Let the music take you there…

If there is one thing that all my friends and acquaintances would tell you, I love music! Maybe it’s because I also come from a musically talented family. My little brother is a guitarist, stepping on the footsteps of my uncle who was a guitar player and  a maskadi musician. All my current and post colleagues would tell you about me and my infamous earphones.

This post is a tribute to two songbirds who've flown away to their resting place - Cesaria Evora and Busi Mhlongo.

 “…in all those years when I sang in bars and in front of strangers I sometimes had an idea I might someday be successful outside my country. The thought never stayed with me for very long, but here I am” – Cesaria Evora [African Music Encyclopedia]

Born in Mindelo on the Cape Verde island mamCesaria’s story must resonate with many African children living in orphanages who possess the same passion for music but have neither means nor resources to further their desired path. The only difference is that it seems against all odds mamCesaria chose to look beyond her challenges and heeded a friend’s persuasion at the age of 16, she sang on Portuguese cruise ships stopping at Mindelo and at a local radio station. In 1997 she won 3 Kora awards and in 2004 she won a Grammy, which is a tremendous achievement for any musician.

A friend of mine who is so privileged to travel Africa regularly, told me of his experience earlier this year of Cape Verde, but more than anything what stood out for me was the economic developments that are taking place in Cape Verde...he showed me pictures of the widening of the harbour and I longed to see myself walk on the rugged rich soil of the Sao Vicente island.  

When I listen to her music the notes take me to an exotic island where there is no day or night. I imagine elderly people reminiscing and sharing folk tales while young beautiful women with long curly black hair dance next to the sea waters while fishermen look on and drop their nets succumbing to their desires. –the voice of ‘The Barefoot Diva’ who sang barefooted in support of the disadvantaged women and children in her country leaves me in absolute admiration.

DESCANGE EM PAZ – REST IN PEACE

Vuka Sizwe [nation arise] she said. mamBusi Mhlongo deserves to share the books, walls, monuments and all earthly mounted pedestals that presidents and statesmen relish. Music is more powerful than a political manifesto, it's real and a branch to any revolution.

A very good friend of mine who for many years has been playing mamBusi’s music had this to say about her –“Busi has been a pillar of cultural heritage. She has managed to preserve African customs and traditions through the medium of music. Her music continues to remind us of what it actually means to take pride in ethnicity and pay homage to our inner true selves. She reminds us of what it means to be an African, humbled in spirit, fearless in determination and to be centred in being a communal person.”

In my world her music made still emotions in my soul move me – I suddenly had a burning desire to do, see, experience and give.  When I reflect on her life I see endless opportunities for Africans to be…

Her stage name was Vickie (Victoria Busisiwe Mhlongo) and she sang in English as it was the only way to get gigs in South Africa in the 60’s and 70’s. When she lived in Portugal with the band, Conjunto Juan Paulo (via Mozambique & Angola) they asked her to sing in her language {as stated by music.org.za} and from there she sealed us with the love of her being.

ULALE KAHLE – REST IN PEACE

Let the music take you there... appreciate who you are, you are an African child, God took his time creating you.

"It would be good for us Africans to accept ourselves as we are and recapture some of the positive aspects of our culture." Wangari Maathai - may her soul rest in peace

Always be at your best *Be on point

…as the old saying goes, always be at your best for you never know who is watching or listening. In my travels I’m always on the 1^st flight out or the early evening flight, too early or too tired for small chats. However I had a change of behaviour on this specific day, although in the a.m flight I did the usual- as the plane hit equilibrium I pulled out my earphones and tuned my ipod then slept. But as we descended the Joburg sun was out though I expected it to be cold… and from there the conversation started with the guy next to me…

He spoke about his wife that had quit her job to pursue her passion and they had been struggling for over a year but things were now looking good. Interestingly, she runs her  business from India although she is still based in South Africa but the moral of the story was that they run a design and décor company which supplies big retailers like Woolworths…we exchanged contacts and promised to stay in touch.

on this note of design -
Congratulations to Cape Town for winning the World Design Capital!

On my way back in the afternoon I saw this tall, dark lady with orange hair – yes orange! Beyond that, I saw a confident woman (one of my colleagues would later say to me – “she’s very loud” ... he knows her via other business ventures *it’s a small world). Anyway, I was reading a very interesting book so I carried on minding my own business whilst waiting for the flight. When I settled on my seat I saw this exotic lady again.

Liz Ogumbo - http://www.lizogumbo.com/

She sat next to me, pulled out a book – “God is my CEO” –damn! I had to talk to this woman. She was from Kenya, a wonderful soul, down to earth and very ambitious. We spoke about love, friendship, work and the future. She was very excited about her wedding in May 2012 and the future prospects of relocating.

So I later discovered that this woman I was talking to is an international model, musician, stylist/designer and an owner of an international modelling agency.

My Sol Plaatjie’s feature for this post - Justice Mukheli

This South African mjita is an artist of many facets - he has spun my world for the past couple of months; I cannot go a day without a dosage of his potent content (mainly photography) from his blog http://www.justicemukheli.tumblr.com/. I am totally obsessed with his work! …or maybe even him or his twin - it can get quite confusin' - my friend Dorcas would know. I spent a Saturday in Jo'burg hoping to bump into him and ask for an 'autograph' -yeay right! ...but really ...to pick on his brain but my friend spotted 'him' first... although it was his twin - Innocent, I was still so star-struck I took a pic of the floor ;)

Check out his work, I won’t blame you for falling inlove with the measure of his eye.

He inspired me so much that for the love I posses for photography I decided to start my photography blog - http://sindiswamachi.tumblr.com/

Follow Your Heart. Express Your Passion.

Growing up in a township in the 90’s was fun, we’d play on the streets without fear, visit almost every house and I remember on neighbours' treasured frames on the wall, my eyes always glanced on these interestingly dyed art pieces –for some reason I seemed to have believed it was a Chinese male artist or a ‘machine’ that made them. I suppose the reason for the latter was I always saw the face of this woman that looked Chinese (didn’t bother to think maybe she was Korean or Japanese…)

To a rather pleasant surprise as I try to nurture my relationship with art I discover that the artist of these art works is Vladimir Tretchikoff , born in Russia and migrated to South Africa in 1946. He did not only paint Asian women but Zulu, Swazi and Ndebele maidens as well.

On my more recent encounters with Tretchikoff’s artwork, I bumped into a lady wearing a badge with one of the famous pieces and I uttered words of admiration, she was quick to respond and tell me how he was shun and disregarded while crafting his work but now everyone celebrates it.

So naturally I walked away wondering and disappointed. I decided to do a little research on this artist I had grown fond of and I discovered that there are some paintings which could have created animosity – a collection titled ‘the ten commandments’, they do look a bit odd to the naked eye and for this Tretchikoff is really discredited.

On a personal note, I still believe he was a great artist, with a phenomenal view of the use of colour and I’m very proud that he chose Africa as his adopted home. The exhibition of his work is currently on display at the Iziko South African National Gallery until September 2011.

my Lumumba feature for this post – Fally Ipupa

Not only have I featured him for his gorgeous look and gobsmacking African dance moves, Ippa Nsimba is from the Democratic Republic of Congo but he is breaking through all boundaries to make it international. He won 2 awards at the MAMAs – MTV Base awards in Nigeria last year and was nominated for a BET award which took place in June this year.

He is just one of many African artists who are showing the rest that your current circumstance cannot determine your future and if you do what you love, opportunities that bring success go beyond infinity.

don't be a cameleon

It’s been a while… during this ‘gap period’ I’ve been searching for African pieces & artistry worth sharing with the rest of the universe. I must admit it’s a bit difficult.

During this search my eyes gazed upon a woven piece that chauffeured my mind back to a rural village in uMzimkhulu where I visited my grandmother. My mind wondered off to a 2 hour’s journey to uMzimkhulu where African women sat on the road sides selling and mastering their ancestral craft of weaving mats, baskets, bowls and almost any domestic items worthy of weaving. In year 2011 this is all in the yesterday …

True of the saying –‘when something dies, something is born’. Madwa – a sustainable craft project based in Madagascar, Swaziland and South Africa, offers a great opportunity for African artisans to preserve their unique craft heritage.

Madwa supplies renowned stockists who style exclusive game lodges and international 5star hotels …Not only is ‘something born’, it now lives. This has inspired me and should inspire every African to help preserve their ancestral craft and pay homage to those who created it.


My Nandi feature for this post – Simphiwe Dana

Le nkosazane left me in absolute awe with her Kulture Noir album which saw her win 2 awards for Best Female Artist and Best Contemporary Jazz Album at the 2010 Metro FM Awards . Her music is bathed in consciousness – she celebrates being an African, cries for our freedom and she does not mince her words about how important education is.

She has surely set the bar with her Dana’s Black Culture Education Tour, the tour is to promote literacy and education by asking the public to donate books to children.
Now ask yourself -what can you do to bring about change in Africa ...

African Beauty Defined

Being inspired by all things African - Yoruba Afrique is proud of a beauty entrepreneur making the most of South Africa’s botanical riches. The Nigerian-born Zeze Oriaikhi is the founder of an organic body and hair products’ brand called Malée, dubbed the Korres of Africa.
When she moved to South Africa after living in England for 12 years and started to have skin problems, she knew there was nothing wrong with the products she was using because they were fine when she lived in England. She knew the problem … those products were not designed for the South African climate.
And thankfully to this anecdote Malée was born - http://www.maleeonline.com/blog/

Yoruba Afrique wishes Malée all the best as a young African brand in the skincare sector – a relatively new domain on African shores.

my Nandi feature for this post - Lindiwe Suttle

Yoruba Afrique continues to be fall in love with Lindiwe Suttle’s sense of style and Puma has embraced this “nkosazane’s” eye as she has designed 2 sneakers for Puma – kudos to her.