An insightful video of Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala’s speech at the TED conference earlier this year. (via YG)
Hip-hop’s African ancestry at Odyssey Awards
Last Saturday I attended the 5th Annual Hip-Hop Odyssey (H2O) Awards, held at BB Kings in New York City. Organized by the Hip-Hop Association, the awards ceremony recognized today’s hottest Hip-Hop filmmakers, industry professionals and pioneers. The event always features appearances and performances by Hip-Hop heavyweights. This year’s event, as usual, was packed with many of the individuals who have played a major part in shaping the hip-hop landscape including, artist/entrepreneur/hip-hop personality Fab 5 Freddy (that’s him in the picture standing in front of me as we listen to DJ Beverly Bond speak about YO! MTV Raps’ late producer Ted Demme), Ice-T (who gave an excellent acceptance speech about staying true to oneself), Dana Dane, Grand Wizard Theodore, (Dr.) Roxanne Shante, Ralph McDaniels (Video Music Box), The Cold Crush Brothers, Chubb Rock and much more.
One thing I’ve always enjoyed about the awards and the preceding H2O International Film Festival, is how the organizers (Martha Diaz, Rolando Brown etc) make a conscious effort to show the influence of African (and international) cultures on the growth of America’s hip-hop/urban culture. A few years back, besides the performance by the Nomadic Wax Global Hip-hop All-stars’ Chosan (Sierra Leone) , Eli Efi (Brazil) , and El Gambina (Korea), the festival grand prize went to Hip-Hop Colony, a film about the African hip-hop explosion – now on DVD. This year Hip-Hop Colony’s Kenyan director, Michael Wanguhu, was on hand to present an award. To further encourage the hip-hop generation to connect with Africa, this year’s awards was sponsored by and involved a presentation by popular DNA lineage identification company African Ancestry Inc. Some of you might remember that African Ancestry Inc. was the company behind VH1’s Spike Lee-directed February (Black History month) spot which promoted a stronger connection between African-Americans and the African continent through DNA swab testing. African Ancestry’s President, Gina Paige, was on hand at this year’s H2O Awards ceremony to present the evening’s host, Paul Mooney, with his personal DNA test results. Upon revealing that Paul Mooney’s lineage goes back to Guinea-Bissau (I don’t remember which specific ethnic group was cited), Gina Paige presented Mr. Mooney with a folder containing the details of the tests as well as a t-shirt with a Guinea-Bissau logo. A very nice touch.
African Ancestry offers a great solution for African-Americans looking to re-connect with their African heritage. With the DNA procedure gaining popularity and support from African-American celebrities like Oprah, Whoopi Goldberg, LeVar Burton, Chris Tucker, Chris Rock, and Isaiah Washington – who also holds a seat on African Ancestry’s Board of Directors -, and media outlets from ABC’s Good Morning America to PBS championing the efforts, African Ancestry has already begun to solidify the link between African-American and African cultures.
Top African-American talent plan trip to African Union Summit, Ghana
On Friday, June 15th, some of Hollywood’s most influential African-American talent got together at the Four Seasons in Beverly Hills, California for a panel discussion on promoting African-American interest in Africa. The meeting also served to organize a trip to attend the 9th Annual African Union Summit in Ghana next week. The gathering was organized by designer Ozwald Boateng, and included Jamie Foxx, Chris Tucker, Mos Def, Herbie Hancock, James Mathis, and Isaiah Washington – whose Gondobay Manga Foundation was started after he discovered that he is genetically linked to Sierra Leone’s Mende people. During the African Union Summit, held in Ghana from 25 June – 3 July 2007, 50 influential African-Americans will meet with the 53 attending African presidents to discuss the continent’s future. The African Union Summit’s ultimate goal is of full political and economic integration leading to the United States of Africa. It’s good to see African-Americans playing an active part in planning Africa’s future.
Journalists Lola Ogunnaike, Jeff Koinange making their own news
It seems I’ve missed the developing news involving two high profile African journalists surrounding CNN. The first news came in May when the New York Times’ star culture reporter Lola Ogunnaike, an excellent journalist whom I met briefly a few months ago, joined CNN’s American Morning as a pop culture and entertainment correspondent. The news came after a bit of controversy when she was suspended by the Times after appearing on ABC’s The View in October 2006. It seems the Times doesn’t like it’s journalists moon-lighting. I think this is a good move for Ms. Ogunnaike anyway, as the new position at CNN will give her more on-air time and put a face to her insightful reporting.
The second news comes on a more controversial note as CNN’s long-time Africa correspondent Jeff Koinange was fired a few weeks ago as a reprimand for using his company e-mail account to continue an affair with a woman who subsequently published many of the messages on her blog Distant ‘Lovers. This scandal is combined with issues about whether Koinange paid Nigerian rebels who helped him get a story on a February 18 groundbreaking show where Koinange reported the story about 24 Filipino sailors held hostage in Nigeria. I’m sad to see Koinange go as he was one of the most consistent African voices on CNN’s US and International shows. Whether the accusations are true of not, I’m sure Mr. Koinange, will be picked up by another show soon. Stay tuned…
Vanity Fair’s Africa issue debuts
The Bono-edited July 2007 issue of Vanity Fair, dubbed the “Africa issue”, has hit stands. What an issue this is. With 20 covers photographed by Vanity Fair’s go-to photographer, Annie Leibovitz , and insight on Africa from EVERYONE from Jay-Z, Iman, Djimon Hounsou, Desmond Tutu, Chris Rock, Madonna, Barack Obama, and Queen Rania of Jordan among others, this issue is a great effort on the part of Vanity Fair. Get a copy, read the articles, and let me know your views. Props to YG for the heads up and images.
As you read this—historic—issue of Vanity Fair, the Global Fund is benefiting, but that’s not the main reason we kidnapped this publication’s extraordinary photographers and storytellers. We needed help in describing the continent of Africa as an opportunity, as an adventure, not a burden. Our habit—and we have to kick it—is to reduce this mesmerizing, entrepreneurial, dynamic continent of 53 diverse countries to a hopeless deathbed of war, disease, and corruption. Binyavanga Wainaina’s piece on Kenya is an eye- and mind-opener. From here, what’s needed is a leg up, not a handout. Targeted debt cancellation and aid mean 20 million more African kids are in school, 1.3 million Africans are on lifesaving drugs. Amazing. -from Bono’s guest editor’s letter
Live modeling Adidas’ Materials of the World
Renowned fashion photographer Nick Knight is at it again with another fashion/art/multimedia project. His seminal SHOWstudio site – through which I had the honor of participating on the iD Magazine/London Fashion Week “Bring and Buy” project some years ago – now features a commercial project that “rethinks traditional advertising using motion image”. The project features 10 models from a range of mixed ethnic backgrounds -five male and five female- filmed wearing pieces from adidas’s new ‘Materials of the World’ line, “a collection influenced by the indigenous fabrics of different world cultures”. If you’d like to see the latest release of the Adidas Materials of the World Africa jackets in action on live models head over to the SHOWstudio Skin project site.
Skin is an undertaking by the company &Son, the creative consultancy run by stylists Simon Foxton and Nick Griffiths; a commercial project that rethinks traditional advertising using motion image. Ten models from a range of mixed ethnic backgrounds -five male and five female- are filmed wearing pieces from adidas’s new ‘Materials of the World’ line, a collection influenced by the indigenous fabrics of different world cultures. Over a period of ten days beginning on May 10, the living portraits will be also be displayed in the windows of a Curtain Road shop front in London’s Shoreditch where the attention of passers by will be tested to register that it is film and not stills that they are seeing. In this sense, Skin is a subtle development out of Simon Foxton’s previous Sittings: Thirty Men project of 2005 and a handsome addition to SHOWstudio’s ongoing study of living fashion portraiture.
Africa’s next chapter convenes at TEDGlobal 2007
One of the most important events for Africa’s technology, entertainment, and design industry development, TEDGlobal 2007, is in full swing in Arusha, Tanzania. Coming from vacation I have been reinvigorated by all the developments coming out of this seminal event. Now in it’s 3rd day, the conference has already given me more than enough insight into innovative ideas behind Africa’s next chapter. With all the information and idea sharing at this event, the African blogosphere is sure to be fueled for a long time to come. Below are some important resources for keeping up to date with the happenings in Tanzania. I’ll be watching and listening closely as I hope you all are.
Live updates:
Soyapi Mumba is Twittering TEDGlobal
Ethan Zuckerman of My Heart’s in Accra is live-blogging
Other bloggers at TEDGlobal 2007:
TEDFellow Erik Hersman, of White African
TEDFellow Rafiq Phillips at WebAddiCT
DNA
David McQueen
Africa Beat, by Jennifer Brea
Bankalele
Mental Acrobatics
AfroMusing
TEDFellow Mweshi
TEDFellow Fran Osseo-Asare, of Betumi: The African Food Network
TEDFellow Soyapi Mumba
TEDFellow Ramon Thomas, of NETucation
Ndesanjo Macha, who writes Digital Africa, in English, and Jikomboe, in Swahili
Fifthculture
Ellen Horne at Radio Lab in Tanzania
ClassV
Sam Ritchie
Harinjaka (in French)
Kenyan Pundit, by TED Conference speaker and blogger Ory Okolloh
Timbuktu Chronicles, by TEDGlobal conference director Emeka Okafor
and of course you can get official updates at the TED blog site
Changing “Brand Africaâ€, an International Trade Forum magazine feature
The recent issue of the quarterly magazine International Trade Forum, published by the International Trade Centre (ITC), has some great articles on the cover story Changing “Brand Africa”. The online edition of the print publication, delves into the different areas that the ITC sees are integral in re-branding Africa through trade. Of particular interest is the In Pictures: Changing “Brand Africa” article which touches on various areas where change is occurring on the continent. The areas are A Stronger Role for Women, Services: A World of Potential, Upgrading Traditional Products, and Foundations for Prosperity. Articles titled Made in Africa, Investment in Africa: The Challenges Ahead, Facts & Figures: Africa’s Trade, and ITC’s Programme for Africa, join the In Pictures: Changing “Brand Africa” article, in what looks to be a promising, growing informational feature. The site says, “The articles below, from ITC, UNCTAD and IMF contributors, are the first in the series of stories on Changing “Brand Africa†that will be featured on this site.”
In tourist offices, the most frequent images of Africa are those of safari animals. In the news, the tragedy of several conflicts lingers. On film screens, African conflict diamonds take centre stage in a Hollywood movie.
This image of Africa does not reflect its economic diversity, entrepreneurial aspirations or the optimism that goes with rising investment, growth and greater stability. “Brand Africa” is in need of a change if Africa is to take its rightful place in world markets.
Check out the site features here, and you can also order the print publication. The International Trade Forum magazine focuses on trade promotion and export development, as part of ITC’s technical cooperation programme with developing countries and economies in transition. The magazine is published quarterly in English, French and Spanish.
New magazine changing image of African women
I’m an avid reader of publications both online and offline, so when I came across this new African women’s magazine called Kitu Kizuri at Barnes and Noble, I was intrigued. Having already been in contact with the editor for a feature on myself and Annansi Clothing Co. in the “American Dreams” section, I kind of had an idea what the magazine was about anyway. But, when I finally found a copy hidden in the women’s interest section, I was impressed. While I’m sure there are other African women’s magazines available, I felt that Kitu Kizuri was on point with it’s focus and content. Being an African man, I might not be in the target market, but the articles gave me a good glimpse of what is on African women’s minds. Just the kind of insight I need for when I’m designing my upcoming women’s collection. Make sure you check out the magazine and SUBSCRIBE!! It’s only $20 per year and I’m sure you’ll agree that we need more magazines like this one to help shape a new African image. Congrats on the launch guys.
Event:Rwanda Fest before Tribeca Film Fest
If you’re in New York tonight and looking for something to do, head out to this event featuring Diblo Dibala, one of the hottest African soukous guitarists around, and the National Ballet of Rwanda.
Thanks to YG for the heads up.