Style We Love: Inna Modja's Turban

Written By: MIM!—Just earlier this month we were gushing over Imany's head wrap and how fabulous she looked mixing modern and traditional style elements to create a look that was Unapologetically Modern.African.Female. The trend is clearly catching on and one of our favorite fashionistas Inna Modja recently posted these photos rocking a gorgeous ankara turban on her blog, Rock 'N Love, and we love the look! Tell us, are you inspired to wear this trend for the summer?

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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: Inna Modja: The Sweetheart (No. 001)

Written By: MIM!—Watch the video below about MIMI covergirl Inna Modja's buzzing music career, and you'll understand why she was a shoe in for The Sweetheart of MIMI's Hot 21.

Inna Modja - EPK from Yukamei on Vimeo.

MIMI Related Links: MIMI's Hot 21: 2009; MIMI's Hot 21: 2008

MIMI Magazine Winter 2011 Issue: Love Africa, Always

Written By: MIM!—After a brief holiday hiatus, MIMI's winter issue, Love Africa, Always, is now yours to read. Versatile rock 'n love singer Inna Modja graces five different covers of MIMI, photographed by highly coveted fashion photographer, Mario Epanya, who also served as Editor-at-Large for this special issue. As Editor-at-Large, Mario sought to celebrate MIMI reaching its 5-year publishing milestone last year by capturing the Soul.Substance.Style of African women in the 5 different covers of Inna that he photographed. The result: a reflection of MIMI and Mario's Love for Africa—Always.

(Photo Credits: © Mario Epanya)

Creative Flow: Africa Unsigned

Written By: MIM!—www.AfricaUnsigned.com is a joint initiative by producers, artists, music promoters and managers based in West, East and South Africa, who believe in the future of music from Africa and give unsigned artists a chance to record their music with the help of funding from fans. A selection of up and coming artists from several African countries including Kenya (such as MIMI favorite Just A Band), Senegal, Mali, Zimbabwe and South Africa were hand picked by a music panel consisting of music experts like Baaba Maal, Tony Allen, and Damon Albarn (Gorillaz, Blur) to be featured on www.AfricaUnsigned.com. Music fans from all over the world can listen to the selection of artists, pick their favorite(s) and chip in a minimum of $1 dollar to the recording of a professional EP. Proceeds from the music is then distributed to the fans who backed the artist and sold on all major online stores (including www.Amazon.com and iTunes). All the generated net income from music sales is shared equally between the artists and the music fans who supported the artist.

If you want to support your promising musical talent from Africa, visit www.AfricaUnsigned.com.

(Photo Credits: www.AfricaUnsigned.com Digital Press Kit)

She Defines Soul.Substance.Style (No. 015): Inna Modja

Written By: Staff Writer—25-year-old Malian singer, Inna Modja is a newcomer to France’s musical scene, but her star is quickly rising. Although she is inspired by Malian artists such as the legendary Salif Keita (who she met at fifteen by literally knocking on his door seeking guidance, which led to Inna singing back-up for his Bamako Rail Band until she decided to pursue music as a solo artist), Inna’s music is a departure from the Malian sound of artists such as Keita and Rokia Traore. The former model who calls herself a “Motown girl” labels her music “rock ’n love” rather than “rock ’n roll” because she is a clean cut artist with no dramatic antics up her sleeve. Read more about this woman of Soul.Substance.Style.

(Photo Credits: Provided Courtesy of Camus Production)

New Music: Inna Modja

Written By: Nani Hapa—Malian born model turned singer/songwriter, Inna Modja is an open book. Through her music she shares everything about her “cute little crazy life”—her good and bad days, her joys and heartaches. Reuters Africa summed her up best when they wrote: “The 25-year-old Malian is a rising star on France’s music scene with titles like Let’s Go to Bamako, that might be nostalgic tunes celebrating Mali’s capital, but that sound more like Britney Spears or Christina Aguilera than the music of Modja’s compatriots Salif Keita and Rokia Traore.” Check out her debut album Everyday Is A New Day if you're looking to fill summer's sunny days with a little bit of pop, a little bit of folk, and a touch of soul.

(Photo Credits: CD Cover Art)

Snapshots: Vintage Mali

Written By: Jamelia Mmari—Malick Sidibé is a Malian photographer noted for his black-and-white studies of popular culture in the 1960s in Bamako. In 1995, his work was shown outside of Africa for the first time. Since then, his work has been exhibited throughout the world to international acclaim. I absolutely love his work, and treasure his book, Malik Sidibé Photographs, which is essential for anyone who appreciates vintage African imagery of everyday life.

(Photo Credits: Malick Sidibé)

The Difference Salif Keita Is Trying To Make

Written By: Staff Writer—On November 16, Salif Keita will release his latest studio album, The Difference. And what a difference Keita is trying to make with this album. This CD will be sold to benefit a charitable foundation designed to help albino Malians and facilitate the fight against discrimination against them. Keita has asked everyone to buy this album to help albino children in their fight everyday. "I appeal to music lovers, to all those who love music do not pirate/bootleg this album. I have done this to help albinos. The funds will be used only for that really. It is my wish. Tell them not to pirate this album. " Read more about Keita's mission by following the "Read More" link ...
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The 21 Hottest Africans

Written By: Staff Writer—Buzzworthy talents from Ghana, Nigeria, South Africa, Ethiopia, Sudan, Zimbabwe, Somalia, Tanzania, Mali, Cape Verde, and Sierra Leone are represented in this year's Hot 21, which is published in MIMI's September 2009 issue.

And The Music Nominees Are ...

The Grammy Awards are just a month away and African artists have swept up a notable number of nominations: six to be exact. Sengalese rapper Akon was nominted for Best Rap/Sung Collaboration for his single Smack That, featuring Eminem. Also up for a Grammy is the critically acclaimed album Blessed by South Africa's Soweto Gospel Choir in the category Best Traditional World Music Album. But the biggest buzz surrounds the Best Contemporary World Music Album where four of the five nominations have gone to Africans: Cameroon's Richard Bona for Tiki, Mali's Salif Keita for M'Bemba, South Africa's Ladysmith Black Mambazo for Long Walk To Freedom and Mali's Ali Farka Touré for Savane.