Fresh off our BOOKED Trips Ghana experience we got the chance to chat with Hope Nabalayo, one of our BOOKED Trips Maya Angelou Travel scholarship recipients about her trip experience and the meaning of the scholarship.
The BOOKED Trips Maya Angelou scholarship honors women of color who embody Angelou’s spirit of exploration, creativity, and social justice. Thanks to the generosity of our first donor Melissa Jones we were able to award TWO $5,000 scholarships toward a 2025 BOOKED Trips experience.
Maya Angelou was a renowned singer, dancer, poet, memoirist, and civil rights activist. Angelou’s work took her around the world including Egypt, Ghana, and various countries in Europe. In 1961, Angelou moved to Cairo, Egypt where she wrote for the weekly newspaper, “The Arab Observer”, then to Ghana, where she taught at the University of Ghana’s School of Music and Drama and worked as a feature editor for “The African Review”. She wrote her book “All God’s Children Need Traveling Shoes” about her time living in Ghana. Hope’s experience in Ghana literally allowed her to walk in Maya Angelou’s footsteps. Hear more about Hope’s experience below:
The BOOKED Trips scholarship honors Maya Angelou’s spirit of exploration and social justice. Maya Angelou also spent significant time in Ghana which she wrote about in her book “All God’s Children Need Traveling Shoes.” How did your experience in Ghana embody or deepen your understanding of that legacy?
Maya Angelou is truly a force to be reckoned with. Her life and work continue to inspire generations, and I feel deeply honored to have walked the same path she once did during her time in Ghana. For that, I am profoundly grateful to Melissa Jones for making this experience possible.
In a world where so much is happening, and often going wrong, the one thing we can hold onto is truth. It is what we continue to fight for every single day in the hope of one day living in a just world. To do this, I’ve realized that we must open ourselves to new experiences, to different perspectives, and to deeper understandings of the realities around us. That is how we gain the empathy and insight needed to fight for justice with clarity and
conviction.
In this sense, travelling to Ghana deepened my understanding of Maya Angelou’s legacy by allowing me to both learn and unlearn. It challenged me to confront stories I thought I knew and to see them through a more truthful, grounded lens. It pushed me to own my truth, to own my story, and to live boldly enough to tell it. Because ultimately, only we can be the true champions of what is right and just.
What were some of your favorite experiences on the trip and why?
That’s actually a very difficult question because, in all honesty, I truly enjoyed every bit of the experience, making it hard to pick just one. However, if I were to highlight some of the most unforgettable moments, I’d begin with the amazing connections and friendships I made with the other women travelers. I felt a deep sense of community and sisterhood throughout the trip, you’d have thought we’d known each other long before. We laughed so much, shared deeply, and I felt completely free to be myself around them, which was very special.
Secondly, I absolutely loved how the trip emphasized culture and heritage in every experience. It felt intentionally curated to show us Ghana beyond what the media portrays; from making batiks and cooking traditional Ghanaian dishes to experiencing the open markets, which I could personally relate to and appreciate as an African from a different culture.
The historical aspect of the trip was also incredibly meaningful to me. I grew up learning about the Trans-Atlantic slave trade in school, and I’ve also researched it independently. So to experience that history from the land itself was deeply eye-opening. It gave me a stronger understanding of the healing work that Africans and people of African descent continue to do in order to honor their roots and reclaim a sense of home.
I would say that reading Homegoing (three times now) also shaped how I approached the experience. It reminded me how fiction can mirror reality, and how a single story can represent millions of others. So I approached the trip with a lot of humility and respect. I remember stepping into the River of No Return and feeling the water’s energy, almost as if it was calling me. It felt like a silent communication between us and the ancestors, something I still hold onto dearly. While at the castle in Cape Coast, walking through the dungeons and those crisp white walls was rather heartbreaking. I could almost picture Esi and all the other women who endured such inhumane conditions. Yet, in the same space, where we later lodged at a cozy place by the beach, I found beauty watching the waves crash and retreat, I felt an overwhelming calm and sense of connection. Oh, how can I forget that I am now officially royalty having received my Ghanaian name and being welcomed into a royal family. You can now call me Ohema Esi Konadu. (A warrior queen born on Sunday).
And lastly, as a lover of art and all things creative, I completely fell in love with Accra’s art scene; the colors, the music, the food, the energy of the people! Everything was vibrant and alive. Ghana truly owes me nothing; I’d love to visit again.
What has been the impact of the scholarship on your experience? What is the importance of travel scholarships like these?
Personally, this scholarship gave me far more than just the funds to travel to a new country and experience a new culture, it gave me the opportunity to reimagine life beyond my wildest dreams.
I still remember saying a little prayer before submitting my application, truly manifesting the opportunity. When I was announced as one of the recipients, I felt an overwhelming sense of gratitude. That’s when I knew it was meant to be. There was a deeper purpose behind my journey to Ghana, one that I’m still unpacking.
As a storyteller and creative, this experience pushed me out of my comfort zone and allowed me to confront realities through a beautiful lens, surrounded by beautiful people. It has influenced how I approach conversations, how I explore history, and how I understand lived experiences. Most importantly, it has continued to shape the kind of narratives I am passionate about, the stories of my people and where I come from.
I believe scholarships like this are incredibly important. They give women like myself the space to step into new versions of themselves and to return home with bolder, richer perspectives that not only enhance their work but also deepen their individual journeys of self-realization and identity.
How would you describe BOOKED Trips to others?
“I never thought travelling could look like this.” That’s a statement I found myself saying after almost every experience with BOOKED Trips. It’s truly one of those journeys you have to live through to fully understand. I mean, I can share photos and stories; but I would tell anyone to add it to their bucket list to really get the full experience.
From the curation to the intentionality and flexibility, everything was done with so much thought and care. Jalisa, receive your flowers!!! I genuinely felt like royalty throughout the trip. It wasn’t just about visiting a new country; it was about learning through stories, connecting with incredible people, and seeing a place through the eyes of literature.
For me, I’ve always loved the idea of reading as a way to experience new places and cultures, and this trip made that a reality. Walking the same paths and standing in the same spaces that inspired Homegoing was surreal, it felt like the pages had come alive. If anything, this experience has motivated me to explore more book-inspired journeys and to keep going from pages to places. The world is truly my oyster, and BOOKED Trips made
me realize that in the most beautiful way.
