Diywithjoy

31/05/2026

What a way to end May. ✨🌍

Last night I was invited to celebrate African Day 2026 in London with the African Union. Surrounded by ambassadors, high commissioners and leaders representing the continent right here in the UK, and the energy in that room was a vibe!

It was also a rare room for the kind of conversations we live for — engaging high-level stakeholders across government and trade, in both the UK and Africa.

Burundi and Sierra Leone on the cultural performances that had everyone on their feet. 👏🏾

A fashion show serving looks from Senegal, Ghana, Morocco, Madagascar, Ethiopia, Nigeria, Rwanda, Angola, Malawi, Burundi, Sudan, Côte d’Ivoire, Cameroon and Algeria 🔥

The ambassadors and high commissioner ms came together to cut the Africa Day cake felt like the whole continent coming together.

This is the heart of what we do at Crescendo Digital. Last November we supported the High-Level Influencers’ Forum on Borderless Africa at the African Union HQ 🇪🇹 — bringing artists, creators, storytellers and policymakers together to reimagine an Africa that Africans can move through freely. And with Ghana and Togo now visa-free, and Congo following in 2027, that dream is becoming real.

Proud to be African. Always. 🌍

15/05/2026

How Solo Travel Taught Me to Find My Community as a Single Christian Woman

I was sitting in a café in Saranda, Albania, solo, unbothered, working my way through a Byrek pastry when my phone buzzed with a voice note and a picture from my good friend Tumi. Tomi had proposed. I sat there in this little Albanian café, absolutely overwhelmed with joy, pastry forgotten, and thought: that app actually did that. If you've been following this blog for a while, you know I'm a big advocate for solo travel....

Solo travel builds independence but what about community? As a millennial Christian who travels the world solo, here's how I found my people and the app that actually gets it.

07/05/2026

People who know me know I always joke that I’ve lived many lives. 😂

Chemical engineer.

Now this.

The path here was anything but straight and I wouldn’t change a single detour.

Last year, I had the privilege of speaking at the Financial Times x People Like Us Creative Showcase at Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity.

I shared a campaign we’re proud of at Crescendo Digital but more than that, I shared a reminder of what’s possible when you choose purpose over perfection.

What that experience confirmed for me: the stories we tell about ourselves about our culture, our creativity, our continent land differently when we’re the ones in the room telling them. We’re not just part of the conversation. We’re setting the trends that shape it. We always have been.

That moment is also part of why Ziada Abeid and I built The Crescendo Creative Bridge. So that more of us get to be in rooms like that one. More equity, more representation and more access!

Applications are closed for our delegation but the floor is still open to partner with us: https://lnkd.in/e39FaM8X

🌍 More about our programme here:
https://crescendodigital.co.uk/cannes-lions-era-programme-2026/

09/04/2026

One of my fav travel memories from my solo trip to Egypt - Meet my new Saudi aunty, DeLaL 🤍🥹

Swipe left to check out the back story of how we met!

In a world where we are constantly bombarded with bad things happening around us, from social media to watching the news, it’s important for us to remind ourselves of the positive experiences we have encountered.

I have also had some beautiful experiences which involved strangers showing me acts of kindness while travelling.

Kindness restores faith in humanity and it is amazing to see this around the world. It showed me I shouldn’t travel with fear but with caution.

It showed me that I should travel with an open mind because you never know what friendly encounter you may have with a complete stranger that may change your outlook or even your perception of the world around you.

Kindness is free 🤍

08/04/2026

I attended LIONS | The Home of Creativity through the ERA Programme thanks to BLACQ Space I want to be honest about what that meant.

It didn’t just open my eyes to what was happening in the global creative industry. It shifted what I believed was possible for me, for Crescendo Digital - Tourism Marketing & PR Agency | UK & Africa , and for the broader community I represent.

I came back different. More anchored. More audacious. More opportunities. More connections. My creativity reawakened! And with a very clear sense of what needed to be built.

What we’d experienced was too good not to share. And that the absence of African voices in those rooms was too obvious to ignore.

Africa is shaping global culture in music, fashion, film, storytelling and travel. The continent’s creativity dominates playlists, red carpets and social feeds worldwide. But shaping culture isn’t enough.

African creatives and cultural leaders need to be in the rooms where global decisions are made. Not as subjects of the conversation. As the ones leading it.

So Ziada Abeid and I made a quiet vow. We were going to change that. Even just a little.

Crescendo Digital is proud to be an official Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity ERA Programme partner and applications are open for The Crescendo Creative Bridge: our curated delegation to Cannes Lions 2026.

We’re offering complimentary Festival passes worth up to €4,465 to African and diaspora creatives, cultural leaders and storytellers who deserve to be in that room.

Deadline: 14 April 2026.

And to anyone reading this who wonders whether a room like that is for them, it is. Apply.

→ Link in the bio to apply!

Please forward and share this opportunity with anyone you think should apply 🔁

And if you’re a brand or agency that wants to sponsor a delegate’s travel, co-host a Cannes activation or a sponsor partner for the programme, we’d love to talk. Drop us a dm

04/03/2026

What a way to kickstart ! ✨

I had the privilege of being among 700 invited guests at the Opening Night Gala of Berlin 2026, hosted by the vibrant country of 🇦🇴.

An inspiring start to a week bringing together over 100,000 travel professionals from 160+ countries — one of the most significant annual gatherings in global travel.
The evening included the powerful panel “Leading Tourism into Balance: Aligning Growth and Sustainability”, featuring Shaikha N. Alnuwais (), Gloria Guevara (
and Márcio de Jesus Lopes Daniel (Minister of Tourism, Angola), where Angola truly took centre stage, highlighting the nation’s innovation, culture, and vision for tourism.
I also had the opportunity to connect with incredible industry leaders, including the Deputy Director General of the Ministry of Tourism, Angola, CEO of Zimbabwe Tourism Authority, Ambassador of Zimbabwe to Germany, representatives from the German National Tourist Board, CEO of Travel Daily, China Travel News & China Business Association, and more.
co.uk is proudly representing .app, a pan-African travel and mobility platform, and .ke , a bespoke luxury safari and DMC. Excited for a week of networking, insights, and collaboration, driving African tourism and hospitality visibility globally! 🌍
Already thinking about my first trip to Angola — what an inspiring start! ✈️

27/02/2026

I’ll be attending this year, the world’s largest B2B travel trade show.

I’m looking forward to a week of strategic meetings, insightful discussions, and connecting with partners shaping the future of African tourism.

This year, .co.uk is representing:

🌍 .app — a pan-African travel platform and ecosystem, coordinating cross-border mobility and curated cultural experiences across Africa through one structured ecosystem.

🦁 .ke — a premium safari and DMC brand delivering tailor-made luxury experiences across Tanzania.

If you’re attending ITB Berlin and would like to connect, explore collaboration opportunities, or discuss African travel partnerships, I’d be delighted to meet.

If you’re going, let’s connect in Berlin.

You can reach me directly at:
[email protected]

19/02/2026

The Best Solo Travel Guide To Saranda, Albania (2026) 🇦🇱

https://diywithjoy.com/best-solo-travel-guide-to-saranda-albania/

13/02/2026

As a solo traveller, I know it can feel awkward eating alone but don’t worry I’ve got you!

Here are some practical tips to help you dine comfortably alone when ✈️

1️⃣Booking a table at popular restaurants is essential when you are travelling alone. A reservation can save you from having to have a backup plan in the evening, or from hearing ‘table for two’ from the waiter.

2️⃣Look for food and dining experiences that come with entertainment. Enjoying dinner with a cultural show or live music performances helps fill the awkward silences you may feel eating alone while being entertained simultaneously. If you’re near a river, lake, or coastline, consider taking a dinner cruise or boat tour. I love one with a good sunset view 🤩

3️⃣ Take part in food-related activities: You can take cooking classes, wine tastings, or even food-related workshops. These activities not only give you a chance to try new foods but also provide an opportunity to socialise and meet fellow food enthusiasts.

👩🏾‍💻Check out diywithjoy.com for more solo travel guides + tips

What’s your favourite place you’ve dined alone?

📍Hyatt Regency Taghazout

eatingalone

09/02/2026

“How do you take photos when you’re solo travelling?”

Here are my go-to tips 📸✈️

1️⃣ Use a sturdy tripod, remote clicker or phone timer
This is my number one non-negotiable when travelling solo.

Tip: Shoot at golden hour (my secret weapon).
The lighting does 80% of the work for you.

2️⃣Hire a photographer
It’s honestly a 2-in-1 deal — great photos and it feels like a walking tour.

3️⃣Ask hotel staff, your tour guide or even strangers.

I usually ask someone with a DSLR, frame the shot I want, and hand them my phone or camera.
I also love returning the favour and offering to take their photo too.

4️⃣ Sometimes a selfie just makes sense
Abeg, just remember to clean your lens first 😂

You can find the exact tripod I use (I actually have 3 different ones) in the shop section on diywithjoy.com 👩🏾‍💻

Save this for your next solo trip 💛