A Conversation with Izzie

From headwraps and Kente cloth to psychology and hot takes, Izzie is exactly the kind of person you want to talk with. We got into everything: growing up Ghanaian, church traditions, jollof rice loyalty (don’t ask her about Nigerian jollof), diaspora family group chats where you’re saying happy birthday to people you’ve never met, and what’s happening back home with galamsey and environmental damage. I loved how honest she was about communication, trust, culture, and just figuring things out in real time. Super grateful for this one.

Talent: Israel "Izzie" Dabankah

Interview & Photography: Kai Oszlai

K: Tell me about your outfit.

I: I wish I had more, like, cultural clothes—but I decided to keep it a mix between an Americanised style versus my home country. So I have this shirt that says my country’s name, Ghana, regular pants, and, of course—a headwrap, my favourite piece.

K: It looks awesome. Is it, like, silk?

I: Yes.

K: Is there a specific way that you wrap it or do you just kind of put it on your head?

I: Yeah, it’s really complicated. There’s a bunch of different ways, but yeah—my grandma actually did it this one particular way: a general ‘oh, we’re going to church, put on your headwrap,’ way. It’s basically for those kinds of events.

K: You said ‘for church.’ Is it a religious symbol?

I: Not really a religious symbol, but definitely the norm. At the church I go to with my family, you have to cover your hair.

K: Just the women, or men, too?

I: Just the women.

K: Are you a winter person or a summer person?

I: Honestly, it changes between seasons—because during summer, I’m like ‘God, I need winter right now, it’s too hot.’ and then vice versa. But really, I think I prefer fall, or spring because that’s my birth month.

I: I’ve been studying for my data management class.

K: Yeah? Is that something you enjoy?

I: Honestly, it’s a very fun class.

K: Is that in-line with what you want to do after high school?

I: A little bit, because I’m going into psychology and probably need statistics.

K: Where?

I: I have York, TMU, and Brock as my top three.

K: So, where is Ghana? In Africa, right?

I: Yes, in the west.

K: Have you been?
I: I’ve been there when I was, like, three years old. Don’t really remember it.

K: Do you still have family there?

I: Oh yes, of course. Lots of family. I have family everywhere: in Europe—

K: Europe?

I: Yeah [laughs]. They just spread.

K: Do you keep in touch?

I: Yes, I do. Mainly on my grandparents’ side, [whom] I actually live with—and they all have different families. Not even that much related, but all these different people and friends they consider family. Sometimes we talk, call, FaceTime… they want me to say ‘hi,’ [even when] I don’t know who they are.

K: Real! You’re saying ‘happy birthday’ to someone while thinking ‘who are you?’ [both laughing]

I: Yeah, it’s basically just that.

[while taking photos]

K: Do you know that one Rihanna cover where she’s like [sticks tongue out]?

I: [starts laughing] No!

K: Do I look crazy?!

I: Yeah [laughs]. I have no clue.

K: Are there any Ghanaian foods that you like?

I: Jollof rice. Don’t let anyone tell you that Nigerian jollof rice is better than Ghanaian jollof rice.

K: I’ll have to try it. What makes the two different?

I: Honestly, I’ve never had Nigerian jollof rice—and I probably will never try it. Has to be homemade.

K: Yeah, gotta represent, right?

I: Yup [laughs].

K: What languages are spoken in Ghana?

I: A bunch. The one my family speaks is Ewe.

K: What do you think is the best part about your country, other than the food?

I: Definitely the clothing. I like how colourful it is. We use these patterned fabrics called ‘Kente cloth,’ that are very vibrant and have geometrical shapes on them.

K: What do you like to do in your spare time?

I: Mainly play video games, or listen to music.

K: What kind of music do you like?
I: So many people ask me this. It’s really anything. It just has to be good.

K: But are there any artists in particular you like?

I: Hmm… to name some: Ariana Grande, Melanie Martinez, Tyler, the Creator, Kendrick Lamar.

K: Real. I like that you seem to be a ‘go with the flow’ kind of person.

K: What do you look for in a friend?

I: Communication, for sure. I love speaking. If you have anything you want to tell me, let’s speak; if you have any problems, just talk to me up front. [Also], honesty—but it’s not like I’ll think less of you if you want to tell the truth, because everyone has something they don’t want to tell others. I won’t force the truth—but honesty, for sure, because that ties in with trust, too. You?

K: For me, I think it’s reciprocity. I feel that the effort put into the relationship should be balanced.

I: Yeah, for sure.

K: Is there anything going on in Ghana that you think people should be aware of?

I: ‘Galamsey.’ I haven’t done too much research about it, but I do know it’s this political [issue]. Some politicians are trying to, like, destroy this one sacred land in Ghana that has a lot of [gold], which has polluted the lakes. [In response], people have been creating hashtags and posts on social media calling on [the government] to stop ‘galamsey.’ This is done to not allow these politicians to mess with sacred lands, and not pollute the water that people [depend on].

K: Yeah, it sucks that people don’t really care about the environment as much as they should.

I: I know! Even if you have petitions to stop it—it’s still somehow not enough. They just don’t care and will go ahead anyways.

K: What do you think is the root reason behind that? Why do you think people just don’t care?

I: Honestly, I can’t tell you. Maybe people are desensitised; they can’t [see] how important the environment is. We’re all too used to how we’re living now. To tell someone ‘oh, you have to stop doing this [because] it’s bad for the environment’ is hard because it’s simply [all] they know. It’s what they’ve grown up doing. [In this sense], it’s a hard habit to break.

K: Is there a prominent Ghanaian community in Canada?

I: Honestly, yeah. More [in] the Toronto area; not so much in Markham—but there’s definitely a big diaspora there.

K: Do you have any pet peeves?

I: I hate when people chew loudly.

K: Get out of my face! [both laughing]

K: What’s your favourite part about yourself? Don’t worry—you can be a narcissist now.

I: [laughs] I’ll say my creativity. I just think of the most outlandish stuff sometimes, which I like. There’s never a dull moment in my brain.

K: I love that.

K: What is the best wood in Minecraft?

I: Oak.

K: Do you play any instruments?

I: I used to play the ukulele.

K: Oh, like, as part of school?

I: [At first], yeah—and then my mom bought me an actual ukulele because I was interested at the time. Then I never went back.

K: Would you ever want to be famous?

I: You know—I think I’d like it for a week or two [before] getting tired of it, because people are always thinking about me, wondering about me.

K: Would you say you’re an active person?

I: Not at all. I wish I was. Every one of my friends go to the gym. I wish I was [like] them but I cannot find the time for that.

K: What’s your hot take?

I: All my friends think I’m weird when I tell them I use hot water to make my hot chocolate. They’re like ‘that’s weird, you should use milk,’ and I’m like, ‘guys, it’s not that controversial!’ It still tastes good either way.

K: Do you know that one TikTok audio that’s like ‘one fis-huh, t-woah fis-huh’?

I: [laughs] No!?

K: Am I brainrotted? I think I’m brainrotted.

I: Just a little bit.

K: I mean this in the nicest way possible—I was under the impression that you were brainrotted, too.

I: You know what? I used to be, but then I just stopped going on TikTok and Instagram Reels.

K: That’s one of my resolutions [Izzie laughs]. It’s not going well.

I: But yeah, about repeating grades, some people don’t know how to spell or read. They don’t even know their vowels.

K: Oh my god—in my Grade 11 math class, someone asked ‘teacher, what’s BEDMAS?’

I: Yo! [laughs]

K: Are we for real?