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Zama Dube Is Living Out Loud

Written By: Nani Hapa—Zama Dube is defining the voice of the youth in post-apartheid South Africa as host of The Face-Off With Zama Dube on Johannesburg-based youth-centric radio station, YFM, which is known for broadcasting “the soundtrack to an urban life—fast-paced, energetic and uplifting with a mix of a few quiet moments so that you can catch your breath in the middle of Jozi madness.” Born in Kwa-Mashu, Durban, to a single mother, Zama comes from a musical family of natural dancers and singers—it is no wonder then that she made her way to radio while concurrently studying a joint honors degree at WITS University. MIMI caught up with the reb(ELLE) to talk about being a part of, and representing, the young post-apartheid generation. Read our interview with Zama in the article Living Out Loud.

(Photo Credits: © YFM)

Sam Kessie: In The Director's Seat

Written By: Sam Kessie—I was born in Camden Town, England. At a very young age my father took a job with a mining company and we had to move from London to Obuasi, in the Ashanti region of Ghana. Growing up in England at a very young age exposed me to a completely different culture and way of life from how it was when I moved to Ghana. I hated it and didn’t really have a lot of friends. My parents were pretty protective of me; one could say I had very strict parents, though in the end I am glad they were. I spent a lot of time reading and watching TV. At the same time I was pretty adventurous, getting into trouble occasionally and therefore ending up grounded numerous times. I did write occasionally as an outlet, and had a few articles make it into the local newspaper. However, in school I was always on the path to go into the sciences. Writing, or anything artistic, was encouraged to be more of a hobby. I started Wesley Girls High School in Cape Coast in the mid 90’s and although I graduated as a science student, I was a very active member in the Drama Club. Funny enough, one of my prizes at speech day was a book entitled Movie and Methods (I still have that book on my shelf!). I entered college with the intention of becoming a computer engineer, but very quickly realized I was not at all in love with that major.Read more »

Genevieve Nnaji: "What I Don’t Like About Nigeria? … Man, I Never Diss My Own Country."

Written By: Jamelia Mmari—Genevieve Nnaji recently sat down with CNN International's Pedro Pinto for a full-length interview with African Voices. When asked what she likes about Nigeria and correspondingly, what she doesn't like about Nigeria, she had the following to share, proving why for many she reigns supreme:

Written By: MIM!—Sunday Omony was born in the war-torn region of northern Uganda. When she was six years old, her family migrated to Canada. Despite being miles away from her home country, Sunday has remained connected—to name a few of her volunteer efforts: she continues to partner with organizations promoting peace and human rights, and she is involved with GuluWalk, a campaign that supports war affected youth in northern Uganda. A firm believer in giving back, in 2004, she founded a non-profit organization called Immigrant Youth Empowerment Society. We caught up with the model (and hilarious comedian) to find out more about Sunday's child.Read more »

Director Leila Djansi Receives The British Academy of Film and Television Arts Los Angeles Pan African Festival Choice Prize

Written By: MIM!—Congratulations are in order for director Leila Djansi who was presented the British Academy of Film and Television Arts Los Angeles 2011 Pan African Festival Choice Prize for I Sing of A Well at the 19th Annual Pan African Film Festival held in Los Angeles. She shares about the prize, “I am so very honored to receive this prize, which I accept not only for me, but for producer Akofa Ejeani Asiedu, cast, and crew ... Making this film was a team effort, as it always is, and I am so glad I worked with a team that helped me turn my words on paper into an enjoyable film. I am so appreciative to BAFTA Los Angeles and PAFF.” Watch the trailer for the critically acclaimed I Sing of A Well below.

I Sing of a Well - Official Trailer from filmmaker on Vimeo.

(Photo Credits: © Eaddy Perry & Associates, Inc.)

MIMI's Hot 21: TMS Ruge: The Free Radical (No. 009):

Written By: MIM!—Capitalizing on his understanding of different cultures and markets, TMS Ruge has become a successful global social entrepreneur with ventures that include: (1) co-founding www.ProjectDiaspora.org—an organization he co-founded in 2007 to motivate, engage and mobilize the African Diaspora to take an active role in Africa’s development), (2) running UMPG—an indigenous farmers’ business in Masindi, Uganda and (3) advising Women of Kireka, a women’s jewelry making co-operative in Kampala, Uganda. The Free Radical of MIMI's Hot 21, Ruge sat down with MIMI to reflect on Africa and the African Diaspora. Here is what he had to share on these subjects and more ...

1. Life right now is ... Superbly hectic! I've got a whirlwind travel schedule over the next few months. I am in Uganda as we speak supervising some social entrepreneurship and community development projects for Project Diaspora. I'll be sneaking out to Rwanda, Kenya and the UK for some speaking engagements before heading to Dallas. Life right now, is beautifully occupied with thoughts and actions of giving back to my continent and doing my small part in my small corner of the world.

2. My first job was ... (Laughs) My first job was as a dishwasher at this restaurant. I used to rollerblade to work and spend 8 hours washing dishes and bussing tables after school and weekends. My only perk was watching Michael Jordan play in the NBA finals. I think I was earning $3.75 for the pleasure. Big money!

3. I knew my career (Project Diaspora) and me were meant to be when ... The constant and dreadful thought of occupying yet another corporate cubicle drove me to embrace the idea of PD. And then when I started meeting members of the African Diaspora at conferences who were telling me they are fans of PD, it really cemented my drive to do more, and I knew I was meant to do this. The tiniest of successes along the way to getting PD to where it is have provided for a lot of smiles as I drift off to sleep.

4. Being passionate about Africa is all about being ... Comfortable with all facets of Africa. The good, the bad, the ugly, the unsung. It is all part of me. From the dusty air, to the red mud between my toes after a tropical storm. It is about looking beyond 400+ years of foreign rule and bad news and listening to the drums of a renewed continent determined to lift itself out of dire straights. Being passionate about Africa is loving to do whatever is needed even if you are not getting paid for it. The journey is the payment, and accomplishing something along the way is the bonus.

5. The one phrase I overuse is ... "I love, love, love it!"—I am an idea guy, and I get very excited when I hear out of the box ideas that bend the norm. As a result, it has just stuck that this is my natural response to good news, great ideas, suggestions, a good conversation ... whatever.

Written By: MIM!—MIMI's resident stylista, Marian Kihogo, sat down with MIMI to share her perspective on Soul. Substance. Style.

MIM!: Tell us, Marian Kihogo is ...

Marian Kihogo: A Celebrity Personal Stylist, Fashion Stylist, Fashion Writer, Creative Consultant and Editor of www.Mariankihogo.com—a comprehensive fashion, beauty and culture site in a personal weblog format.

MIM!: In three words, how would you describe the Marian Kihogo styling aesthetic?
Marian Kihogo: Personalised to client.

MIM!: What accomplishment in your career are you most proud of?
Marian Kihogo: Renewing self confidence through my styling, seeing clients featured in best dressed lists, assisting people find a sense of self by discovering who they are style wise.

MIM!: Who inspires you?
Marian Kihogo: The honest, the compassionate, the individual and the unapologetically fearless!

MIM!: What inspires you?
Marian Kihogo: Art from every period and genre. People. Anthropology. Culture. Travel—I have an intense wanderlust. Photography. Architecture. People watching—I draw endless inspiration from just watching people go by! Their experiences and cultures come through in their personal style. English literature. The work of Maya Angelou, Toni Morrison, Zora Neale Hurston, Langston Hughes, Dorothy Koomson, Edwidge Danticat etcetera. African literature by writers like Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, Ayi Kwei Armah, Mariam Ba, Buchi Emecheta, Ama Ata Aidoo, Chinua Achebe etc. Music by Grace Jones, Youssou N'Dour, Nina Simone, Angélique Kidjo, Sade, Stevie Wonder, Salif Keita etcetera. Film—independent film, period films, silent films, the work of the late Senegalese filmmaker Ousmane Sembène etc

MIM!: Complete the sentence: "To me being an African woman means ..."

Marian Kihogo: Being God fearing, giving, resourceful, creative and resilient!

(Photo Credits: © Vanessa Jackson)

MIMI's Hot 21: Obi Somto: The Drama King (No. 007)

Written By: MIM!—Learn more about photographer Obi Somto, who we dubbed as the Drama King of MIMI's Hot 21 as he completes 10 sentences that reveal more about his Soul. Substance. Style.

1. I knew my career in photography and me were meant to be when ... I've always been art inclined, and I always thought it would be lovely if I could make a living through my arts... I guess I knew it was going to be photography when my friend and manager said to me, "Somto, we have to start making money from your photographs" the next week I got a job to do a models portfolio.

2. The last time my breath was taken away was ... Hmmmmm, errrmmm, funny it was very recently, I was watching Aljazera, the Eye Witness programme I think. It was a story of an American dentist who's passion is photography. He's been taking pictures of the world trade center, which was the tallest building in the world at the time for many years now. He has about 50000 pictures of the world trade center before it was destroyed and the last photo he took of it was a week before the september 11 attack. He has been selling photos of the world trade center and donating the proceeds to the new york fire dept fund since the 9/11 attack. My mouth was open the whole time I was watching the documentary so its safe to say that was the last time my breath was taken away.

3. My fictional hero is ... Superman. Any photographer would or should totally adore the man of steal. He is just awesome, come on, having all his powers, you would be able to make any photograph you think of without limitations, it would just be uber awesome.

4. The person I look up to the most is ... Hmmm. Well Jesus is not a person right? It would have definitely been Him. I don't look up to any one person in particular, though I look up to certain things or qualities from different people to make the ultimate person. Some of these people are, my big brother, Kelechi Obi, Jide Alakija, Kelechi Amadi-Obi, Annie Leibovitz, Yervant and my uncle, Sir Nnamdi Obi, just to mention a few.

MIMI's Hot 21: Marcus Samuelsson: The Master Chef (No. 005)

Written By: MIM!—Try this refreshing banana avocado smoothie recipe from Marcus Samuelsson, The Master Chef of MIMI's Hot 21, and try more of his recipes by searching www.KitchenDaily.com's recipe archives.

You will need: 1 avocado, peeled and pitted || 1/2 cup orange juice || 2 tablespoons honey || juice from one lime || 1/2 teaspoon salt || 2 bananas, chopped || 1/4 cup plain yogurt || 1 tablespoon grated ginger || 1/4 cup vanilla ice cream.

Combine the avocado, orange juice, bananas, ginger, honey and yogurt in a blender and puree until smooth, and then mix in the lime juice and salt.

(Photo Credits: © Veer / Pablo Hernan)

MIMI's Hot 21: Shingai Shoniwa: The Natural (No. 004)

Written By: MIM!—Watch Shingai Shonia, who we have dubbed The Natural of MIMI's Hot 21, shine in the Noisettes' hit Don't Upset The Rhythm.

The Noisettes - Don't Upset the Rhythm from James Hatt on Vimeo.

Inna Modja: "Being An African Woman Means Being Fierce And Graceful"

Written By: MIM!—Learn more about Inna Modja as the singer/songwriter completes 10 sentences that reveal more about her Soul. Substance. Style.

1. My first job ... was as a model at 17 years.

2. I knew my career in music and me were meant to be when ... I was 14 years (when I started writing & composing) I always believed that one day I'll make it. So I worked hard for that.

3. My mom taught me ... to always keep my head up, to be proud and not arrogant.

4. The things I value most in life are ... generosity, being humble and grateful.

5. Being passionate about Africa is all about being ... proud of where I come from, embracing my culture.

6. My real life heroes are ... my dad, my two brothers and my beloved boyfriend.

7. I am living ... my dream life right now. I can write, compose and sing. I love performing so I'm the happiest woman with that. I have health and a life I adore with simple values.

8. Beauty is ... when the inner beauty shines out! A gorgeous smile.

9. I don't like taking fashion advice. I like making my own rules because what suits others won't always suit me.

10. Being an African woman means ... being fierce and graceful.

For more about Inna Modja, read the Winter 2011 issue of MIMI ("Love Africa, Always").

(Photo Credits: © Mario Epanya Photography)

MIMI's Hot 21: Sizwe Dhlomo: The Heartthrob (No. 003)

Written By: MIM!—The Heartthrob of MIMI's Hot 21, Sizwe Dhlomo is known for his dashing good looks, irresistible charm ... and insightful tweets. Here are our five recent favorites tweets by Sizwe about well, love!

1. To all my fellow single guys this Valentines Day, think of it this way, even Superman had trouble with Lois Lane. We never stood a chance!

2. Divorce is the downfall of many a man but bachelorhood, is the downfall of many more!

3. I've finally solved this formula for guys! {PS+3 x (BOX) 360 - (W+ii - QT} + {Bravia + 5.1} = Happiness.

4. If your ex tells her future boyfriends about you, make sure they always feel like you're the one to live up to!

5. Ladies, if he says "I love you" 20 minutes before or after a nut, it doesn't count.

Follow Sizwe Dhlomo on Twitter @SizweDhlomo.

(Photo Credits: © YFM)

MIMI's Hot 21: Mario Epanya: The Bold And The Beautiful (No. 002)

Written By: MIM!—One look at photographer Mario Epanya's stunning work (www.MarioEpanya.com), and you'll understand why we consider him the Bold And Beautiful of MIMI's Hot 21. We published excerpts from an interview with Mario in the magazine, now here's the rest of Mario's interview with MIMI.

MIMI: The love of my life is...

Mario Epanya: [The] love of my life is Jesus, because he's with me every second of my life to support me and [I am] really grateful for that.

MIMI: The living person I most admire is...

Mario Epanya: The living person i admire most is Nelson mandela for his fight for peace and human rights.

MIMI: I take fashion advice from...

Mario Epanya: I take fashion advice from the streets and from mother nature.

Written By: Nani Hapa—Fioye Akinsola, Oye Wemi-Akinsola, and Nike Ajanaku possess a style wizardry that allows them to marry a passion for old-world detail with modern authenticity to bring shoppers who frequent their boutique, Virgos Lounge, a collection of garments that are as wearable as the are stylish. MIMI caught up with the impressive women to learn about how they manage to stay in girls’ closets. Read the rest in the article, Virgos Lounge: A Girl Thing! from MIMI's fall 2010 issue, New Wave Noir.

Shop Virgos Lounge by visiting www.virgoslounge.com, and get the latest style updates from them by following them on Facebook.

(Photo Credits: Joanna Krause @ www.joannakrause.co.uk) (Styling: Rebel Culture @ rebelculture.viewbook.com)

Talking About A Nu Revolution With Les Nubians

Written By: Lola K.—Les Nubians are in a league of their own—carving out a name for themselves as the beautiful soul sisters with an artful mastery of bringing together jazz grooves, African beats, hip-hop melodies, and lyrics in both French and English to create a sublime sound that is uniquely their own. Their previous two acclaimed albums, Princesses Nubiennes and One Step Forward, charted impressively on the Billboard Top 200, each respectively the highest debut for a French language album in the past 20 years, and their last project, Echoes was hailed as “a musical expedition of poetry and song.” To achieve such critical and popular success in the modern musical landscape without confining one’s artistry to one-dimensional labels such as “soul” or “World” is remarkable, but then again, so are the sisters who have remained true to themselves and faithfully reflected their diversity in their music throughout their long-spanning career. Hèléne explains, “I think that being children of a mixed couple, definitely puts you in that mindset—you are the world, basically. You become a universal citizen. You can’t envisage life as this way or that way. We have a kind of global point of view. We don’t see color. We are color blind—a little bit. History then makes you root everything to a cause and so you understand the world and why, badly, that world has been organized and divided. But from the start, I believe that [we are] citizens of the world.” With conviction in her voice, Hèléne adds, “The universe is beautifully organized and I have faith. And that faith makes me celebrate life, love and cherish the world, and try to be a better human everyday.” Read the rest of the article in Talking About A Nü Revolution from MIMI's fall 2010 issue, New Wave Noir.

The No. 1 Motswana: Shombi Ellis

Written By: Mimi Tsiane—If I were to tell a story about my people, this is one of the stories I would tell. A story about a strong Motswana woman who navigates her personal and professional life with dignity, humor and botho: The No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency. Boasting an all star cast including Jill Scott playing the coveted role of Mma Ramotswe, the series has also put local Batswana stars such as Shombi Ellis on the road to stardom. Playing the role of Nurse Kgmotso, Ellis sheds light on the series that has put Botswana on the map. The No. 1 Motswana shares her story with MIMI.

(Photo Credits: Airside)

Evans Amoako: He's Got Game

Written By: Staff Writer—One look at Evans Amoako and there is no mistaking him for a fitness buff. It is no surprise then that the Ghanaian born fitness and sports model is committed to working hard and staying in shape. MIMI caught up with Evans to learn about how he stays in the game. Read Evans' interview with MIMI in He's Got Game.

(Photo Credits: Harry Leonard)

The Hit Girl: Stella Mwangi

Written By: Nani Hapa—It’s probably best to get this out of the way: I am a big fan of Stella Mwangi (or STL as she is affectionately known by fans), whose slick rhyming skills and clever lyrics never fail to grab my attention. So imagine my gidiness when, after weeks of corresponding with her manager about interviewing the star, I received an e-mail from Stella herself saying “Yes I would love to do an interview with you.” Pardon the sentiment but all I could think was: cool. (Well, it was more along the lines of: way cool.) Read my Q&A with the Kenyan-born, Norway-raised rapper who is bringing much needed diversity to hip-hop with her gift of gab in The Hit Girl: Stella Mwangi.

(Photo Credits: Halat Sophie Askeri)

MIMI Muse: Vanessa Mdee

Written By: MIM!—She's Vanessa Mdee, better known as Vee or Lil Miss Dynamite to MTV Base viewers. At 19, Vanessa, then a college student at The Catholic University Of Eastern Africa became Tanzania’s first ever MTV VJ; her first gig: co-hosting The Coca Cola Chart Express. She describes herself as, "an African girl who grew up in New York and Paris, and now works all over the continent for MTV as a VJ; this has made me familiar with many different cultures from all over Africa and the world." But Vanessa is also a stylista, who expresses her style from everything from her hair (she’s had just as many styles as Rihanna) to shoes (which she has confessed to being addicted to). Keep up with Vee, by following her on Twitter @VanessaMdee.

If you would like to be featured in MIMI, get the details here: Be In MIMI.

(Photo Credits: MTV Base Africa)

She Defines Soul.Substance.Style (No. 012): Somi

[ click image for larger version ]

Written By: MIM!—A true multicultural woman, Somi was born in Illinois to immigrants from Rwanda and Uganda, then spent her early childhood in Zambia. The African cultural legacy, always crucial to her sound, is as vital as ever in her current music, which Somi likes to call New African Soul. But so too is the music she heard upon relocating to New York, with American jazz singers like Nina Simone and Sarah Vaughan. Blending tradition and modernity, like the jazz greats—Miriam Makeba, Cesaria Evora and Sade—who paved the path for her, Somi is adding her own musical interpretation and leaving a musical footprint as this generation's voice of African soul and jazz. Hear more from this woman of Soul.Substance.Style by visiting www.somimusic.com.

(Photo Credits: Matthew Furman)