Mind of Malaka

My New Filthy Obsession: Carpet Cleaning Videos

Posted on March 21, 2022
by Malaka
with 0 Comments

Instagram is owned by Facebook, so it's impossible to say with certainty what algorithm the company used to determine just why a 44 year old African woman living in South Africa might be interested in watching someone scrub filth from woven wool and scrape it…

Motherhood

My Tween Son Doesn’t Like to Bathe, So I Used the Seuss Method to Explain the Importance of Personal Hygiene

Posted on March 15, 2022
by Malaka
with 2 Comments

My Boy turns 13 this Spring and just as he did during the toddler phase, he is hitting every single benchmark and milestone by the book. He's moody, ill-tempered, keeps a filthy bedroom and only takes instructions from his father. I have been content to…

Motherhood

The “Mommy Wars” Have Made it to Africa, and They Are Uglier Than Ever

Posted on March 8, 2022
by Malaka
with 0 Comments

They say fashion and trends recycle themselves every 20 years, so I suppose it should come as no surprise that the Mommy Wars - a dark and desolate time during the early days of social media - have reared its ugly head. In the early…

The South African Series

Gin and Gender: The Sexist History of My New Favorite Drink

Posted on February 22, 2022
by Malaka
with 0 Comments

I have recently discovered South African craft gin and it has quickly become my go-to drink. As an African, Christian and granddaughter of whom I have been told were two raging alcoholics, I wouldn’t say I have a “difficult” relationship with spirits and brew, but…

Musings

The Trials of a Once Cheerful Giver

Posted on February 8, 2022
by Malaka
with 2 Comments

We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith; if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; if it is to encourage, then give encouragement;…

Musings

Soon Leaving Africa Voluntarily & Expeditiously: Part 2

Posted on February 3, 2022
by Malaka
with 0 Comments

This story continues from Part 1 “I am Captain McGinty. I will be responsible for your arrival to your various checkpoints within the Federation of Industrialized Nations - should you survive the journey. These two men are my associates: Mr. Wong and Mr. Jenkins. They…

Musings

We Have Become Our Aunties

Posted on January 21, 2022
by Malaka
with 0 Comments

My mother was a founding member of AAAG (the African-American Association of Ghana) in the late 80s/early 90s. They were the group responsible for bringing and hosting several African-American celebrities and influencers -before the term was coined- in Accra. Many of the members were entrepreneurs,…

Musings

I Have Lots of New Goals For 2022. How I Plan to Pave My Road to Success With A Series of Robust “Hell Nawls”

Posted on January 10, 2022
by Malaka
with 2 Comments

You've heard of the Law of Attraction, right? It's the idea that both we and our thoughts are made of pure energy and that like energies will attract each other. So if you're ill, for instance, you can attract healing energies to your body if…

Musings

Tattoos, Soca and Roots. 2021 May Have Been One of My Happiest Years Yet

Posted on December 28, 2021
by Malaka
with 0 Comments

2021 was an incredible year. Now, I am willing to concede that any block of time sparkles - blindingly - in comparison to the hellscape that was 2020, however in real and quantifiable terms I can confidently say that this year was one of the…

Motherhood

Aboriginal Australians Send Their Pre-Teen Boys On a ‘Walkabout’. I Wish I Could Send My Son On One Too.

Posted on December 20, 2021
by Malaka
with 2 Comments

The rules of Thunderdome are easy: Two men enter, one man leaves. This is what it's felt like living with my son for the past 18 months - like I'm locked in a cage fight with an adversary bent on bending me to his will…