Mind of Malaka

Soon Leaving Africa Voluntarily & Expeditiously

Posted on June 9, 2021
by Malaka
with 2 Comments

I was doomscrolling Twitter yesterday while waiting for my daughter to finish her hair at the salon. My Twitter feed is usually a mashup of human rights violations out of West Africa, Eskom plunging Mzansi in relentless darkness and food preparation videos. It can get…

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5 Days in Puerto Rico: Day 5 – Behind Her Smile

Posted on May 26, 2021
by Malaka
with 2 Comments

Cagney was incensed. "You mean to tell me these people can't tell the difference between me and my boojie behind and these ghetto birds strolling around here in their socks and fuzzy house shoes?"She was reacting to Enrique's analysis of events. I hate to categorize…

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5 Days in Puerto Rico: Day 4 – High Art, Low Fares

Posted on May 25, 2021
by Malaka
with 3 Comments

I woke up the next morning with a burning throat and the flames of my compassion doused. I was sick; my body reacting to the numerous allergens in the hotel room and my psyche affected by the series of quarrels the evening prior. The Fellowship…

Madness

5 Days in Puerto Rico: Day 3.5 – Island Vibes & Front Desk Bile

Posted on May 23, 2021
by Malaka
with 3 Comments

This story concludes the events of Day 3 For the first time that we'd been in San Juan, I didn't notice the side cut eyes, the inhospitable nature of the hotel staff or the way locals looked through you as you walked by. You have…

Madness

5 Days in Puerto Rico: Day 3 – Rock Pools and the U-Haul Krewe

Posted on May 23, 2021
by Malaka
with 0 Comments

Trauma bonded. That's how our quartet described itself after we'd spent the day together. We'd been corralled together by one person's inconsideration and neglect and would remain tethered to one another for...God knows how long? Individually we'd imagined a long time. "Last night I told…

Madness

5 Days in Puerto Rico: Day 2 – Aggressive Raindrops, Pugnacious Dish Towels

Posted on May 21, 2021
by Malaka
with 3 Comments

"The girls will meet us at El Jibarito for lunch. Then we'll figure out what to do next." My sister was standing on the balcony overlooking the lagoon. In 24 hours we'd been in Puerto Rico, the balcony had become the place that she retreated…

Madness

5 days in Puerto Rico: Day 1 – Black Mold and Mofongo

Posted on May 20, 2021
by Malaka
with 0 Comments

I dove for my phone, trying to catch it before the last ring. It was my sister. Just as I prepared to hit redial, her text message flashed across my screen.CALL ME BACK NOW.Jeesh. What could be so urgent? We'd just spoken two hours earlier.…

Motherhood

I’m Co-Parenting with an Inherently Violent Man. I’m Fearful of the Repercussions for My Child.

Posted on May 7, 2021
by Malaka
with 2 Comments

I have shared 35 years of friendship with the woman sitting across from me. There are tears in her eyes and her voice is trembling. "Did I tell you I found my father, Malaka? I found my dad." A lifetime of muttered prayers - secret,…

Marriage

Should I Explore Astral Sex with My Husband?

Posted on April 19, 2021
by Malaka
with 2 Comments

By now most everyone knows that a part of my work is to write on sex and sexuality for my other blog, Adventures From the Bedrooms of African Women, which I started with my BFFFL - Nana Darkoa - almost 12 years ago. If you…

Photo Essay Friday

Photo Essay Friday: Garden Route Ink

Posted on April 16, 2021
by Malaka
with 4 Comments

Ink. Tat. Tramp Stamp. Thot Graffiti. Whatever you might call them, chances are you have strong opinions about tattoos. The art form has been around for centuries, with evidence dating back to 3370 BC. Their uses are myriad: as ethnic identifiers; beautification; to release healing…

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