I arrived at Osvaldo Vieira International Airport, on the Continent of Africa, in the country of Guinea Bissau, at 1:30pm on January 31, 2023. I had laid my mother to rest 17 days prior. I was full of emotions, all swirling around vying for my attention.
The only thing I allowed myself to focus on in that moment after debarking the plane, was finding, and making eye contact with Daiana. And there she was, just a few feet away, waving and smiling. I felt genuinely welcomed. This welcome included a very special traditional cloth called “Pano di pinti” (pronounced panoo dee peentee) it literally means “Comb cloth” because it’s made in a loom with teeth like a thin comb. A Pano di pinti, is the most precious gift one can receive at each important step of someone’s life (i.e., birth, birthdays, ceremonies, marriage, death). The more you collect them, the more your life would be considered full, and you get buried with all of them. The 2 tribes known to practice this are Manjakos and Pepels. Each “Pano” is composed traditionally by 6 “bandas” bands with different designs and motifs that have significance. The one I received means “Amizadi Sabi – friendship is delightful”. The name says this design is offered among friends/siblings to signify and solidify the relationship. Daiana and I are forever connected. Her son is my nephew, she is my little sister.
Daiana handled my visa paperwork, while I took a Covid test and waited for the results. As we walked out the front doors of the small airport, I took in my first breath of the afternoon air. I remember thinking while taking in a few deep breaths, “I made it.” The taxi ride to Hala Hotel & Aqua Park was a blur pretty much, I was exhausted. I did, however, make a mental note of the stark difference between the quite serene beauty and cleanliness that lay inside the guard gated hotel and the aesthetics that lay right outside of it. In the video below, notice the beauty of the hotel campus. Now imagine that right outside the gate there was a New York city style hub of street commerce. This hub also included a makeshift bus and taxi terminal.
After my shower and nap, I met up with Daiana and Siphiwe in the hotel lobby. We were going to have dinner, and then call it a night. Our day would start early the next morning. Before heading out to dinner, we sat in the lobby and chatted a bit. I felt an instant connection to Daiana’s partner, Siphiwe as well, a familiar sense. You know that intrinsic feeling you get when you place a puzzle piece in the right space. I had that feeling about the two of them. I remember a moment right before we left for dinner. I started a statement that Siphiwe finished. I had just received a text from my spiritual mentor. I was moved by it and began reading it out loud. I said, “My mentor just text me, she wanted me to know that when the student is ready” then Siphiwe said, “the teacher will appear.” Dinner was delicious 😋 and upon returning to the hotel, I slumbered deeply.
The next morning, I had a quick breakfast down in the hotel’s restaurant and we were off.
Island of the King was a fascinating island to visit. I took in as much as I could as the stories of the island were being told. A rich tapestry of cultural tradition was tantalizing all my senses. It was palpable. I don’t recall the name of the tribe, the invasion(s), or what the underlying historical eveIsland of the Kings Schoolnts were for this island. I just know that I could feel the sacredness of tradition, history, and culture. I was especially fortunate to have been able to visit the school (Link) on this obscure little island. I’m a retired elementary and middle school teacher. Visiting that classroom was everything to me. Children are the same everywhere in the world. They are just children. Sweet, innocent, curious, and full of play. Island of the King School Visit
We arrived back and headed to downtown Bissau for lunch after the morning tour of the Island of the Kings. That afternoon, I experienced a walking city tour, and the Amura Fort Museum. At the museum I learned about Amílcar Lopes da Costa Cabral. He was one of Africa’s foremost anti-colonial leaders. Amilcar was a Bissau-Guinean and Cape Verdean agricultural engineer, political organizer, and diplomat. He was also a pan-Africanist and intellectual nationalist revolutionary poet. He was assassinated in 1973 at the age of 49. He is beloved in Guinea Bissau and now holds a special place on my Ancestor Altar.
I had another tasty dinner that evening. By the time I returned to my hotel that evening, I was emotionally, mentally, and physically spent, but in a good way. As I readied myself for bed, I began to think about tomorrow’s tour. We’re going to visit a place called Cacheu, and The Door of No Return. See you next month when you journey there with me.
If you are enjoying My Soul’s Journey Home, and I hope you are, tell a friend. Everyone is welcome to subscribe to the free once-a-month (1st Saturday) blog post. After Guinea Bissau, I travel to Egypt. Hope you stay aboard for that journey as well.
