Annansi Chronicles

China and Africa relations on a fast track

Since 2003, China has overtaken Japan as the second largest consumer of petroleum after the United States. In the search for oil to fuel it famous production cycle, China has begun pumping billions of dollars into Africa with most of the money focused on oil producing nations like Sudan, and Nigeria. The LA Times reports that “China’s demand for resources has driven up prices, propelling significant GDP gains in many countries. China has educated thousands of African university students, and it sends Africa hundreds of doctors and advisors each year. Chinese firms are building roads, rehabilitating infrastructure and bringing cellphone service to places that land lines never reached”. While the infrastructural benefits of this relationship is generally positive a BBC article points out how “Chinese firms are a little less ethically constrained than their Western counterparts” which can encourage human rights violations by African governments.

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Cape Town Fashion Week dates announced

One of the largest gatherings of African fashion talent will take place this July in Cape Town, South Africa. Nokia Cape Town Fashion Week will take place 11th -15th July 2006 at the Cape Town International Convention Centre.

With the rising interest in African fashion, Cape Town Fashion Week is positioning itself as the gateway to Africa and its fashion talent. Known as the place where many foreigners first experience Africa, Cape Town looks to be the center of African fashion as well. Guest designers, from over ten African countries such as Nigeria, Namibia, Kenya, Ghana, and Tanzania, will join local designers such as Stoned Cherrie, and Sun Goddess to showcase their Spring/Summer 06/07 collections.

Duro Olowu site launches (sort of)

For serious fashionistas owning a Duro Olowu dress is a true status symbol. Since winning the British Fashion Awards in November and being “discovered” by Vogue’s Sally Singer and Julie Gilhart, of Barneys, the Nigerian designer can’t seem to keep his dresses on the racks at Barneys and other high-end retailers. Models, actresses, and socialites can’t seem to get enough of his Empire-waisted, kimono-sleeved dresses. Offered in various limited edition combinations of vintage and modern ethnic prints, the 1970′s Nigerian and Jamaican-inspired dresses are ultra wearable and highly original. If you can’t get to his shop OG2 on Portobello Road in London,, check out the new site for stockists and get yours before it sells out again.

African style in a snap

The International Center of Photography currently has a great exhibit of contemporary African photography called “Snap Judgments: New Positions in Contemporary African Photography”.

Curated by Okwui Enwezor, “Snap Judgments brings together some of the most forceful propositions by contemporary artists and photographers on how to look at Africa”. With themes such as local responses to the international media, framing the African body, identity and postcolonial memory, urban sites, and the machines and institutions of modernity, the exhibit highlights conceptual art, documentary, and fashion photography; most of which have been shot in recent years. Through the colorful images we are able to appreciate how African people combine styles and themes and create the looks which are our own.

Snap Judgments: New Positions in Contemporary African Photography
March 10–May 28, 2006

International Center of Photography
1133 Avenue of the Americas at 43rd St.
New York, NY 10036
212-857-0000
Hours:
Tuesday – Thursday: 10 am – 6 pm
Friday: 10 am – 8 pm
Saturday – Sunday: 10 am – 6 pm
Closed Mondays

House of Boateng coming to reality tv

If you haven’t heard already, on June 22 the Sundance Channel will air the first of an eight-part documentary series tracking the journey of Savile Row designer Ozwald Boateng as he launches his Bespoke Couture line in America. The series follows the Ghanaian born designer as he strives to duplicate his overseas success in the United States. Since becoming the creative director of men’s wear and haute couture house Givenchy, and dressing actor/singer/comedian Jamie Fox for his award win at the Academy Awards, Boateng’s celebrity has been catapulted to global proportions. The weekly series will air on Thursdays at 9:00pm e/p through August 10. Mark you calendars.

New issue of CLAM Magazine at newstands

The Spring/Summer 2006 issue of my new favorite international magazine, CLAM, has hit the stands in the USA.

CLAM is a lifestyle and trends magazine whose goal is to “promote creativity, concepts and ideas in fashion, architecture, music, design, the arts, free-time, travels and African design”. CLAM brings a level of experimentation which is very refreshing. From high fashion photographs of bustling African markets to multilingual reader submitted stories and art, each issue is an exploration of creativity and inspiration primarily from an African perspective. Though the magazine is based in Paris, you get the feeling that the identity is global. Published by Andy Okoroafor, and featuring contributions from Haitian photographer Marc Baptiste (Intimate) and Nigerian photographer Andrew Dosunmu (The African Game), the photographic appeal is CLAM’s signature. The two issues I’ve purchased are certainly collectors items. Go get yours.

Paper Magazine’s Beautiful People 2006

Paper Magazine released their Beautiful People 2006 list. The list features 23-year-old Harvard grad Uzodinma Iweala as one of talents to watch. The Nigerian-born writer has been receiving tons of accolades for his first novel Beasts of No Nation. From the NY Times to Entertainment Weekly to GQ, Iweala’s book is making quite an impact.

“Beasts of No Nation leaves the reader with one resonant, beautiful sentence that captures everything the author has set out to say. That sentence deserves to be read in the full context of this universal soldier’s story” – Janet Maslin – The New York Times

Beasts of No Nation tells the story of Agu, a young boy in an unidentified West African country who is conscripted into a rag-tag group of fighters in his nation’s civil war after fleeing his home—this before he witnesses his father’s murder at the hands of militants. The split between his harrowing reality and recollections of his former life underscores the darkness enveloping a young boy’s coming-of-age against the savage backdrop of war.

For many of us Africans the topic hits close to home and Iweala’s writing has brought it to the mainstream media.

Sneaker Pimps in South Africa

Freshness Magazine has some pictures of the Sneaker Pimps 2006 Tour which stop in Capetown, South Africa in March. The Sneaker Pimps Exhibition is the worlds largest touring sneaker show featuring up 1000 pairs of rare, limited, artist collaborated sneakers and a collection of sneaker inspired artwork, fashion and photography.

South Africa is becoming quite the gateway to Africa, with major independent and corporate money going into it’s cultural development. Cape Town in particular is getting a lot of media attention with many article in popular magazines highlighting it’s tourist appeal. This is quite a 180 from South Africa’s previous reputation during apartheid. I hope the South Africans are able to take advantage of the attention and keep the money in South Africa.

Reconnecting the dots

One of my favorite DJs Rich Mediana, the maestro behind the Jump N Funk Fela party, recently released a his CD titled Connecting the Dots. One of the songs, “Can’t hold back”, has now been remixed by another one of my favorite DJs King Britt. Check it out.

Mixtress X site launch

NY-based Liberian director Dante Kaba has launched the site for his film Mistress X. The film is a documentary about hip-hop’s under-appreciated female djs. From NYC’s Beverly Bond & Atlanta’s Shortee (Fauste and Shortee), to radio host Wendy Williams, the film shines light on the struggles of being a female dj in a male-dominated industry. A must see.