ROKIA TRAORE IN DAKAR, DECEMBER 2009!

An exhausted but glowing Rokia at the end of the night


Yes , Oui I know I've been slacking a lot lately lol...got carried out with my usual December blues..but I'm back ,backkk and ready to work...thank you for being patient with me:)

So I just went to see Miss Rokia Traore who was performing in Dakar last week. I've had the chance to watch her perform in New York City a couple of years ago at Canergie Hall. Her first CD , "Mouneissa" helped me out so many times during those college lonely dorm nights, lol I remenber that I would wear my african loincloth ,put on my socks (lame I know lol) light up candles and put her CD on repeat and go to sleep. Her soft voice reminded me of my sweet Africa, made me feel what being African meant to me, made me long for those baptism ceremonies under the hot sun, made me long for trips on our local buses "car rapide " as we would say in Senegal and "dourou dourouni "in Mali.

Through her sweet voice I remenbered my mother's advices, my aunties sweet but firm advices about how to conduct myself within the society. Rokia made me try to solve the puzzle of authentic bambara, she just helped me feel "my Africa".

Ok yes you get that I love her, however if you were to ask people like my mother or father or some other Malian adults how they felt about her, they would basically tell you with a laugh that they don't connect with her. In Mali, a lot of people feel that her music is too "world music" , "too white", they would rather listen to Oumou Sangare, or Salif Keita. They don't understand Rokia's musical language, right before leaving for the concert I was having a conversation with my mother about her , and she was telling me that Rokia's music was for the diaspora not for them..

I left a bit frustrated as I wanted mum to be as excited as I was but anywhoo...As I kinda expected it, there were just a few brown faces among the public, my black people I guess weren't feeling Rokia enough to spend 8000 CFA Francs..Yes I know it was a bit expensive but that's about the same amount or even less that people spend on a regular "Dakar saturday night" at the local clubs ect..I'm just saying.

With a new haircut , sahara inspired pants and a simple tank top Miss Rokia came on stage tout doucement,she blessed us at first with a slow traditional song on the guitar , it as if she was asking the blessings of the ancestors. The concert lasted a good 2 hours , I wasn't too familiar with her new CD "Tchemantie" as I didn't want to listen to it prior to going to see her. She took us on a visit to that chapter of personal musical journey, lyrics in french , english bues rythm a bit of pop and good old Rock & Roll. Some of the songs that stood out for me are"Dounia", "Zen" and "Tounka"

She talked to us about the alarming consequences of mass imigration and how she felt that the best thing would be for Africans to be able to come and go as they please , and how Mama Africa needs us..she's absolutely right but that's a different post..

Rokia was really generous with us that night, at the end of her concert she let totally loose danced, improvised songs on stage, came down to greet some of her fans and danced with them..

I'm so used to seeing her so poised , this was def' a new Rokia I was experiencing..It seemed as if she was happy in her own skin, happy with her musical choices and just having a good time..

Yep I left , looking forward to discovering again in a future musical chapter, I wonder what she will do that time...

Here are a few cool links:

Rokia performing Tounka, HERE

http://www.rokiatraore.net/

Djaa my Bamana Sistas sont trop dedans:)

Eyeee Wayeee:)

ZIMBABWEAN SOCIAL ACTIVIST AND CNN HEROES AWARD WINNER 2009, BETTY MAKONI!

*Pic courtesy of the WIP

Mobilizing girls to fulfill their potential

Yes there are still some selfless courageous women of integrity in this world. Betty Makoni experienced tragedy at a young age: she was raped at the delicate age of 6 years old, as a child she witnessed the murder of her mother by her own father the one person who was supposed to protect them but no.....

This fabulafricana turned all these traumatizing experiences into something positive by choosing to help other little Zimbabwean girls. Betty understood quite early in her life that getting a great education was the key to freedom, so she embarked in the teaching voyage. While teaching she was saddened by the terrible treatment that these little girls were living at home, so in 1998 she decided to create her first "Girl Child Network" in 1998 with just 9 little girls, today her organization counts over 30,000 members and 500 clubs.

I was watching the documentary on her work entitled "Tapistries of Hope" and I was touched by this little girl who atempted to kill herself after having been raped and rejected by her family. Betty doesn't just lead the organization but she doesn't balk at travelling long distances to villages to talk to the parents of these children. In one scene she's seen with a police officer talking to the father of that young girl in particular, explaining the consequences of his actions and asking the permission of taking with her the little girl.

But that little girl is not the only lucky person Betty and the workers at her organization have been helping. Among all these beautiful girls is a brave girl by the name of Taremeredwa who's been suffering from a facial tumor. She lost her grinding teeth at 11, a few years later her face got swollen and deformed...mmm man it's hard for me to talk about this young girl..it breaks my heart but anywhoo..through the Girl Child Network she's been able to go the UK this past year to receive treatment. She still needs to receive monetary funds in order to pay for her hospital bills..

Betty also intends with the help of UK funding to open other chapters in other African countries starting with Uganda.

I admire her work and def' think that she deserves being recognized by the CNN Heroes Award this year, she absolutely inspires me to keep closer attention to my environment , to think that a good education is not only a right but also a privilege in these times.

Here's the official website:

http://www.girlchildnetworkworldwide.org/

If you like to follow the journet of Tare, check the organization's blog:
www.girlchildnetworkworldwide.org/blog/

You can also follow her part of her journey through this video, HERE

You can watch the documentary, HERE

Djaa there are some real fabulafricanas in Zimbabwea:)

Eyeee Wayeee:)

FRENCHIE ALGERIAN POP SOUL SINGER, MISS MAYRINA CHEBEL!

Just discovered pop/soul Frenchie Algerian singer and as usual had to share this discovery with you all.

So she's just 26 years old, she comes from the Lyons , fell in love with music through Lauryn Hill.

When she moved to Paris , she was decided to make her dream come through, just like Awa Imani she worked with the gospel choir "We are one" , attended events, met her producer, met Disiz la Peste (Senegalo-French hip hop artist), met the legendary IAM rappers;Akhenaton and Shurik'n. They liked her vibe, decided to write her a song , ended up writing and working with her on an entire album called "Ailleurs". Despite her talent it's been difficult for her to break through the french radio market that finds soul too adult of a musical style for their audience..but she keeps pushing through. I like her...would def' listen to her on a sunday morning while relaxing:)

If I knew her personally I would tell her not to worry abt people comparing her to Amel Bent, they both do a popish/soulful style of music so of course they might remind people of each other, so push on through sista..let the haters hate and do u:)

Here's a live performance clip: HERE

Here's her webbie:http://mayrinachebel.artistes.universalmusic.fr/

Djaa my Algerian sistas sont dedans:)

Eyyee Wayee:)

FABULAFRICANAS OUT AND ABOUT IN DAKAR IN THEIR PERSONAL STYLE!

Jada- Student at BEM Dakar

Fabulafricana because she was just too cute in her sarouel/jumper and her little "Patra queen of the pack"braids and the missionaire sandals, loved it!

Anta- Model

Fabulafricana because I simply loved her little afro dress paired with a simple bronze necklace ..:)

Corinna- Italian British Council Coordinator in Senegal , MC & Singer

Fabulafricana one because she's in love with the motherland, two because she rocked feminine hills, summer dress and cowboy bandana..:)

Rokhaya- Designer and Model on her spare time

Fabulafrican because I liked her little black ensemble and the layers of black bangles with a touch of silver with her silver sandals.

Touty-Contemporary lyrical dancer

Fabulafricana because she was rocking classic old school Jordans, had a touch of rastafari vibe with the cap

Aight people I'm a huge Sartorialist and Garance Dore fan and so they inspired me to try to showcase Senegalese people's personal sense of styles , even though gotta admit that it's hard to convince them to let me take pics of them, don't know how Garance and Scott do it on the regular ..but anywhoo here are a few people who allowed me to showcase their styles, so you who may not live in Dakar have an idea of what my people look and dress like, enjoy:)

Djaa my people from Dakar sont dedans:)

Eyeee Wayee:)

SENEGALESE FURNITURE DESIGNER, OUSMANE M'BAYE!

Dem Dik Design by Ousmane M'Baye

Chair collection

Bed Collection

New Dezign collection

His work at Opium Restaurant/Dakar Senegal

Armchair collection

New Dezign collection

Okay born a November 26 just like me, did the furniture work at 2 of my fav'restaurants in Dakar: Opium and La Fourchette..oh boy there was no way I was not going to find out about Ousmane Mbaye's work.
This self -taught designer and "rude boy" from Medina is slowly but surely taking the world of furniture design by storm. Ousmane def' sees" la vie en rose" with his great use of all the rainbow warm colors. He uses mainly barrel and galvanise iron to create his work. He's currently showing his work at the Biennale du Design in St Etienne until november 30th..if you are in the area, go suppport him:)
For those of you living in Paris he'll be in the capitale des lumieres on December 8th at the Fondation GAIA.

His work def' put a smile on my face and when I'll go to these restaurants, I'll tell everyone oh it's by Ousmane M'baye:)
Here's his website:
http://www.coroflot.com/ousmane

Djaa my Senegalese brothas sont trop dedans:)
Eyee Wayee:)

PROFESSOR AMEENAH GURIB FAKIM THE GREATEST AMBASSADOR OF MAURITIUS ISLAND FLORA & TRADIONAL MEDECINE!

Professor Ameenah Gurib Fakim is the first female professor at the University of l'Ile Maurice. This beautiful mother of 2 wears so many hats : she's a writer, a researcher, a scientist, a wife and a mother.
This chemist's work centers around the medicinal and pharmacological properties of local Mauritius plants.
In fact with her team counted 50 000 medecinal plants on her island, they also spoke to the elders of the island who knew and shared some of the secrets of these plants.
I love Ameenah's mission, she wants her people to know that tradional medecine could be a great economical booster of the Island. If it was recognized, farmers could increase the production of those plants, medicinal licenses could be obtained through the official validaton of herbal extracts.
Among some of the plants she's been working with is "le melon amer" which fights diabetes among other things.
This UNESCO prize winner & African Union Women Scientist Regional winner 2009 is truly a fabulafricana.
Reading about her inspired me to respect the african flora and to find out more about the secrets of african plants. In the little video doc' that follows , she explains that on her island there are some plants that can't be found in the rest of the world, only on Mauritius island..waouh!
I also learned that intellectual properties doesn't just pertain to creative work but also to scientific work.

Check her out on this video:
http://www.terre.tv/#/fr/sante-et-environnement/entretien/1934_ecoforum--ameenah-gurib-fakim
Here's a great interview:
http://ww.ipsnews.org/news.asp?idnews=48529

Djaa our sistas from Mauritius Island are unstoppable:)
Eyeee Wayee:)

OUR AFRICAN PEOPLE AT PARIS FASHION WEEK/SPRING SUMMER 2010!

a

Ayo & Sonia Rolland

Farida

Leila Ben Khalifa

Miss Ayo


This past october, Paris was the place to be for our fashionistas and african celebs.
Ayo , Sonia Rolland, Leila Ben Khalifa as well as Farida Khelfa were some of the familiar faces seen.
Djaa our African peeps are doing their thing:)
Eyee Wayee:)

TANZANIAN SCULPTOR DOING IT FOR THE WOMEN, MWANDALE MWANYEKWA!

Self Portrait

Envious Monkey

"Dream"

"Passion"

Pic courtesy of the Sojourner's Truth

I haven't focused on my African sistas "doing it"in the sculpture world in a minute.
Mwandale Mwanyekwa is a great female tanzanian sculptor in a mainly male dominated art sector.
"Big Mama "as she likes to be called has been expressing herself through this art form for the past + 10 years. As any intelligent professional, she realized quite early that she had to aquire training. She attended several local and international schools, workshops, exhibits.
She was invited to showcase her work in Sweden, Toledo Ohio, South Africa ect
This stylish woman and mother, is a self proclaimed lover of herself, it shows through her self portraits carved in woods. She also takes her inspirations from her personal beliefs, nature, animals ect.
Here's her personal site:
www.mwandale.blogspot.com

Djaa my Tanzanian sistas sont trop dedans:)
Eyeee Waye:)

MAROCCAN DESIGNER, LAILA AZHAR!

Lovely orange number

Like the cut of the jacket

Grey Asymetric dress

Love the jaune citron and the corbeau black mix

I'm huge in the little details, les petits plis ect..j'adore

Laila Azhar is a Maroccan born designer who designs modern and romantic pieces for the urban young femme.
Before pursuing design at the prestigious Parsons school of design, while residing in Canada she studied biology at McGill University. Doing modelling jobs on the side , her desire to become a designer grew more apparent to her and as they say the rest is now history.

Here's her site:
http://www.lailaazhar.com

Djaa our Maroccan sistas sont trop dedans:)
Eyee Wayee:)