Tuesday, November 29, 2011

Monday, November 28, 2011

Ashanti Brazil

Originating in Monte Carlo and inspired in Rio de Janeiro, Ashanti Brazil is a fun, flirty summer wear brand mixing African and Brazilian Culture, the combination is hot hot hot!




























source:AshantiBrazil Via Ciaafrique

Caught in Burbery

Burbery's Ankara Obsession..
Lady Gaga, Anna Wintour and Kate Bosworth


Mrembo...

I havent Seen Ray C for a while, i love this song!

Sunday, November 27, 2011

Tanzanian born Kathleen Bomani, better known as Kate Bomz on the internets, is a blunt force to be reckoned with and connector of all people and ideas African. She has gained a strong following via her highly popular tumblr blog, but it is her frank and unapologetic pursuit of the African truth and the dispersal of that truth to all that has gained her over 2,500 twitter followers.  Africans who are successfully building social media brands for themselves.
Real Name:  Kathleen Bomani       Web Name: Kate Bomz
Where are you from/live:   I am from the Harbour of ‘peace’: Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania; and I live in the city of Murals: Philadelphia!
Places to find you online: Twitter, Tumblr, Facebook, Okay Africa, Pambazuka, and LinkedIN.
Best Known for: I am best known for my commitment & passion to everything #Africa whether it be art, politics, fashion, culture, music, human rights, history. But it doesn’t stop with Africa, it also includes the hustle of NYC & Philly, and D.C’s political vibe. I like to be in the “know”, which I bring a sarcastic, brashness and candidness to.

When and how did you enter the social media game?
Initially, my intentions for being on social sites was to stay in contact with friends and family near and far. First it was Myspace, where I was known as ‘The Intellectual Black Seed’ aka my introduction to rudimentary ‘html coding’ and preferred it to Hi-5. To keep up with my college buddies, I then went on to join “The Facebook” at its inception in 2004. I have been on Twitter since the spring of  2009.
How has it helped grow your brand?
Interestingly, I didn’t start out with the idea of creating a “brand” so to say.  I just started putting my ideas and interests, along with that of others out there for people to read and comment on.  The brand has somewhat evolved on it’s own and it continuing to develop through the people I meet and events I am apart of.
There is one guarantee with me: I speak my mind and appreciate those who do the same. I use Twitter the most; I take it seriously and it has connected me to the most amazing like-minded people on earth. It has opened me up to different points of views and has definitely accelerated my learning, which is at the forefront of who I am and what I want for others.
 What is your message?
 Be bonafide, be yourself, be unapologetic, collaborate! And yes please tweet in your native language! 70% of Africans are under 30, realize the potential! I am an advocate for Africans telling their stories, a slayer of the homogeneity + monolithic tumorous tales of my continent at any given moment. I learn something new daily & I share it with my tweeps. Each 1, Teach 1. My audience started out as primarily African, but it has evolved to include non-Africans. My heart is strongly attached to African people and I believe they should firmly learn about where they are from and their neighbours, as I am learning as well.
So yes, I do focus on Africans and I am targeting them, however I must say it is very refreshing when I pick up the unintended. It warms my heart. Essentially we are all connected.
If you could have one person follow you on Twitter who would it be?
Kobe Bryant!
If you could have one person join Twitter who would it be?
Easy: My father!
Who should every African be following right now?
@Anndiswa @pambazuka @Kenyanpundit @globalvoices @rakeshrajani @saharareporters @andrewmenda @tmsruge
What is the role of social media in the “Africa” conversation?
  • As a tool to Regulate-We can regulate and form the basis of the correct and nuanced conversation about Africa. (see ANOTHER BAD AID IDEA FOR AFRICA)
  •  As a tool to Collaborate - Social media’s role in the conversation is fostering ties between Africans with similar interests empty of social creed, gender or nationality. It brings to me personally a sort of a contemporary pan-Africanism movement of sorts. Africans are connecting and collaborating.  (see #TLTafrica )
  •  As a tool to create Awareness on different issues-(be it Heroin addiction in Zanzibar or climate change)
  • As a tool to mobilize the masses for a cause (see Vote or Quench)
  • As a tool to monitor and track (see UsahidiLiberia  or #DRC2011)
  • But we MUST be wary of overly exaggerated expectations of social media, mobile telephony + other forecasts ( see Turning Cellphones Into Mobile Microscopes and Urbanization of Africa exaggerated). Not that I am not a believer but sometimes when it sounds too good to be true..well you know the rest.
Who is benefiting most from the rise of Africans on social media sites?
The planet! For the world that was “starved” with poverty porn thanks to Geldof, Bono and the like. We are here to shape the narrative and contribute to a global conversation (that often excludes us). I believe the whole global community benefits but most of all, us Africans.
source: Afripop

Amusing Commercials

Dean Blumberg directs this entertaining ad for Nandos that hits a nerve whilst tapping into the spirit of our times. Its Called Last Dictator Standing...
Its Mugabe, Gaddafi, Chairman Mao, Saddam Hussein, PW Botha and Idi Amin...Nandos!!.. Im outraged!!! Where's Hitler?!

Gaddafi's Golden watergun...nandos, u fools....



Friday, November 25, 2011

Made by Africa~ Swahili Fashion Week

Made by Africa went green this year, Year of the green. Green cozy pieces. Ready to wearish pieces that have 'we need to hang out the eco friendly way' written all over them, i like...i like very much. I dont even mind the hoodies that look like...well, like different sort of hoodies.. are those hoodies?
Fresh off an African safari













Twanga Pepeta Live in London

So Twanga Pepeta are in London, he he he...safe partying guys...

Bendi ya Twanga Pepeta imewasili leo mjini london tayari kwa makamuzi katika ukumbi wa Silver Spoon London kwa ajili ya Kuadhimisha miaka 50 ya uhuru wa wa Tanganyika. 

Thursday, November 24, 2011

Are Islamist Nations at Crossroads?

One of the Few African Presidents who spoke of the North Africa Uprisings early on when it was raw, this was in March.

Amani Abeid Karume, former president of Zanzibar, recently addressed the Boston University community regarding January's events in Tunisia and Egypt.
"To attempt to speak on such a subject risks many errors," he said, "but any such errors are worth the risk because of the potential important lessons to learn." Within a span of a month, two North African regimes in Arab-Muslim states were crushed, beginning with the January 14 Tunisian uprising against President Zine el-Abidine Ben Ali, followed by the fall of Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak a few days later. 
In his lecture, Karume addressed both the reasons behind the Egyptian and Tunisian revolutions and the consequences they've had on Africa, the Middle East, and the West.

Random Street Style


FashionJunkii NY, in Maasai print
Paris
Sierra Leone

Wednesday, November 23, 2011

Babys Size...

Someone asked me whats the funniest Video i watched this week... well it was This.
Apparently, Tanzanian Baby Madeleine's friends of family chose the wrong sizes for everything they bought for the young baby...its in Swahili, Chugnuzeni size kabla ya kununua viwalo

We Say...

Theres no such thing as too much jewelry..


Dazed&Confused

Tuesday, November 22, 2011

We Love

African Haute Couture

source: Ordinary Africa

African Countries with More Women in the Parliament...

 Looks like Africa's getting good at this women empowerment thing... here are the figures for women in parliaments, Bigger than UK!..Next Stop..Female Genital Mutilation eradication


                      Country % of women in Parliament 
                                           Rwanda 56%
                                          Seychelles 45%
                                          South Africa 45%
                                          Mozambique 39%
                                          Angola 39%
                                         Tanzania 36%
                                          Uganda 35%
                                          Burundi 32%
                                          Ethiopia 28%
                                          South Sudan 27%
                                          Sudan 25%
                                          Namibia 24%
                                          Lesotho 24%
                                          Senegal 23%
                                          Mauritania 22%
                                          Eritrea 22%
                                          UK 22%

source:SeeAfricadifferently

Trends Kenya Fashion Festival..

A sneak peak of the show,Designer Ally Rehmtullah made a cameo on Trends fashion event...

Animational Africa

Yes, I love Family Guy and I love The Simpsons, who doesn't right? When they make 'Africa' references like this... I cant help get so mad and rolling on the floor at the same time...stereotypical humour anyone?
 Family Guy The bullfrogs


Simpsons Ethiopian Moment