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I love Anthropologie's always-eclectic fashion, accessories, homeware and general design aesthetic. I was browsing their website the other day and came across some items from Made in Rwanda that are, you guessed it, made in Rwanda. I haven't managed to find out more about the brand but, in the meantime, scope what's on sale.
From top to bottom: Muhabura Tank Dress, Nyanza Skirt, Karisimbi shorts
If you have more info about Made in Rwanda, please do share.
The theme of my week has been "Diaspora."* Here are a few reasons why:
Is a day enough?
Africa Day was on Wednesday and the theme for this year is "Africa and the Diaspora." The fact that so many people were not aware that it was even Africa Day, and that there were few visible/known celebrations of the event, led to a discussion about the point of World fill-in-the-gap-as-you-like Days in the first place! Follow the thread on the Afri-love Facebook page.
Lagos in inner-city London
On Friday, I took my self down to London to watch Little Baby Jesus, Arinze Kene's fantastic play. It's showing as part of London via Lagos, a festival celebrating British-Nigerian playwrighting. So far, Little Baby Jesus has been sold out every night so get your tickets quick. The writing, the cast, the direction, the vibe in Oval Theatre that night – all made for a truly wonderful evening. It was also a delight to see all the materials that I'd designed in situ and, how Oval got creative taking the African theme to the max. View some photos on Asilia's Facebook page. I'm now really looking forward to the next play in the festival, Fixer, by Lydia Adetunji.
Light out of darkness
Ever-entertaining UK-based musician, M3NSA, shared with Afri-love in this week's interview. Amongst many things, he talked about why "the Dark Continent is actually the beaming light" and why he won't still be in the UK, 10 years from now. AND, M3NSA shared a couple of his fantastic No.1 Mango Street CDs with me to give away to 2 lucky readers. Find out how one can be yours here (competition closes this Wednesday 1st June).
Multifarious identities
Minna, aka MsAfropolitan, gave me the heads up about the Afropolitan Friday Late, coming up at London's V&A museum on the 24th June: "A fun and celebratory evening of modern, iconic African aesthetics reflecting how Africans living across the continent (and beyond) view themselves and their cultural heritage."
Blog loving
And perhaps not fully in following with the theme but something that I was really honoured by and wanted to share nonetheless: I discovered that Afri-love was noted as one of "10 Africa blogs you'll love" by the popular Travelling Green blog. Check out the great blogs she listed, including Dar Sketches, the blog of Sarah Markes who I interviewed a few months ago.
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Must-read article for the week
"Egypt's Next Crisis" – a great New York Times article that explores the challenges of sustaining revolution, after the revolt. What was very interesting to me is how a lot of the issues relate to so many other African nations, even if we have not yet experienced so dramatic a political event. We would do well to learn from, be warned by and draw inspiration from the situation of our Egyptian comrades.
*Thinking about it, Diaspora is probably a strong theme for me every week, being that it is my present experience. So … what did you get up to on Africa Day?
A friend shared this video earlier this week and I wanted to spread the joy. It's Kenya's Sauti Sol, not a boy band and winners of the 2010 Moama for Best Group (Museke Online Africa Music Awards). I love their recreation of Kenyan coffeehouse chain, Java …
(Thanks James!)
I first saw M3NSA perform at a spoken word event in North London, several years ago, and thought this guy is good. Today, I can't get No.1 Mango Street off repeat (no exaggeration, ask my partner)! It's funny, it's funky, it's soulful, it's clever. An eclectic melting pot of Hip-hop, Afro beat, High-Life and soul, the album is an excellent showcase of African ingenuity and, reminds me just why I'm so happy to hail from our colourful continent. I am excited to share with you this interview the Mobo-nominated MC, producer and actor.*
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What's your passion?
Food! I like to cook it! and I like to eat it! I love many things but I get bored easily too...But food? Food (cooking it and sampling it) is definitely as fulfilling as being an over imaginative creative! Yes, M3NSA is weird.
What inspired you to be a musician?
I don’t think any real musician ‘becomes’ a musician; you either decide to pursue it completely, or master your musicianship. But I believe it's always in there somewhere. So for me, the inspiration came from me being able to express myself wholly through writing or creating music. And the journeys I made in my mind whilst sat in my little bedroom, with a stereo on my lap, listening to stolen tape cassettes from my brothers’ room. I knew I had to pursue it.
What has been your greatest obstacle/challenge?
I guess we all are our own demons chale – I’m the reason I’m where I am, and also I’m not where I’m supposed to be... If that makes any sense. But I wouldn't say there’s a particular physical entity that's been a hindrance or obstacle in the way of my progress! I Suarez my self!
How have you dealt with/overcome it?
Learning everyday to follow my heart with a sprinkle of tact, poise and reason in everything I do chale. Be it being a creative professional or just the Accra boy walking about. Being honest and complete in everything I do.
What has your greatest achievement been?
I kinda like the result of this album – No.1 Mango Street is a very uncompromising project. I set out to make it really lighthearted and bring along a certain level of quality in the production and, the result has been everything I wanted. I’m quite happy with myself. Though that does not come anywhere close to becoming a father!! ahaha!!
Where will you be in 10 years?
Hopefully relocated to another city where English is not the main language spoken, for my daughter’s sake. And also, still as inspired about everything as I am now! That and good health! This is what’s important to me chale.
How does Africa inspire you?
Wow! Where do I begin? It doesn't take much to realise that everything is coming into the full circle. It's all headed back to where it all began; in Africa.
The Dark Continent is actually the beaming light guiding this godforsaken planet. And we as musicians have a (honorable) duty to represent its greatness! And of course I’m inspired by the women ... of Africa (the real truth. Everything else was just a futile attempt to sound intelligent).
Anything else you'd like to share?
Apart from my Facebook link? Umm ... well ... Michael Jackson is alive and I’m producing his next real album ... And everything I touch is a reaffirmation that the African man is the coolest man ever to walk the face of the earth.
Anything we should look out for in the coming weeks/months/year?
Random music videos! Even more random interviews. Random appearances, shows! tours! The FOKN BOIS! And maybe even Coz Ov Moni Part 2!!
*M3NSA starred in the internationally acclaimed short film, Coz Ov Moni, the world's first pidgin musical, with fellow FOKN Bois, Wanlov the Kubolor
Previous M3NSA posts
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Win a M3NSA CD!
Thanks to M3NSA and Boda Boda Media, I have two No.1 Mango Street CDs to give away. To enter the draw, leave a comment to this blog post stating the name of the film that M3NSA starred in with Wanlov the Kubolor. Make sure to enter your email address when leaving the comment (it will not be made public but will help me to contact you if you're a winner). Last day to enter: Wednesday 1st June, 2011 – draw will be held the following day.
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FOKN Bois artwork by Corey Payne
Today, Eritrea celebrates independence. A triple dose of inspiration lies below with Elem magazine, culinary treats from Eat Alicha and the musical stylings of eYo. I have to ask: are all these "E"s coincidental?
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ELEM Magazine
ELEM exists as a platform for Eritreans to paint their own picture. The ELEM mission states:
"Too often, as Eritreans and Africans, we have been spoken about by others. Through ELEM, we want to celebrate the true us. We will write our own narrative and tell the story ourselves.
We want to drop the spotlight on young and aspiring artists, scientists, writers, movie makers, inventors and more. We will also highlight the achievement of Eritreans in whatever field they may be engaged in. We want our people and their friends to know and hear of these guys who will be role models to young and aspiring Eritreans.
ELEM wants to liberate our future by celebrating Eritreans as proud Africans in all our diversity."
Want more? View the current issue online.
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Eat Alicha
My friend Elelta, who is of Eritrean and Ethiopian origin, left that part of the world when she was very young. She decided to start a website sharing "recipes for food that your mum (or your friend's mum) used to cook for you." The research involved has been a way for her to learn more about her culture and has also opened up a different and rich channel of communication with her mum. Get cooking at Eat Alicha and keep watching that space for more.
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eYo
Elelta also put me on to eYo … and I've been rocking his tracks all morning! You can find out more about him via Facebook or his Tumblr site, Soul Aint Dead. Download his All About Timing album here but, before you go, here are a couple of sneak peeks:
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Thanks El for all the insider info!
(And on the note of belonging, this is my attempt to claim my blog via Technorati: AXDCAV7JDRGA)
This weekend, I was down in London at the Emirates Rugby Sevens. I'm nowhere near an avid sports fan, let alone a rugby fanatic but, this is one annual event that I rarely miss. Why?
It's a slice of home. The Kenya national rugby team has participated in the tournament for around a decade and hundreds of Kenyans (no exaggeration), from all over the UK, routinely gather in Twickenham for the occasion. The positive energy that vibrates, as we colourfully cheer our team on, makes even the non-Kenyan spectators want to infiltrate the sea of red, black and green. It's for this reason that I go – to be amongst my country-folk and to revel in the comfort of belonging. It's a joy to join in on the chants that are so idiosyncratically Kenyan. I mean, singing "Olé Olé" to cheer on your national team – that's an especially Kenyan identity dilemma. Complex issues aside, and regardless of weather conditions on the day, for a few hours you're transported home. I have no qualms in admitting that I go more for the socialising than for the sport. I know I'm not the only one!
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Photo by Nikhil Jackson
Little Baby Jesus, a play by Arinze Kene, starts next week as part of London via Lagos, a festival of new British-Nigerian plays, celebrating the work of African-heritage, UK-based, world-class playwrights.
"From the streets of Hackney to the English countryside; from the mansions of the Lagos elite to the oil pipelines of Northern Nigeria, three remarkable plays burst with the stories of the diaspora. Londoners in Lagos, Lagotians in London; Afropolitans, Africans and Europeans – a heady mix of characters and stories revealing our inter-connected world.
As Lagos grows ever more influential as a world city, and London as a world capital, London via Lagos reveals the political, personal and the domestic stories found where these two great cultures meet. London via Lagos: contemporary plays for an international city."
We at Asilia collaborated with festival producers Oval House Theatre, BEcreative and Spora Stories, to design all the materials (see more of the design work here). It's been one of the most exciting projects I've ever worked on. As part of my research, I read all the plays and they are entertaining, thought-provoking, clever and colourful. I highly recommend getting to Oval to see them on stage.
Buy your tickets here for Little Baby Jesus starting next week and Fixer, by Lydia Adetunji, which starts in June.
Finally, congratulations again to Arinze Kene for winning Most Promising Playwright at this year's Off West End Theatre Awards.
I've been collaborating with Manchester-based screenprinter, Creativity And Noise, for a while now and I'm excited about sharing with you some new pics from the Afri-CAN line. For more pics, check out Creativity And Noise on Tumblr and Facebook. You can buy tees here. Insider tip: I've seen some new designs, new colour combos and new products in the making – they're hot and will be available to purchase soon – stay tuned!
By the way, Creativity And Noise is running a giveaway right now – more details here.
Africa Unsigned is a platform that allows African musicians to record music funded by fans. Next Monday, the UK arm of Africa Unsigned launches and which means that UK based African artists can now be considered for "crowd funding" by their fans.
Along with a new website, to celebrate, they're having a (free) party this weekend at the Market Club in London, presented by the Lake of Stars Festival. The event will feature live soulful tunes from Rina Mushonga and DJ sets from previous Lake of Stars headliners, Noisettes, DJ Tayo and The Young Offenders, as well as Africa Unsigned’s very own Dirty D.is.ko.
UK-based African artists are invited to drop by on the 15th of May to give their demo to Africa Unsigned. The final selection of artists to be featured on the platform is done by their Music Panel consisting of the likes of Damon Albarn, Tony Allen & Baaba Mal. An exciting competition for these selected artists will be announced on the day.
There have been quite a few giveaways and offers this week (I almost feel like a pusher) and here's one more from the kind folks at Africa Unsigned: "Mikono Kwenye Hewa (Floris Jonker Remix)" by Muthoni the Drummer Queen.
Below, a video from Rina Mushonga:
