ASOS Africa's Spring 2011 Collection

Written By: Nani Hapa—ASOS Africa recently launched its Spring 2011 collection, and while I like the use of batik print, the collection falls a little flat compared to its Fall 2011 collection, which was much more vibrant. Here's what ASOS has to say about the collection:

Sampling a colour palette of rich tones, softened with neutral shades, ASOS AFRICA brings forth a sophisticated collection of cool, laidback pieces. Using hand-woven fabric, produced exclusively for ASOS AFRICA in Mombasa, the collection features a mix of elegant separates and playful feminine pieces, shot through with vibrant Kitenge prints from Tanzania. The collection is complimented by a unique range of accessories from fair trade jewellery brand MADE. Continuing the collaboration with SOKO, Bedi and the Crochet Sisters, our ASOS AFRICA collection maintains its dedication to providing vital employment to underprivileged communities in Kenya.

Take a look at some pieces from the collection below.

Nollybooks: Inspiring The Love Of Reading With A New Generation Of 16-24 Year Old Female Readers

Written By: Nani Hapa—“As Africans we are not telling our own stories and don’t have a local tradition of creating our own fictional heroes. Eighty percent of the books sold locally are from Britain or the US. They are written by international authors and the reason they do well is that people who read them are predominantly white middle-class women who have travelled and have been exposed to the locations featured in those books,” says Moky Makura. Intent on changing this, Moky launched Nollybooks, what she calls “Africa’s own Mills & Boon,” with the hopes of getting young South African female readers interested in reading by drawing them into her light, frothy love stories.

Genevieve Nnaji: "What I Don’t Like About Nigeria? … Man, I Never Diss My Own Country."

Written By: Jamelia Mmari—Genevieve Nnaji recently sat down with CNN International's Pedro Pinto for a full-length interview with African Voices. When asked what she likes about Nigeria and correspondingly, what she doesn't like about Nigeria, she had the following to share, proving why for many she reigns supreme:

Does It Matter That The Covergirl And First Playmate Of The Premier Issue Of Playboy South Africa Is A White South African Woman?

Written By: Nicole Parker-Jones—Playboy Enterprises Inc. is expanding it's empire into Africa—South Africa specifically—with the April 2011 launch of a South African edition of its famous (or as some may say infamous) Playboy Magazine. The introduction of Playboy South Africa has resulted in much fanfare, but some are criticizing the magazine for featuring a white South African woman—Tracy McGregor on the cover. Blogger Mika Stefano shared in his post Playboy South Africa, How Wack: "I found it weird that South Africa would launch Playboy SA and not have an African woman on the cover … I’m not saying Tracy is not African, all I’m saying is, I am sure they could have found a black model to grace the first issue of Playboy SA ... its a nice cover, but I dont see anything that makes it any different to Playboy USA or Playboy anywhere else?"

Sade To Release "The Ultimate Collection" Album and Announces New Tour Dates

Written By: MIM!—As a follow up to the platinum-selling Soldier Of Love, which spent three weeks at the top of the Billboard album chart and garnered a well-deserved GRAMMY, Sade is back with The Ultimate Collection.

Soul Video: Leonie Casanova's Broken

Written By: MIM!—Leonie Casanova is a London-based singer-songwriter who was born and raised in Zambia. She was schooled in Swaziland, England and the USA where she studied Economics and French Literature before working on Wall Street. Leonie's background has deeply informed her approach to song-writing and what to her is the intrinsic and essential story-telling element of this process. She is a smart and sensitive lyricist and vocalist and manages to cross and fuse genres and musical "textures" fluidly.

She was approached by the director and producer of the film The World Unseen, a drama set in 1950's apartheid South Africa in which Leonie also stars in. Leonie was able to draw inspiration not just from the complexity of the relationships and topics explored in the novel (and the script), but also from her own experiences as a child in and in close proximity to South Africa, during and post Apartheid. Watch the music video for Broken below.

Leonie Casanova "Broken from MAREK KREMER on Vimeo.

For more information about Leonie Casanova, visit her Facebook and MySpace pages.

(Photo Credits: © Enlightenment Productions)

Weekend To-Do List: Watch "Skin" Starring Sophie Okonedo (Now Out On DVD)

Written By: MIM!—Skin is one of the most moving stories to emerge from apartheid South Africa: Sandra Laing is a black child born in the 1950s to white Afrikaners, unaware of their black ancestry. Her parents are rural shopkeepers serving the local black community, who lovingly bring her up as their ‘‘white’’ little girl. But at the age of ten, Sandra is driven out of white society. The film follows Sandra’s thirty-year journey from rejection to acceptance, betrayal to reconciliation, as she struggles to define her place in a changing world—and triumphs against all odds. Watch the trailer below, and catch it on DVD now.

SKIN Trailer from Sandra Laing on Vimeo.

For more information, visit www.skinthemovie.net.

(Photo Credits: © Elysian Films)

In Limited Theatrical Release Now: Desert Flower Starring Liya Kebede

Written By: MIM!—Desert Flower, the biopic about model Waris Dirie starring Liya Kebede in the title role, has made its way Stateside, and is in limited release across the United States. If the trailer below doesn't convince you just how powerful this story is, read our interview with Waris from October 2005: The Truth About FGM. The critics are also moved. The New York Times writes, “The film, based on Ms. Dirie’s memoir of the same title, is heartening both for Ms. Dirie’s rise-and-overcome tale and for the reminder that a helping hand from a stranger can still occasionally be found in this unkind world. But, of course, it’s also disheartening because of what was done to Ms. Dirie, a moment revisited in a hard-to-watch flashback. The film makes bluntly clear that this is a trauma that lasts a lifetime.” This Day Live echoed similar sentiments, “It is hard to sit through Desert Flower without the nagging thought about the inhumanity of the female genital mutilation, or FGM for short. It is also hard not to credit Waris with not only the courage of escaping from the clutches of this bestiality, but also for telling the world her story.”

Desert Flower (Wüstenblume) - Trailer English from MajesticFilm on Vimeo.

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Sunday's Child: Sunday Omony

Written By: MIM!—Sunday Omony was born in the war-torn region of northern Uganda. When she was six years old, her family migrated to Canada. Despite being miles away from her home country, Sunday has remained connected—to name a few of her volunteer efforts: she continues to partner with organizations promoting peace and human rights, and she is involved with GuluWalk, a campaign that supports war affected youth in northern Uganda. A firm believer in giving back, in 2004, she founded a non-profit organization called Immigrant Youth Empowerment Society. We caught up with the model (and hilarious comedian) to find out more about Sunday's child.

Creative Flow: Stocktown South Africa Showcases Street Style

stocktown x southafrica teaser from Stocktown on Vimeo.

Creative Soul: Goapele Beautifully Blends Sinead O'Connor And Kanye West In Nothing Compares 2 U

Written By: Nani Hapa—It's brilliant. In one creatively blended rendition, the talented Goapele covers Sinead O'Connors classic hit, Nothing Compares 2 U, and samples Kanye West's Runaway from his recently released album, My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy. Download the hauntingly beautiful song for free by visiting goapele.bandcamp.com.

MIMI Related Links: Goapele: Right Here; Goapele: Milk & Honey

(Photo Credits: CD Cover Art)

TV Watch: Nonhle Goes To Hollywood

Written By: Nani Hapa—The reality bug has bitten television presenter Nonhle Thema who is executive producing and starring in her own reality television series Nonhle Goes To Hollywood. The show follows Nonhle as she starts from the bottom and tries to climb up the Hollywood ladder one audition at a time. Frankly, I am surprised that she has to prove herself in Hollywood when she is a bonafide star in South Africa with endorsements from international brands such as Dark & Lovely ... she's the real deal! But for now, all we can do is tune to find out if her celebrity will translate across borders and catapult her into Hollywood. Watch the drama and fun filled episodes of Nonhle's ups and downs in Hollywood by visiting DStv's Vuzu channel at Vuzu.DStv.com/nonhle.

MIMI Related Links: Growing Up African: A New Reality Show About A Tanzanian Family Living In America; African Celebrities Building Empires

(Photo Credits: © Vuzu TV)

Snapshots: Sweet Salone "Portraits Of Contemporary Sierra Leone" By Sophia Spring

Written By: MIM!—Photographer Sophia Spring's ‘‘Sweet Salone’’ project is a series of portraits of Sierra Leoneans today. She says about the project: ‘‘It is a project that aims to give a small insight into the lives of some of the individuals that make up this vibrant country. For too long Sierra Leoneans have been depicted in a less than positive light. It is time that this outdated portrayal is finally discarded.’’ Her photograph above tells the story of Abubakar Kamara (19):

Abubakar was only 8 years old when he watched his father and grandmother being murdered by rebel troops. On that day his left leg was also amputated, in what can only be described as an act of senseless cruelty. Today, at the age of 20, he is surprisingly nonchalant about the horrors that he faced at such an early age. Perhaps this is because his story is not unique in a country that saw thousands of men, women and children brutally dismembered during the violence of their decade long civil war. Abubakar actively shuns sympathy, and feels that his disability should not hinder his future chances of success. As a member of Sierra Leone’s amputee football team he’s already accomplished a great deal, and is something of a local hero in this football mad country.

To see the full set of photos and stories from ‘‘Sweet Salone’’ visit, Sweet Salone: Portraits From Contemporary Sierra Leone and to see more of Sohpia's work, visit: www.SophiaSpring.com.

(Photo Credits: © Sophia Spring)

Style Video: Liya Kebede And J. Crew Collaborate To Bring You Her LemLem Line

J. Crew / LemLem Promo from Garrett Hardy Davis on Vimeo.

MIMI Related Links: Liya Kebede For Ann Taylor; Liya Kebede For H&M

Third World Couture

Written By: MIM!—Fashion designer Adama Kai of Aschobi Designs and photographer Henry Jacobson provide a behind-the-scenes look at how some of the most captivating couture images can be created with limited resources.

fashion for peace from Henry Jacobson on Vimeo.

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Soul Video: Rhian Benson's Better Without You

Written By: MIM!—Rhian Benson is back in the spotlight with the release of her new album Hands Clean. Take a look at the video for the lead single, Better Without You below, and see the album cover art after the jump.

Better Without You from Rhian Benson on Vimeo.

Growing Up African: A New Reality Show About A Tanzanian Family Living In America

Written By: MIM!—Since last year, the blogosphere has been a buzz about a new reality show that just transcends several barriers: Growing Up African. The show centers around a Tanzanian family of five siblings and a single mother living in the United States:

Africa Online: www.AfroFoodTV.com

Written By: MIM!—If you are looking for step-by-step demos and recipes for your favorite gourmet African foods, look no further than www.AfroFoodTV.com. The website is the online presence of Afro Food, a food company that specializes in the production, procurement and sale of gourmet African food products and lifestyle. Covering everything from the ordinary (plantain chips) to the extraordinary (suya pizza), get cooking now by visiting www.AfroFoodTV.com.

MIMI Related Articles: How Sweet It Is: Lolita's Cupcakes; The Right Fit

(Photo Credits: © WaveBreakMediaMicrro / Veer) (Models Used Solely For Illustrative Purposes)

Weekend Soul: Bake Cupcakes With Lolita's Cupcakes Standard Recipe By Cameroonian Sisters Angel Sylvester And Cynthia Anduhtabe

Written By: Lolita's Cupcakes—Below is our standard cupcake recipe and instructions to recreate 24 vanilla

cupcakes. Before you get started, confirm you have the following baking items handy: cupcake baking trays X 2 (12 each) | cupcake cases X 24 | mixing bowl | mixing equipment or whisk | measuring equipment | spatula | tablespoon | wooden spoon | sieve.

Once you have all your baking paraphernalia ready, you are now on your way to baking some delicious cupcakes!

The ingredients you’ll need are listed below.

1. Flour, 400g
2. Butter, 400g (we would use 350g)
3. Caster sugar, 400g (we would use 300-350g)
4. Eggs, 8 (we would use 6)
5. Vanilla flavouring, 1-2 tablespoon
6. Toppings (of your choice)

Once you have all the ingredients laid out in your baking area these are the next steps to take.

How Long Would You Remain Afloat If You Suddenly Lost Your Job?

Written By: MIM!—You've suddenly lost your job, and have to start from scratch with $1000 in your savings account. Can you make it through the month? Walk a virtual mile in the shoes of someone living from paycheck to paycheck by visiting www.PlaySpent.org and figuring out how long you could remain afloat if you were suddenly jobless.

(Photo Credits: © Keeweeboy / Veer) (Model Used Solely For Illustrative Purposes)

MIMI's Fab Find Of The Month: Aldo Forwood Wedges

Written By: MIM!—Cropped jeans, skirt, shorts, little black dress ... what won't these vibrant wedges from Aldo go with? Get your $90 pair in medium green or turquoise by visiting www.AldoShoes.com.

(Photo Credits: © Aldo Shoes / Forwood Wedges)

Director Leila Djansi Receives The British Academy of Film and Television Arts Los Angeles Pan African Festival Choice Prize

Written By: MIM!—Congratulations are in order for director Leila Djansi who was presented the British Academy of Film and Television Arts Los Angeles 2011 Pan African Festival Choice Prize for I Sing of A Well at the 19th Annual Pan African Film Festival held in Los Angeles. She shares about the prize, “I am so very honored to receive this prize, which I accept not only for me, but for producer Akofa Ejeani Asiedu, cast, and crew ... Making this film was a team effort, as it always is, and I am so glad I worked with a team that helped me turn my words on paper into an enjoyable film. I am so appreciative to BAFTA Los Angeles and PAFF.” Watch the trailer for the critically acclaimed I Sing of A Well below.

I Sing of a Well - Official Trailer from filmmaker on Vimeo.

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(Photo Credits: © Eaddy Perry & Associates, Inc.)

MIMI Muse: Gloria Wavamunno

Written By: MIM!—When Gloria Wavamunno (fashion designer to the indie vixens) and Martin Kharumwa (photographer to the creatively connected) work together, the result is is both a traditional throwback and a thoroughly modern Afri-chic aesthetic. Take a look at Martin's beautiful portraits of Gloria below ...

MIMI's Hot 21: TMS Ruge: The Free Radical (No. 009):

Written By: MIM!—Capitalizing on his understanding of different cultures and markets, TMS Ruge has become a successful global social entrepreneur with ventures that include: (1) co-founding www.ProjectDiaspora.org—an organization he co-founded in 2007 to motivate, engage and mobilize the African Diaspora to take an active role in Africa’s development), (2) running UMPG—an indigenous farmers’ business in Masindi, Uganda and (3) advising Women of Kireka, a women’s jewelry making co-operative in Kampala, Uganda. The Free Radical of MIMI's Hot 21, Ruge sat down with MIMI to reflect on Africa and the African Diaspora. Here is what he had to share on these subjects and more ...

1. Life right now is ... Superbly hectic! I've got a whirlwind travel schedule over the next few months. I am in Uganda as we speak supervising some social entrepreneurship and community development projects for Project Diaspora. I'll be sneaking out to Rwanda, Kenya and the UK for some speaking engagements before heading to Dallas. Life right now, is beautifully occupied with thoughts and actions of giving back to my continent and doing my small part in my small corner of the world.

2. My first job was ... (Laughs) My first job was as a dishwasher at this restaurant. I used to rollerblade to work and spend 8 hours washing dishes and bussing tables after school and weekends. My only perk was watching Michael Jordan play in the NBA finals. I think I was earning $3.75 for the pleasure. Big money!

3. I knew my career (Project Diaspora) and me were meant to be when ... The constant and dreadful thought of occupying yet another corporate cubicle drove me to embrace the idea of PD. And then when I started meeting members of the African Diaspora at conferences who were telling me they are fans of PD, it really cemented my drive to do more, and I knew I was meant to do this. The tiniest of successes along the way to getting PD to where it is have provided for a lot of smiles as I drift off to sleep.

4. Being passionate about Africa is all about being ... Comfortable with all facets of Africa. The good, the bad, the ugly, the unsung. It is all part of me. From the dusty air, to the red mud between my toes after a tropical storm. It is about looking beyond 400+ years of foreign rule and bad news and listening to the drums of a renewed continent determined to lift itself out of dire straights. Being passionate about Africa is loving to do whatever is needed even if you are not getting paid for it. The journey is the payment, and accomplishing something along the way is the bonus.

5. The one phrase I overuse is ... "I love, love, love it!"—I am an idea guy, and I get very excited when I hear out of the box ideas that bend the norm. As a result, it has just stuck that this is my natural response to good news, great ideas, suggestions, a good conversation ... whatever.

Soul.Substance.Style Video: Les Nubians "Amour A Mort" (Love To Death)

Amour à mort (Love to death) - Les Nubians feat. John Banzaï from loris lamuniere on Vimeo.

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MIMI's Hot 21: Marian Kihogo: The Stylista (No. 008)

Written By: MIM!—MIMI's resident stylista, Marian Kihogo, sat down with MIMI to share her perspective on Soul. Substance. Style.

MIM!: Tell us, Marian Kihogo is ...

Marian Kihogo: A Celebrity Personal Stylist, Fashion Stylist, Fashion Writer, Creative Consultant and Editor of www.Mariankihogo.com—a comprehensive fashion, beauty and culture site in a personal weblog format.

MIM!: In three words, how would you describe the Marian Kihogo styling aesthetic?
Marian Kihogo: Personalised to client.

MIM!: What accomplishment in your career are you most proud of?
Marian Kihogo: Renewing self confidence through my styling, seeing clients featured in best dressed lists, assisting people find a sense of self by discovering who they are style wise.

MIM!: Who inspires you?
Marian Kihogo: The honest, the compassionate, the individual and the unapologetically fearless!

MIM!: What inspires you?
Marian Kihogo: Art from every period and genre. People. Anthropology. Culture. Travel—I have an intense wanderlust. Photography. Architecture. People watching—I draw endless inspiration from just watching people go by! Their experiences and cultures come through in their personal style. English literature. The work of Maya Angelou, Toni Morrison, Zora Neale Hurston, Langston Hughes, Dorothy Koomson, Edwidge Danticat etcetera. African literature by writers like Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, Ayi Kwei Armah, Mariam Ba, Buchi Emecheta, Ama Ata Aidoo, Chinua Achebe etc. Music by Grace Jones, Youssou N'Dour, Nina Simone, Angélique Kidjo, Sade, Stevie Wonder, Salif Keita etcetera. Film—independent film, period films, silent films, the work of the late Senegalese filmmaker Ousmane Sembène etc

MIM!: Complete the sentence: "To me being an African woman means ..."

Marian Kihogo: Being God fearing, giving, resourceful, creative and resilient!

(Photo Credits: © Vanessa Jackson)

Snapshots: "Favorites" By Obi Somto

Written By: MIM!—Take a look at some of photographer Obi Somto's favorite snapshots below.

MIMI's Hot 21: Obi Somto: The Drama King (No. 007)

Written By: MIM!—Learn more about photographer Obi Somto, who we dubbed as the Drama King of MIMI's Hot 21 as he completes 10 sentences that reveal more about his Soul. Substance. Style.

1. I knew my career in photography and me were meant to be when ... I've always been art inclined, and I always thought it would be lovely if I could make a living through my arts... I guess I knew it was going to be photography when my friend and manager said to me, "Somto, we have to start making money from your photographs" the next week I got a job to do a models portfolio.

2. The last time my breath was taken away was ... Hmmmmm, errrmmm, funny it was very recently, I was watching Aljazera, the Eye Witness programme I think. It was a story of an American dentist who's passion is photography. He's been taking pictures of the world trade center, which was the tallest building in the world at the time for many years now. He has about 50000 pictures of the world trade center before it was destroyed and the last photo he took of it was a week before the september 11 attack. He has been selling photos of the world trade center and donating the proceeds to the new york fire dept fund since the 9/11 attack. My mouth was open the whole time I was watching the documentary so its safe to say that was the last time my breath was taken away.

3. My fictional hero is ... Superman. Any photographer would or should totally adore the man of steal. He is just awesome, come on, having all his powers, you would be able to make any photograph you think of without limitations, it would just be uber awesome.

4. The person I look up to the most is ... Hmmm. Well Jesus is not a person right? It would have definitely been Him. I don't look up to any one person in particular, though I look up to certain things or qualities from different people to make the ultimate person. Some of these people are, my big brother, Kelechi Obi, Jide Alakija, Kelechi Amadi-Obi, Annie Leibovitz, Yervant and my uncle, Sir Nnamdi Obi, just to mention a few.