An Uplifting Journey: Relocating to Belize
This is Sista Nzinga’s uplifting experience about relocating to Belize to be a better version of herself.
Introduce yourself to the Caribbean Vybes family. Who are you and where were you born and raised?
Peace n love… I am Nzinga Nana Akoma Debrick, affectionately known as Sista Nzinga. I’m proudly from Afrika, born in Wilmington, Delaware. I’ve lived most of my life in Delaware, except for 8 years in Denver, Colorado, and 2 years in Haledon,New Jersey. I am the youngest of six children in my family and a Mother to my two daughters. I am also a proud grandmother of two. I have been the owner and manager of NZINGA’S Cultural Connection for 28 years. Ten years ago I was initiated as a Queen Mother of Progress and Development in Ghana, West Africa and was bestowed with the name Nana Akoma.
Tell us a bit about what you offered at Nzinga’s Cultural Connection and your journey.
After being laid off as a PC specialist, I returned to Delaware for my daughter and me to spend time with my ailing Father. To provide for my family, I used my God given talents in dancing and sewing. Later, some friends and I formed an Afrikan Drum and Dance Ensemble named Griots Wa Umoja. While still performing around town, I also offered my services as a seamstress. My sewing creations became very popular and kept me busy. I was so busy that eventually, I had to choose between dancing and sewing. As my sewing business grew, I added other items to my inventory and created a storefront in the living room of my house. I later moved into a shared space with others and continued to move and grow as time went on.
January 2014 marked 25 years that I have been in business. My final store was located at 113 W. 9th Street, in downtown Wilmington but my longest / biggest space was 827 N Market St. NZINGA’S Cultural Connection was a family boutique blending cultures. I sold clothing, jewelry, accessories, fabrics, incense, oils, toiletries, and household items. NZINGA’S was voted Best Storefront Retailer, 2008, 2010, & 2012. As a business owner, I overstand the importance of giving back to the community. I presided over the Afrikan Connection, which is an organization that creates and promotes culture and empowerment for the community. We have been doing this for about 20 years. Our biggest event is a 7 day Kwanzaa Celebration. We organize a celebration of Kwanzaa all seven days in various locations throughout the city. I have also volunteered as vendor coordinator for the Bob Marley Festival for 20 years.
I sold items to men, women, and children but most of my customers were women. I felt the need to be helpful to people internally also, and not just externally. I was helping them look a certain way, but within my spirit, I knew my role was to empower them. I offered health food items and talked to them. I found my business was a ministry as people were coming and talking to me about life, about their problems, and current issues in the world. Eventually, I started NZINGA’S HEALING FOODS which was a food program which offered people a weekly program of eating healthy. I didn’t try to persuade anyone to become a vegan or vegetarian. I emphasized the importance of eating healthy and offered raw foods, healthy smoothies, fruit juices, healthy snacks and fresh fruits.
Throughout the years, regardless of the state of the economy, you have persevered. What advice do you have to share with entrepreneurs?
Operating a business is not an easy thing to do, but it is very rewarding. You have to take the bitter with the sweet, the ups and downs, know when to hold ‘em and know when to fold ‘em. The important part is to have a business doing something that you enjoy. So when times are down or slow, you just continue on developing, creating, and changing to make your business better and stronger. You must work hard to be successful. Owning your own business gives you some privileges, but the responsibilities increase as your business grows. So you just persevere and recreate as you go. Keep things fresh, exciting and current.
During the recession, I have managed to continue to develop and create my business. You have to determine for yourself if your business is going through a recession. The life of business anyway is like a roller coaster. You manage the ride and create events, sales, vacations, etc. so forth accordingly. In 2017, NZINGA’S entered into its 28th year of business. I’ve been through a lot during all those years but most of it has been a wonderful ride. I have been truly blessed. I’ve managed on an ongoing basis, to recreate my business, changed my inventory, added new items, and have kept things fresh in my displays and presentations. I love what I do, and I work hard to please my customers. I recently moved, and it felt good to hear my customers say that they would follow me anyplace.
What advice do you have to our sister’s across the globe? Any life experience or observations about how women can improve their lives etc.
It is important for women to understand that they must work on themselves from the inside out. To support how I felt, I offered healthy foods, emphasized the importance of exercise and encouraged them to work on themselves and to know that all that they need is inside of them.
In honour of Women’s Month, I had a program called “Ladies Treat”, where men prepared the food, brought empowering messages, did fitness demonstrations, offered dancing such as Zumba and line dancing, entertained them and offered massages. All these services were donated and offered freely to those attending. It was a program of empowerment and entertainment.
When did you first journey to the Caribbean and what was your first impression?
My first visit to the Caribbean was over 30 years ago. Trinidad was the first island I visited and the next year I
went to Jamaica. For the next six years, I went to Jamaica every year and I have been back to Trinidad. One of my favorites is St. Kitts. I really wanted to go there, so I traveled there by myself. I had a GREAT time. The people were so friendly and accommodating. During my visit, I got to see one of my favorite entertainers, Mutabaruka. My favorite place was Frigate Bay Beach. I have to give a special shout out to Mr. Verral Marshall. I had met him during a visit to Jamaica through his cousin and he told me to come anytime. So I did. He made my visit one of my best Caribbean experiences ever. He guided me around the island and made sure I was safe where ever I went. And of course, fed me some of the best food the island had to offer.
What path has life taken you?
Over time, I had a desire to leave Delaware and the opportunity arose. In the meantime, I continued to sell food to the public and moved the business back in my home.
In my development, I felt the need to purge. I no longer had the need to have things. So I started selling items in my home and minimizing. Stuff wears you down.
In 2016, I continued to travel to different places in the world. I travelled to Belize and stayed for a month. I also travelled to Trinidad. It was on my fourth trip to Belize, when I stayed for three months, that I realised that I’d found a new place to live. I stayed at several locations and found one I loved named Cayo. It had a beautiful marketplace with fresh fruit and vegetables. I found an African Dance class and other things that worked with my spirit.
It was during the second month that I knew that it was the right place for me. It was how God intended it to be – fresh fruit and vegetables to live off the land. As the saying goes, everything we need is inside of us and we are on the land that provides food, clothing and shelter and that’s it.
I returned to the U.S. and during a six-month period, I made preparations to rent my place and give away a lot of items, such as plants, furniture, clothing, jewellery and fabric. I gave to many organizations.
In November 2017, I moved to Belize. I’m living, loving and learning in Belize. I’m working on myself and continue to elevate and enjoy life. I don’t plan to open a business, but I will use my craft making of jewelry and accessories and of course my sewing skills to generate income. I’ve retired, and I live a simple life. I’m happy to leave the stress and strife in America and live as how God intended us to live. My decision to leave the U.S was spirit-driven. It’s about using the gift which God has given me to share with others. It’s about God’s will.
I relocated to Belize to be a better version of me so that I could empower others including my two daughters. I love using technology to be able to see my family especially my grandsons. I stay in touch with what’s going on with my daughter’s life. They are growing and living their adult lives and I am very proud of them.
It was a hard decision leaving my family but I knew I had put a strong foundation in my girls and even though your children make what a Mother views as mistakes along the way, I knew it would be ok to Mother from afar. As your children become adults your mothering changes. You have to allow them to make choices and deal with the consequences of their choices and most importantly take responsibility for their choices.
As I said, I’m living, loving and learning here in Belize. Sharing my experiences, and wisdom with those I meet. It’s been a beautiful journey and I am ever so grateful. Give thanks.