EVA GITHINA EDITOR AIM NETWORK
AWUOR OBEL EDITOR AIM NETWORK
WANGECHI RUGUARU EDITOR AIM NETWORK
WAMBUI WAMUTOGORIA AIM NETWORK-KENYA
GERALD MONTGOMERY
NYANDIA KAMAWE
REBECCA TAITI
SUSAN WAHOME
AIM CONTRIBUTOR WRITER
AIM CONTRIBUTOR
He is an author, speaker, recording artist, husband and father. He has written a collection of poetry (not published), a book about the rules of one-on-one communication (self published) and (current project) a book entitled “Mapping the Dream: the Routes and Milestones of reaching Dr. King’s Dream”.
She is a photographer, designer and the owner & CEO www.33seventee6.com & www.emawak.com (N. A
GRAPHIC DESIGNER
AIM CONTRIBUTOR WRITER
AIM CONTRIBUTOR WRITER
graduate of the Art Institute of Atlanta and, designed this issue of AIM from cover to cover.
His current passion is The institution of the Black Family; rebuilding its infrastructure by restoring the black man as father and husband. “My current battle cries are: “Please recycle, be a father to your child”, “A Cast for the Past” and “S.T.A.N.D!” (which stands for Solution Talks and No Distractions!)
GRADIEH BREWER WREH AIM CONTRIBUTOR WRITER
CONTENTS
COVER STORY
WANLOV THE KUBOLOR BY EVA GITHINA
EDITORS NOTE BLOGDDICT FOOD FASHION BOOK REVIEW PHOTOGRAPHY SEE, HEAR, SPEAK NO EVIL
WANGECHI WANGECHI LINDA OBEL WAMBUI WAMUTOGORIA SUSAN WAHOME WANGECHI RUGUARU EVA GITHINA
HEALTH— PERFECTING THE PUSH UP
EVA GITHINA
G-SPOT—TRUST MEMORIES ARE MADE OF THIS HAIR — CURE FOR CRUNCHY LOCS
GERALD MONTGOMERY REBECA TAITI GRADIEH BREWER WREH
graphic design
st udi o 078 726 9624/070 415 2737/info@ewamak.com
A A C C B U I L D I N G , WA I YA K I WAY, T H I R D F L O O R
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Our AIM is to celebrate, and share our differences. We publish a monthly magazine that highlights" Africans in Motion" i.e Fellow Africans that are inspiring, driven, and successful in their various fields.
For more information please contact Aim Network 612. 205.9828 aimminnesota@gmail.com www.isuu.com/aimminnesota
Me with Desiree CEO Johnson Publishing & for mer White House Social Secretary
Lemonade Anyone? So some wise guy said that if “life hands you lemons, make lemonade” this wise dude was right on the money, the only problem with that saying is that some of us don’t like lemonade. For me 2011 has been a basket full of lemons, and talking to most this year has been full of major downs for them also, so I am not alone. I am on my fourth lemonade pitcher, it’s been a rough year, and there is no hiding that I did not enjoy this summer at all. I have to say the worst of my summer was losing a great friendship; it’s almost like a death because the pain was too much to bear. This was a friend, who meant the world to me, taught me how to slow down, count my blessings, and they always let me know when I was doing wrong. A friend who put a smile on my face when I couldn’t find a reason to smile. My buddy, ride or die. I actually thought we could never have a falling out but I am learning that we all carry friendships in different weights. The way you care, trust and believe in your friends is not the same way they do you; you might be on level 3 of this game, and your friends on level 1. What I learnt from this situation is that it is important to study your friends, take your time whether it is a relationship or friendship and
value pacing yourself when getting to know people because it is an ingredient in this process called trust. Remember you are dealing with human beings and humans change! With my four pitchers of lemonade I sit here reflecting on lessons I have learnt and hope that the rest of the year goes smoothly. I pray I find the sleep that I have lost between 2am – 6:30am, that my thoughts are of happy memories, that I find people who love lemonade so I can share mine with them, that I can spend time with myself to understand myself better as a person, to love myself more, to be less trusting, to study each and every person in my life, to read them like a good book and understand every chapter of them, so in the end, I can be better accepting of the ending they offer me. This October issue has a couple of articles which are a refreshing reminder on TRUST, study it … and stay thirsty my friends!
Wangechi Ruguaru
WANLOV THE KUBOLOR
-THE AFRICAN GYPSY
W
a n l ov is one of the most intriguing artists to emerge from the African scene. He is handsome, unconventional in his dress, generous with his humour and genius with his music. He talks about his real life experiences, expresses his opinion without reservation and marches very confidently to the beat of his own music. Wanlov makes everything look easy, yet you can tell that despite all his success he is very down to earth and takes all he has accomplished very seriously and does not let that derail him from working hard.
Wanlov’s music first and foremost is a blend of his Ghanaian and Romanian roots. It is funky, complex and very different from anything you have heard before.
Wanlov’s music first and foremost is a blend of his Ghanaian and Romanian roots. It is funky, complex and very different from anything you have heard before. You can tell that he takes time to perfect all the elements that make his music rich. He does not hold anything back and even though there is a lot of humour in his music, everything’s is very professionally done. Brown Gypsy has lyrics done in the African style of call and response, peppered with Wanlov’s staccatic and rhythmic rapping style. Wanlov has a definite flow that showcases his mastery of wordplay. He is clearly at home with any rhythm and his lyrics are always appropriately hilarious, informative and original. Although Wanlov credits Fela Kuti, Busta Rhymes and LL Cool J for inspiring his music, I bet they too would be wowed by his lyrical and musical ability. All of Wanlov’s albums have challenged the limits of Afro-pop culture. His 2007 debut Green Card triggered the wave of Pidgen singing and MCing now popular in Ghana. This album focuses on his family’s experience living in America and compared to his subsequent albums the focus on this card was telling the tales in a style that was less on melody and more on wordplay and rap. Do not get me wrong, even with the Green Card album, you could tell that Wanlov was a unique voice emerging. Wanlov’s second album, Yellow Card, was released in the height of soccer fever and at a time when everyone was neck deep in the euphoria of Africa’s first world cup. Yellow Card’s satire implememented the language of soccer even as it was discussing government corruption, African sport culture and mixing African rhythms with snippets of historical references from which Wanlov springboards into topics of humanity, freedom and environmental consciousness. I believe however, that in Wanlov’s latest album, Brown Card, Wanlov has been more successful in making the blend of African music with Gypsy rhythms. In this album the music flows better and the fusion feels complete. Wanlov the Kubolor was born in Romania to a Romanian mother and Ghanaian father and they later moved to Ghana where he grew up. Wanlov won a competition whose aim was to express his cultural experiences into an album beat hundreds of applicants from around the world to a coveted VPC (Visa Pour Creation) residency at Cites Des Arts in Paris, sponsored by the Institut Francais & the French Embassy. In preparation for recording Brown Card - African Gypsy, Wanlov prepared by sourcing and recording traditional Ghanaian rhythms from across the country. Armed with this material that he combined with inspiration he received from Romani and African musicians, he recorded the album in France late in 2010. According to his bio, Wanlov’s third album is described as, “the first time Kubolor mines his Eastern European roots so extensively to carve out what he deems his most personal record in the trilogy as he
Don’t be afraid to keep experimenting with sounds and styles, those are the things that will define you and set you apart, if that’s what you want. explains, “I produced all the tracks except for one by Kweku Ananse, who did most of my beats on Green Card. Making others produce for me on this particular project would have been like having someone open your presents for you on your birthday.” Brown Card is rich in its sound mixing harmonies and rythms with help from instruments such as the clarinet historically linked to its bamboo flute beginnings and the gonje with its great descendant in the violin. Wanlov through his bio informs us that the tracks in this album range from “Romani lullabies to Ashanti war rhythms, singing in Romani, Twi and Pidgen English. African Gypsy, the title track brings things to a hurtling start with generous licks of funk courtesy of Nigerian guitarist / singer / songwriter Keziah Jones. King Ayisoba is the other West African collaborator roped in with his magic kologo for a turn on Veverita, a story about an impatient squirrel. The two share a recording home in Pidgen Music, under whose auspices came “Coz Ov Moni”, the fictitious dayin-the-life short film which Wanlov conceptualised and starred in with M3nsa, his former high school mate and now partner in rhyme in the concept duo FOKN Bois.” Wanlov has garnered international acclaim for his musical and humanitarian efforts such as Orphan Aid & Invisible Children. He is featured on Amnesty International’s PEACE compilation, and UNICEF’s anti-child trafficking campaign in Ghana employs his song Human Being, and is a winner of the WCS International Song Contest in 2006. In 2008, Wanlov garnered national attention when he received four Ghana Music Awards nominations (“Discovery of The Year”, “Record of The Year”, “Video of The Year” & “Hip Hop Song of The Year”). In 2010 Wanlov was the MOBO nominee for “Best African Act” and RFI Decouvertes 2011 finalist; he has collaborated and shared stages across Europe with Femi Kuti, The Gorillaz, Nneka, Bashy, Reggie Rockstone, and Little Brother amongst others. Despite garnering all these accolades, Wanlov formed the Afro Gypsy band to help him delve further into his Romanian roots and to further perfect the Afro Gypsy sound. It is not enough to know all this about Wanlov without getting a few answers straight from Wanlov himself. This is what he had to say: AIM: What is your full name and where are you from? Wanlov: Emmanuel Owusu-Bonsu aka Wanlov the Kubolor, from Ploiesti - Romania & Pakyi # 2 - Ghana.
AIM: How does your family feel about your music? Wanlov: It excites them...they are fans. AIM: What was the hardest adjustment to making a career out of music? Wanlov: Getting the legal / business side of things in order. It’s a gift to be creative, but a superpower to be creative as well as business-oriented. AIM: What inspired you to become a musician? Wanlov: Other musicians like Gyedu-Blay Ambolley, King Ayisoba, and Fela Kuti. I was just a rapper at first inspired by Busta Rhymes, Reggie Rockstone, LL Cool J AIM: How did you get into the music industry? What instruments do you play? Wanlov: I started by recording songs and putting them online. That got me shows and networking opportunities. I play various percussions and I am learning piano and guitar. AIM: What is the main inspiration behind your music? Wanlov: Women. I love watching women react to my creations. AIM: What was the inspiration behind the Green Card album? Wanlov: Living in the states for 7 years. My family, friends and myself went through so much that I just had to vent. AIM: What was similar or different in the artistic approach or your life perspectives? as you worked on compiling that album. Wanlov: Everything I sung spoke or rapped about were things that I or someone I was close to was going through over the 3-year span from 2005 to 2007. AIM: What led you to create the Afro Gypsy Band, and who are your partners in that project? Wanlov: Being born and having family in Romania, I went back to visit quite often and while growing up in Ghana my mother sung to us in Romanian and played Romanian records. So after releasing “Green Card”, which was mostly Ghanaian influenced with a few Romanian lyrics and singing styles, it was only natural that the next step in my musical evolution would mean diving more into my Romanian roots and finding a way to blend the two cultures as I am blended. I was supported heavily by the French Embassy in Ghana, Cultures France and Pidgin Music. AIM: What advice would you give to young and upcoming music artists? Wanlov: Don’t be afraid to keep experimenting with sounds and styles, those are the things that will define you and set you apart, if that’s what you want. Always perform in public to learn how to interact with people and perform for free in the ghettos. AIM: What causes or issues are you passionate about? Wanlov: Sanitary conditions in the slums, abuse and neglect of our old folks and traffic & pollution...
AIM: What do you view as your greatest accomplishments to date? Wanlov: My beautiful kids and their amazing mothers, recording & performing with Gyedu Blay, Reggie Rockstone and Femi Kuti, creating and co-starring in the world’s first Pidgen Musical “Coz Ov Moni” with M3nsa and creating Afro gypsy Music. AIM: Who are your top 5 African Musicians? Wanlov: Gyedu Blay Ambolley, King Ayisoba, M3NSA, Ayetoro, Stevo AIM: You have a very unique sense of style, what inspires your fashion choices, and Which African designers do you favor? Wanlov: I love colors and snug soft weathered long t-shirts. I don’t need footwear, don’t like shorts, pants or underwear unless i’m swimming or doing capoiera. I also love anything by Zulu Rose, Wusuwaah, Maksi and 2Heads Wanlov is one of Africa’s most original artists. He is always changing the rules and is bound to keep us on our toes. Make sure you grab all your cards i.e. “Green Card”, “Yellow Card” and “Brown Card” by Wanlov the Kubolor. Available on iTunes. Also make sure to follow Wanlov on Twitter, join him on Facebook watch Wanlov on YouTube. Hear his music on MySpace.
DELIVERED BY EVA! Delivered by Eva! When Eva Githina of AIM Magazine decided to pack her stuff and move back to Kenya, it was the most depressing time for all close friends. But out of this decision has come the most compelling and exciting blog I have ever seen. It’s a reality show summed up into words. Her true life story of how she is coping with everyday life in Kenya after she has been away for 14years. She talks about how prepared she was mentally, but there is no competing with the reality of the changes that have occurred in those 14yrs. I read her blog with my eyes wide open; I am hoping this will come in handy as a manual for me when I do decide to pack my bags and follow suit. Follow this blog…let Eva deliver you to reality! “I guess the hardest thing to prepare for is the change that happens to relationships as people get older. How do you prepare for changed relationships especially when you have been so far away as I have from your loved ones? I left home when I was barely an adult. Coming home now, I find myself having to deal differently with all.” – Eva (Home Coming) http://deliveredbyeva.blogspot.com/
BLOGDDICT
M.ANIFEST “M.anifest is a great MC straight out of Ghana!!! I highly recommend his awesome new record ‘Immigrant Chronicles: Coming to America” — Flea (Red Hot Chilli Peppers) via Twitter
Fatoumata Diawara, and more.
Ghanaian Hip-Hop artist M.anifest has released his longawaited sophomore album “Immigrant Chronicles: Coming to America” in stores, iTunes, and other major digital retailers worldwide. The sixteen track album has been buzzing on Social Media after it hit iTunes a day early.
For press, album review, and booking inquiries cont Ashanti Abdullah at armmgt@gmail.com. www.manifestmc.com Links M.anifest on OkayAfrica.com M.anifest on City Pages Video for “Suffer” - 1st single Video for “Coming to America” - title track M.anifest on Twitter
It features production from Budo, G Mo, Katrah-Quey, and Kweku Ananse; vocal features by Efya (Ghana), eLDee the Don (Nigeria), and Samahra Daly (U.S). M.anifest has also been confirmed as part of the Honest Jon’s Chop Up tour in Europe. The ensemble includes Damon Albarn, Tony Allen, Flea, Hypnotic Brass Ensemble,
Check out confirmed Europe dates here: http://ww manifestmc.com/tour.html.
Read about M.anifest in AIM Magazine HERE
CD RELEASE
FOOD
KEEP CALM HAVE A CUPCAKE!
So cupcakes have taken over the world and I am the biggest fan so far. I have come up with reason why this trend is here to stay: ••
It’s the in thing
••
They come ready-to-eat
••
It’s hard to share (insert evil grin here)
••
You don’t need a knife
••
You don’t have to worry about who gets the corner piece
••
They ‘re fun
••
Easy to personalize
••
You can order more than one flavor to carter to all
••
You feel less guilty - less calories
••
Easy to make
The list can go on and on…….but there is no denying cupcakes are cute and resisting them is a crime. Below is a simple recipe you can try at home, enjoy…
Makes: Approximetly 20 cupcakes You will need: 1 Package Super Moist Yellow Cake 1 (3.4 Ounce) Package Chocolate Pudding Mix 3 Eggs 3/4 Cup Irish Cream (You Can Use Any Brand) 1/3 Cup Vegetable Oil 1 Teaspoon Vanilla Coffee frosting (recipe follows) Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Sift together cake and pudding mix. Whisk in remaining ingredients until smooth. Mixture will be somewhat thick. Line a cupcake pan with liners. Fill liners 2/3 full of cupcake mixture. Bake for 20-25 minutes or until toothpick inserted in the middle of cupcakes comes out clean. Cool completely. Frost with coffee frosting. Coffee Frosting 1 stick unsalted butter, softened 1 pound powdered sugar 1 tablespoon milk 3 tablespoons strong coffee Beat the butter with a hand held mixer. Continue beating as you gradually add in the powdered sugar. Add in the milk and coffee until frosting is stiff but spreadable.
FASHION
UTAMADUN
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BLACK BIRD http://black
JACKET
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MAASAI ME!!
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LOUIS VUITTON SHIRT AND SCARF http://www.louisvuitton.com
ADELE DEJAK BAGS http://adeledejak.com
I love that every other season some form of tribal trend pops onto the fashion scene. During this past New York fashion week, the Maasai shuka, a warm plaid wrap commonly worn by various African tribes, but made popular by the Maasai tribe of Kenya and Tanzania made a big splash on the runway. Here are some cool tips on how to rock this awesome look.
BOOK REVIEW
“Every time History repeats itself, the price goes up” This headline is not the title of the book that I am reviewing, it just goes with the content of the book. After you have an idea of what the book is all about you will see where the two, (the headline and book ) come together. The book that am reviewing has one of the longest titles that l have ever come across. And it is a title that for sure grabs you. The book is ‘We wish to inform you that tomorrow we will be killed with our families’
WE WISH TO INFORM YOU… — BY SUSAN WAHOME
The author of the book, Philip Gourevitch is a staff writer at The New Yorker who as a reporter found the reports being written about the 1994 Genocide in Rwanda to be conflicting and missing something so he decided to take his own look into it. Philip breaks it down for the reader by starting off with a breakdown of the history of the country. How the whole division came to be, before colonization and after colonization when it was made plain and clear who was superior and who was not. He talks about how far back the issues between the Hutus and Tutsis and what it meant to the country. Gourevitch touches on other massacres that occured way before the genocide in 1994, going as far back as in 1959. He interviews survivors who shared their stories with him and he does his best to share their stories with us. He also interviews relief workers, soldiers who were there to keep the peace, soldiers who were known to not keep the peace, Politicians, Presidents and Ex Presidents. The book is an intense read and it is not for the light at heart that much l will confess. The survivors’ stories will for sure rip your heart out, listening to a Hutu leader in exile speak on why the Genocide was necessary might get your blood boiling, reading how the International world ignored the pleas and call for help from the Rwandans before and during the Genocide might have you seeing blood. The author breaks it all down from before the genocide, during and the aftermath of it and how he left it all once he decided to be done with Rwanda as of 1998. Among the people that he interviewed for the book is the Rwanda interim President at the time
Theodore Sindikubwabo who was in exile in Zaire at the time, President Museveni and then Vice President and Commander of the national army of Rwanda Kagame. The author actually compares Kagame to Abraham Lincoln. Among the civilians that he interviewed there is Paul Rusesabagina, the man that Don Cheadle played in the movie Hotel Rwanda, a doctor and nurse couple Odette Nyiramilimo & Jean Baptiste; there is Bonaventure Nyibizi who is elected a minister later on in the new government. Allow me to share one survivor’s story in my review. It is different in the sense that as a result of this survivor sharing her story with the author, he was able to meet the first person who accepted to having participated in the genocide. Her name is Laurencie Nyirabeza. She shared with the author how a certain Girumuhatse had beaten her with a stick, given her a blow with a machete and thrown her into the ditch after he had killed off her family. The author was then able to track down the specific Jean Girumuhatse, who ran a roadblock and was a leader during the genocide. Girumuhatse shared how being a leader he had no choice but to kill, he accepts responsibility but at the same time states that he had no choice. Being a leader he was able to rescue his wife who is a Tutsi, but not her family. When asked, Jean thinks that he killed, at the most, seven people. The wife’s surviving family members and Laurencie beg to differ. The author shares how Girumuhatse is still a middleman, wanting to be model citizen and reap the rewards. The so called authorities asked him to kill and he killed. Now they say confess and he confesses.
The title of the book is taken from a letter that was sent to Pastor Elizaphan Ntakirutimana, for mer Adventist Church president of Kibuye on April 15 1994. It was sent by 7 Tutsi pastors who were among the refugess at Mugonero Hospital and it read: Our Dear Leader, Pastor Elizaphan Ntakirutimana How are you! We wish you to be strong in all these problems we are facing. We wish to inform you that we have heard that tomorrow we will be killed with our families. We therefore request you to intervene on our behalf and talk with the Mayor. We believe that, with the help of God who entrusted you the leadership of this flock, which is going to be destroyed, your intervention will be highly appreciated, the same way the Jews were saved by Esther. We give honor to you. The author does his best to stay neutral but it is hard with the cold facts that he is presented with. He is hearing the stories first hand unlike me who read what he was told, making it second hand information. His tone changes depending on what it is that he writing about. With the survivor stories it is low and sad, when it gets into the politics of the matter, he is almost loud like most politicians. When he describes the beauty of the country itself even with everything that it has gone through, one can’t help but actually see it right infront of you even to the point of inhaling the smells described in the book. If you are like me and you have watched movies and documentaries about the genocide, and you have to read a book about the genocide l would and l do say that this would be the book.
PERFECTING THE PUSH-UP
Looking back on my working out history. There is no move that has dominated my nightmares like the push-up. For years, I have avoided the push-up like the plague and as my workouts have evolved, I have found it impossible to find a work out that gives the desired results of toning the chest, shoulders and arms like the push-up. Recently, I decided to conquer my nightmares and learn as much as I could about the push-up in order to find the right one for me. The push-up is one of the most popular exercises next to the sit up, and one of the most effective when done right. Depending on the type of push-up you do, you can target a different range of muscles. However, the basic push-up targets the shoulders, chest, arms, abs and oblique. The more complex the push-up, the more muscles you work. Whether you are a novice or a fitness guru, there is a push up that will challenge you and tone your muscles. I also find that it is important to have the right floor surface and gear in order to execute push-ups right. First and foremost, make sure you have shoes that protect your toes (a regular workout sneaker will serve this purpose well). You also need to have the right workout attire to allow for free movement and for proper perspiration absorption. Since the
push-up is a floor exercise, It is better to execute the push up on a nonslippery floor and also using a mat to protect your hands. For those of you that have tougher hands than mine, feel free to push-up on a bare nonslippery surface.
then return to starting position. Do as many reps as you can.
It is also very important to watch your breath while doing push ups, just like you would on any other exercise. Make sure you always exhale on the exertion. When executing the standard push-up you should never look like you are humping the floor. Always keep your spine neutral, your gluts tucked in and locked, your abdominal muscles tight and your arms right below your shoulders and shoulder width apart.
Start in downward-facing dog -hands slightly more than shoulderwidth apart, hips lifted, heels reaching down. Glide the chest forward and through arms, bringing it down between your hands and arching back toward ceiling; hover hips 2 to 3 inches off floor. Reverse, pressing into hands and bringing hips back up. Do as many reps as you can.
To accomoda t e the various fitness levels the following are types of pushups that you can add to your work out.
For those of you that are push-up gurus, take this exercise to the next level up and try the Push-Up with Leg Lift that targets the shoulders, chest, arms, abs, butt, thighs.
For beginners try the Modified Halfway Push-Up which targets the shoulders, chest, arms, abs. Begin in modified push-up position i.e. wrists below shoulders, abs engaged, knees on the floor. Do a push-up, keeping elbows close to your body and bringing your chest almost to the floor. Come only halfway up, keeping abs tight, then lower again to floor. Straighten arms all the way without locking elbows. Repeat, this time doing a full push-up on your knees. Hold for one count,
For those that want to get away from the basic push-up, try the Dive-Bomber Push-Up that targets the shoulders, chest, arms, abs, back, hamstrings.
Begin in a full push-up position -- wrists below shoulders, legs extended, toes tucked under, abs engaged. Lift one leg off the floor and bend elbows, lowering chest towards the floor. Straighten arms and repeat, keeping leg lifted. Do 12 reps; switch legs and repeat. Try these and push your workout to the next level and to get some amazing looking pipes!
HEALTH
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MARIUS WERNER VAN GRAAN — BY WANGECHI RUGUARU
PHOTOGRAPHY
THE NIGHT TIME BEACH SHOT - BEIRA IN MOZAMBIQUE — Marius Werner van Graan
M
arius started off in the film industry over ten years ago after obtaining a Bachelor of Arts degree in Film from South Africa’s leading film school, AFDA. Marius has since then worked as a Director of Photography on many Feature films, Documentaries, Television Commercials and Music Videos.
THE TWO KIDS IN THE CANOE ARE FROM CAPE MACLEAR AT THE SOUTH END OF LAKE MALAWI. — Marius Werner van Graan
In recent years, Marius has broken into Directing as well, and as Director/Cinematographer has done numerous television Commercials and documentaries. Marius has also won numerous awards internationally for his work and always strives for the highest possible production value and quality,
always keeping the integrity of the story he is telling as the driving force in his work. Marius is passionate about events that shape our world and change the course of history, and maintains his focus on creating content that gives people a deeper insight into these events and ultimately, their lives.
THE HEAVY CLOUDY LAKE PICTURE IS LAKE MAGADI, A SODA LAKE IN KENYA. — Marius Werner van Graan
I met Marius through his pictures. They say pictures speak the most universally understood language. The love for his family, humanity and Africa were enough for me. His pictures have a calming effect. He is not afraid to be in the pictures either, I find most photographers a little afraid of being part of their art. Not Marcus. This guy has a free spirit that I admire, he is not scared of the unknown, and he pushes himself beyond his limits. He is an amazing photographer and I wanted to know more about him and introduce him to you, so I bravely stalked him and got to ask him a few questions… What is your full name and where are you from? Marius Werner van Graan I am from South Africa, all over South Africa; I’ve lived in nearly every province. When did you become interested in photography? I became interested in photography in my teens, but it was only when I was 19 that really developed and led me into filmmaking as well. I wanted to become a conflict photographer, but then my girlfriend at the time didn’t want me to leave, so she convinced me to study film with her. I am glad I studied film, and didn’t run off on an impulse to shoot war, but then I also always wonder how things would have turned out had I done that. How did you discover that you had a talent for photography and how did you develop that talent? I guess it was just that I loved shooting pictures, from the first picture I shot, I loved it. People liked my pictures, and told
me I had a talent for it, but that wasn’t as important to me as how much I loved taking the pictures and being creative. I experiment a lot as well. I guess the only way to develop talent is through practice. The best piece of advice ever given to me was on a shoot in South Africa, it was a television commercial and I was Director of Photography. I had been hired as this young talented DoP who would bring something fresh to the pictures. Which I did, but I made a mistake at some point in the day and it cost us a few hours. Production was obviously not happy. My Gaffer on the shoot came up to me, an older guy who had been in the film industry for a long time, he was a great mentor and very wise. He said to me, I must never forget that no amount of talent will ever make up for experience, and when lacking in experience I must not be too arrogant to rely on my crew. I really took that advice to heart, and it has made my pictures better, and I have learnt much more because of it. How did your family help or challenge you as a far as your artwork is concerned? My father gave me my first camera. I am lucky in that my father is from an engineering background, a very technical man who really encouraged my technical mind, while my mother is a fine artist, and always encouraged my artistic freedom and expression, so the two combined very well into photography and filmmaking, since these crafts are both very technical and very creative. What is your educational background? I was kicked out of a few schools when I was young, but
THE NIGHTTIME CAMP-FIRE PICTURE IS A SELF-PORTRAIT.
— Marius Werner van Graan
I was kicked out of a few schools when I was young, but then when I went to study film, my mind settled and focused. I now have a BA in film. then when I went to study film, my mind settled and focused. I now have a BA in film. What was the subject of your first art piece? Strangely enough, the first photos I took were of my brother, he is dead now, so I am grateful to have that shared moment recorded. What issues, places or spaces inspire you? I am most inspired by people. I like to look at the human condition, in everyday circumstances, and also in extreme situations like war and conflict. What have been your favorite projects to date and why? I have so many favorite projects. I loved shooting in Sudan, my last shoot. It was so tough, an enormous challenge to work there, but the images were so worth it, and the people are incredible, after so many years of war and pain and loss, they still smile and laugh and celebrate life. What causes or issues are you passionate about? I like to do work that exposes the west’s disgusting role in keeping Africa from developing. I feel that the world needs to know the truth about this; modern Africa is not free, but
rather economically colonized from off-shore. People in the west are sold this idea that their aid money is building schools and clinics, and yes this is true and is needed but this aid is also securing mining concessions and keeping the economy in foreign hands, and Africans are not benefiting the way they should from their own resources. This is a deep deep rabbit hole and I would need a lot more pages to talk about properly, but if I could work on only these projects, I would be very happy and fulfilled. Which photographers do you admire? There are so many. I like the fashion work of Kwesi Abensetts, I like Peter Hugo’s work, the South African photographer, and I also like the work of Ananias Leki Dago, the photographer form Ivory Coast. What about Africa is special to you? Everything, the people, the contrast, the light, everything. What advice would you give to young and upcoming photographers? Keep shooting. Shoot and shoot and shoot until your eyes are blurry and you trigger finger hurts. And also, search for truth with your pictures.
A SELF-PORTRAIT I TOOK WHEN I RODE MY MOTORBIKE ALONE ACROSS HALF OF AFRICA. — Marius Werner van Graan
AND THE ONE OF ME AND THE HYENA WAS TAKEN BY KIM WOLHUTER AND WAS IN MALA MALA GAME RESERVE WHILE WE WERE FILMING A DOCUMENTARY FOR NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC. — Marius Werner van Graan
SPEAK NO EVIL War Dance is a film set against the 1980s Uganda which is in a state of civil war, with the nation’s leadership violently contested by a revolutionary force known as the Lord’s Resistance Army (or L.R.A.). This film focuses on the village of Patongo, located deep in Uganda’s war zone, a group of students (many of whom escaped from the clutches of the L.R.A.) struggle to rise above the violence and desperation that surrounds them. Each year, a student music festival is held in Kampala, Uganda’s capitol city, in which children from around the country compete for prizes in performing traditional music and dance. When the students of the Patongo Primary School are invited to compete for the first time, the children are both thrilled at their opportunity and determined to prove that in a place of violence and want, creativity and talent can still take root. War Dance is a documentary about the Patongo Primary School’s long journey to the Kampala Music Festival and the experiences, both good and bad, which informed them. War Dance received its world premiere at the 2007 Sundance Film Festival.
HEAR NO EVIL
Wanlov the Kubolor’s, Brown Card - African Gypsy is a blend of Romanian and Ghanaian rythms. Read the feature story to trace the journey that led Wanlov to this album. However, I will strive to review the tracks for your pleasure! NKRUMAH PIKIN - Afrobeat rythms peppered by Wanlov’s singsong rap. styleAfrican GYPSY FEAT. KEZIAH JONES - Fast paced & funky rythm with stacatto rap by Wanlov. MY FUNKY STORY FEAT. KOSSA - Old school jazzy music in the background with a brazilian feel. Jazz lovers will appreciate the horn and drum in this track. CHEWING STICK - Ghanaian drum rythm with a blend of romanian strings create a unique sound with call and response vocals. SPR MI DAT - Very vintage track with a unique blend of horns and clear
SEE NO EVIL
“We Wish To Inform You That Tomorrow We Will Be Killed With Our Families” by Phillip Gourevitch describes Gourevitch’s travels in Rwanda after the conflict, in which he interviews survivors and gathers information. Gourevitch retells survivors’ stories, and reflects on the meaning of the genocide. Susan Wahome has done a thorough and detailed review for in the Book Review section. Please enjoy
SPEAK, HEAR, SEE, NO EVIL — BY EVA GITHINA hip-hop style. VINO LA MINE FEAT. JEROME SOULAS - This is a song that will stick in your head and make you want to clap to the beat. There is a definte capoiera vibe. COME PLAY FEAT. SENA - is an easy modern track that you can step to and even dance to if you are so inclined. STICKS N TONES - hypnotic funky beat that is indescribable with clear rap lyrics by Wanlov ROMANIA FEAT. SKIZZO SKILLZ - for some reason this beat makes me want to samba. Wanlov raps afrobeat style on this, although the chorus is sung repeatedly in what I think is Romanian. Sounds like a folk song too! MAPOUKA SOIREE - Sounds like Drum and Bass track that would be at home in any dance club! PENTRU MAMA - True Gypsy feel to this track with a hint of african rythms. Bluesy tune you can easily sing along to or do the Cha Cha. VEVERITA FEAT. KING AYISOBA - This is a hilarious story about a squirrel that will keep you moving and shaking your shoulders and snapping your fingers. CASA MEA - Easy call and response vocal style with a gypsy flair. The horns anre very hypnotic. STRING THEORY FEAT. FILLIPO BARALDI - The strings dominate this track it is a mixture of violin with what I believe is the gonje.. Very hynotic.
NEXT LIFE - This song has a sad feeling to it. There is also heavy percussion in a marching beat. SLEEPY SHEEP - Hilarious song that starts of with what sounds like mexican horns.
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Q&A ABOUT TRUST
— BY GERALD MONTGOMERY
QUESTION: So my friend’s boyfriend told her that he trusts her some, but not totally. I explained that this is not possible… what do you think? Marcie Littlejohn from Columbus Ohio ANSWER: Marcie, I know it seems really messed up to say, but I think the only thing the boyfriend is guilty of in this instances is his crude [verbal] delivery. First of all: trust is a two-way street (unlike love)! Trustworthiness is what reciprocates greater degrees of trust; the more trustworthy you are from situation to situation the more a person will trust you. Too often we confuse trust with hope; we hope a person who has no signs of goodness in them will do the right thing. And when we do this, we call it “trusting” them. You don’t just start off day-one into limitless trust, despite current social protocol. What do we date for if not to grow into love and trust for another? I realize this is how couples typically handle trust in a relationship, all out day-one in the name of love, but it’s not the way to go. For example, I LOVE my two daughters dearly- would gladly die to spare their lives. But I only TRUST them within the scope of their abilities, or at least how I perceive their abilities. So while I trust them to play in a different room or maybe even a different level of the house, I don’t trust my 7-year-old to babysit her 3-year-old sister (or vice versa) while I run to the store no matter how badly she wants to prove she can do it. So you can tell by my example that trust is not just about fidelity, it also pertains to your confidence in another’s responsibility level or ability.
I love my daughters completely but I do not fully trust them. Is that a bad thing? No. However, when it comes to matters of the heart, for some reason, we want the trust level that our mate has in us to be as blind and complete as our love for her or him. I say, the only person we trust completely and blindly is “God” (who or whatever that may be to you); not his pastors or followers but Him alone. Well, maybe [completely trust] Dr. G too. Just kidding... This is a joke, people! In the absence of facts it is through trust (i.e. their track record) that we give our mate the benefit of the doubt when rumors of infidelity first surface; A trust that has been fed and matured by trustworthiness. But this doesn’t mean we throw common sense out the window. The story/alibi still has to flow downstream as believable. Trustworthiness, not sex or love, breeds trust. In fact love is the worst advocate for trust because [love] lacks reason and impartiality. You know, the flip-side of this is- since he’s being so honest with her she should also take advantage by placing her trust and love levels to slow things down at this “boyfriend-girlfriend” stage of the relationship. (Why do boyfriends and girlfriends always wanna act like they’re married?) With that said, and to your point, there are no levels of fidelity trust. You either are perceived as faithful or you’re not. The levels I referred to have to do with the big picture of trust, like in my analogy, not just the fidelity angle. Levels of trust are achieved based on a grading scale of how a person handled a previous situation. This grade carries over to the observer’s biases of the next situation; how the observer thinks this person will do the
G-SPOT
next time. Like borrowing something and bringing it back on time in the same condition it was borrowed versus bringing it back late, or damaged or not bringing it back at all. As a person “passes” each situational test the trust in them is increased. If you “fail” then the trust level decreases. Now, when infidelity occurs but the relationship continues, I think two things need to happen going forward. First, the parties involved need to identify the type of infidelity that took place (whether it was a Class A, B, C or D as I like to call them) in order to determine if they should continue with the relationship. Too often we stay in the relationship because we feel we have no where else to go, not because we forgive. The next thing is that the offender must understand that neither he nor she holds the cards in the “reconciliation process” and that periods of grieving for the victim will vary. The offender must be understanding and allow the grieving to take place, if done “fairly” (there is a limit to how we can behave while processing emotional pain). The offender also has the option to leave the relationship if he or she can’t handle this process, but this will be the price to pay in order to continue with the relationship. So, if your friend’s boyfriend’s conditional trust is because of mistrust in her and not unfamiliarity then there is a problem! But if he’s just pacing himself, then he actually sounds like a pretty intellectual dude. Thank you for the question Marcie! Iron sharpens iron, so lets be better because of it!
— BY REBECA TAITI
I
t was the third time she was reading the letter that lay limply in her hands. Her sordid face was drenched with tears and sweat. Each time she read it, Martha felt confusion mixed with despair sweeping over her a new. “Dear Martha,” the letter began.” today is here, tomorrow gone. Nothing is ever certain except my love for you. Together, we have been through thick and thin. Heavens above be my witness, for many are the sleepless nights that I have prayed watching over you. And for the past twenty four months, I have become a total wreck. Martha, I have watched you struggle. If its money, I have given you. I have even sought for doctors far and wide-the best money could ever buy. Each of them promising better results. But my dear, to our utmost disappointment, no medicine that science has created is apparently helping. Try and understand me Martha, I am a man. And I have needs; conjugal needs that have to be fulfilled. I cannot watch you waste away-from the vibrant, youthful lady you once were to something I no longer recognize. Each night I come home to more pain, agony and sorrow. All this is driving me crazy. I have gone through hell and I do not think I will ever come out of it if I don’t get away from all this. My dearest Martha, I have seen them remove one breast and before that blow was over, they said that the tumor was malignant, and it was spreading fast. The doctor’s only alternative - to have another mastectomy. Next was your pap smear that revealed cervical cancer. A price had to be paid. Right now my dear, I no longer think ahead, all there is, is a void that can’t quite be explained. Try and understand my position in all this Martha. This wasn’t my definition of marital bliss. I have instructed a taxi driver to pick you up. Your next operation is due tonight. They say that this is the last resort to completely destroy the bloody cancerous cells. I have already paid for your bills and
will continue to reload your account on a monthly basis. Someday Martha, you will realize that I did this all for you. Love Alfred” But Alfred was not to blame in all this. What he never revealed to Martha was that he had found out about her pathetic little lies. That perhaps, her terminal illness was karma’s way of payback. It was about two years ago, when Alfred had taken the day off early from work. He wanted to surprise his beloved wife Martha. On reaching home, he walked ever so confidently to their bedroom. Perhaps his wife lay in there for an afternoon nap. He thought when he did not find her in the living room. It was then that he walked in on his chauffeur and his wife. Consumed in passion. They both were too engrossed to notice his presence. Crestfallen, Alfred had walked out, head hung by the betrayal he had noticed. After two years of his wife’s repeated unfaithfulness, cancer had struck. Martha as a consequence, decided to change for the better. She had the chauffeur fired, went to the nuncio to repent and prayed fervently to be well so as to spend the rest of her life with her husband. She was laden with guilt as well as with disease. Years later, when he could no longer continue lying to his torn heart, Alfred conceded defeat. Martha’s infidelity had slowly been eating him. And when she fell ill, he could only take so much. Early one July morning, on the exact date that he and Martha met, Alfred dragged his half frozen body to the hills that were shrouded in mist. His limbs felt numb.“My biggest mistake was in loving.” Ruefully, he thought. His eyes grey misty with every recollection. He took a step closer to the edge of the steep hill. Life to him had lost all meaning and purpose. He stared at the still waters in the lake below. Suddenly, he hurled himself off the edge and with each fall, prayed to Nemesis, the goddess of vengeance, to pay back Martha, twice fold what he had gone through.
MEMORIES ARE MADE OF THIS
CURE FOR CRUNCHY LOCS — BY GRADIEH
Many people assume that if they loc their hair, they won’t have to do anything to it but get it twisted. That’s true, if you are content with dry, dull and crunchy locs. Many people, on the other hand, have dry and crunchy locs because they are not aware of how to take care of their hair. As a stylist, I was unaware for quite a while until I started researching and applying some of the methods that I read about. One of my favorite discoveries is steaming. I had no idea what steaming was. I did not learn about it in school and it was not a service that was offered in the many Minneapolis salons that I had been to. As I begin reading, I found that steaming works by opening the hair cuticle to allow conditioner and oil to penetrate the hair shaft better. Steaming also moisturizes hair 5x better than regular deep conditioning and prevents dry and brittle hair due to chemical and heat damage. It also helps to opens the hair follicles which help your hair grow faster. After reading all of that, I decided to try it out on some of my clients. I washed their hair with Redken Cleansing Cream, a clarifying shampoo and applied a mixture of virgin oils. I mixed Nairiobi Humecta-Sil conditioner with extra virgin olive oil, virgin coconut oil, jojoba oil and a few drops of rosemary essential oils. They loved it. Their hair felt a lot softer and was very flexible. I decided to add this into their monthly regiment. In addition to steaming, I decided to stop using gels to twist hair. Gels can cause to build up on locs which leads them to being stiff and dry. Instead, I had decided to use an alcohol free loc cream mixed with water and oils. I have found that locs look and feel a lot better. This method works for me now but as I continue to research and expand my knowledge on natural hair care, it is my hope to provide all of my clients with the best hair care possible For a steam treatment, call Hairitage Creations @ 763-566-2155 and ask for Gradieh. Visit her blog: http://hairbygradieh.blogspot.com
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