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Thursday, June 30, 2011

Written By: MIM!After more than 70 years of colonial rule, the people of Congo rose up and claimed their freedom with a free and fair election, electing Patrice Lumumba. When Patrice Lumumba was elected he declared, "The Republic of the Congo has been proclaimed, and our country is now in the hands of its own children. Together, my brothers, my sisters, we are going to begin a new struggle, a sublime struggle, which will lead our country to peace, prosperity, and greatness. Together, we are going to establish social justice and make sure everyone has just remuneration for his labor.  We are going to show the world what the black man can do when he works in freedom, and we are going to make of the Congo the center of the sun's radiance for all of Africa. We are going to keep watch over the lands of our country so that they truly profit her children. We are going to restore ancient laws and make new ones which will be just and noble. We are going to put an end to suppression of free thought and see to it that all our citizens enjoy to the full the fundamental liberties foreseen in the Declaration of the Rights of Man. We are going to do away with all discrimination of every variety and assure for each and all the position to which human dignity, work, and dedication entitles him. We are going to rule not by the peace of guns and bayonets but by a peace of the heart and the will. And for all that, dear fellow countrymen, be sure that we will count not only on our enormous strength and immense riches but on the assistance of numerous foreign countries whose collaboration we will accept if it is offered freely and with no attempt to impose on us an alien culture of no matter what nature."

This year the Congolese are once again having an election, their third in history. Make this poster from Falling Whistles your profile picture to commemorate our common andcontinuous struggle towards freedom.

(Photo Credits: © Falling Whistles)

Wednesday, June 29, 2011

((  Written By: Nani Hapa  ))  Couture label Jewel by Lisa's love affair with fashion is endless as evidenced by the birth of The J Label, a completely new and unique brand for the youthful fashion conscious, every day girl, a true dictator of style, with an unbreakable loyalty to the Jewel by Lisa brand. The J Label is a strong combination of urban cool, afro-pop, and cutting edge beautifully crafted clothes—it is affordable luxury at its best. Read on to preview pieces from the affordable collection below.

Written By: MIM!NKWO's afromania capelet is a uniquely creative addition to any fashionistas collection ... and we're swooning! Get details by visiting www.myasho.com.

(Photo Credits: © MyAsho)

Tuesday, June 28, 2011


Written By: MIM!Last week, Liya Kebede—international model, entrepreneur, actress, humanitarian and advocate for mothers and children as well as a mother herself—became a spokeswoman for L'Oreal Paris, joining the likes of other L'Oreal spokespersons such as Ines de la Fressange, Gwen Stefani, Freida Pinto, Jane Fonda, Aimee Mullins, Jennifer Lopez, Laetitia Casta and Gerard Butler. Liya shared about her new role with L'Oreal, "it is important for me that I represent a brand that reflects my personality. I'm pleased to play a part in sharing the uniqueness, the charisma, and the incredible stories of women of all origins and from all regions of the world."


(Photo Credits: © PRNewsFoto/L'Oreal Paris)

Sunday, June 26, 2011


Written By: MIM!In addition to releasing their annual 2012 collection, Lalesso has released a behind the scenes video documenting how the collection came together. Watch below.

Saturday, June 25, 2011

Written By: MIM!Lalesso the exclusively summer, ethical clothing brand, has released its annual collection, which is filled with bright colors, ethereal construction and natural prints. Watch the video below to preview the gorgeous collection photographed by Andrew Verster Cohen.


Lalesso has a special place in our hearts, because not only are they ethical producers, they also give all the pieces in their collection uniquely Swahili names like the "Jahazi Shrug" and the "Kiangazi Kaftan". See more from the collection below.


Follow Lalesso on Facebook to get the latest news from the designers, and purchase the line by visiting Lalesso's official website, www.lalesso.com.


(Photo Credits: © Andrew Verster Cohen For Lalesso)

Friday, June 24, 2011

Written By: Nani Hapa—Sade and Freshlyground are not the only acts to go on tour this summer, the legendary Senegalese singer Youssou N'Dour has been touring Stateside and is heading out to Canada. Read on for details.

Friday, June 24: New York, New York @ Terminal 5 , 6 Delancey St
Sunday, June 26: Toronto, Ontario @ Mainstage, Toronto Downtown Jazz
Monday, June 27: Montreal, Quebec @ Metropolis Theatre
Tuesday, June 28: Ottawa, Ontario @ Confederation Park

(Photo Credits: © Youri Lanquette)


Written By: MIM!Rising Nigerian Pop-Alternative artist, Gloria Maduka, has released her first single, Love Illusion, from her debut album, Of Light and Angels. Love Illusion is a cross-over song with a message of caution to those who have been once deceived in love. Gloria Maduka infuses her native Nigerian language within the song, and makes reference to Mase Gbagbe (mah-sheh-gbah-gbeh), Don't Forget. Take a listen below.



(Photo Credits: © MadukasMusicGroup)

Thursday, June 23, 2011


Written By: MIM!Soweto born singer and songwriter Black Porcelain, who is currently in the studio finishing her debut album, Invincible Summer, says she is pleasantly surprised by the success of her lead single from the album, Butterflies. “I called the album Invincible Summer as it has been a very long journey with many rejections on the way. I was inspired by an Albert Camus quote (in the depth of winter, I finally realised that within me there lay an invincible summer', which described this journey so well ... honestly, I think we out did ourselves [with the single Butterflies] because I don’t even have an album or a label.” Listen to Butterflies below and let us know if you are excited about Black Porcelain’s upcoming album.


To learn more about Black Porcelain, visit www.facebook.com/BlackPorcelain or follow her on Twitter @blckporcelain.

(Photo Credits: © Tim Hulme)

Monday, June 20, 2011

Written By: MIM!After a five year hiatus since releasing her album, Born and Raised, Joy Denalane is back with a new album Maureen (Maureen is Joy's middle name). This time around Joy sings more tracks in German, but she is still belting out her rich R&B sound that we've come to love. To get a sense for the vibe of Joy's new album, Maureen, take a look at the video for the album's lead single Niemand (Was Wir Nicht Tun) (featuring Maxx Herre), below.




(Photo Credits: © CD Cover Art)

Sunday, June 19, 2011

Written By: MIM!Just earlier this month we were gushing over Imany's head wrap and how fabulous she looked mixing modern and traditional style elements to create a look that was Unapologetically Modern.African.Female. The trend is clearly catching on and one of our favorite fashionistas Inna Modja recently posted these photos rocking a gorgeous ankara turban on her blog, Rock 'N Love, and we love the look! Tell us, are you inspired to wear this trend for the summer?


(Photo Credits: © RockNLove)


Written By: MIM!When we heard Spoek Mathambo and Zaki Ibrahim teamed up for the single, Don't Mean To Be Rude, we knew the only thing we could expect was the unexpected. Take a look at the video for the catchy single (warning, it's not safe for work).
Spoek Mathambo - Don't mean to be rude ft Zaki Ibrahim from leneopen on Vimeo.

(Photo Credits: © www.spoekmathambo.com)

Saturday, June 18, 2011


Written By: Nani Hapa—Shingai Shoniwa is known as both the front woman of indie soul trio, The Noisettes, and a fashion leader, but for the past few months Shingai has been working hard on a very personal and emotional journey—a 72 mile cycle from London to Brighton to raise money for her mother’s charity for women with cancer, Ponayi.  To train for the cycle, Shingai has teamed up with the Nike Training Club. Watch video of Shingai's journey (including a sweet conversation with her mother who recently overcame cancer) on the Nike Training Club’s Challenge’s YouTube page, or follow the Nike Training Club on Facebook.

(Photo Credits: © Nike Training Club)

Thursday, June 16, 2011


Written By: MIM!Watch Cameroonian singer Ntjam Rosie's ethereal music video for Space of You, directed by Bouba Dola below.  Space Of You is the second single from Ntjam Rosie's album Elle.


Ntjam Rosie - Space of you from AMP21 on Vimeo.

(Photo Credits: © Ntjam Rosie Press Kit)

Wednesday, June 15, 2011

Written By: MIM!We love this racerback tank from Zulu Rose that is inspired by Africa. For more, visit www.zulurose.com.

(Photo Credits: © Zulu Rose)

Friday, June 3, 2011

Written By: Kemi Ebun—Growing up as the teenage daughter of an Nigerian mother in urban America in the nineties was—as I described in the article Excuse Me Jay-Z, I Don’t Apologize For Liking Fufu—”equal parts awkward, hilarious, painful, experimental, joyous, and confusing.” For all my mother's faults that contributed to those "awkward, hilarious, painful, experimental, joyous, and confusing" years I spent as an embarrassed teenager, my grown up self appreciates, and has even come to love, my Nigerian mother—flaws and all. So here I share 10 things that I like—no, love—about my Nigerian mother.

Read the 10 Things I Like About My Nigerian Mother in the latest issue of MIMI, Unapologetically Modern.African.Female.

(Photo Credits: © Gary Alvis / iStockPhoto)

Written By: Nani Hapa—Let’s talk about sex. Your best sex … with these suggestions:

1. Your brain is your primary sexual organ; sex is best when you relax, don’t hold anything back … let go.

2. Your skin is your largest sexual organ; sex is best when you arouse every inch of your skin.

3. Your feelings are your primary sexual barometer; sex is best with a clean conscience.

4. Your sense of adventure is your guidepost; sex is best when you explore and learn about each other’s bodies.

5. Your partner is half your enjoyment; sex is best when you satisfy your partner.

Read suggestions 6 through 10 in Your Best Sex, which can be found in the latest issue of MIMI, Unapologetically Modern.African.Female.


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

Thursday, June 2, 2011

Written By: MIM!Olabisi Waller is the CEO and executive director of two successful online companies, Elise Charles and EC Cosmetics. Her entrepreneurial ambitions were nurtured by her upbringing with her mother who constantly reminded her and her nine sisters “never to let anyone tell them they could not do what they wanted.” It is no surprise then that Olabisi discovered her entrepreneurial spirit at a young age when she would buy affordable goods at a local market and resell it for a profit to her schoolmates. Ultimately, Olabisi studied business administration at Ondo State University in Nigeria. She has been self-employed since 2001, and is currently enrolled in the Wharton Business Development Program at the University of Pennsylvania. She started the gift and souvenirs business Elise Charles Company along with her husband, Charles Waller in 2007 and a year later launched EC Cosmetics with the goal of providing the beauty industry unique products that truly enhance a woman’s beauty. MIMI caught up with the mogul in the making to find out her secrets to success.

Read MIMI's Q&A with Olabisi in Mogul In The Making: Olabisi Waller in the latest issue of MIMI, Unapologetically Modern.African.Female.

(Photo Credits: © ICY PR)

Wednesday, June 1, 2011


Written By: MIM!Striking shapes served as the source of inspiration for creating the bold graphics in VLISCO’s Dazzling Graphics collection. Each design from the collection will leave you astonished by the graphics that seem to come alive when viewed close-up. In-focus outlines and an edgy sharpness produce a trompe l’oeil movement effect, accentuating the geometric twist. The colors of the uni-colored fabric were specially selected to match the fabric collection.  See VLISCO's Dazzling Graphics Collection in the latest issue of MIMI, Unapologetically Modern.African.Female.

(Photo Credits: © VLISCO)

Written By: Lola K.—“We are two girls from Nairobi who decided to embrace our natural hair and during the process, teach our fellow African ladies about natural hair and to learn to love every strand that comes out of their scalps” say Nyachomba Kariuki and Mary Mogoi, the bloggers behind The Natural Girls Guide To Beauty. We caught up with Nyanchomba and Mary, collectively known as Kurly Kichana, to find out more about their self-professed “love for all things hair.”

. . .

MIMI: What inspired you to start your blog?
Kurly Kichana: We both discovered how to care for natural hair later in our lives and from that moment we fully embraced our natural curls. This discovery led us to find out that a huge majority of Kenyan women did not know how to manage or care for natural hair. Natural hair is a rarity and one would find that Kenyan women opt to hide or perm their hair. We therefore decided to start the blog so as to encourage and women in Kenya (and through out the African continent) to appreciate their natural hair and learn how to care for it. We wanted women to know that our natural African hair is beautiful in all its variations and could grow and flourish.

Read Love, Peace, And Hair Grease in the latest issue of MIMI, Unapologetically Modern.African.Female.


(Photo Credits: © Image Source / PunchStock Photo) (Caption: Curly Locks) (Model Used Solely For Illustrative Purposes)

Written By: Nani Hapa—Born the daughter and granddaughter of tribal chiefs in her native Ondo, Nigeria, designer Lola Faturoti is deeply influenced by both her personal history and African roots. “I got interested in fashion because my grandmother was a designer, she designed traditional Nigerian clothes. That was my first introduction to fashion,” laughs Lola, “which I hated because I wanted to be out playing instead of picking out seams!” Along with her grandmother, Lola’s mother played a pivotal role in the development of her daughter’s personal style. “My mom traveled a lot to London and New York. She bought me a lot of clothes, so I began to dress differently. I think that was the first introduction to me wanting to be different through clothing.” MIMI interviewed Lola to find out more about what inspires her eponymous label and how her heritiage influences her work.




(Photo Credits: © Corbis) (Model Used Solely For Illustrative Purposes)