Africa Arise

It seems only yesterday i was bloggin about designers and musicians from Ghana, this Spring/Summer i cant help but notice the comeback of all things African, from music to fashion, to film, its a good time to soak up some culture from the motherland....these are my favouite images, sites and sounds...this entry im looking at music fashion and art in place of my usual spring wishlist..enjoy!

Fashion

ok growing up with a African mother, you cant help being surrounded by colours textures and shapes. From stiff sleeves to bright beads, all things bright and wonderful! this season follows suite...



Essence April 2010


Nicole and Paris -hawt


Harpers Baazer article which perfectly highted braclets and rings...


Fashion bold and bright...


Alicia Backstage..i cant wait for the new video...B and Alicia..Put it a Love song...


B backstage..i love this woman without hesitation.


Alicia beautiful in blue


The magificent Agbani


Size is everything


u cant really get more African than a zebra and leopard skin? can u! ? ohgosh


speakin of leopard skin...its tres sexy!...Ms Kelly

Film



COZ OF MONI











photos..Mike Schrieber Photography

We have the classis, Love Brewed In An African Pot, Kunte Kente, but we never had a musical, all in Pigeon English, (originally a trade jargon developed between the British and the Chinese in the 19th century, but now commonly and loosely used to mean any kind of ‘broken’ or ‘native’ version of the English language) quote btw.

Its called COS OV MONI! and i saw the premier last week in London, with the likes of Samini, DJ Edu, Deborah Vanessa, Bumi Thomas, Ndidi...”Coz Ov Moni”, produced by Panji Anoff & directed by King Luu




Group Hug!






Eccentric mix ! love u ladies...!



Deborah Vanessa and Wanlov



Bumi Thomas and friend



Deborah Vanessa and I



Bumi and I



Deejay Edu/Seyi/Wanlov

Already showing at film festivals around the world....

* Rio International Film Festival (Brazil)
* Pan African Film Festival (Los Angeles)
* Black Filmmaker International Film Festival (UK)

Im confident u'll love it!

Music...



Sarkodie...

Akon's latest signing i must say hes good...my favorite track thus far,Baby


sung in twi and English, i remember my husband playing this to me b4 we got married...aww baby! true love is working, cos i no dey feel no hurtin...;-) (i lorve u.ou yeh mi taste..;-)



It was love at first listening, Nigerian/French Artist Asa is a favouite, i love her!



Classic Wanlov tune...yes y'all some of u are doing Kokonsa (gossipin too much!)


Ima K'aana fan! Somialia represents!


Award winning Samini..Where my baby dey



Back to fashion...my a few of my favourite beautiful African sista's...
www.oluchi.com


Oriyomi Abiola - model activist and journalist, http://www.huffingtonpost.com/yomi-abiola


Liya Kebede - http://www.liyakebede.com/-check out her foundation


Kate Menson - Face Of Africa 2008


Alek Wek- model and designer www.alekwek1933.com



Stunning Menaye Donkor-www.menaye.com


One of my first shoots-Teiko Dornor Tagoe;-)


Kiara Kabukuru



Art and Life

one of my role models, my sister, my best friend, we're kindered spirits, yes u Oyinda! i will actually be her friend forever, although she left me in London and re located off to Lagos, she was down for her birthday where we re connected! The other day we where havin a catch up chat and she sublty dropped news of her art exhibition..im like ok this is a big deal Oyinda!;-) ..if u are in Lagos, check it out!



Organised by Oyinda Fakeye, CCA,Lagos Art Project Co-Ordinator




Oyinda Fakeye exhibition organiser with artist Pinar Yolacan and CCA,Lagos director Bisi Silva.



bigger and better babe..i love u! (that gurl is fancy...).. yes ma gurl bloggs...

http://alter-native-me.blogspot.com/

Bisi Sikva also has a informative and inspiring blog..

http://artspeakafrica.blogspot.com/

If u are in Europe , then there is a great event coming up in May...



The Africa Weekender (AW) is a live entertainment and networking experience, put together by The African Promoters Alliance who are a body of eclectic promoters and organisers whose main aim is to bring people together to experience and share differing cultural stimuli.

Our cultural diversity is what has inspired us to provide a body of Art, Artists, Theatre, Poetry, Live Performances, Culinary fusions and events with a commitment to enlighten, entertain and inspire.

The programme of events selected for the Africa weekender will provide a diverse yet intertwined fusion which enables a better understanding of the evolution of our cultural dynamic which has its essence steeped in community.

This is an opportunity to partake in a 21st Century African experience in contemporary Britain.

ok so u know i just copied and pasted , but sounds like a great weekend, for more info check out...

http://www.africaweekender.co.uk/



with every ticket you buy you get a free Fully Charged T-shirt! incentive enough for me...

im out! hugs and kisses x Teiko

Anna Jeffries...round for tea!

A couple of months ago, i used a "Anna Jeffries" creation in one of my shoots, she came round and i had a chance to ask her some brief questions! i hope you can also appreciate my fab photo shoot, in the snow with some faux fur and lots of love! Enjoy...



How long have u been a designer and how did you get into it?

I have only been designing for 18months. I taught myself to sew out of creative frustration. I had studded fine art painting at uni. When i completed my degree i lost all my drive. Designing and making is when i am my most happy!



What inspires you?

I am inspired by so many things. But there are two things that rock my world African prints, just love the colours textures and designs. I love it when my mother in law tells me there meanings! I also totally love 50's and early 60's design. Well cut clothes for women i mean real women with shape!



3 words to describe your personal style...

eclectic, pin up, classic ;-)



Do you have any style icons, if so who are they?

Oh i love people who dare to be outrageous with there style like Grace Jones, or the beautifully curvy January Jones from mad men!




What do you feel about fashion embracing plus size models, with recent feature in Vogue, V and high fashion magazines?

I think it is high time the catwalk embarrassed plus sized models. In my opinion clothes look amazing on a woman's figure. This obsession with in my opinion boyish figures is baffling to me! the idea is they are like a clothes hanger but i spend more time looking at the bony chests than looking at the clothes!



How can we get hold of your range and where can we see more?

we are in the process of re branding and are about to launch a new website but if anyone is interested in using our bespoke service they can just drop me an email at jazzandjeffeverythignforever@yahoo.com or give me a call on 07737870415. Keep your eyes peel for my new venture!

u saw it here first, love always Teiko x

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! :)

spring into spring

ok so im back from Ghana.i had to escape for a while... only been a couple of weeks back and im feeling the withdrawal symtoms.., slap on my wrist for complaining about the heat while i was out there, as i freeze over in London, i am officially eating my words!!! ....

..... so im embracing Spring and saying goodbye to Winter, didnt bring back the sunshine but i couldnt help but notice colour explosions,everywhere... everything seems so bright and colourful, and the beauty trends for this season appear no different... here are my spring pics..im staying inspired! keeps me going believe ;-)




Ms Dunn ..tangerine!



B does green...



pink lips bold and beautiful...







lipstick seems to be bold and bright as with nails, model Abbey Lee takes a beautiful twist on non conventional colours ...



menaye donkor in bold yellow.

tribal prints are still ever present on the catwalk this season...





Tory Burch



Louis V! u know thats whats up.


Proenza Schouler



Paul Smith



Amazing bag from diva delicious based in Ghana



ChiChia top as featured in this month Marie Claire!

move over winter...welcome spring!