Afronauts: A Tale Of Mars, 10 Cats And A Girl Named Matha

((  Written By: Mimi Tsiane  ))  According to BBC, “Afronauts” by Spanish photographer Cristina De Middel is a fictional photo essay inspired by the true story of Zambian grade school science teacher Edward Makuka Nkoloso.  Nkoloso started an unofficial amateur space program in his Zambia in 1964, during the height of the Space Race.  The plan was to launch a rocket that would send twelve astronauts and ten cats to Mars.  Unfortunately due to lack of grants, funding and the pregnancy of 17-year-old Matha Mwambwa, who was to ride on the mission, derailed efforts of the program.  Nkoloso hoped to beat the United States and Soviet Union's respective space programs at the height of the Space Race.  As of 2012, United States or Soviet Union has not accomplished a manned mission to Mars.  But Cristina's “Afronauts” has been nominated for the 2013 Deutsche Borse photography prize.

From The Archives: The 2009 Livingstone Calendar

((  Written By: Staff Writer  ))  In 2008, Chitambala Chiti Mwewa reached out to photographer Charlantoine Marais with a brilliant idea to use fashion as an entry point and gateway into the life and culture of Zambia.  He says, "I said 'Charl, I have an idea for a 2009 Livingstone Calendar.'  As soon as I said that, he quipped 'count us in.'  With those words we began the process of putting together the team for the project.  Mulenga Mubanga was our original model but she was not available.  However, we hired the very talented Namibian model, Venantia Otto [winner of 2006 Nokia Face Of Africa]. She was amazing!"  Shot over four days in Livingstone, the team managed to capture beauty, nature, and style.  See the now iconic photos from the project below. 

The X Factor: Karen Mukupa

((  Written By: Staff Writer  ))  Danish-Zambian singer rapper Karen Mukupa's first big gig was in 1990 opening for then reigning queen of hip-hop, Queen Latifah.  Twenty-plus years later, there's no denying that Karen Mukupa has the x-factor that the stuff of long careers are made of.  Her recently released fourth album, Human, is a reflection as much a reflection of the experiences that were shaped by her Danish-Zambian such as the music that she listened to and the women she grew up around.

In a note to her fans penned on her website, Karen shares:  "My parents' album collection consisted of music from [the] Beatles to Jimi Hendrix, Fela Kuti to Miriam Makeba and [I] found myself singing along to these records as well as listening to Micheal Jackson, Prince and later diving into the world hip hop.  [The album] Human reflects these influences and it was important to use this inspiration on an album which consists of afro, hip hop, pop and soul."

From MIMI's Archives: My All Time Favorite Albums—Hilary Mwelwa

((  Written By:  Hilary Mwelwa |
Interviewed By: Staff Writer  ))

1.  The Best Of Curtis Mayfield.  One of my all time favorite singer-songwriters; he was so ahead of his time.  Love his conscious lyrics, which you can relate to even today.  Pure genius in my opinion.

2.  Stevie Wonder's Songs In The Key Of Life.  Classic album from an amazing singer-songwriter.  Anybody that loves and appreciates soul music must have this album in their collection.  He's been a great influence to alot of artists which is testament to his greatness

3. D'Angelo's Brown Sugar.  A classic groundbreaking soul album of the nineties.  He changed the trend for contemporary R&B music and opened a lot of doors for the new breed of soul artists in the nineties.

4.  The Best of Aretha Franklin.  She's my all time favourite female singer—my inspiration. The fact that she's still around making music today is evidence of her lasting quality.

5.  I couldn't pick anyone specific for my final selection as I'm an admirer of great female singer-wongwriters.  Erykah Badu's "Baduism," Jill Scott's "Who Is Jill Scott" and Lauryn Hill's "The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill" are my favorite modern soul albums from females who are unique and have something interesting and different to say and they do it with style.

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The article My All Time Favorite Albums—Hilary Mwelwa was initially published in MIMI's September 2006 issue titled New Beginnings.  To read past issues of MIMI, visit our archives at  www.mimimagazine.com/archives.

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)

Making A Difference: Me, Myself, And HIV

Written By: MIM!—MTV Staying Alive has tirelessly campaigned to raise HIV/AIDS awareness in our generation. Their latest campaign, Me, Myself, And HIV follows the lives of two twenty-somethings—Slim, an aspiring DJ and music producer from Zambia, and Angelikah, a college student from the USA—both living with HIV. The show follows them as they tell their stories from the very beginning: why they decided to get tested, to the aftermath of getting their results, right through to the present day where we get to see the complicated layer HIV can sometimes add when it comes to everyday lifestyle choices such as dating, work, friends and the future. Watch the enlightening and entertaining series below.

Me, Myself And HIV from mtv staying alive on Vimeo.

Pledge your support for the Me, Myself, And HIV campaign, by visiting hiv.staying-alive.org.

Yvonne Chaka Chaka Campaigns Against Malaria On "A Journey Of African Women"

The Motherland Tour - A Journey of African Women with Yvonne Chaka Chaka trailer from Malaria No More UK on Vimeo.

Ghana, Botswana, South Africa, Tunisia And Egypt Among Top 100 Countries In The World

Written By: Jamelia Mmari—Newsweek conducted a study evaluating economy, politics, health, and quality of life, to determine the world's best 100 countries. Eighteen African countries made the cut.

Here are the African countries that ranked in the top 100, as well as their relative rankings (for purposes of comparison, Finland ranked as number 1, while Canada ranked as number 7, the US number 11, and the UK number 14):

65. Tunisia

67. Morocco

74. Egypt

80. Botswana

82. South Africa

85. Algeria

86. Ghana

87. Kenya

90. Madagascar

91. Senegal

93. Tanzania

94. Ethiopia

95. Mozambique

96. Uganda

97. Zambia

98. Cameroon

99. Nigeria

100. Burkina Faso

Explore the world's best countries by visiting www.Newsweek.com.

(Photo Credits: © Dreamstime / Milosluz)

She Defines Soul.Substance.Style (No. 012): Somi

[ click image for larger version ]

Written By: MIM!—A true multicultural woman, Somi was born in Illinois to immigrants from Rwanda and Uganda, then spent her early childhood in Zambia. The African cultural legacy, always crucial to her sound, is as vital as ever in her current music, which Somi likes to call New African Soul. But so too is the music she heard upon relocating to New York, with American jazz singers like Nina Simone and Sarah Vaughan. Blending tradition and modernity, like the jazz greats—Miriam Makeba, Cesaria Evora and Sade—who paved the path for her, Somi is adding her own musical interpretation and leaving a musical footprint as this generation's voice of African soul and jazz. Hear more from this woman of Soul.Substance.Style by visiting www.somimusic.com.

(Photo Credits: Matthew Furman)

Meet The New Face Of Africa: Lukando Nalungwe

Written By: Nani Hapa—Lukando Nalungwe has a lot to be smiling about as she has just been crowned the Face of Africa! The Zambian model, who had been studying Business Administration, will now be representing Zambia, and more broadly Africa on the global fashion stage. Next up for Lukundo is New York Fashion Week Spring/Summer!

Since MIMI has been in publication, MIMI has interviewed every Face of Africa winner. Get acquainted with past Face of Africa winners by browsing through the following: Catwalks, Cameras, And Covers, The New Face Of Africa: Kate Menson, Kaone Kario: The Face Of Africa, Teen Queen: Venantia Otto,

(Photo Credits: mNet)

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 ...

On Heavy Rotation

Here are some recently released albums that have been on heavy rotation on MIMI's music player ...

Lira set a soul scorching benchmark with her 2006 album Feel Good but Lira's latest release Soul in Mind is her best work to date. Honest, soulful, feminine, joyful, and beautifully African, it's the perfect music to listen to when relaxing. (Recognize the Stoned Cherrie dress that she's wearing on the cover of the album? Check out: Stoned Cherrie Spring Summer or 2008's Best Runway Moments.)

Black Rose, the title song from Hil St. Soul's album is MIMI's theme song, it's all about picking yourself up and being the best you! Zambian-born Hilary Mwelwa's rich voice adds depth and dimension to the thoughtful lyrics and takes you back to the days when we could appreciate music in its purest form, without distracting sound effects. In six words: the album is sweet like honey.

MIMI has always loved Cesaria Evora's music, and that love is well-founded. No other voice in the world has such pared-down beauty. Radio Mindelo consists of some rough recordings done in the early stage of Evora's career, and the result is a rare listen to what she sounded like when she was in her 20s ... sometimes upbeat, occasionally mournful, devastatingly nostalgic, and always haunting. What's not to love about Evora's hallmark swooning sound?

MIMI Mambo Links: Feel Good Music: Lira, SOULidified: Hilary Mwelwa, My All Time Favorite Albums: Hilary Mwelwa

The Livingstone 2009 Calendar

The Livingstone 2009 Calendar started with a phone call from producer Chitambala Chiti Mwewa to photographer Charlantoine Marais back in June 2008 for a commitment to the project. As soon as Mwewa got a commitment from Marais, a team was put together to create the stunning calendar. Talented Namibian Model, Venantia Otto (winner of 2006 Nokia Face Of Africa) was photographed over four days in Livingstone, Zambia in various locations in and around the city. Above, is a photograph of Otto styled in Zambia's national colors at the Rhodes Livingstone museum. To see the rest of the gorgeous photo shoot from the calendar, visit:

www.livingstone2009calendar.com

Carl Ellis' Mother Africa At Sanlam South Africa Fashion Week 2008

Zambian designer Carl Ellis launched his first label, CDE Clothing by accident after staging an independent show in London where he is currently based. An accountant by profession, Carl went on to debut his accessories range at London Fashion Week in 2005. During a visit to Zambia, he was inspired to launch his second label, Mother Africa, which he describes as a signature of all African cultures. According to Carl, "This range is all about glitz and glam. Every piece will add elegance to any occasion. Rare silks feature prominently in a collection that includes wine coloured ball gowns, electric blue taffeta-pinned skirts and cocktail dresses crafted from fine satin with knotted, twisted and trimmed sections. High fashion, sensuous and luxurious."

(click on thumbnails for larger images)

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MIMI Features Link: The Hot 21: Carl Ellis and Rosemary Chileshe

MIMI Style Link: Designer Spotlight: Mother Africa Fashion

(Photo Credits: Ivan Naudé)

Rosemary Chileshe Joins MIMI

It's official, Zambian beauty queen and ROC Foundation co-founder, Rosemary Chileshe, has joined MIMI Magazine's brilliant team of talented contributing writers. Rosemary will write a column where she will share the valuable insights that she has gained through her various projects. Some of you may have already noticed Rosemary's writing in MIMI's November 2007 issue, where Rosemary wrote the article What Keeps You From Living A Rich Life? Be sure to look out for Rosemary's column in our upcoming February 2008 issue.

(Photo Credits: Photo Provided Courtesy Of Rosemary Chileshe)

MIMI Features Links: Rosemary Full Of Grace, The Hot 21: Carl Ellis And Rosemary Chileshe