MIMI Magazine Spring 2010 Issue: Live Your Life

Written By: MIM!—We have been busy working on our Spring 2010 issue, which is slated for release next month, and are excited to finally unveil the cover of that issue featuring professional photographer Ruzika (pronounced Roo-zhe-tsa) Puskas-Ragontse. Associate Editor Mimi Tsiane interviewed Ruzika (whose mother is from Botswana and whose father is from Croatia) shortly after she won the Brides Choice Award for 2010 (the award recognizes the top 5 percent of wedding professionals in the Weddingwire network who demonstrate excellence in quality, service and professionalism). We'll have some of her beautiful work to share with you in the Spring 2010 issue, but for now, here's a bit about her work: "I started Red Rose Photography after working for an amazing photographer here in Baltimore. However, my interest and love for photography began many years ago, watching my father develop his rolls and rolls of film in our garage. I would watch with such fascination and wonder, and grew to appreciate the mystery of capturing an image for eternity. For me, it is always an honor to be asked to shoot a wedding, a portrait,a baby. How lucky am I to be doing something I absolutely love! My work can be considered lifestyle photojournalism, capturing the moment as if I were shooting for a magazine spread." Learn more about Red Rose Photography by visiting www.redrose-photography.com, and watch this space for an official announcement about the release of our Spring 2010 issue.

(Photo Credits: Michelle Aristocrat)

She Defines Soul.Substance.Style (No. 008): Zamajobe

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Written By: MIM!—The talented young singer first entertained the public with her smooth, jazzy voice during the South African Idols competition in 2003. Upon reaching the top ten, Zamajobe Sithole was snapped up by recording company, Sony/BMG and released her debut album, Ndawo Yami (which translates to "My Place") in 2004 firmly cemented Zamajobe Sithole's place on the continent’s music scene.

Loved by critics and fans alike, Zamajobe's debut album was certified gold in South Africa and earned Zamajobe four South African Music Awards (SAMA) nominations in the categories: Best Newcomer, Best Jazz Vocal Album, Best Joint Composition, and Best Engineer. When the gifted young artist talks about her debut album, she immediately displays the intensity that propelled its creation, talking seriously about the vision that underscores her second album in a way that makes it impossible not to be drawn into it. “For me the album is about bringing everything that makes up village life in Africa into an urban setting in a way that’s easy for everyone to relate to,” Zamajobe explains.

Firmly rooted in community, Zamajobe's second album, Ndoni Yamanzi (released in the fall of 2008) continued in the tradition of her debut. According to Zamajobe, Ndoni Yamanzi means a black stone or it could mean a beautiful black woman. Most of the album is sung in her home-language, Zulu. "It just felt right to keep it close to home. This is a personal album in so many respects and singing in Zulu just felt right."

With a sophisticated jazz sound that remains grounded in African soil, Zamajobe is driven to create original music that is a true reflection of who she is and where she is at; and what a great place to be at the top of South Africa's list of jazz artists. Get to know more about this woman who defines Soul.Substance.Style at www.zamajobe.co.za.

(Photo Credits: Sony BMG South Africa)

malene b To Introduce New Collection This Summer

Written By: MIM!—If you keep up with the magazine, then you know that Malene Barnett is a Brooklyn based African American carpet designer with a multi-disciplinary background in textile arts, painting and illustration from New York's Fashion Institute of Technology who followed her passion for textiles and launched malene b, a company that manufactures unique, handmade carpets, inspired by her international travels.

This summer, from May 15-18, malene b will debut its Textures Collection at the International Contemporary Furniture Fair. The Textures Collection echoes earth's patterns with bold abstraction, while celebrating nature's organic character. The carpets use multiple techniques to achieve complex textures and to evoke the colors and vibrancy found in nature's palette. Palm fronds from Tahiti are the inspiration for Moorea, a sunburst of pattern, color and texture. It will be shown in hand tufted New Zealand wool and silk textured Hi/Lo tweed construction. The turquoise water of St. Vincent, Malene’s mother’s home country, is the inspiration for this silk rich Tibetan hand knotted design. The textured skin of Kerala’s elephants are stylized in abstract to create a multi tonal pattern with silk highlights. It will be presented in a Tibetan hand knotted wool and silk with pencil carving for definition.

Learn more by visiting www.maleneb.com.

EDITED: Thanks to an anonymous commenter who noted that Malene is Caribbean-American. As Malene explained in an earlier interview with MIMI, "My family is from the Caribbean, St Vincent and Jamaica." Find out more about her by reading an excerpt from our Soulful Living interview: http://mimimagazine.blogspot.com/2009/11/november-issue-preview-malene-b-soulful.html.

(Photo Credits: malene b)

Snapshots: African Beauty

Written By: Jamelia Mmari—There's so much beauty in this photograph—the perspective, the saturation, the emotion. Makes for a perfect snapshot!

(Photo Credits: © iStockPhoto | Stacey Newman)

Anna Reynolds Performs Live In Berlin

Written By: MIM!—Anna Reynolds recently performed in Berlin, Germany and we've got the exclusive photographs. To see more from Anna's performance, click on the "Read More" link.