THE CAPTIVATING PHOTOGRAPHIC WORK OF CONGOLESE PHOTOGRAPHER SERGE GATIEN SITA VALLONI!

All the pictures featured here are courtesy of l'Atelier Photographique (click on the link)Dibiterie ,poverty, persistance,courage,dirt are words that come up to
my mind when I look at this pic

Tradition and pride

Laugh,friendship,carefree...

Courage mon frere

Rainiy season and its share of poto poto as we call it in Mali

Brigadier sabari...

La fete & Congolese people

Speechless!!

I love the photographic work of Congolese photographer Serge Gatien Sita Valloni.
I've been looking for more info about the man behind the lenses but it was quite hard to find any.
What I gathered however is that growing up in Brazzaville he was in love with camera and would ask photographers to take pics of him regularly until one day his mama got tired and bought him a cheap camera. Later on,his uncle gave him a much advanced camera thus started his discovery and photo/documentary of his people.
He used his camera to capture people's souls, their moods, their daily strugges, their lives..
When I look at his pics, it's clear that they are not rehearsed, they are natural shots, I get to see the way some people live in Brazza and it reminds me of Dakar.
The dibiteries, the poverty, the courage, the party atmosphere, tradition ...are all things that you will find here.
Kudos to you brotha:)
If you would like to see more of his work, click HERE

Djaa my Congolese brothas sont dedans:)
Eyeee Wayeee:)

PULLITZER WINNER PLAY "RUINED"CELEBRATES THE COURAGE OF CONGOLESE WOMEN!

Courtesy of Joan Marcus

Saidah Ekulona as Mama Nandi

Courtesy of Joan Marcus

Courtesy of Joan Marcus

Courtesy of Joan Marcus

Condola Rashad and our tv mum, Phylicia Rashad

Part of the cast


Sometimes I miss New York, I miss being able to attend plays and other artisitc events, it's sad to say that very often "'the african scene " happens in the West but Inch'Allah one day it will start in our continent..

Ruined is one of those plays I would love to see, it's written by Pullitzer prize winner Lynn Nottage who went to Uganda to meet some of these war refugee women from Congo.

The play centers around the character of Mama Nandi a war survivor and bar owner who uses female young war victims ; one of them Salima was gang raped for a few months and rejected by her husband, another Sophie is so physically damaged and ill that the only thing she can do to support herself within that environment is to sing for the soldiers.

Mama Nandi the bar owner and "pimp'" is played by Saidah Arrika Ekulona, her role is difficult because she is both a victim of war a survivor and an abuser. She wants to survive and will do at all cost even if it means exploiting these young girls. At the same time she gives them a roof, security, food and is capable of compassion.

Condola Rashad (the daugther of our fav tv mum -Phylicial Rashad) , Quincy Bernstine, Russel Gebert Jones, Cherise Booth, Chike Johnson and so many other talented theater actors pay homage to the suffering, the courage, and determination of these congolese women..
You can see a clip of the show, HERE

Djaa we need to see more plays illustrating our courage as african women:)

Eyee Wayee:)

HERMAN MFUANANI , THE CONGOLESE CROWN JEWELS MAN!

W & w Joiaillerie

W & w Joaillerie

W & w Joiallerie

W& w Joaillerie

From Wechi Wecha "classy street wear" as he prefers to describe it to high end jewelry house next to the likes of Chanel, Van Cleef & Arpels, and so many more powerful fashion and jewelry houses....

This 34 years old congolese young entrepeneur is the type of brotha who believes in the stars and live with them , for example after he quit school he worked as a pizza delivery boy, and also delivered fabric to different locations in Paris . It' s around that time that he designed his first shirt with the words "wechi wecha" which means in his native dialect: the good and the bad. It caught the attention of strangers ans friends who wanted to be "wechi wecha" out as well..thus started his first clothing venture. Herman had a vision , he had the perfect example in the line FUBU, he wanted celebs and everyday people to wear his line. As any good african he knew how to sell himself to others(you know how our brothas are) he partnered with some people in the industry which allowed him to sell his products all over france.

The clothing "thing "being crossed out of his list, Herman turned towards the high end jewelry sector, he took classes at one of the most prestigious schools to learn as much as he could, gained the respect of some his peers within the industry and opened his shop "W&w Joaillerie on Place Vendome.. What I also liked about his success story is that he never forgot his african roots, he founded a collective of talented artisans using and producing beautiful african jewelry, part of those profits

So yes Herman Mfuanani got a bit of that ego Beyonce was telling us about, but hey he worked hard to get to this point...respect and much success to him:)

You can see part of his collection here:

http://www.myspace.com/wwjoaillerie

Djaa les gars du Congo sont trop fort:)

Eyeee Wayee:)

CONGOLESE CARTOON BANA BOUL BY CARTOONIST HALLAIN PALLUKU!

Missy

Even though it's written in lingala for the most and French of course it was easy to understand and laugh while watching this cartoon..
Hallain Paluku is a noted Congolese comic writer, his work has appeared in several local comics and has been sold as BD's in the world.
Among some of his work a character stands out called Missy after Missy Elliott and just like she has curves, she's a character without a face who's searching for love and the difficulties she encouters.
Going back to Bana Boul we follow the story of two naughty young boys Bana and Boul and their adventures in school in church with characters as the sapeur, the school teacher , ect ..
He makes fun of social Congolese stigma with 'la sape" (congolese people are known to love dressing up) ect...

loves it, big up Hallain Paluku:)

Here's a fun episode:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U-OGNPk7_sk

Djaa my people from Congo sont dedans:)
Eyeee Wayeee:)

SHOW CE SOIR VIDEO IS OUT DE BISSO NA BISSO!

I've been waiting... waiting for the video and it's finally here
"TOUT LE MONDE LEVEZ LES MAINS POUR BISSO
AH FRAPPEZ LES MAINS"

Would like to thank them for the great time they showed us, actually one of the best concerts I've been to, I danced and sang my heart out, true fan of this Congolese collective
Our national TV showcased the show on national TV and I saw myself dancing my heart out, my mum was like " Yaye you couldn' sit down" lol
See if you recognize me on this clip:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZZS2iuAl75M&feature=related

Djaa on va levez les mains pour Bisso Na Bisso:)
Eyee Wayee:)

THE BISSO NA BISSO EXPERIENCE IN DAKAR SENEGAL!!

I've been a huge fan of the Congolese Musical collective Bisso Na Bisso since my early college days, I don't remenber how I fell in love with them but I remenbered being so convinced by them that they ordered my cd online all da way from paris..matter of fact that cd is now "dead" I listened to it so much that it gave up on me.
The concert was great, it was all I expected, the 7 peace soldiers of the Bisso Na Bisso were celebrating with us in Dakar their 10th year anniversary..they've managed through personal careers, through marriages, babies and life in general to come back together and deliver a second album..
What I really liked abt them is their discipline on stage, I also love the fact that whether we were here or not they would have rocked it and have fun anyway..
They deliver what I call "clean fun" a concert where as a parent you could have came with your kids and not have to worry about disrespectful behavior, with their witty sense of humour they deliver messages of peace, self esteem, solidarity, fun you leave the concert uplifted and in a really good mood..
Tata Mpassi the songstress of the group honored the legacy of the late Myriam Makeba with the song Malaika..may I add that sista had her stilletoe game on point doing "the change of clothe and shoes" 3 times..my friend and I were like aight sista...go on with ur bad self..
Passi the creator of the group blessed up with his first hits like la "1 la 2", the twins of the group 2 BAL did their thang as well, Calbo and Lino from Arsenk showed us that they still go it, and the cutie pie that is Benj from the group Neg Marron blessed up with us with their hit song "Petit Pays"..
On their first album "Racines" Bisso Na Bisso had a song with Ismael Lo so I knew he would be here as a guest surprise...and I was rite...
It was a great concert, if they ever come to your town don't hesitate go goo..
Cant wait to see their new video for "Tout le monde levez les mains pour Bisso"

Here's their webbie:
www.myspace.com/bissonabissofficiel
Here's a video doc that should tell u all bt this musical collective:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q9A2tH8mFG4

Djaa Bisso Na Bisso c'est vraiment Bisso Na Bisso:)
Eyee Wayee:)

BABY SOL HAS SOUL!

I loved the humility of this young Congolese artist, she writes and sings her own songs from her soul..Baby Sol evolves in London where she's currently for the Flora Marathon...
I wanted to feature her here because I like her voice and the fact that she's an artist artist..
Her influences include Rachelle Ferrell, Lauryn Hill , Mbilla Belle among many other artists...
She granted me a mini interview, enjoy:)

In 2008 what was your biggest accomplishment?
Arranging my mother's funeral , and thinking about my future..things that I would not have thought about doing this early on since she died so young..

Do you have any regrets?
I regret not having my mother physically here for he to see how responsible and accomplished i am becoming ..

In 2008 which one African person or African event that happened that will stay marked in your memory?
Obama, an African-American man as president of the United States, something that I saw as within reach but not necessarly within my lifetime. It grants us the possibility of greater things to form in the minds of all young black people all over the world and therefore allow the potential of true change and progression the be realized...that is exciting!!!

What are your goals for 2009? What would you like to accomplish?
I would like to strive the best that I can be. Learn more about my craft. I'm starting to take guitar lessions:) One definite goal is to get a concise library of my music together.. I think it's time for me to do something palpable with my talent and work on releasing some music ..I am going to take over the world.. World watch this space, lol x

Here's her site:
www.myspace.com/babysolmusic

Djaa my sisters from the Democratic Republic of Congo are doing their thang:)
Eyee Wayeee:)

MISS JOELLE KAYEMBE A BIT MORE CONVENTIONAL!

The chic business casual side of Joelle

Love this look from the shoes to the hair

Jungle chic

Lovely pumps&dress

Doin the arc en ciel nicely

Amy Winehouse aint the only one who can pull of this look

Lips lips

I know she has a lot of fans...I stumbled upon these beautiful pictures of her .usually most of her pictures showcase her beautiful body and I wanted to show her in a different light
There's nothing wrong with swimsuit pictures but I also enjoy this other side of her modelling

work

Djaa les gos du Congo sont dedans aussi:)

Eyeee Wayeee:)

NIGERIAN/CONGOLESE GRAFFITI ARTIST & PORTRAITIST!!

The Artist focused on her "wall"

Nice

Her first wall

Nichee

Queen Bombz

Bombz did it

Bombz was here


Love to see how diverse we are, in the things we enjoy doing, in our passions ect..

Queen Bombz is a 20 years old young artist of Nigerian and Congolese origins

She's into portrait work, graffity and photography...

I'm just in awe of all of talents..we are "crazy talented" and we need to know it :)

Her webbie

Djaa my ladies sont dans le graffiti aussi:)

Eyeeee Wayeeee:)