About Away From Africa

Away From Africa describes the culture of Sub-Saharan Africa, and showcases African artists, designers and writers.

Away from Africa was originally created to show everyday life in Cameroon from the perspective of a foreign-born wife, along with snapshots of art, design, business. The blog was expanded to feature the activities of people all over the continent and within the diaspora overseas.

Diane Chehab has a professional architectural degree from the Ecole des Beaux Arts in Paris, France, and an MBA from the Zicklin School of Business, Baruch College, NY. She has lived and worked in the United States, Europe, Africa and the Middle East.

She is married to a Cameroonian architect, Epee Ellong, author of De La Case A La Villa (2014). Together they founded an architectural and design firm, Padouk Design. Projects ranged from one-family residences to schools, dormitories, clinics, and supermarkets. Clients were private individuals, government organizations and international non-profit organizations. Diane was a certified consultant for the UNDP and the African Development Bank, and worked regularly on USAID projects.

In 1993, the couple moved to the United States, and currently share their time between Cameroon and San Francisco.