic expression,
than in Derry. In fact, calling the city Derry alone is
making a political statement that may cause some
to bristle.
Londonderry is the official name given to the city
by the United Kingdom; those who have fought
for Irish Republicanism are not keen on said title,
opting for the shorter version. Anyone will know
where you are talking about and, given your non-
Irish accent, you are likely to not be harassed for
your choice, though you may be matter-of-factly
corrected.
The inner part of Derry city is enclosed by a stone
wall that has been standing for centuries, which
is enough of a unique take on urban planning to
check it out. Take a stroll about the hilly cityscape
(or atop the wall itself) and it becomes quite easy to
imagine the world of another time. This European
style of adapting to pre-existing architecture
is distinct, as is the cobblestone streets and
alleyways. Beyond, the city itself was designated
the UK’s City of Culture in 2013, for, among other
things, brilliant murals painted onto the sides of
homes and businesses.
The Bogside Artists - one such group of muralists
whose work has drawn international acclaim not for
advertising, but rather for storytelling- have some of
the most intense and profound pieces of urban art

that have ever been erected. The
Bogside, a neighborhood outside
the city walls, was quite possibly
the most heated place in the entire
island of Éire during the Troubles
– a period of ethno-nationalist
conflict in the late 20th century
further escalated by a 50 hour riot
in 1969 that quickly spread to other
parts of Northern Ireland in what
became known as “The Battle of
the Bogside”. Rioting between
Bogside residents and Irish police
stretched on for three days until
the British Army intervened to
restore order.
In January 1972, British soldiers
shot 26 unarmed civilians, gathered
to protest the continuous mass
arrests and internment of those
with suspected ties to the Irish
Republican Army (IRA). Thirteen
were killed, many while fleeing
soldiers or assisting the wounded.
Known as Bloody Sunday or
Bogside Massacre, the event has
been immortalized in music and
film, but the murals tell their own
stories: individuals whose impact
stretch beyond flesh and bone to
tell a larger story of a people who
embody writer Edna O’Brien’s
outlook on the Irish, “When
anyone asks me about the Irish
character, I say look at the trees.
Maimed, stark and misshapen, but
ferociously tenacious.”
The artists themselves, brothers
Tom and William Kelly, and Kevin
Hasson, have created a collection
of a dozen murals depicting
individuals at the center of the Irish
civil rights movement, while telling
a much larger, much broader
story. Having larger-than-life
expressions allows for much more
profound feelings and reactions to
these spectacular monuments to a
fierce people. Of particular interest
to a global community is a series
of headshots of Dr. Martin Luther
King, Gandhi, Mother Teresa,
and Irish civil rights champion
John Hume, which serves as a
clear message about the high
esteem in which Hume is held for
his relentless work in promoting
peace among the people of Ireland

19
Galway Hookers
and Northern Ireland. Their faces surround
a painting of the Brooklyn Bridge, whose
symbolism was explained by Tom Kelly on a
guided tour of the murals. When the Brooklyn
Bridge was conceptualized and constructed,
it was said that the island of Manhattan and
Brooklyn were too far apart to ever be bridged.
Its construction and endurance has earned it
remarkable fame for its distinct look, but also
because of its enduring span, which was highly
derided at the time. Such a universal notion
can be appreciated by visitors the world over.
While in the Bogside admiring the labors of
love, the image of the gable wall containing
the iconic, “You are now entering Free Derry,”
serves as a loaded welcome to those who
descend upon this historically significant city.
While Irish peace has been in place since
the Good Friday Agreement of 1998, Derry’s
interactive artistic expressions and historical
monuments (delightfully and unceremoniously
still enmeshed in the cityscape) show the
starkness and realism that was very much a
part of everyday life for many in and around
the city. In fact, you get the sense that by living
in the same homes since the Troubles were at
their height, Derry residents are highly insistent
that their story be preserved on a larger scale
than mere oral history.
Heading south an hour or so, smaller cities with
even more closely-spun webs of interaction
exist in towns like Omagh, where the Good
Friday Agreement was met with terrorism in the
form of a car bomb that went off in the center of
town just months after the landmark agreement
was made. A beautifully harrowing memorial
exists next to where the fateful bomb exploded.
It is certain that the Irish- in this part of the
country, at least- have preserved their history
well, both in monuments and on their faces. The
endurance and the resolve is clear in Omagh
where artistic and architectural achievements
have marked both what a country has been
through and what it hopes to achieve. The
linguists that they are, an Irishman will gladly
talk about the impacts of these events, while
drawing you closer by relating it to American
history. That comes as no surprise, as the Irish
have had a torrid (mostly) love affair with the
United States and are eager to share common

19
Cliffs Mohr of Moher Cliffs
bonds of land, love, and family.
Sharing a drink with someone from Ireland is
no ritual to be taken lightly. The people are
frequently quick to offer a free pint, provided you
get your round, too. It’s unspoken, naturally, but
offers the person sitting next to you a glimpse of
your character. Being mutually responsible for
merriment, you are also as responsible for the
bond shared.
Public houses- like Sally’s or the Coach Inn in
Omagh- are ostensibly just that: houses for the
public to congregate. Any football matches-
Gaelic games, Premier League, and the likedraw
a crowd. Naturally, younger crowds come in
for late-night merriment on weekends. As such,
it can be difficult to distinguish what makes for
an “authentic” pub experience. In many places
like Galway- Ireland’s gem on the west coast- the
distinction is often made by the writing on the
wall, or at least above the door. More traditional
Irish pubs, resplendent with Irish music and the
sporadic a capella version of some rebel song
or another can be found in pubs whose name is
written in Gaelic.
Tig Coili is one such pub. An earlier arrival assures
you of a cozy seat, while the audience
for live Irish music makes it a strictly
standing-room-only affair at night. Being
Irish in all things, musicians here are more
likely than not to be seated at the same
small table as patrons, making themselves
distinguishable only by the tin whistle
or bodhran (hand drum); think of these
experiences as a less formal open mic
night, with a non-existent divide between
performer and audience. Others, like Tigh
Neactain, offer an ambience more suited
for conversation.
While the best of conversation can happen
in a pub, cities like Galway are rather
renowned for their celebration of the finer
things in life, as well: literature and food
festivals in the spring, the famous Galway
Hooker Festival in May (the boats; a Google
search is SFW), food and arts festivals in
July, and the world-famous Oyster Festival
in September (worth the hype). The arts,
in particular, are becoming more and more
prominent in Ireland. Celebrating a deluge
of Irish writers and poets is nothing new,
of course. However, the two-week arts

Tig Coili
festival showcases works presented across the
artistic plane: theater, photography, soft sculpture,
painting, drawing, and dance.
Buildings all across the city celebrate the artistic
endeavors of the Irish people and those who have
fallen in love with Ireland. Even small shops and
restaurants, like the now-defunct Couch Potato
potato bar, feature snapshots and photography
along their walls, all by local artists. Music venues
like the famed Roisin Dubh , Black Rose in Gaelic,
use these two weeks to expand their typically
diverse guest list even further to accommodate
those who pursue the arts as a means of
expression. Walking through Eyre Square and the
carless streets of the city center, it’s no wonder
people have become smitten with all things
Irish. Go south and you are in Galway Bay, with
the rustic Aran Islands- perhaps the west’s last
holdout from modern amenities- awaiting you
before setting sail into the Atlantic. Spending
a day there amidst the carts and farm land
will take anyone back to a time where farming
was king; as the locals there will say, there’s
a lot to be said for simpler times, even if we
are not meant to live in them. To listen to the
waves crashing against the Cliffs of Moher, or
the coast of Inishmore is to listen to the stories
being told all around you from the people, in
the artwork, in the heads of Guinness, and all
of them wish you céad míle fáilte: a hundred
thousand welcomes.

African Gospel Choir Dublin, sometimes
colloquially referred to as AGC, is a 15+
member, all volunteer choir from Western
Africa. Originally organised in 2007 by Adeniyi
Allen-Taylor for a wedding, the choir has since
been co-ordinated by Tomilola Allen-Taylor.
The ensemble blends elements of African
Gospel, Negro spirituals, Accapella and
American popular music. The choir shows
their love of music and joy for life in their music
and are also known to delight audiences with
repertoire sung in English and their native
languages.
The Mission Statement of the Choir is making
music with a purpose - to bring people close
to the Lord, to present the talents of young
African singers in Ireland, and also to present
to the world the richness in the voice and the
melody of an all African Choir. The goal of
the choir is to inspire and influence people
positively and to promote Gospel music
through African culture.

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Nestled neatly in between the tiny community of islands
which make up the archipelago of the Lesser Antilles in the
Caribbean Sea sits Montserrat, a little island fondly referred
to as the “Emerald Isle of the Caribbean.” This tiny enclave
in the West Indies casts quite a large shadow when people
learn of her unique and little known Irish history. Made up
of a majority of Afro-Caribbean descendants of the Trans-
Atlantic Slave Trade, it is the last place one would expect to
see locals celebrating all things Hibernian. But it is here that
on March 17, the island’s Irish descendants commemorate
the Feast Day of St. Patrick while the descendants of the
African slaves celebrate Liberation Day- honoring their
ancestor’s noble grasp for freedom on that very day in 1768.
The unassuming island nation of Montserrat literally burst
into global consciousness when her long-dormant volcano,
Soufriere Hills, awakened in the summer months of 1995.
Soufriere Hills is nothing like the lava spewing Hawaiian style
Visitors to the island
are welcomed
with the stamp of
a green shamrock
in their passports at
immigration. The
shamrock is the most
recognizable Irish
national emblem
shared by both.
volcanoes, which we often see on the Discovery Channel.
Instead, she is an ash volcano that emits superheated gas
and pulverized rock called pyroclastic flows- that travel
down her slopes at high velocity. Her once 12,000-strong
local population emigrated to all points on the compass.
But the stalwart locals who, defiantly refused to abandon
“The Rock”, have sustained and successfully weathered the
geological, social, cultural and economical upheavals that this
cataclysmic event has wrought over the past two decades.
The “Emerald Isle’s” long and storied history with Ireland
began when Irish Catholics, under the leadership of Anthony
Brisket, landed on the northernmost section of Montserrat
from the neighboring island of St. Kitts fleeing religious
persecution from Reformation Era Europe. Irish Catholics
initially took sanctuary in St. Kitts under the protection of
the French Crown, as French Catholics had already settled
portions of the island. The French and English were at one

point peacefully cohabiting having separate colonies
within the island. However, the English eventually
won the battle for dominance over the island, and the
French were forced to relinquish her colonies in 1713.
Thus, the Irish once again became vulnerable to Anglo
religious persecution. They established what would
become the first permanent European settlement
on the island in the present day Carr’s Bay region.
Brisket, who would soon successfully petition
the Crown for an official charter to administer the
island, became the first governor of this new English
colony in 1633. Having established Montserrat as a
colony where the Irish no longer need fear the anti-
Popish sentiments of the European Reformation
movement, the Irish began to arrive in droves. Oliver
Cromwell, ever the pragmatist, used Montserrat as
a location of both forced and voluntary indentured
servitude; criminals and those in debt worked off
their indemnities by placing themselves in the
service of the Crown and its wealthy landowners.
Spreading out island-wide from their initial northern
outpost, the Irish population grew and became
the majority European demographic on island in
the mid-1600s. They eventually established the,
fittingly named, village of St Patrick’s in the island’s
southernmost location. West Africans were soon
introduced to Montserrat by the English via the
Atlantic Slave Trade, which rapidly became the
island’s cash crop. Over the ensuing 100 years, the
ethnic majority of the colony changed once again, this
time in favor of the slaves, as increasingly larger and
larger amounts of Africans were transported to the
island as forced labor to work on its sugar plantations.
The Irish, once occupying the bottom rung of the
social order of the Plantocracy as indentured
persons, soon became slave owners themselves.
Having now arrived at the virtual top of the social
pecking order, these nouveau riche landowners
varied very little in their harsh treatment of the island’s
slaves, as was meted out by the English. Scholars
have argued that the Irish proved even more brutal
in terms of their treatment of their living “property.”

In the early months of 1768, on March 17th, the island’s slave
population staged a revolt. The plan was to use the drunken
revelry of the Feast Day of St. Patrick, when the island’s Irish
plantocracy’s guard would be lowered under the inebriation
of heavy drink in celebration of the holiday. In their plan, the
field hands would storm the Governor’s mansion in the capital
of Plymouth using the tools of their trade as weapons: clubs,
stones, machetes, rakes, hoes and other metal implements.
The domestic, or house, slaves would be charged with
using knives and confiscating the swords of their drunken
Irish house guests to be used by their field counterparts.
The revolt failed. A female slave, domesticated to work as a
seamstress in the “Great House,” revealed the plot and the Irish
were prepared for the surprise attack. The revolt’s leaders were
systematically sought out and ruthlessly tortured and killed as
an example to the slave population, in hopes of thwarting future
The Lady & The Harp
is its national emblem,
and is located on the flag.
This represents Erin - the
feminine personification
of Ireland, with her harp,
while holding up a cross
representing Catholicism.
attempts. Local lore dictates that they were hung on the silk
cotton tree in Cudjoe’s Head. The tree still stands in the village.
Over the centuries, the interaction between the island’s
African slaves and the Irish landowners created a unique
set of circumstances on Montserrat. As a direct result
of the cultural diffusion that transpired between the two
groups due to interaction and inter-marriage, a biracial
population emerged. Irish surnames such as Riley, O’Garro,
Farrell, Greenaway, Burke, and Daley are common. Even
Monserrat’s food feature cultural collaborations, evident
in the island’s fabled national dish of “Goat Water,” not to
be confused with the similarly named Jamaican “Mannish
Water,” said to be an amalgamation of Irish goat stew infused
with spices commonly used by the African population.
Longtime visitors to Montserrat are often alarmed to hear
Afro-Caribbean children speak of leprechauns and mermaids,
long before the existence of Walt Disney’s hit animated
production. Tales of mermaids and nefarious imps have

een staples in the cultural diet
of the island’s child population
for generation after generation
due to Irish influence- except this
diet included variations to the
narratives that added the Africanlore
of the emancipated slaves.
The impact of Soufriere Hills’
eruption in 1995 is still palpable.
What was once a lively island-wide
celebration and national holiday
declined after the exodus of the
island’s natives during the first
decade of what is referred to locally
as “The Crisis”. Current celebrations
of St. Patrick’s Day, founded by
the island’s civil and church youth
groups in 1982, represent an island
wounded by both its colonial and
volcanic past and present. With
the passage of time, volcanic
activity has slowed significantly
and Montserrat is solidly on the
path to rebirth and redevelopment.
The numerous Caricom nationals
from the neighboring Caribbean
islands also left their mark on the
island’s culture and celebrations.
St. Patrick celebrations evolved
to include differing nationalities
and foods from the Dominican
Republic, Jamaica, Guyana and
Haiti. The introduction of pan-
Caribbean cuisine creates a
smorgasbord of delicacies to
whet the adventurous palates of
our guests from all over the world.
This March 17th, and the week
leading up to that climax, visitors
to Montserrat will be treated to
an ambitious calendar of events
that includes long distance races,
hiking, island-wide boat ride tours
of the abandoned City of Plymouth,
food tasting events, dances,
Calypso shows, pub crawls,
lectures, helicopter tours and the
much-anticipated parade. Access
and accessibility to the island has
been the bane of the locals and
visiting foreigners, since the volcanic
activity has knocked the island out
of the LIAT network. Leeward Island
Air Transport (LIAT) is the regional
carrier airline, which traditionally
provides air service to the smaller
islands from the large island hubs
of Trinidad, Barbados and Antigua.
However, access to the island
can be obtained by first landing
in neighboring Antigua and taking
either a 1 & 1/4 hour ferry ride over
to the island or a 17-minute flight.
Montserrat is now a weekly port of
call Windstar Cruises and Sea Dream
Yacht Club cruises. Additionally,
JetBlue Airways, now operates a
non-stop flight service from New
York’s JFK three times a week. So if
you’re looking for a place to celebrate
“All Thing Irish,” with an Afro-
Caribbean flavor, why not visit “The
Other Emerald Isle”- Montserrat?
We would sure love to have you!

Godfrey moved to Ireland in 2002
and is a community activist in Dublin.
He currently sits on the Dublin City
Intergration Forum Executive, Dublin
City Community Forum Executive and
Dublin Local Community Development
Committee. He also oversees the Youth
Platform Project Ireland (YPPI), an
organization within New Communities
Partnership that aims to provide a
platform through which issues that
concern Young Migrants in Ireland are
addressed.
Godfrey is also a Certified Financial
Advisor, Serial Entrepreneur, and
music executive. He is the co-founder
of Gospel Music Ireland and has
promoted and worked with artists like
Kirk Franklin, Israel Houghton, George
Hamilton IV, Stevie Wonder & Andrae
Crouch.

THE OTHER SIDE OF THE STORY
Fighting for Sexworker’s Rights
Written By: Kate McGrew
In 2008 I was living in NYC, a city once known
for its debaucherous spirit that was sadly
suffering raids on much of its sex industry.
This included the mid-town BDSM dungeon
where I catered to the peculiarities of men
and couples wanting to be dominated, or for
the lucky discerning gentleman, to take me
as a submissive. That August, I went on a
family holiday to Ireland and on the Arran
Island of Inishmore, I met a nice young man.
He offered me residence with his family if I
wanted to extend my visit to “experience real
Ireland”, as they were accustomed to taking
in travellers to work in their garden for a
period. Impulsively, I stayed and discovered
that Ireland also provided fertile ground for
artistic creation. I began a life here, busy
writing music and performing shows. Later,
during the lowest point of the country’s
economic crash, I started working again
in the sex industry, first in strip clubs then
putting myself on a website as a full service
escort. I was happy to have the financial
salve sex work provided.
Just like NYC, Ireland soon began cracking
down on the industry. The “Turn Off the
Red Light” campaign combined a coalition
of groups aimed at abolishing prostitution
through “End Demand” tactics. It is a
campaign calling for the criminalisation
of the purchase of sex using the Swedish
model, a model since proven to infringe on
the health, safety, and human rights of the
workers.
If they turn off the red light, we will all be in
the dark.
The industry is still in the criminal sector,
so workers have strained relations with the
police. Complicated restrictions around
where and how you can work mean that many
people fall in between the cracks, bypassing
a legal path and relying on third parties or
becoming more vulnerable to traffickers to
sort the details for them.
Holland and Germany have legalised sex
work, but New Zealand and Australia have the
model that sex work organisations worldwide
prefer. Sex work is fully decriminalised.
Legitimizing sex work within the labor
sector, workplaces are inspected by the
Labor or Health departments instead of by
police raids. Law enforcement relations have
improved and workers have realistic access
to the justice system, solving disputes via
legal redress. A woman famously sued her
brothel-owner for harassment in New Zealand
in 2013 and was awarded 25,000 dollars. It
is fairly simple to get a flexible license to
suit your particular circumstances. Because
of this flexibility and decriminalization, big
brothels went out of favor in New Zealand
in 2003, giving rise to SOOBs (small owner
operated brothels) where up to 4 women
work together in an apartment.
In the Republic of Ireland, it is currently legal
to both sell and buy sex, within extremely
narrow parameters. It is legal for me to work
because I work alone, and I work indoors.
We are not allowed to solicit, work in pairs
or groups, work outdoors, or hire anyone
as security or to manage our bookings. No
one, not even a partner or relative, is allowed
to share in the earnings of our work. Most
workers get caught with charges for “brothelkeeping”,
although this definition includes
even only two women working together for
safety.
This criminal record often forms a barrier
for people to leave the industry and secure
other work. The Sexual Offences Bill was

Come for the banter
and the craic. Stay as
long as you like, and
go ahead and treat
yourself to some sex
with a professional.
drawn up in 2012 by the Justice Committee and
is currently moving through stages for approval..
Minister for Justice, Francis Fitzgerald, agreed to
sit with members of SWAI (Sex Workers Alliance
Ireland) to hear our concerns about the section of
the bill that would make it an offence to buy sex. We
described to the Minister how violence escalated
in the streets of Dublin after it was made illegal to
sell sex in the streets and workers lost trust in the
Gardai, the National Police. The Minister replied,
“But won’t that serve as a deterrent from entering
the industry?”
The proposed law would double penalties
for women working together for safety, with
a potential jail sentence. It is an attempt to
make the industry as risky as possible and
therefore an unattractive option. The results
are workers - who will work regardless -
becoming collateral damage. The most underresourced
workers are surely going to keep
working; and with this law that forces the
industry underground, they will be in more
dangerous circumstances.
Criminalising clients also creates dangerous
circumstances for sexworkers. Criminalising
the client tips the power dynamic in his favour.
He may no longer want to come to our in-call
location for fear of being seen and instead
insist we go on an outcall to him, to a place
we are unfamiliar with and have no control
over. Street workers would now be dealing
with nervous and rushed clients which could
prevent them from going through their safety
protocols. They will have less time to negotiate
services offered or condom use. If even for
a short time there is a reduction in clients,

they will have less to lose and other
workers may compete with lowered
prices and unsafe sex.
Third parties looking to exploit us
know we will have more trouble
finding clients or securing work
apartments after this law. People
who have been coerced or are being
abused would be further away from
support services and authorities.
Because of poor law enforcement
relations, abuse would go unreported
and undetected.
This model of client criminalisation
gives impunity to perpetrators
posing as clients. These predators
realise we are alone and that we don’t
want to be under policy scrutiny
and risk losing our livelihood or our
homes by making ourselves known
to Gardai. A sex worker in Norway,
where they have such a law, said
“You manage a bad situation to the
end. You risk losing everything if you
go to the cops and so only do if you
really believe you are going to die.”
We are a risk-taking population,
largely because we have had to be.
Research conducted in October
2014 by Queens University in
Northern Ireland found that 98
percent of sex workers said they
did not want client criminalisation.
Nevertheless, the Swedish model
passed into effect in there in June,
purportedly to protect women, Yet
it has, so far, led to the arrest one
man for purchasing sex and three
women for working together.
Despite this law’s inability to reduce
the amount of people in prostitution,
its ineffectiveness at preventing
people from being trafficked for the
purpose of sexual exploitation, and
the fact that sex workers worldwide
say that client criminalisation has or
would make them less safe, the law is
promoted as a progressive measure
towards ending gender inequality.
It views sex work as gender-based
violence. It views all women in sex
work as victims or as suffering from
false consciousness. This lacks
information and imagination. It
erases the voices and experiences
of the many men and trans people
working in the industry. The rhetoric

Prostitution is
not inherently
exploitative or
empowering,
although it has the
potential to be both.
of these sex work prohibitionists, referring to
“men purchasing women”, is objectifying, and
patronising.
Right now in Ireland, services are being cut to
rape crisis and domestic abuse support centres,
and single mothers have little affordable housing
or childcare. While we address structural
inequalities in our society we can’t take
away an option for people, many without
any viable alternatives, to make money
elsewhere. We must be prepared for the
reality that some may still choose to sell
sex instead. Poverty is disempowering.
Prohibitionists insist that people in extreme
poverty or dealing with drug addictions
are unable to give consent. It is such a
dangerous concept, because then what are
we to call it when sex workers do say no?
Prostitution is not inherently exploitative
or empowering, although it has the
potential to be both. Sex workers therefore
need labour rights and deserve human
rights. Acknowledging the existence of
the sex industry is not an endorsement
of prostitution but it is essential to

effectively protect those involved. The World
Health Organization, Amnesty International,
Open Society Foundation, UNAIDS, Global
Alliance Against the Traffic of Women
back full decriminalisation as the best
model to support sex workers in protecting
themselves.
We at SWAI are finding strength in our allies
to slow the progress of the Sexual Offences
Bill, and by spending time interacting with
groups with whom we should be aligned,
shedding light on the realities of sex workers’
experiences and needs. LGBT, feminist,
migrant rights, abortion rights and HIV
support groups and other groups concerned
with bodily autonomy must step forward.
Sex workers are a disparate, marginalised,
varied, and vulnerable population. We are
also adaptive, robust, humorous, and tough
as nails. The stigma that makes us further
targets for violence is slowly waning, and
despite a vocal minority in power pushing for
further criminalisation of our work, overall
attitudes are shifting.
Ireland’s recent worldwide leadership in
marriage equality has shown the country’s
ability to supports its citizens’ quality of life.
You only need to talk to people around you to
discover their humanity. Ireland is a country
rich for the spirit of its people. Come for the
banter and the craic. Stay as long as you like,
and go ahead and treat yourself to some sex
with a professional.
Kate McGrew is a sex worker, singer, and Irish
reality tv star working with SWAI to decriminalize
sex work.
SWAI is an alliance of sex workers, ex-sex workers,
health and social providers and researchers,
working together to advocate for and promote
the health, safety, civil rights and right to selfdetermination
of female, male and transgender
sex workers in Ireland. For more information, visit
their website.

Have you ever listened to a song and thought,
”Could that really happen?” The blog lyricfancy
answers that question by reality checking music
lyrics. Start with a tune, form a hypothesis, mix
in a little research and see what happens.
Lyric
Reading departure signs in some big airport,
reminds me of the places I’ve been.
Song & Artist
Changes in Latitudes, Changes in Attitudes by
Jimmy Buffett
Hypothesis
Most tourists venture to at least one international
locale in their lifetime.
Analysis
Musician and island enthusiast Jimmy Buffet
reflects on his travels with fondness in Changes
in Latitudes, Changes in Attitudes. His ode
to world wandering got me to wondering. Do
most tourists leave their home countries?
Let’s take a journey to find out.
It may seem trivial to define a tourist, but there
are nuances for the purposes of statistics. A
tourist is a person who travels for pleasure
(instead of business or family obligations).
According to the United Nations World
Tourism Organization, tourism is expected
to increase over the next 15 years. Even
areas that have traditionally declining visitor
rates, such as Africa and the Middle East, are
experiencing a surge in tourism rates.
Living Social, the online deal marketplace,
studied Americans’ ultimate destinations and
found Las Vegas and Disney World landed
on the top 10 list. While those sun-filled
destinations bode well for domestic travel;
astonishingly, sixty four percent of the U.S.
population has never traveled abroad. Two
words: do better. The universe is brimming
with rich cultures, beautiful landscapes and

delectable cuisine, and you want to stay
home? It’s a small world after all, go conquer
it!
When Americans finally leave the country the
most popular regions are Mexico and Canada.
So pretty much, people cross the border.
It’s better than nothing (no disrespect to
Mexico and Canada). The United States Tour
Operators Association found that Myanmar
in Southeast Asia will be the top emerging
destination in 2015. Once a destination
for those on humanitarian and educational
ventures, Cuba is now set to become an
enticing option thanks to renewed diplomatic
relations.
Adventure seekers the world over packed
their bags and accounted for 53 percent (598
million) of all international tourist arrivals in
2014. Europe had the most foreign visitors the
same year. Which nationality globe-trots the
most? The average Briton has explored seven
countries OUTSIDE of the United Kingdom.
The most powerful passport, based on cost
and visa-free entry to nations, belongs to
Sweden.
Conclusion
Most tourists during their time on this planet
travel internationally at least once. If funds are
limited, you don’t have to go far. Leave your
‘hood, borough, village or city. Whether bus fare
or air fare, learning something new can ONLY
enrich your life. I have been very fortunate to
trek across three continents. Not bad, but my
exploration appetite is never satiated. Grabbing
my passport and headphones now, au revior!
Tiye Jameson is the founder of the music
blog lyricfancy, where she reality checks song
lyrics. She listens to verses with an ear for
the ridiculous. The unapologetic Baltimore,
Maryland native travels the world picking up
music and dropping knowledge. Check out
Tiye’s lyric experiments at www.lyricfancy.
com.
(Data Sources)

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for better health
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your choice for a healthy life.
Visit us at www.anthem.com/inmedicaid.
Serving Hoosier Healthwise, Healthy Indiana Plan and Hoosier Care Connect
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AINMKT-0121-16 02.16

GRIOTS
Give
Each quarter Griots Republic endeavors to give
back to the community through coordinated
programming with our corporate partners.
In commemoration of February’s Black History
Month, GR partnered with Anthem Blue
Cross and Blue Shield to read to the students
of Ralph Waldo Emerson School (RWE) #58,
in Indianapolis, Indiana. Approximately
fifteen volunteers read travel themed, black
history children’s books like, Calvin Alexander
Ramsey’s “Ruth and the Green Book” and
Joyce Carol Thomas’ “In the Land of Milk and
Honey” to seven elementary classes.
Along with the reading day, more than 30
gently used iPads were donated to the library
to enable RWE staff and students to work
together using creative learning tools, apps
and interactive textbooks for endless learning
possibilities. Anthem also donated iTunes gift
cards to the school to ensure that they gain
access to the appropriate educational apps.

Thank

You!

Griots Republic Vol. 1 Issue 3
March 2016
Cover Image
Courtesy of Illa J
Editor in Chief Davita McKelvey
Deputy Editor Rodney Goode
Copy Editor Alexis Barnes
Video Editor Chidi Nwaozomudoh
Videographer Kindred Films inc
Social Media Shanita Hubbard
Advertising
Alexandra Stewart
Alexandra@GriotsRepublic.com
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