For the first time ever, here are video blogs from my trip to Liberia last year (2008). Enjoy!

Day 0- Monrovia

We arrive in Monrovia, after a long flight. I'm quite relieved that we can rest on the day we arrive, and that we only start shooting tomorrow...The streets are vibrant, with small enterprises everywhere. I'm a bit surprised at how fuel is sold so informally on tables...The city of Monrovia is alive during the day....I wonder what the night life is like....There's definately a lively vibe here. We rest at the hotel, and rest before a week of filming.

Day 1- Sights and Sounds of Monrovia

 We start the day at a Sniper Hill, which is a historic site, where the monument of the first black govenor is erected. I fumble through my first link...AM I NERVOUS??!! I get into it after that...Kudzai, relax!!

Next I go to the beach...Which is BEAUTIFUL!! Coming from a landlocked country, it's been a while since I've been by the sea, so I savour every moment of that fresh sea air. Next stop is a typical Liberia outdoor eating place, I taste some SNAPPER fish with the locals...Damn, it was HOT!!!

But really tasty. My love affair with seafood begins!!! The weather today has been perfect, so I consider we are quite lucky because I'm told the rainy season is not quite yet over.

Day 2- Cooking Story

We are taken through the traditional Liberian meal Palm Butter, which is a mixture of different types of meat cooked in Palm Oil. The ladies in the kitchen are hard at work, and the kitchen is SWELTERING hot, as they cook on open fire. I try my hand at crushing the palm nuts in the tradional crusher..it looks easier than it is!!

As it's in my best interest to find out what exactly is in the meat mixture (I AM going to taste the meal, in full view of the camera!), I ask what exactly what meat has been used. I'm told its fish (yummy), prawns (even yummier) and bushmeat...Immediately I start getting visions of some poor primate being stewed slowly in the couldron...I stop asking questions, and do my job!!! Eat and be merry!!

At last its time to eat!! Wow this food is tasty, has a definate kick, so I'm relieved when my glass of water comes as I'm starting to realise more and more how unadventurous my tastebuds are, their food has delicious flavours, spicy as hell, and very tasty...I could get used to this!!

Day 3- Jewelary Story

I'm introduced to some mega BLING yellow gold, which is EXTREMELY popular in West Africa. I saw a few pieces that I liked, especially the Afro-centric type jewellery.

Today was a particularly humid day, I just wanted to take off everything and jump into the sea!

We have dinner at a very popular hotel called Mamba Point, they serve great prawns and the most incredible Lentil Soup. Producer, Cameraman and Presenter are hooked.

Day 4- Fashion Story

I meet a really amazing Liberian fashion designer whose respected in her community and beyond the borders for her creativity and her afro-chic style. I even get to try one of her costumes..and pose with Miss Malaika, Miss Liberia and some other models...mmm! Living my life like its golden! Every girl feels like a princess when she's wearing beautiful clothes...

The designer has clients such as ministers of Liberia, and the President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf. At this stage, we are not yet sure if we are going to be able to meet the president, as we were hoping, so she makes a quick call on our behalf...we keep our fingers crossed.

After the shoot, we make our way once again to Mamba Point Hotel for our daily Lentil Soup kick and amazing fish and prawns. After lunch...A lady regonises me in LIBERIA...WHAT ARE THE ODDS OF THAT??!! She's from Zimbabwe, working for an NGO there. Wow...I think I may be famous after all!!

Night life in Monrovia, I doll up in my hotel room after the shoot. First stop is a braii place, which is very lively. It's a weekend and you can literally see the city coming alive. Our next stop is a karoeke place with lots of wanna be pop stars singin the night away...After a glass of wine, Enver convinces me to sing one karoeke number, "Killing me Softly"...We have fun.

Our last stop is a very packed club in Monrovia. Man! The place is PACKED!!! I struggle a bit to find a man to dance with who is comfortable to be filmed in front of the camera...At last, I FIND A MAN... He's a lot bigger than I am, and the camera struggles to capture me a bit..he's also really enjoying our dancing, I keep reminding him, the camera is rolling, as he's coming closer and closer..."We party hard here!" He keeps reminding me...I can see that!!!

Day 5- Reggae Star

I meet one of Liberia's top reggae artists, who, if I may add, is gorgeous...very nice eye candy!! Its a rainy day but it's stopped raining a bit and we arrive at his house. He has a pet monkey..mmm. Cute.

The interview goes well, we film him in the studio, which goes well. Enver, our producer, convinces me ONCE AGAIN, to to a short impromptu collaboration with him on camera...talk about putting a girl on the spot!! But it turned out to be lots of fun.

After lunch, the rain has stopped again, and we decide to film him meditating and doing his vocal practice on the beach. We discover that it has been raining so hard that our car cannot cross the normally shallow pool.

I look around and cameraman and Producer have already taken their shoes off, about to cross. I'm a bit hesitant to walk across the water, I'm not sure what the state of the water is like...And then...Like a prince charming, our hunky subject offers to carry me on his back across the river...Could I say no??!!! So that was that...I had two modes of transport today- a car and a delectable reggae star. Nice one!

Day 6-History of Liberia

I meet a university professor who gives me great insight on the history of Liberia. I'm struck by how Liberia has had many "first". First being the first African country to gain independance, and then the first African country to elect a female president.

I'm also struck by how optomistic people are, everyone of the locals I speak to are looking forward to see Liberia back on its feet. So although the country has had a rough past, I get the feeling that it is well on its way to recovery.

In the evening, I hear from Enver, that our interview with the president has been confirmed for tomorrow, on the day we leave...I am besides myself with excitement. This is groundbreaking stuff...I have a feeling I'm really going to like her!
I better have an early night tonight...

Day 7- A day with Ellen Johnson Sirleaf

It's 6am, and our driver is late!!!! Dude, of all days to be tardy!!!! Fortunately Enver gets a plan B, who is the hotel driver, to take us to the statehouse. After identifying ourselves, as the studio 53 crew, we are taken into a home...And that is exactly what it feels like, we are warmly welcomed, offered tea, as we set up the lights, and wait anxiously for her..

As I look through her house I can see that she really loves Africa. Even her taste in ornaments, and curios is really indicative of her love for Africa.

She walks in, and my heart cant stop racing. Please brain, don't freeze...

We start with our interview, I generally stick to my questions, all except asking if she felt a sense of destiny when she was elected president. In that moment, she really gives us a glimpse of Ellen. She tell us that by the time she was 21 she had been married, had 4 kids, and hadn't even attended college yet...and now she's the president of Liberia..Wow. Talk about the power of determination and destiny combined!

As she has visiting doctors from the states coming by, I'm invited to sit at the table with them, and the president for breakfast...I'm taking this all in...I'm having breakfast with the president of Liberia....

Later we film her having her weekly monday prayers and praying for Liberia. I can see that her faith plays a huge role in her convictions and her desicions...

It's picture time, My camera, whose battery I hastily shoved in the wrong way round as I left my hotel room in a hurry, REFUSES to perform, as I pose for a pic with the president!!! Fortunately Enver's camera comes to the rescue!! Kudzai!!! Honestly!!!

We follow her to her meetings, and generally her day to day activities, which included visiting a market. She has set up a school by this main market so that vendors can leave kids at school which is in the same premises, and sell their goods. Wow. Sweets are being handed out to the kids and a melee begins, it's quite amusing...I'm amazed at how approachable she is...a few people come and ask questions, and she answers them.

She turns around and says to me..."See, the nation is young". Her maternal strength is something of great value in her leadership. Now I see why they call her the mother of the nation.