A New Year's Gift From Anna Reynolds—Free Music Downloads

Written By: Staff Writer—EP Neobiota Suite IV Electrofying Soulsister is the last Neobiota EP for 2009. Anna says "in the Greek language 'Neobiota,' the title of the EP series, means 'neos' new and 'bios' life and refers to alien (exotic) biological species, that colonize a geographic area as a direct or indirect result of human involvement." She adds the Electrofying Soulsister EP, "contains 4 songs that represent 3 important phases, leading up to finally being able to live and release my own music now." For a limited time the 4 tracks from the EP are available for free download at www.anna-reynolds.com.

Read more of what Anna has to say about the EP Electrofying Soulsister on Anna's blog: www.anna-reynolds.blogspot.com and check her video message on www.youtube.com/annareynoldstv

Say Grace Before Drowning, A Short Film By Nikyatu Jusu

Written By: Staff Writer—With the release of the teaser trailer for her film, Say Grace Before Drowning, Nikyatu Jusu is steadily and surely solidifying her place as a gifted filmaker whose noteworthy films we soon won't forget. Take a look at the trailer for Say Grace Before Drowning below.

SAY GRACE BEFORE DROWNING//Teaser from Nikyatu Jusu on Vimeo.

If you're anything like us, watching this trailer only left you wanting more! Rest assured that MIMI will soon publish an in-depth interview with Nikyatu in an upcoming issue. In the meantime, yo can learn more about Nikyatu by visiting ww.w.nikyatu.com and nikyatu.wordpress.com.

MIMI Related Links: African Booty Scratcher, A Short Film By Nikyatu Jusu

Experience The New Ghanaian Cookbook “Akwaaba: A Taste Of Ghana”

Written by Sandra Amoako—My name is Sandra Amoako and I am the publisher and author of the new Ghanaian cookbook “Akwaaba: A Taste of Ghana”. I was born and raised in Ghana but currently live in the US. I have always believed that I was born with an entrepreneurial spirit and after graduating college with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration I began my long and at times rocky and complex path to making my dreams, passions and skills a reality.
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Most people would be surprised to know that I was never a fan of the kitchen growing up. I preferred sports over recipes and I preferred to watch food being prepared than to actually cook something…although, I loved to bake! However, as one would say, “life is funny” and my life experiences from college until now have brought me full circle into combining my business skills with my creativity and my passion for food.
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Publishing my first cookbook was actually a spur of the moment decision as I was having a conversation with one of friends on the phone two years ago. I think the topic (well, one of the many topics being discussed on that call) was about Ghanaian recipes and how lots of people, including younger Ghanaians, we had encountered over the years were always asking about how to prepare certain Ghanaian dishes. There was a LOT of research on writing a cookbook and how to publish a book over many months after I made a conscious decision to write a cookbook. I not only polished up my recipes on some Ghanaian dishes but I learned a lot about publishing, copyright, building a website and so on! It was a long and arduous journey and it was worth every step.
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Today, I stand up and say I am a publisher and an author as I hold my first cookbook “Akwaaba: A Taste of Ghana” in my hands and smile with pride. My cookbook offers a vibrant and fresh outlook on common, traditional and modern recipes from Ghana. It also offers easy-to-follow recipes, helpful hints, fun facts about Ghana and cultural information on Ghana. This is a Ghanaian cookbook that both Ghanaians and non-Ghanaians will appreciate and the hope is that it not only allows people of other cultures to experience a little part of what Ghana has to offer but also promote Ghana and Ghanaian food worldwide! At the moment, the cookbook can be ordered online but hopefully in the next couple of months, “Akwaaba: A Taste of Ghana” will be found in bookstores in Ghana, USA and other countries. For more information on the cookbook or to place an order, visit www.alikobooks.com. You can also follow me on twitter.com/SandraAmoako or join me on Facebook at www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=169729016745.

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MIMI Related Links: Be In MIMI

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(Photo Credits: "Jolof Rice" By Sanda Amoako (Recipe Available At eHowTo.co.uk)

Urban Africa: "Inspired By Human Nature"

Written By: Nani Hapa—Love, love, love, these bags designed by Cape Town based studio/workshop Urban Africa. Urban Africa's focus is on, you guessed it, leather design; they also distribute art. They say about their venture, "We like the idea of 'walk dont run', so as a result we focus on limited edition and custom design. This keeps us busy with our hands and mind, to refresh and inspire."

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Get more details at www.urbanafrica.co.za (as a bonus, they deliver orders worldwide).

MIMI Related Links: The ReBirth Of The Designer Bag, So Clutch! Aya Morrison, It's All In The Bag

MIMI Gets Spirited Away For December

Written By: Staff Writer—Start your holidays with the December issue of MIMI, featuring multi-faceted model, actress, and philanthropist Amanda Annan (Ghana) on the cover! In this issue, also read MIMI's interview with The Last Days Of Toussaint L'Ouverture actor Ademola Adeyemo (Nigeria) in The Leading Man and our interview with I Do Not Come To You By Chance author Adaobi Tricia Nwaubani in Literary Lady. Get inspired by these interviews and so much more (Ijorere: You're Invited, Fashion Philanthropy, New Generation Designers, and What I Overlooked For Love) in the December issue of MIMI!

Happy reading, and wishing you and yours a wonderful holiday season!

MIMI Link: Volume 5, Issue 9: Spirited Away

Shuga, An MTV Staying Alive Drama Set In Nairobi, Kenya

Written By: Staff Writer—If you haven’t heard about Shuga, the television drama that has Kenyans glued to their small screens, you can now watch the series online. While Shuga is part of a broader HIV prevention campaign, it is not your typical after school special. Following the lives of six college students living life on the fast lane, no topic is too taboo to explore on Shuga—love, sex, alcohol, and money are all a part of the students' risky behavior. Take a look for yourself by watching episode 1 of Shuga below:

Shuga Episode 1 from mtv staying alive on Vimeo.

Shuga is the brainchild of MTV’s award winning Staying Alive Campaign, which addresses sexual health within the context of national cultures and norms. Get more information at: igniteblog.staying-alive.org/category/kenya and watch the remaining episodes of Shuga at vimeo.com/tag:shuga.

MIMI Related Links: Healthy Sexual Lives For People Living With HIV, Better Sex Education Needed For African Adolescents

Anna Reynolds In Paris

Written By: Staff Writer—Anna Reynolds is currently performing at various European venues to promote her recently released album Android Girl, The Neobiota EP Series. According to Anna, "in the Greek language 'Neobiota,' the title of the EP series, means 'neos' new and 'bios' life and refers to alien (exotic) biological species, that colonize a geographic area as a direct or indirect result of human involvement." She further explains that her own life is shaped by consistently moving to new places, which motivated and inspired the title of the album.

MIMI has more performance photos of Anna after the "Read More" link ...

Loza Maléombho: African Street Chic Fashion

Written By: Nani Hapa—This year, Loza Maléombho (who is Brazilian born and "of an Ivorian Mother and Centrafrican Father"), launched a high street fashion brand based in New York city. Check out the video below for highlights from her collection:

Boston Fashion Exposé from Loza Maléombho on Vimeo.

Loza explains, "the concept of Loza Maléombho can be captured in four words: Ethics, Fashion, Culture and Education. This briefly symbolizes the fair trade aspirations and initiatives in developing countries of Africa by working with local factories, creating jobs and maintaining ethical practices along the run. The fashion line targets a younger hip fashion forward consumer with trendy designs that translate a multi cultural and ethnic influence into modern ready to wear. Finally, Loza Maléombho strongly believes that the lack of education is the major reason for the slow development of certain African countries, and intends on donating a percentage of the benefit to the building of schools locally." Fabulous all around! Learn more about the Loza Maléombho label by visiting www.lozamaleombho.com and lozamaleombho.blogspot.com.

MIMI Related Links: A Fashionable Family Affair: Gisella Boutique, Designer Spotlight: Mother Africa Fashion

A Woman Of Few Words

Written By: Staff Writer—Last month, Swedish-Kenyan singer Beldina Malaika released her mixtape, A Woman Of Few Words. For a limited time, the entire mixtape is free to download from her website, beldinaonline.com. Here's what Beldina had to share about her music:

"Love is a mixtape. A compilation of feelings. It reflects the musical tastes of real life and ranges from a casually selected list of emotions to a conceptual mix of songs linked by a mood. This is a highly personal statement tailored to the tape's intended recipient, meaning you. By carefully selecting and composing my heart into a mix, an artistic statement can be created. The naked introduction of 'wrong things' is just the beginning. Everyday we make promises to ourselves. Everyday we flout them. Everyday we try and keep the word. Everyday we break it ... At least someone is trying."

(Photo Credits: CD Cover Art (Marguerite Seger))

From The Archives: MIMI Poetry Corner—To Be Young Gifted And African By Luso Mnthali

Written By: Luso Mnthali—I am an American-educated young Malawian woman living in South Africa. I work in the broadcasting industry and hope to use words to heal, help, inform, entertain and educate. Writing is one of my passions. Here is my poem, To Be Young Gifted And African.

To Be Young Gifted And African.

We touch the sky
Every time we speak.
We touch the sky
Every time we love,
and when we love
We love with a fire
That only the gods can feed.
Our mouths are not the mouths
Of the pitiful and hungry
But those of a people
In prayer
In submission
In supplication.
Our love is not the love
Of a people turned away from the Divine,
For we know that there is a better way.
We’re doing it now.
This is the African century.
Come what may
And no matter what is said
In the media, in the depress press...
Don’t they know that we’re in their eyes,
In their tanning and bronzing,
In their boob jobs, in their science.
In their foodIn their music?
Don’t they know
We’re in their clothes
In their jewellery
And in their hair?
Don’t they know
That when we set our minds to something
We set trends?
Don’t they know they will soon watch
And they will follow?
Don’t they know what this giftIs all about?

It is about
Our reclaimed gods
And ancient wisdoms.
Our walks in the hills and valleys of ancestral poverties and riches.
Our gratitude.
Our reclaimed passions and truths.
Our fires in the sky,
Our rainbows that just won’t die.
Our after the rains
Our after the tears.
Don’t they know what it is
To be young, gifted and African?
Don’t they know the power behind that?
Don’t they know?
I hope you know.

(Originally Published In December 2007: Dedicated To You) (Photo Credits: © Mirmoor Dreamstime.com) (Model Used Solely For Illustrative Purposes)

Sade To Release First Single, "Soldier Of Love" Off Forthcoming New Album

Written By: Nani Hapa—A quite storm has been building since Epic Records announced that Sade would be releasing a new album Soldier Of Love in 2010, and now, the wait is officially over! The lead single from Sade's upcoming album, also named Solider Of Love, will premiere on Tuesday, December 8(th) at 7am EST on www.sade.com. Here's what her label Epic Records shared in their press release about the single's release:

Soldier Of Love which Sade co-produced with Mike Pela, was written by Sade along with longtime collaborators Andrew Hale, Stuart Matthewman and Paul Spencer Denman. The track, featuring a pulsating and anthemic drum beat along with haunting vocals that Sade is known for, is set to hit airwaves December 8(th) and will kick off the countdown for Soldier Of Love. Recorded in England and set for release worldwide on February 8(th), Soldier Of Love marks Sade's first studio album since the multi-platinum release of Lovers Rock in 2000.

Yipee! Can't wait to hear what you think of the single after you have a listen.

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(Photo Credits: Epic Records)

Kayobi Clothing—Capturing Eternal Sunshine

Written By: Staff Writer—Imagine a collection inspired by a place where it's always summer. Kayobi Clothing's founder Kwabena Oppong Boateng, did, and used this inspiration to create his first collection aptly titled "it's always summer in Africa." Released on 08-08-08, the collection was created during a year and a half stay in Ghana where Kwabena sought to capture the "true essence of Africa. The them refers to the gift of eternal sunshine the continent is blessed with. Contrary to the imposed label of 'dark continent' stamped on Africa, the continent is actually bursting with light, life, beauty and most importantly hope."

The first collection of t-shirts, which includes hip prints and clever says like "make fufu not war" has been such a hit that Kwabena has expanded from t-shirts to bags and iPod carrying cases. "Make fufu, not war" at kayobi.bigcartel.com.

(Photo Credits: Sefa Nkansa (Kayobi Clothing 2009 Lookbook))

December Issue Preview: Ijorere: You're Invited!

Written By: Nani Hapa—Party planners in the know understand that one of the first things you need to get right is your invitation. Invitations are not just informative mailings with logistical details—they offer guests their first glimpse into a party’s aesthetic. Ola Tokunbo Oluropo Enitan, printmaker, graphic designer and owner of the flourishing notecard company Ijorere the Invitation, creates invitations for grand occasions. ("Ijo" means "day" and "Rere" means "grand.")

By day Ola-Tokunbo works as an Architect and at night, she is once again a Designer, with her production team passionately working on beautifully hand-made invitations. Passionate, detail-oriented and style-conscious, her invitations are modern and contemporary invites with hints and reminders of her Nigerian/American culture and the many influences of all the different cultural backgrounds that have crossed her path. Her notecards are intricately detailed, whether it’s a monogrammed invitation set featuring a damask pattern or a collection showcasing colorful Ankara-inspired prints.

Read more about Ijorere in MIMI's upcoming December issue; while you wait for MIMI's new issue to be published, visit www.ijorere.com for more information about Ijorere.

(Photo Credits: Provided Courtesy Of ICY PR)

Fashion's Freshest Face, Kanyinsola Onalaja Wins The YDA Designer Of The Year Award

Written By: Staff Writer—This year, young aspiring designer Kanyinsola Onalaja was awarded the Young Designer the Year Award at the Young Designers Awards. The awards were established by knitwear designer Joanna Marcella with the goal of giving gifted avant-garde young designers from multicultural backgrounds between the ages of 13 and 25 exposure. According to the YDA, "Award winners will receive mentoring and support accessing resources, such as, public relations, marketing, advice and general business support, as they choose their next step into the fashion industry, launch and build their new fashion companies. They will be given an opportunity to participate on a year long UK tour and showcase, which is a new exposure and awareness initiative, launched in line with our vision."

Learn more about designer of the year winner Kanyinsola, and this years other winners by visiting www.youngdesignerawards.com.

(Photo Credits: Provided Courtesy Of Joanna Marcella For YDA)

MIMI Loves Ituen Basi's Bracelets

Written By: Staff Writer—Simply fabulous! Learn more about Nigerian designer Iteun Basi by visiting www.ituenbasi.co.uk or shop online at www.myasho.com.

(Photo Credits: My Asho)

Noora Noor: The Scandinavian Queen of Soul

Written By: Nani Hapa—Neo soul singer Noora Noor is often referred to as the "Scandinavian Queen of Soul." Her first album Curious won Noora the Norwegian Hit Award for Best Female Artist. Noora's next album, All I Am, took a while to complete as Noora fell seriously ill and had to stop recording for two years while she was in and out of the hospital. Now healthy, Noora released her third album, Soul Deep, which was released this year. If you're a fan of the sounds of singers such as Laura Izibor, Alicia Keys, and Ledisi, or if you want to hear about an inspiring soul sister, make sure to read Noora's journey as told by her by clicking on the "Read More" link ...

From The Archives: Thandi Haruperi: Positively Woman

Written By: Thandi Haruperi—If it’s true that sometimes our paths are laid out for us to walk through then that must be true of me and my diagnosis. I really had no business getting an HIV/AIDS test. I was not ill, had no symptoms, and did not think I was "one of those people"; but the events that led to me taking my test are so baffling that even after almost seven years I still ask myself: what is this really about. This is my story.

I was born in Zimbabwe, but grew up in Zambia having lived there since I was two. At sixteen I met the man who was to become my husband. Twelve years later the relationship ended, leaving me with two young children. To support myself and my children I found work with an English expatriate who had just started an HIV/AIDS project in Zambia, but I ended up leaving after a few weeks for England. When things didn’t turn out as planned in England, I returned to Zambia where the job I once held had been given to someone else. My involvement with HIV/AIDS ended, or so I thought. A year after my return to Zambia, I went back to England at the invitation of my younger sister. I was told the usual stories about immigration restrictions and how difficult it is for foreigners (especially Africans) to get a decent job, harder still for someone like me who had left school and walked straight into marriage. Blissfully ignorant of all these limitations, I believed I would make it. With relentless determination I sought and found work and three years later, after establishing myself, my children joined me. Despite the difficult circumstances, including the fear in the back of my mind of working illegally and being exposed to the authorities, I steadily moved up the career ladder. It was nothing great but notable progress nonetheless.

Counting my blessings I found that on average things had turned out quite well for me and I felt a great need to give something back. The only thing I could afford to give was time so I decided to do charity work. Coincidentally, the first advertisement I responded to turned out to be an organization supporting those infected with HIV/AIDS. For the second time in about six years my path crossed HIV/AIDS. Barely knowledgeable on the subject, I joined the project as a befriender, but before my work could take off, the project folded due to funding problems and for the second time in my life my relationship with HIV/AIDS ended before it had even started.

Continue reading Thandi Haruperi's story by clicking on the "Read More" link ...