Fressy Norman on the cover of the que pasa wolaba magazine, surrounded by lush jungle greenery, representing natural beauty and Afro-Caribbean femininity.

Digital layout of Que pasa wolaba magazine with caribbean images

caribbean women holding hands in the jungle of puerto viejo, costa rica for que pasa wolaba magazine

Qué Pasa Wolaba

Edition 01

Humanos de Puerto Viejo

Who Are We?

This first edition of Qué Pasa Wolaba magazine is dedicated to the characters, activists, and dreamers that call Old Harbour home. Their stories are told through the lens of local and international photographers and writers who aim to learn from the past so we can celebrate the present. Fascinated with the human condition, we explore the lived experiences of Afro-Caribbeans, Indigenous, Costa Ricans, Americans, Spanish, and others who color this place with vibrancy.

Quienes Somos?

Esta primera edición de la revista Qué Pasa Wolaba está dedicada a los personajes, activistas y soñadores que llaman hogar al Old Harbour. Sus historias son contadas a través del lente de fotógrafos y escritores locales e internacionales que buscan aprender del pasado para poder celebrar el presente. Fascinados con la condición humana, exploramos las experiencias vividas de afro-caribeños, indigenas, costarricenses, estadounidenses, españoles y otros que dan color a este lugar con su vibrante presencia.

For the last 4 years, I have called Puerto Viejo in the Southern Caribbean of Costa Rica, home. It is here where I discovered fast surf and slow living. Indulging in this spectacular landscape was only rivaled by the rustic charm of its town and the heart of its people.
As I listened in, I heard the boys’ tales of growing up in the bush with nothing but machetes and instinct to find their way home; how they used to hunt iguanas, make friends with the monkeys, and fish with only a spear. From the water’s edge, I watched the oldest men in town head out to sea to get the catch of the day and during barefoot cruises through town, I caught the sparkle of children’s eyes from their seats on bike handles. I met Afro-Caribbean women with an infectious swagger and a sense of cultural pride. They showed me what it looks like to carry a crown without apology.
Friends came and went, but the stories of the people nestled their way into my heart chamber and never left.
I had a vision to document the faces and voices of Old Harbour (the original name of Puerto Viejo) through portrait photography, long-form interviews, and contemporary design in the form of a print magazine.
For the last 6 months, I have sat with friends and strangers in their homes and businesses, collected hours of audio, sourced photographers and conceptualized and directed photoshoots. I re-learned graphic design programs and formatted a 70-page magazine on a MacBook Air. This process was a deep dive into my subjects and into the self. Through it, I questioned my talents and my privilege, but persistence prevailed as I knew these stories needed to reach a larger audience.
We have arrived.
Qué Pasa Wolaba is a grassroots project born from the collective action of the people of Puerto and whose contributions help make this an ad-free and independently-funded publication. Featuring both Spanish and English content, we recognize the diversity of our readership across borders. We believe legacy media is not dead and long-form written content is the medicine to get us off our phones and onto the page! In the true Pura Vida way, this magazine is meant to be savored not chased.
By purchasing a limited edition issue—or 2 or 20—you are supporting our initiative to preserve a culture and a place that is rapidly changing. Plus, you might discover an untold story here in Wolaba Town.
—Liv Hooson

Mentions of the Magazine

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Mentions of the Magazine 〰️

“The content of the magazine provides the reader with context to the historical and economic inequity in Puerto Viejo. Through the lens of the Editor, Liv, you learn about the importance of local business, local culture, local environmental and development issues which is the core of Qué Pasa Wolaba.”

—Jode Brexa, International Educator & Digital Storytelling Facilitator

“It is a cultural must for the magazine to be shared in every business in Puerto Viejo. Right now, it serves as a way to lift up the stories and the fascinating people of this place, which is presented in a format of the highest quality.”

—Johnny Kicks, Founder of Wolaba Radio

“I read the magazine cover to cover. Wow. I am so grateful to have this breadth of knowledge at my fingertips to teach me more about the people in this community through soul-felt stories. Now, when I see these faces around town, I will smile extra hard as I now know their deeper stories.”

—Lianne, Puerto Viejo Community Member