Back in 2004 I organized a party to celebrate the launch my Spring/Summer 2004 collection. The collection was based around the Nigerian singer/Afro-beat originator Fela Kuti, an innovative musician who dared to re-invent African song. My launch party, called “Redefining African Style”, featured some upcoming African musicians who I felt were creating a new sound which also re-defined what African music was today. One of those artists was a fellow Ghanaian Wanlov The Kubolor. While I hadn’t seem him perform before, I was a fan of his music and was honored to have him perform as a special guest. Wanlov’s performance was one of the highlights of the Redefining African Style party and still stands out in the minds of many attendees. Wanlov’s “Never Die”(produced by Kweku Ananse of Pidgen Music) is now a finalist in the International Songwriting Competition finals. The finalists were chosen out of almost 15,000 submissions from 88 countries worldwide. Read Wanlov’s recent interview in The African magazine and watch the video below to see him performing his song “In Ghana” wearing his “Bling is Dead” t-shirt at last years “Bling & Blood” concert. You’ll agree that the guy’s got skills. Vote for Wanlov, one of Africa’s upcoming young innovators.
Ghanaian Twins get Rising Star Award nomination after feature in Black Enterprise Magazine
I must give props to Black Enterprise Magazine. For as long as I can remember they have continued to deliver timely and in depth stories about issues relating to black business. The January 2006 issue was no exception. On first glance the cover story, “Great opportunities for young entrepreneurs”, was the usual feature but upon reading it I soon found that it highlighted three African entrepreneurs who are making an impact in the business world.
One of those entrepreneurs, Roadstarr Motorsports, has made such an impact as to be nominated for a Black Enterprise Magazine Rising Star Award. Started in 2001 by Ghanaian twins Hassan and Hussein Iddrissu (28) and cousin John Spio , Roadstarr Motorsports has been making a flashy impact in the car customization culture. As the popularity of MTV’ Pimp My Ride has shown, car customization is really taking off in the mainstream. Not ones to fall into line the Ghanaian boys have taken the trend to another level by targeting only the very high-end luxury cars like Porches, Lamborghini’s, and Mercedes Benz. Their hard work is certainly paying off. RoadStarr MotorSports, located in Los Angeles, California, generated 3.8 million in revenue in 2005 and appearing on the cover of January’s Black Enterprise and now the award nomination, their stock can only go up. Get the new issue of Black Enterprise to see the other nominees.
Congratulations to Roadstarr Motorsports.
Nokia picks the Face of Africa for 2006
On April 22 the Nokia Face of Africa 2006 contest will have its final casting in Johannesburg, South Africa. Having covered 12 cities since February, the contest is in its eighth year of selecting a unique model who will reign as the Face of Africa. In countries such as Ghana, Rwanda, Namibia and Nigeria, a scouting team has already chosen a semi-finalist. The winner of the continent-wide search will be chosen on August 13 in Sun City in Johannesburg.
Though the contest has been long running, with Nokia backing the efforts, the winner of the contest will gain more exposure than the winners of the past. Only one model so far has turned her win into an international modeling career, though others continue to work as models. Since winning the contest in 1998 at the age of seventeen, Nigerian model Oluchi Onweagba was awarded a three-year contract by Elite Models Management. Oluchi (as she’s known in the modeling world) has since graced the covers of Italian Vogue, I-D, Elle, Untold, and Surface and has been featured in Nylon, Marie Claire, Allure, and Vogue while working with the who’s-who of the fashion world.
The Nokia Face of Africa 2006 contest is being filmed by South Africa’s M-Net channel for its African lifestyle program Studio 53 and will dedicate three programs in July to the search for Nokia Face of Africa 2006.
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.