Oceans Apart

Abbenayo Dubango, an African woman from Ghana, shares her story of struggle and perseverance as she leaves her native country, through no fault of her own, to follow her wishes and aspirations of making this world a better place. Holding a strong bond with her parents and young brother, Abbenayo vowed to challenge herself and succeed in a country of opportunity, with the inevitable goal of becoming a civil rights attorney and be the voice of the forgotten around the world. Like most journeys, hers was neither easily sought nor envisioned; rather her pursuit came with painstaking agony, welcomed defeat, and uncompromising persistence. The Universe had a plan of its own, when Abbenayo came across a boy, Mike, whose upbringing was nothing compared to hers. They set out to navigate their relationship full of potholes based on misunderstood cultural traditions and values. When Mike brings her home to meet his privileged family, his mother disapproves citing her duty to watch out for him. Her behavior causes a rift in the family, and Mike divorces himself from his mother, much to her woe. Back in her native land, Abbenayo's family became aghast as they thought the devil had stolen their little girl away from her roots. Their two different worlds would shake the core of their existence, while showing them they were more alike than un-alike. In a story where power, wealth, narcissism, pride and injustice lurk around every corner, Abbenayo holds onto hope and continues to be a voice for the voiceless. With God as her guide, her family as her soul, the underprivileged as her strength, Abbenayo tried to overcome all in the land of supposed freedom and opportunity.