Kobi Onyame...

ok folks this is the last of my Ghana at 53...rd independence week of features im finishing off with a musician and i hope u love the feature....his name is Kobi! hes a ma z i n g here goes....

tell me about the kind of music you produce?


The music i make falls under the hip hop umbrella. It is a mix of the different musical genres i grew up listening to. Hip Hop, Pop, R&B, Highlife, Gospel and more. I try not to limit myself to the type of genres i make as a producer nor as an artist. I also try to keep it as honest as possible.



what inspires you?


Life inspires me. It's the only thing that's real enough to inspire me. I am inspired by my life and things i go through and achieve, and also other peoples life and what they go through an achieve. I am also deeply inspired by my family and team.


some of the most influencial people youve worked with.


Music wise, i've opened up for a lot of different artists, i don't know if you'd class that as working with them but i like to think so! Working with Sway and shooting the video for my last record He Said She Said was very inspirational. Sway is a great person and very hard working. Some of that rubbed off on me. Also, to think of where i've come from to making a record with Sway or sharing a concert bill with incredible artists is very influential.



formerly know as jae p what inspred your name chage to kobi onyame?


I just felt Jae P didn't represent me anymore and what i wanted to put across in my music. I needed a name that was original first and also meant something. The acronym Jae P (just another emcee, producer) also felt i was selling myself short. I'm not just another emcee or producer, I'm me. Kobi is an acronym for Kwame Osei Barfour Is... it is a play on my real name and Onyame as a second or surname means God and it just symbolises how close i want God to be to me and during my music career.



what has been the most memorable moment of your career thus far


I'd say rocking the BBC Introducing Stage at Glastonbury last year was amazing and the most memorable moment. Also, opening for Kanye West in front of 3000+ people was awesome!


any upcoming projects?


Right now i'm working on new music for an upcoming album. I've had a few names in mind for the project but keep changing it so i will keep the name under wraps till it's ready.




where can we hear more, and more importantly purchase your album


My first album Unsigned & Hungry is online on iTunes. You can get me online at myspace.com/KobiOnyame, facebook.com/KobiOnyame, kobionyame.bandcamp.com, kobionyame.com and holla at me on twitter.com/KobiOnyame



love this song!

hope u enjoyed it as much as i did...its Mothers Day in the UK so happy Mothers day x Teiko

introducing Deborah Vanessa....

The pic above is of the talented Deborah Vanessa creator behind her own fashion label.. A dear friend, shes driven ambitious and uber talented, i love her range because its sassy sophisticated and fabulous and the pictures speak for themselves,(see me wearing one of the Deborah Vannessa skirts on a shoot;-) i don't think that skirt ever got back to her....

I caught up with the woman behind this exciting brand...enjoy x




whats the name of your brand? how did you come up with the name of your brand


Deborah Vanessa is the name of my label. The clothes I design are clothes that I will actually wear myself. They represent me, my style and my personality, so I named the label after me and so Deborah Vanessa it is.




When was your brand established?

Deborah Vanessa has not been officially launched, but I started selling custom made designs in 2009, although I was designing my own clothes since 2003. However, I hope to launch the label soon as I have been getting a lot of people asking me about a fashion show and a launch. I am just waiting for the right time, the right feeling and the necessary resources.



Me behind the scenes in a Deborah Vanessa creation...(holding on tight!)...

What inspired you to create it?

First of all the amazing fabrics produced in Ghana, my mother, my friends, acquaintances, facebook friends (hehehe) and random people who have expressed a lot of interest in my designs from all over the world inspired me to create the Deborah Vanessa label.



What type of woman wears your clothes?

Deborah Vanessa is for a free spirited, confident woman who wants to feel classy, sexy and comfortable at the same time.




Where can your products be purchased?

For now, I receive orders via email and mail out clothing from Accra and London. My email address is deborah@deborahvanessa.com
Some samples can be viewed on facebook.



Name 3 things you love about Ghana

The freedom, the heat and the beaches.

I would definitely have to agree with Deborah ..enjoy ur weekend, x Teiko x

shes a diva....

the delicious Sandi herself!


This is the second installment celebrating my home away from home,Ghana, in aid of our independence week... I'm bringing your an exclusive interview with the creative, inspiring and stunning Sandi Owusu, founder of Diva Delicious......Yes Diva Delicious is the latest brand I've fallen in love with and i want to share the discovery...i kinda accidentally stumbled across one of these bags, and yes, i admit it was love at first sight...



Whats the name of your brand? and how did you come up with the name of your brand?

DIVA DELICIOUS, Diva because everything in the Accessories line is top quality and made for "high class" and delicious, because I want people to actually crave the bags.

When was your brand established?

I started Diva Delicious last year, in the beginning of 2008 , so about 2 years ago.


What inspired you to create it?
Well basically, I am a fashion addict; I love clothes, shoes, bags, jewelry etc, but unfortunately, I wasn't getting the stuff I liked here , so I decided to design and make my own bags - I started creating for myself, then my family, then my friends --and I thought, " I can actually make money out of this," so I decided to make an accessories line.

all designs are made by me, I sketch the craziest shapes, styles etc, but that is the best thing about Diva Delicious -- how unique and different it is from other brands.




What type of woman wear your bags?

Diva Delicious doesn't discriminate, everyone has a diva in them, so we target everyone from little girls to older women, that is one of the main reason we take custom orders, to be able to accommodate every one's taste.





Right now we are focusing on making Diva Delicious a brand that everyone recognizes and the feedback we are getting is AMAZING!! we are concentrating on the hats and bags hopefully to expand throughout Africa and but we are also currently sketching sunglasses and shoes.



Where can your products be purchased?

The bags are available at ReneeQ's behind Labone Coffee Shop,Oluti Lane and Suntrade, Asylum Down, however orders can be made through me at diva.delicious@live.com

I don't know about u but I'm craving! ...delicious..xx Teiko

Ghana Independence...soap and glory!

Another year has come by and this week is filled with events/ acivities and parties all in aid of Ghana Independence Day! ( 6th of March...)..so over the next few days i'll be bloggin about my favourite "Ghanaian" inspired designers... musicians and friends...im starting of with the MY cosmetics range by friend (actually now ive married into the fam...its a Teiko invasion!! ;-) Yasmeen Helwani Nsiah, ceo of MY cosmetics and songstress with a the most amazing voice... here goes...




whats the name of your brand?

Madame Yasmeen

when was your brand established?

2005

what inspired you to create it?

Ever since I was a child I had a keen interest in formulating. When I as a young adult, I would sometimes create my own body and hair applications. As I grew, I began to learn more and more about our changing world, and how mass-produced chemically loaded products are taking the place of quality hand-made and natural products. Aside from this, Ghana, where I live, is what I call 'beauty heaven' being the home of luxurious natural beauty ingredients like Cocoa Butter, Shea Butter, Coconut Oil, Coconut Milk, Palm Oil, Palm Kernel Oil, Papayas, Mangoes, Avocadoes, Neem Oil, to mention a few. While making my own body prescriptions, it ocurred to me that I shouldn't be keeping this all to myself. I needed to share the goodies with the world! That is how Madame Yasmeen was born.



(did somebody say chocolate soap..) ...

What are the benefits of using your products?

All MY products are handmade by me in small, controlled batches to ensure the highest quality. Thanks to my location, MY products contain the best fair trade and organic ingredients enabling our customers to be pampered in an eco-friendly way. There is no need to worry about what toxic chemicals are present in our products. We do not use any harmful preservatives or chemicals. MY handmade and natural soaps are all made by 'cold process' that is, the soap is not cooked over heat, but is allowed to sit for 4 weeks to cure. This allows much of the nutrients to remain present in the soap for amazing skin care and conditioning. Our body butters are anhydrous (meaning water-free) and are made up of either Pure Shea or Pure Cocoa Butter, whipped with a tincture of essential oils. Madame Yasmeen body butters contain no preservatives and possess strong soothing, healing, and moisturizing properties for all skin types.



personal fav mango...



where can your products be purchased?

You can buy MY products at our shop in North Dzorwulu, Accra. You can also buy online at my Etsy shop
http://www.etsy.com/shop/MadameYasmeen


how do you combine your music career and your role as a business woman?

I was raised in the music business so I have now matured into knowing what is real and what is not. This enables me to stay centered and focused. It's a busy schedule doing all the things I do but I try not to get side-tracked. I also make sure I make time for just me, to relax and to get my power back up.



name 3 things you love about Ghana?

lil soap tree...;-)

It's really difficult to narrow it down to three but:
1.The amazing level of patience and hospitality of the Ghanaian people
2.The beautiful landscape from coast to tropical forests, to the mountains and the plains..the Volta..the Savannah.. all pretty amazing!
3.Ghanaian food! I like it spicy! :)