Ego Trippin'

In celebration of Africa Women's Day, RUNWAY AFRICA presents, EGO TRIPPIN' a Fundraiser Event, featuring designer Ngozi Odita of Harriet's Alter Ego, a RUNWAY AFRICA 2007 presenting designer. RUNWAY AFRICA will introduce and unveil the creative aspects of Africhic couture designs, through an Africhic pictorial viewed from the cinema screen in the center of the venue. Mingle with fashion industry professionals, boutique owners, and local fashionistas. Receive information on Africhic and its importance within the international fashion industry, while shining a spotlight on its impact on African women and their livelihoods, socially and economically. Get all the details by clicking on the flyer.

MIMI Style Links: Spring Fling: Harriet's Alter Ego www.mimimagazine.com/2007/april/03-04-harrietsalterego01.html 'Tis The Season To Get Gorgeous www.mimimagazine.com/december2006/02-09-harrietsalterego01.html

UK's Most Beautiful Nigerian Girl

20 contestants will by vying for the title of the UK's Most Beautiful Nigerian Girl this Friday 3rd, August at the Porchester Hall (Porchester Rd, Bayswater, W2). Comedy by Fumnbi, live music, dancers and Pa's from Shady Blue, Komo and Ada Snoop are all slated to perform. In addition to crowning the UK's most beautiful Nigerian woman, the event seeks to raise HIV/AIDS awareness. Get the details at www.mbnguk.com and purchase tickets at www.ticketmania.co.uk

The 2007 Nigeria Entertainment Awards

The Nigeria Entertainment Awards (NEAs) doled out awards to some of Nigeria's most celebrated performers and entertainers this past Saturday (July 21st). The event, which was held in New York City, was attended by Nigeria's finest ... super model Oluchi, former Miss World Agbani Darego and recording artist Tolumide were just a few of the stars who were in attendance. The show also featured some hot performances by Tolumide and gospel singer Sammy Okposo. The NEA's have definitely stepped up their game from last year and set the standard for award shows honoring Africans. Here are some photographs from the fabulous event:

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L-R: Producers Kid Connect & Mic Tunes. Both were nominated for Best International Producers of the Year. Mic Tune won the category.

Bola of Ariya Entertainment. Nominated for U.S. Based Entertainmnet Promoter of the Year.

R&B Recording Artist Tolumide Performing at the 2007 NEA Awards. Tolumide was the 2006 NEA's R&B Female Artist of the Year.

R&B Recording Artist Banky W performing at the 2007 NEA Awards.

CNN Entertainment Reporter Lola Ogunnaike at the Night Gala event.

L-R: Julius Agwu, Sammy Okposo and Mike Aremu at the Night Gala event. Julius Agwu won Funniest Comedian of the Year Award and Sammy won the Gospel Artist of the Year. All performed at the event with Julius hosting.

Julius Agwu on the Red Carpet with Sammy next to him.

Sammy on the Red Carpet.

L-R: Steve Sugunro, Tosin Ola and Alfred Ali of Atlanta based We3 Entertainment, which was nominated for U.S. Based Entertainment Promoter of the Year.

L-R: Super Model Oluchi & Former Miss World Agbani Darego.

Super Model Oluchi.

L-R: Iceberg Slim, Alache, Blak Jesus presenting at the Award.

R&B Recording Artist Tolumide Presenting at the 2007 NEA Awards.

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Looks like fun times were had by all! On the fashion front, Bola of Ariya Entertainment was the best dressed male (taking a risk with that pink bowtie and all those pinstripes really paid off). As for the females, although Agbani Darego's dress was fabulous (that color was h-o-t), Oluchi takes the cake for head to toe fabulousness. Lola Ogunnaike's hair was on point—that's definitely the look to rock for the summer (long weaves are overdone). Too bad there weren't as many artists representing Nigerian inspired designs.

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Find out more about the show at www.nigeriaentawards.com where you can find a larger photo gallery, video footage from the event, as well as a complete list of nominees, categories and winners.

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(Photo Credits: NEA Press)

Reaching Out To Africa's Male Youth

ASPIRE Africa Football Dreams has created incredible momentum across the whole of Africa as 500,000 boys, with dreams of becoming professional footballers, test their ability in front of specialist coaches from the Academy. These three young footballers have their hopes set on a footballing future with a chance of a scholarship to ASPIRE following the latest round of ASPIRE Africa Football Dreams, which concluded in Johannesburg, South Africa this week. The talented 12 year olds beat tough opposition from more than 85,000 South African boys drawn from across the country as part of the largest football talent search the world has ever seen. The whole world will also be able to experience the incredible emotional journey of ASPIRE Africa Football Dreams, through the partnership with ART Sports Channel.

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It is important to strike a balance and emphasize both athletics and academics as providing viable futures for male youths (with the latter being more important for the majority); however, it is inspiring to see that male youth around the African continent are being provided with the opportunity to develop their football talents.

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(Photo Caption: Aspiring African Footballing Talent Left to Right Simon Pono, Tshepiso Lietsisa and Siphiwe Ntuli) (Photo Credits: PRNewsFoto/ASPIRE)

Summer Reading: The Opposite House

In a dazzling follow-up to The Icarus Girl, Helen Oyeyemi explores the thin wall between myth and reality through the alternating tales of two young women and their search for the truth about faith and identity.

Maja was five years old when her black Cuban family emigrated from the Caribbean to London. Now, almost twenty years later, Maja is a singer, in love with Aaron, pregnant, and haunted by what she calls “her Cuba.” Growing up in London, she has struggled to negotiate her history and the sense that speaking Spanish or English made her less of a black girl. But she is unable to find herself in the Ewe, Igbo, or Akum of her roots. It seems all that’s left is silence. Meanwhile distance from Cuba has only deepened Maja’s mother faith in Santeria —the fusion of Catholicism and Western African Yoruba religion—but it also divides the family as her father rails against his wife’s superstitions and the lost dreams of the Castro revolution.

On the other side of the reality wall, Yemaya Saramagua, a Santeria emissary, lives in a somewherehouse with two doors: one opening to London, the other to Lagos. Yemaya is troubled by the ease with which her fellow emissaries have disguised themselves behind the personas of saints and by her inability to recognize them. Lyrical and intensely moving, The Opposite House is about the disquiet that follows us across places and languages, a feeling passed down from mother and father to son and daughter.

New Kid On The Block: Atandwa Kani

This Fall, look out for actor Atandwa Kani (son of South African playwright and actor John Kani) who will be starring on the CW's family drama Life Is Wild.

(Photo Credits: David Bloomer/The CW ©2007 The CW Network LLC. All Rights Reserved.)

Forbes Confirms Liya Kebede Is A Top Model

Not that we needed any confirmation of Liya Kebede's top model status, but, this week Forbes released its list of the 15 most highly paid models in the world, and none other than Ethiopian beauty, Liya Kebede made the list with her staggering annual earnings of $3.5 million! Liya is also the only model of African descent on that list. All those endorsement deals with H&M, the Gap, Anne Taylor and Givenchy are paying off. Read the full story at forbes.com

(Photo Credits: Louis Vuitton Campaign)

Teiko Dornor: Young, Ghanaian, And Fabulous!

Teiko Dornor, MIMI's September 2006 covergirl, continues to represent African women in a bright and positive light through her work. The ever busy superwoman is soaring to new heights with her modeling career (check her out in the Summer issue of MIMI), and with her success, she is also bringing up fellow African women. As co-founder of the Miss Plus Africa pageant, Teiko is giving a platform to plus-size women of African descent where they can shine as well as address issues affecting their communities, regions, countries and Africa as a whole. Participation in the pageant is open to any full figured woman of African origin regardless of her place of birth between the ages of 18 and 27, never married and never had a child. Get all the details, including how to enter the competition, at www.missplusafrica.org

MIMI Features Link: More Than A Woman: Teiko Dornor www.mimimagazine.com/september2006/02-06-teikodornor01.html

(Photo Credits: Izabela Harbur)

Summer Reading: Shopping for Vintage

First-time author Funmi Odulate is a style guru (she has written for Stella Magazine at the Sunday Telegraph, Harpers Bazaar, Vogue and InStyle) who has captured the essence of fashion in her book Shopping for Vintage: The Definitive Guide to Vintage Fashion. With contributions from the doyennes of the fashion industry—from Hilary Alexander to Miuccia Prada—the book is packed with much sought after insider fashionista tips about what to look for when buying vintage, how to recognize something of value and, perhaps most importantly, where to find it. The final section of the book contains an exhaustive list of the names and addresses of vintage outlets all over the world, as well as vintage fashion fairs, websites, auction houses and flea markets. Far from being the prerogative of the rich and famous, Shopping for Vintage shows how we can all own a little piece of fashion history.

Amara Obidike: Young, Nigerian, And Fabulous!

20 year old Amara Obidike is a Nigerian North Londoner who is about to enter her second year of Biochemistry studies at the University of Leicester. Amara is also a finalist in the national model competition, Face of Divinity, which is run by the UK agency Divinity Models. Here's what she has to say about the competition:

"I have been chosen out of 10,000 applicants nationwide to be in the final 100 and support the notion that the media should create a balance that allows more women regardless of size to look and feel beautiful because majority of women in this country cannot relate to what is seen television. This only promotes insecurities and lowers self esteem. I have nothing against smaller framed women even size zero models especially if you were created that way naturally, what I'm against is going through unnecessary means to become something you're not and even worse making others feel they aren't good enough if they don't look a certain way.

To be honest winning this competition will be a bonus, I'm in this for myself because I've always wanted to model but have been discouraged one way or another because I'm a curvy size 12 and I'm not smaller and want to put more girls like out there so I'm glad I've come this far."

Starting today (July 16), you can show your support for Amara and her mission to change the face of modeling by voting for her to be the next face of Divinity Models. If you are in the UK, text SOUTH68 to 60777 to vote for Amara. Otherwise, visit www.divinitymodels.co.uk for more information.

(Photo Credits: Nuno Veloso (Spot Studio))

Durban Fashion Week: The Ultimate Swimwear Collection 2007

This season's swimwear is barely there and super shiny, with metallics and large cut-outs being the order of the day. Sungoddess went against the trend and stuck to more modest cuts and fabrics reminiscent of the 60's. Sungoddess' gamble really paid—it was the most flattering and gorgeous swimwear collection from Durban Fashion Week.
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Colleen Eitzen (Click On Thumbnail For Larger View)

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Dax Martin (Click On Thumbnail For Larger View)

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Kevin Ellis (Click On Thumbnail For Larger View)

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Sungoddess (Click On Thumbnail For Larger View)

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MIMI Style Link: Style And Spirit: Swimwear For Your Inner Goddess www.mimimagazine.com/may2005/01-05-goddessfactor01.html

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(Photo Credits: Simon Deiner / Thunda.com)

Summer Tours Continue

African summer tours continue to go strong (www.mimimagazine.blogspot.com/2007/05/summer-concerts.html). Fans of Cape Verde's newest singing talent, Sara Tavares, should be happy to hear that the singer has been touring Europe during the summer, and she has no plans to stop until December. Sara will be playing in Italy, Germany, the Netherlands, Norway, and Sweden, to name a few places. Details can be found at: www.saratavares.com

MIMI Mambo Link: Balancing The Melody Of The Diaspora: Sara Tavares www.mimimagazine.com/september2006/02-06-saratavares01.html

Those in the UK can enjoy the vocal stylings of Zimbabwean singer Netsayi , who is on tour for the summer. She is scheduled to continue her tour of the UK, the Netherlands, Switzerland and Belgium until October. Get all the details at: www.netsayi.com

MIMI Mambo Link: Shona Soul: Netsayi www.mimimagazine.com/december2006/02-09-netsayi01.html

(Photo Credits: Joke Schot)

RUNWAY AFRICA Is Only Two Months Away

With only a couple of months remaining before the year's most anticipated African fashion charity event, RUNWAY AFRICA, DC residents are getting a taste of what's to come with monthly events catering to the Afri-chic. Just last month, RUNWAY AFRICA hosted a Masquerade Ball. If you're wondering what you missed out on, visit RUNWAY AFRICA's official website www.runwayafrica.com for video highlights from the fabulous event.

RUNWAY AFRICA still has more exciting upcoming events, designer showcase, fundraisers, including their Indulge Pamper Party (on Saturday August 18, 2007) hosted by Warm Spirit . For $50, you gain attendance to the Indulge Pamper Party where you may chose an hour with a consultant, experience and sample all natural botanical beauty products, learn a new beauty regimen, relax, and unwind. Your hour with a personal consultant promises to provide feet, facials and hands that will relax you, while helping you understand the right products to use to unwind without a full day to the spa. Make your reservations online at rsvp@runwayafrica.com for a full day of pampering with all natural products.

RUNWAY AFRICA will debut September 15, 2007 at The French Embassy in Washington, DC @ 8pm. Tickets can be purchased online at www.runwayafrica.com, a portion of the fashion show's Yellow Collection silent auction will be donated to Keep a Child Alive www.keepachildalive.org, a non profit organization that provides anti-retroviral drug treatments to children and families living with HIV and AIDS.

The spirit of Africa is alive in Washington, DC, don't miss out on it all!

MIMI Features Link: Runway Beauty: Angela Asare www.mimimagazine.com/2007/may/03-05-angelaasare01.html

Mayaeni's Last New York Show

Mayaeni's upcoming July 22nd show in New York looks like it will be her last one in the city. Here's what she had to say about it:

"So I finally did in New York what I came here to do. I have a full album complete with Grammy winning producers. It sounds like a simple thing to do since it can be summed up in one sentence. But trust me, doing just that entailed so much. I had to go through numerous experiences good and bad to even get to this level. I'm moving out of New York for a while as of August. To move to California, London, or just be a nomad. I'm doing one last show here in New York before I leave. I have a full 7 piece band, and will be doing all my new songs. This show will be filmed as part of my DVD for the labels. So I will need all the support I can get of you all coming down."

We're sure New York will miss her, but it looks like she is moving on to bigger and better things. She is so talented and we can't wait to see what success awaits her. Don't forget to go out and support Mayaeni on the 22nd when she will be performing at the Annex (152 Orchard Street)!

MIMI Mambo Link: Unplugged Soul: Mayaeni www.mimimagazine.com/november2006/02-08-mayaeni01.html

POSI+IVE 2007: The Fashion

Fashion and music came together all in the name of a good cause for POSI+IVE 2007. POSI+IVE is the continent’s biggest and most ambitious AIDS fundraising initiative to date—it raised a whopping R1,5 million for the Tapologo Aids Hospice in South Africa’s North West Province last year. This year the entertainment showcased was endless, designers KLUK CGDT, Deola Sagoe, Hip Hop and Stoned Cherrie represented the fashion world while Danny K, Judith Sephuma, Tamara Dey, Flash Republic, and Grammy award winners Freshly Ground and The Soweto Gospel Choir represented the music world. Among the international celebrities in attendance were singer/songwriter, John Legend (who performed) and our favorite super model Oluchi (who modeled).

Here are some highlights from the Rock Show; click on the thumbnails below for the larger versions of the images:

(Photo Credits: Peter Moray; Provided Courtesy Of Sun International)