Everything’s ‘Ghana’ be alright

Jamestown, a village in Accra, Ghana is known for it fishing community. Much of the fishing is done in the early morning, giving time for play in the ocean during the hot afternoon on March 26, 2017.

Zachary Popik

Anxiety filled my body — already drenched in sweat — as we traveled closer to our destination.

Four photojournalists, including myself, and two of our fixers were packed in the car like sardines.

I spent the last week and a half documenting the religious practices and ceremonies of Accra, Ghana, and we were on our way to a traditionalist church that seemed to be in the middle of nowhere.

As we drove up to the church, it felt intimidating and appeared to give off a negative energy.

Hammed, our driver, turned up the radio; Bob Marley’s “No Woman, No Cry” was playing.

Suddenly, the energy shifted. I felt happy and calm to hear something familiar and dear to me. One by one, we all started to sing.

At that moment it hit me just how small this world of ours is.

Two very different cultures and six very different perspectives on life, all coming together at one moment to sing the chorus.

That’s when I knew: “Everything’s gonna be all right.”

Zack Popik is a photographer, contact him at [email protected].