Written By: MIM!—
PISTACHIOS - Kakenya from POCKO on Vimeo.
For more information, visit www.kakenyasdream.org.
(Photo Credits: © PRNewsFoto/Vital Voices Global Partnership)
Making A Difference: Kakenya Is An Award Winning Animated Film That Is All About Girl Power!
"Vital Voices: Kakenya" is a partly animated film based on the real-life story of Kakenya Ntaiya, who followed her dream of building the first primary school for girls in her Maasai villiage in Kenya. Watch the inspiring animated feature below which won www.ViewChange.org's online film contest this month.
New Buy: Balenciaga greige
just wanted to show this bag very quick. I am very surprised by the quality of the Photo booth function on my new computer!
I just love this grey-beige colour, it's my favourite colour in my interior too!
Purse: Balenciaga 2006 Greige
Jacket: Isabel Marant
Tea Room of the week-The Primrose Bakery on Tavistock Street, WC2 with Mariage Freres' Earl Grey Imperial
See http://www.primrosebakery.org.uk/And http://www.mariagefreres.com/
Photo's taken on Casio EXILIM Camera
Everything is Illuminated by Jonathan Safran Foer
"She loved herself in love, she loved loving love, as love loves loving, and was able, in that way, to reconcile herself with a world that fell so short of what she would have hoped for. It was not the world that was the great and saving lie, but her willingness to make it beautiful and fair, to live a once-removed life, in a world once-removed from the one in which everyone else seemed to exist." (p. 80)
"From space, astronauts can see people making love as a tiny speck of light. Not light, exactly, but a glow that could be mistaken for light - a coital radiance that takes generations to pour like honey through the darkness to the astronaut's eyes." (p.95)
By Ari Ferdman
"From space, astronauts can see people making love as a tiny speck of light. Not light, exactly, but a glow that could be mistaken for light - a coital radiance that takes generations to pour like honey through the darkness to the astronaut's eyes." (p.95)
By Ari Ferdman
Tahirah Conliffe with bag by Zagliani at opening for new Sloane Street store
See also http://www.wonderlandmagazine.com/And http://www.zagliani.it/
Photo's taken on Casio EXILIM Camera
Lanvin's collaboration with H&M launch
My menswear purchase of the day, a pair of bronze shoes
See http://www.lanvinforhm.com/Also http://www.wonderlandmagazine.com/
Photo's taken on Casio EXILIM Camera
Outfit: defeat the dark! A. Wang Rocco bag
Now the day's are darker and colder, people tend to wear darker colors, me included. This winter, I forced myself to buy more light colored items and stop myself from wearing only black. I hope this will keep the winter depression away. I did a lot nude purchases lately as you can see below. A few years ago I would never have thought about combining grey's and browns, now I love it! I am very happy with my new A. Wang Rocco bag, wich I bought on the outnet with a very nice discount, wich makes it even better!!!!
Blazer: H&MTop: H&M
Purse: Baby Rocco Alexander Wang
Scarf: Louis Vuitton
Pants: H&M
Shoes: ASOS
Ring: YSL Arty ring
Bracelets: Tiffany's, DIY, by1oak
Key-necklace: Tiffany's
Fanele Chester Guest Blogs For MIMI: What Does The Future Of African Fashion Look Like
Written By: Fanele Chester @FaneleLove—The end of 2010 will mark a successful decade in African fashion. More designers emerged with incredible talent, drawing from both the modern world and cultural heritage. There has been growing support for exposure in the number of fashion weeks held per year, in Africa and abroad. ARISE, AUDI and South African Fashion Week in Johannesburg and Cape Town have become highlight events for designers who want to establish themselves, and are held up as an industry standard all other fashion shows seek to emulate.
The ARISE African Collective during Mercedes Benz Fashion Week NY and ARISE L’Afrique-Ã -Porter during Paris Fashion Week, are both a world stage for successful African designers to further establish themselves globally. David Tlale, Deola Sagoe, Stoned Cherrie, Loin Cloth & Ashes, Tiffany Amber and KLUK CGdT are some examples of African designers that have enjoyed international exposure and local success, and have had a strong impact on African fashion this decade, and have significantly contributed to its progress.
As 2010 comes to a close, and another decade begins, what indicators can give us a clue about the nature of African fashion in the future? Here are my predictions:
Minna Salami Guest Blogs For MIMI: On Being An African Feminist
Written By: Minna Salami @MsAfropolitan—With artists like Beyonce and Jessica Alba recently claiming to be feminists, it might be the case that we will soon see an F-word revival. That would be awesome.
Yet feminism is not simply about being an independent or successful woman. It is about recognizing and taking a critical engagement with structures that may oppress women such as the ‘institution’ of marriage or elements of religious doctrine or music videos. More than anything feminism is a lifestyle. As was recorded in the charter of African Feminists in 2006:
“…we define ourselves as feminists because we celebrate our feminist identities…Our feminist identity is not qualified with ‘Ifs’, ‘Buts’, or ‘Howevers’. We are feminists. Full stop.”
Or as novelist Chimamanda Adichie, who calls herself a feminist who likes lipgloss said:
“…being a feminist is about more than outrage; it is about being a woman who likes and stands up for other women.”
As for me, I’ve been a feminist since my early 20s. Since then my worldview, my relationships and my life choices have all been shaped by a conviction that gender structures should not limit personal and professional growth and that every woman should have that right.
Modahnik SS 2011: Rich Colors And Textures With A Modern 1970’s Twist
Written By: MIM!—Modahnik is a women’s contemporary clothing line influenced by the dichotomy of the vibrant African culture and landscape as well as modern contemporary West that was launched in 2009 by Congolese fashion designer Kahindo Mateene. Kahindo shares about the line, "the brightly colorful African print is the signature of Modahnik, fused with western design sensibilities, creates a multicultural feast of modern silhouettes that is refreshingly feminine and visually appealing with an underlying sexiness. Modahnik is a socially conscious line that aims to be ethical by producing in Africa using fair trade practices thus creating sustainable jobs for underprivileged communities within Africa." Take a look at their Spring/Summer 2011 collection below.
Achieving 8 Goals For Africa
Written By: Jamelia Mmari—Launched by the UN Development Group, 8 Goals for Africa, is a campaign song by eight of Africas best known musicians, calling for commitment to achieve the Millennium Development Goals—a set of eight internationally-agreed upon goals designed to reduce poverty, hunger, disease, and maternal and child deaths by 2015. 8 Goals for Africa features Yvonne Chaka Chaka from South Africa, UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador Angelique Kidjo from Benin, Oliver Mtukudzi from Zimbabwe, Eric Wainaina from Kenya, and the Soweto Gospel Choir from South Africa with world renowned jazz musicians Hugh Masekela and Jimmy Dludlu from South Africa are instrumentalists on the track. Watch the inspiring music video below:
8 Goals for Africa from UNDP on Vimeo.
figures/shapes a study
I have been making so much art. Much of it is almost finished and will be photographed and posted soon. I spent the majority of today taking photographs exploring form and shape - mostly human. They were inspired by some very lucid dreams a few nights ago which were beautiful.
Outfit: Isabel Marant boucle jacket
Today, I finally made outfit pictures wearing my Etoile Isabel Marant Jacket (one of my favourite designers lately). It is very warm, I don't even have to wear a coat outside! Today I will do some shopping and I am having my sunday afternoon drink with my girls, a tradition for many years!
jacket: Etoile isabel Marant
t-shirt: Dressmania
necklace Tiffany's
trousers: Zara
Shoes: Neil Barrett
ring: YSL
Purse: Marc by Marc Jacobs
Bracelets: DIY, Tiffany's, by1oak
Home: Gran's antique table table
Although my house is super modern and minimalistic, I still love my Gran's antique table. I think it is really nice to put something old in a modern interior to give it something personal. This table makes me remember the great holidays I spend with my grandparents. I was very happy when my grandma gave it to me as a gift for my new house.
Another good thing is my bunny, Puk loves it too. he often sleeps and washes himself here, probably because he feels protected by his "roof". This morning my boyfriend made us a great fruit salad, we both loved it!
Lamp: KartellPainting: Corneille print
Table: antique
Candles: Hema
Carpet: IKEA
Plates: Hema
From The Archives: Welcome To Nollywood
Written By: Mimi Tsiane—This weekend, I watched my first Nollywood film; well in its entirety. The DVD was simply entitled “Royal Battle: Part 1 and 2." The DVD was not an original (uhm, how do I say it delicately...) it was bootleg. I purchased my copy from the hair salon/clothing boutique/grocery store/beauty supply and social networking establishment. I also picked up some oranges with my purchase! I tell you, my African people are doing big things. I am in love with the industry that is Nollywood; here are some of the elements that I have observed.
1. Love story: Boy and girl meet, fall in love and live happily ever after, then a plague befalls the town, he dies and haunts the living hell out her. That is a love story.
2. Supernatural phenomena: Witches, random lightening on bright days, plagues, kings in FUBU outfits, ghosts, plastic hair weaves, and extraordinary circumstances.
3. Beautiful scenery: Although many are set in Nigeria and surrounding African countries (I am from Botswana); I cannot help but feel nostalgic when I see some of the landscape.
Read more »
Empty Face Man
Here's a piece I did last nice - more like an experimentation. I have plans to take my own photographs of various people and draw over them rather than on Life magazine photos.
Making A Difference: The Film "Walk The Talk" Captures Botswana's First Mr HIV Positive Living Beauty Pageant
Written By: Jamelia Mmari—An estimated 300,000 people were living with HIV, almost one-in-four adults, are believed to be living with HIV in Botswana; that is the second highest prevalence of HIV in the world. Convention dictated that women rather then men, be at the forefront of fighting HIV as they were seen as the face of the disease. But that was challenged in 2006 when the first Mr HIV Positive Living Beauty Pageant was held in Gaborone. The pageant was designed to reduce the country's accelerating rate of HIV infection by encouraging all men to test for their HIV status and to promote lifestyle changes needed to stop the spread of the disease. The film, Walk The Talk (sponsored by the University of Sydney) captured this event; watch the movie below.
Watch Freshlyground Take On Robert Mugabe's Presidency In Their Music Video "Chicken To Change"
Written By: Jamelia Mmari—Earlier this year, Afri-pop group Freshlyground made headlines, with what has to be the most talked about South African music video of the year, Chicken To Change, in which the group teamed up with ZA News to create a music video challenging Robert Mugabe's presidential reign. The video depicts Mugabe as a shining star, who somewhere lost his way, with scenes depicting an out of touch Mugabe riding in the back of a chauffeur-driven presidential car and reading a newspaper, “Bob's Times” with the headline: “Glorious victory for Zanu-PF.” Underscoring the political tone of the video, the Freshlyground chime in with pointed lyrics such as “An iridescent example of honour for the coming generation... You promised always to open the doors for us... Indeed it is you and only you who sleeps with the key... You are chicken to change!” In case you missed it, here's the video:
'Chicken to Change' Freshlyground / ZA NEWS music video from ZANEWS on Vimeo.
Freshlyground is comprised of seven members hailing from South Africa, Zimbabwe and Mozambique. Sarah Barnett, a spokeswoman for the group, said they “believe in freedom of speech and that people should be able to talk about topics that affect many civilians ... The video is not an attack on Mugabe at all. It is a tongue-in-cheek challenge for him to reflect on things and become the hero he used to be, to consider his actions and surprise us. We are not afraid of his reaction. Why should we be in a democratic world?”
The Museum Of Arts And Design In New York Opens Its "Global Africa Project" Exhibit Today
Press Release—An unprecedented exhibition exploring the broad spectrum of contemporary African art, design, and craft worldwide, The Global Africa Project premieres at the Museum of Arts and Design (MAD) today and running through May 15, 2011. Featuring the work over 60 artists working in Africa, Europe, Asia, the United States, and the Caribbean, The Global Africa Project surveys the rich pool of new talent emerging from the African continent and its influence on artists around the world. Through ceramics, basketry, textiles, jewelry, furniture, and fashion, as well as selective examples of architecture, photography, painting, and sculpture, the exhibition actively challenges conventional notions of a singular African aesthetic or identity, and reflects the integration of African art and design without making the usual distinctions between “professional” and “artisan.”
Tea Room of the week-Palm Court at The Langham Hotel
Designer Hannah Marshall
Do go to:
http://london.langhamhotels.co.uk/
Photo's taken on Casio EXILIM Camera
Do go to:http://london.langhamhotels.co.uk/
Photo's taken on Casio EXILIM Camera
Paris Fashion Week SS 2011....Katia
Katia, who with her lovely brother Midou, seem to be the most connected teenagers at Paris Fashion Week!
p.s. Last Friday I got to shoot a Christmas editorial feature for my-wardrobe.com. Despite the weather being completely awful (I said lots of pretty please's in the days leading up to it but it didn't seem to work) , I had the most amazing time with the fab team from my-wardrobe, models Danny (Select) and Jessica (FM Agency), make-up artist Andriani (Phamous) and hair stylist Takashi (Phamous). I can't tell you how exciting it is to be asked to work on these kinds of projects (okay, it is REALLY exciting!). You can take a peek at the finished feature here. Thank you so very much my-wardrobe!
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