04/20/2026
I didn’t even want to celebrate my birthday this year.
With everything going on in the world, it felt unnecessary to party. People are suffering.
But, then my friends reminded me that these celebrations give us joy in times of darkness and that’s a necessary feeling to strive for daily.
Then, I thought: What era seemed most joyous?
1978.
I thought back to growing up and constant music playing in the house courtesy of my Dad. Predominantly Highlife music - a style of music originating in Ghana but spread into other West African countries like Nigeria, Sierra Leone and Liberia. Highlife is itself a diverse genre made up of many sub-categories and influences that range from coastal sea-shanties of seaman, to colonial brass bands and indigenous dance and drum music. It is a guitar and vocal dominated music with a variety of percussive elements and often a fluttering of electric organ or sometimes brass.
Planned in three short weeks, my birthday celebration was a purposefully intimate gathering where ironically the Highlife music that normally makes your body move, turned into meaningful convos throughout the room. I guess that’s the byproduct of building intentional community where everyone thoroughly enjoys conversing and catching up.
Grateful to family turned friends. Grateful to my family. Grateful for another year alive.
Never stop celebrating 🙏🏾
—
Party production/showcase: Party With a K, LLC
Venue + food/drinks:
Photo backdrop curation: Ashanti Home + Style (in Columbia City, across from Olympia Coffee)
Cake:
DJ:
