Name: Tamara
Bio: Hailing from Malawi and Zambia via south London, Tamara Gausi writes about the arts, culture, people and politics for publications such as Arise Magazine, New Statesman and Time Out London. Her favourite African city is in fact the London suburb of Peckham and hopes to see the day that young African teenagers can go Interailing across the Motherland before heading to Europe for a year of voluntary work
Posts by Tamara:
AfriPOP! Cares: Rebuild Gisella Boutique
August 24th, 2011We were saddened to hear that one of our favourite African fashion shops, Gisella Boutique, was looted in the London riots. A pioneering Peckham-based shop/atelier run mother-and-daughter design team Gisella and Janet Asante, they create stunning couture dresses which have worn by everyone from Shingai Shoniwa to Rhian Benson. On the night of August 8 it was ransacked; tens of thousands of pounds worth of new commissions, past collections, handmade jewellery and precious fabrics were stolen while the shop interior was also damaged. This tragic event is made even more poignant because Gisella Boutique had just celebrated its 20th anniversary in June. A fundraising appeal has been set up to help rebuild the shop and anyone who has had the pleasure of meeting the Asante’s or wearing one of their fabulous dresses will know how important it is that we help to make it happen. If you want to contribute or find out more please visit www.indiegogo.com/Rebuild-
AfriPOP! Chats: Asa on Her Imperfections and Album
August 9th, 2011AfriPOP! chats with Paris-based Nigerian vocalist Bukola Asa Elemide who has, in Beautiful Imperfection, one of the most enjoyable pop records out there. It sounds breeezier than her first album, and in this quick chat she breaks down how come. She seems to be having more fun and is much better styled than ever before, no?
You can watch this documentary where Asa meets Gentleman in the place of her birth Lagos. It’s only up for 7 days from August 4th so hurry!
AfriPOP!: What are your favourite imperfections?
Asa: There are many [she laughs]. Well, that is how I used to see myself but my attitude is changing. As I grow older I find that the things I do not like about myself are not seen by other people in the same way. I think I can be a bit hard on myself sometimes but when people say nice things about my music, that it is wonderful. I don’t see my music as perfect but I don’t want it to be. In life, the best thing you can do is be yourself.
Why are there so many love songs on this album?
I think it’s because I am in love with life. I am embracing all the changes I have experienced and I am writing about them. My first album was quite political and I will never stop talking about the things I see around me – the corruption, the suffering, the bad leadership – but politics can be tiring. Politicians keep making promises they do not keep and it is very sad.
Did you feel much pressure to follow up the success of your first album?
I was very fortunate because my first album was successful but sometimes artists feel pressure to match that success. If I am being honest, if there was any pressure with the second album it came from me because I wanted to challenge myself. I wanted to see what more I could do. Before I started to record the album I had absolutely no idea of what kind of record I was going to make but I knew that I did not want to do the same thing as before. Am I happy with what I’ve done? Yes, very happy.
Do you prefer performing or recording?
I love all parts of the musical process but I think my favourite has to be touring. I have been promoting this album since February and we will be playing dates in Europe until October. When I was in the studio I was excited because I was working with some really incredible musicians so there wasn’t that much stress. The only stress came from the delays and the traveling. But the recording process wasn’t that hard. But now that I have finished the album I feel energised. I love to perform. I want to come on stage every night and give 150 percent to the people. I am excited to create new songs, to try out new things and to be spontaneous – whatever the night has to offer me, I just go with it and have fun.
This is less of a question and more of a comment. You are a pretty good dancer!
People are used to seeing me sitting down with a guitar so I think they were surprised with the song and video for Be My Man which is quite lively but I love to dance! It’s a part of me, just like music. When I was a kid I was always dancing and I always took the prize at every party I went to. Seriously! I learned to play instruments much later. Dance and song are my first love. I also enjoy coming into contact with people, sharing a unique moment with them on stage. There is nothing like it.
Asa headlines the Arts Alive International festival in Johannesburg next month. Get more details here.
Get to Know Ugandan reggae singer Jaqee
February 14th, 2011AfriPOP! How did you become a singer?
Jaqee: It started out as a hobby. I used to sing a lot and I spoke to a couple of record companies who were like “yeah, we like your music but you’re not quite what we are looking for” so I decided to put an album (Blaqalixious, 2005) out myself. It was such a wonderful surprise to be nominated for the Swedish Grammys because it was completely me, you know? I wasn’t signed to a big record company, I didn’t have a big machine behind me. It was just me and my music and thankfully people liked it.
Your latest album, Land of the Free (Makasound) was voted 2010 Reggae Album of the Year by iTunes France. How did that feel?
It was an honour. I have been singing for a while but I still count my blessings for all the good things that come my way.
Land of the Free is actually a re-release of your 2009 album Kokoo Girl which was originally released by German label Rootdown. How did that come about?
Someone came across the record when I was on tour in Japan and they liked it. We decided to change the cover and give it a new focus, and it has been going really well. I am loving France at the moment! But after the tour this summer I will be heading back to the studio to record my next album. It is definitely time for some new material.
Do you have any plans to release your music in the UK or US?
I would love to! Do you know anyone? [Laughs] I love the UK music scene. I used to be really into jungle back in the day so I used to hang out in London a lot and I really love the rawness to the music there. It represents what I’m about as an artist.
Do you have any favourite UK artists?
Lots! But I like Est’elle a lot – she is really cool.
What would you be doing if you weren’t a singer?
Hmmm, I’ve often wondered that myself. I think I could do a lot of things. Something creative.
How many languages do you speak?
Four – Luganda, Lunyankole, English and Swedish. I also speak a little bit of Spanish and I am currently learning German.
You are originally from Uganda. What is the one thing you would like people to know about your home country?
That we are really friendly people and that it is a very beautiful country. A lot of people still think about Idi Amin when they think of Uganda but that was a while ago. And having travelled to a lot of places I think we are one of the friendliest nations. So check it out!
OK, we will! Where should we go?
Kampala is cool – it has a very active nightlife. But I would actually head to the countryside. Kabale is in the west of the country and it is very beautiful. It has an amazing landscape and you can also see gorillas. Its not so great for clubbing [laughs] but it is one of my favourite places to just relax and enjoy nature.
Which African musicians have inspired you?
So many! I love people like Ali Farka Toure and Tinariwen. They inspire me because they have never compromised on making real African music. Then there are people like Lucky Dube whose music has such a strong message. I also love artists like Nneka and Ayo and all these brilliant female singers that are coming through. And Angelique Kidjo – she is such a powerful woman.
And what have you done that you are most proud of?
A few things but recently I was in Lesotho and I went hiking for five hours in the mountains. It was a good brain sharpener because you always have to keep track of your movements and be present with the land and nature surroundings so that you can find your way back. It was a truly beautiful and humbling experience. Definitely a proud moment.
Look up Jaqee on www.jaqee.com
10 Nigerians to watch in 2011
December 9th, 2010
Naeto C – The Learned MC
Even for a country teeming with talented high-flyers, Naeto C is a genuine role model. He is an award-winning, internationally-acclaimed rapper with a masters degree in Energy Economics from Dundee University. Even more remarkable is the fact that Naeto completed his degree after having sold a reputed three million plus copies of his 2008 debut album You Know My P, while also recording his highly anticipated follow-up. Signed to west Africa’s entertainment powerhouse Storm Records, Naeto is one of Africa’s best-known rappers having won Channel O and MTV Africa Music Awards. His sophomore album, Super C Season is scheduled for release early next year and as something as a trendsetter, we hope that 2011 sees Naeto get more involved in fashion – we don’t know about y’all but we think a Naeto C menswear line would be a very big deal indeed.
Yemi Akinyemi – The Star to Dance With
Before this October, Yemi Akinyemi was just your average Czech-Nigerian dancer, choreographer and TV presenter. But thanks to his involvement in Kanye West’s 35-minute mini-film “Runaway”, dude is now a bonafide star. Forget Selita Ebanks’ semi-naked bird woman: it’s Akinyemi’s exquisite choreography for Kanye’s *epic/ridiculously overblown (*delete as appropriate) video that made it worth watching. Performed by members of his very own Prague-based JAD Dance Company, Akinyemi’s breathtaking choreography serves as a potent reminder to TV audiences zoned out on “Dancing with the Stars” that there’s more to expressive movement than out-of-date reality TV stars trying to do the Paso Doble.
Ify Aniebo – The Crusader
Despite the fact that a vaccine for malaria has eluded the world’s scientists for decades – or perhaps because of it – Ify Aniebo is determined to find one. Being a disease which kills more people than AIDS every year, it’s no small task for a 26-year-old PhD student, but it’s one that Aniebo is determined to pull off. Following a BSc in Medical Genetics from Queen Mary’s University in London, this Lagos-state native studied for an MSc in Applied Biomolecular Technology at Nottingham University before pursuing a PhD student at Oxford on a fully funded scholarship from the Wellcome Trust, the Tropical Network Fund and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. Somehow she has still found the time to launch Africanhealthmagazine.com, an achievement which didn’t go unnoticed by the organisers of The Future Awards, who voted her Nigeria’s Young Person of the Year 2010.
Michael Emenalo – The Coach
News of Michael Emenalo’s appointment as assistant first team coach at Chelsea Football Club was met with two distinct reactions: jubilation from fans of African football and total bemusement from pretty much everyone else. “Who the hell is Michael Emenalo?” asked the blogosphere. “He used to coach an under-12′s girls’ soccer team in America,” was one recurring answer. He was also Chelsea’s chief talent scout for three years, and now he’s the number two coach, so get over it, haters. The fact that he has limited coaching experience is irrelevant. He’s a former Nigerian international who has played in the UK, the US, Belgium and Israel to name a few. He also has a degree in international relations with political science from Boston University, which is surely more useful than a coaching qualification when dealing with the legendary cross-cultural, multi-national politicking of Chelsea Football Club. And in a sport where there so few African footballers manage to make the transition from players to coaches or managers, Emenalo’s appointment is a huge leap forward. Let’s hope it is the first of many.
Mo’Cheddah – The fashioniStar
Hits? Check. Swagger? Check. The enthusiastic endorsement of MTV Base Africa? Check. With her popular debut album “Franchise Celebrity”, Nigerian singer-rapper-fashionista Mo’Cheddah has certainly made her name in 2010, but 2011 will prove whether she has what it takes to go all the way. The forecast looks promising: her songs, produced by Knighthouse, are hella catchy – indeed “Ko Ma Roll” is a certified club banger. And AfriPOP would personally like to nominate Mo’s stylist for an African fashion gold medal as Ms Cheddah rarely puts an Ankara-draped foot wrong. Okay, so her rapping skills won’t be giving Jay-Z any sleepless nights, but she certainly gets hip-hop brownie points for the Big Daddy Kane-style slashed eyebrows. She’s already been nominated for a bag of awards but we suspect that 2011 will be the year that 20-year-old Modupe-Oreoluwa Oyeyemi Ola gets to take some home.
Bez – The New-age Soul Crooner
We’re not quite sure what it is about the Nigerian city of Jos but it produces a disproportionate number of musicians: from big international and local stars like P-Square, MI and Jeremiah Gyang to up-and-coming names like British-Nigerian soul singer Sewuese. And add singer-songwriter Bez to that list, while you’re at it. You won’t see him surrounded by gyrating kokolettes or riffing over synth loops anytime soon but for lovers of good music, he’s part of a dynamic new wave of Nigerian artists (Lami Philips, Siji, and the criminally underrated Dipo) determined to bring soul back to African pop. Touted as the Nigerian John Legend, this guitar-strumming sweet boy serves up a heady brew of alternative soul, poetic lyrics and retro fashion. And he rolls with Cobhams Asuquo and Asa (see 10 Nigerian Music Makers to Watch) so you know his game is tight.
Tolulope Sangosanya – The Philanthropist
Given the socio-economic set-up in Africa, philanthropy is something that touches most people’s lives, whether they are helping an orphaned cousin through school or staying with their better-off aunty in the city. However, when a young graduate decides to do something about an issue that most people would palm off as decidedly NMP, it deserves special recognition. Tolulope Sangosanya is the founder and chief project co-ordinator of LOTS Charity Foundation which works with children living in an informal settlement on a rubbish dump in Lagos known as “Dustbin Estate”. As well as providing literacy classes and organising day trips for the kids, Sangosanya is working towards building a permanent resource centre to equip these children for a greater future. The project is currently supported by a combination of private donations and Sangosanya’s own entrepreneurial efforts but inadequate funding is still a major obstacle: perhaps you could do your bit by helping Sangosanya do hers? For more information you can contact Tolulope at projectlots@yahoo.com (thanks to BellaNaija.com for the heads up).
Amara Nwankpa – The Social Media Activist
Frustrated by his country’s epileptic power supply, and tired of being mocked by his Ghanaian friends, Abuja-based ICT consultant Amara Nwankpa joined forces with other media-savvy Nigerians to set up Light Up Nigeria. It’s an online protest group advocating an urgent resolution to Nigeria’s chronic electricity problem – a situation now so bad that Nigeria was recently reported to have signed an agreement with neighbouring Cameroon to help provide the “giant of Africa” with electricity. Light Up Nigeria is now a worldwide, online phenomenon with tens of thousands of supporters on Twitter and Face book who are helping to keep the issue of power supply at the top of the political agenda. We’re sure they have more than a few ideas for subsequent crusades once the target of 300 Watts per Capita by 2015 is achieved, but perhaps we could make a suggestion? Wrap It Up Nollywood: a campaign to tackle the excessive running time of Nigerian movies.
Adam Sada – The Online Fashion Entrepreneur
Ever wanted to walk around with a t-shirt advertising your favourite national catchphrase (like “Na Wa O!!”) or even national dish (Pounded Yam and Egusi)? Then visit fully-charged.co.uk immediately. Set up by business analyst turned online fashion entrepreneur Adam Sada, the Fully Charged brand offers an extensive range of t-shirts celebrating countries from all over the world. Unlike most national t-shirts, the designs aren’t corny, gaudy or even remotely jingoistic. They’re beautifully designed, environmentally-friendly (screen printed and made from top quality 100% organic cotton) and inclusive with nary a national flag in sight. Everyone from Algeria to Serbia is covered, and they’re unisex too. With the 2012 Olympics coming up they might just be the must-have accessory of the games, so get yours now.
Adora Oleh – The TV presenter
From presenting The Magazine Show on African entertainment station BEN TV to her most recent gig co-hosting MTN’s Project Fame West Africa, Adora Oleh has always been a class act. In Nigeria she is best known for her eponymous entertainment programme on Soundcity TV, The Adora Oleh Show, which mixes celebrity interviews with music, fashion and inspirational stories from young entrepreneurs. But the London-trained lawyer first made her name in the UK with stints on The Big Breakfast, Topshop TV and MTV Base and Ben TV. As a presenter, she brings poise and intelligenc to everything she does. Alongside her younger sister Chika she runs ChiAd Productions which is putting together another series of The Adora Oleh Show for the new year as well as number of other projects and events.
10 Nigerian wordsmiths you oughta know
November 30th, 2010Adaobi Tricia Nwaubani – The “literary rock chick”
With just one book Adaobi Tricia Nwaubani has been catapulted to the forefront of Nigeria’s literary scene, joining the likes of Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, Sefi Atta and Helon Habila. Published in 2009, her wickedly funny debut novel ‘I Do Not Come to You by Chance’ introduced the world to some of the characters involved in Nigeria’s infamous 419 scams. It won the 2010 Commonwealth Writers’ Prize for the Best First Book in the Africa Region and the Betty Trask award (past winners include Diran Adebayo and Zadie Smith). As well as being the former editor for 234Next’s popular style supplement Elan, the new “rock chick” of Nigeria’s literary scene is currently one of the newspaper’s contributing editors with a new book in the pipeline. We can’t wait.
Femi Elufowoju Jnr – The theatremaker
Femi Elufowoju Jnr isn’t a wordsmith per se. Rather than write words, as a theatre director he helps to bring them to life. But it is no exaggeration to say that without him the UK’s vibrant African theatre scene would be considerably duller. As the founder of the Tiata Fahodzi theatre company he provided a home for young African-British writers like Bola Agbaje and Oladipo Agboluaje to write stories from an African perspective, thus paving the way for a new generation of actors and directors as well as playwrights. In a fair world, as one of the hardest working directors in the business Elufowoju Jnr would be running one of the major off-west end theatres in London. But fear not – earlier this year he stepped down as artistic director of Tiata Fahodzi (he has been replaced by ‘The No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency’ actor Lucian Msamati) so it may happen yet.
Tolu Ogunlesi – The scientist
Journalist, poet, writer, pharmacist – is there anything former CNN African Journalist of the Year Tolu Ogunlesi can’t do with a pen…or prescription? His weekly column for Nigerian newspaper 234Next.com, (On)going Concerns, is just about the best thing in a newspaper packed to the hilt with intelligent writers. We love his wry humour coupled with acute observations about political and social life in Nigeria. But while yabbing politicans is clearly his favourite pastime, he is also pursuing an MA in Creative Writing at the University of East Anglia (alta mater of British-Nigerian writer Diana Evans, Ian McEwan and Kazuo Ishiguro) which means there should be a follow up to his 2004 poetry book ‘Listen to the Geckos Singing from a Balcony’ and 2008 novella ‘Conquest & Conviviality’ sometime soon.
Bim Adewumni – The blogger
London-based writer and journalist Bim is the author of Yoruba Girl Dancing, which is one of our favouritest blogs on the block. How many other feminist bloggers do you know with a weekly column called The Friday Pretty which reveals their boy crush of the week? YGD oscillates between the deliciously frivolous – asking such pertinent questions as why don’t white people drink supermalt and why do black British magazines keep going bust - coupled with smart, funny and unique insights into race, gender and popular culture. She was recently nominated for a well-deserved 2010 Precious Award and Black Weblog Award, and has even racked up a guest appearance on BBC Radio 4’s Woman’s Hour following her brilliant article about online dating for the Guardian. Expect to read her in a magazine that hasn’t gone bust near you soon.
Jeta Amata – Mr Nollywood goes to Hollywood
Jeta Amata has probably done more than any other filmmaker to open up the Nigerian film industry to a western audience. He isn’t afraid of big subjects: his 2006 film “Amazing Grace” tackled the slave trade; 2010′s “Inale” starring Caroline Chikize and Haekem Kae-Kazim made its mark as Nigeria’s first musical feature film; and “Black Gold”, out next year, attempts to tackle the Niger Delta crisis. Amata’s confidence may come from the fact that he was born into the Nigerian version of the Redgraves – his grandfather John headed a dynasty which includes Jeta’s father Zack and his uncle Fred. But his swagger is probably also something to do with that fact that he is a filmmaker who knows his craft – how else did he rope in Hollywood stars like Billy Zane and Nick Moran to work for him?
Inua Ellams – The trailblazer
Inua Ellams has achieved a lot in his twenty-something years. As he describes himself in his Twitter bio, he is a “poet, performer, grafik artist, geek” but can we add door-kicking pioneer to that list? In 2009, Inua Ellams became the first black male to put on a solo show at the National Theatre with “The 14th Tale”, a virtuouso performance of his riveting life story which spans Nigeria, Ireland and England. He is also currently working as Covent Garden’s Creative in Residence – and did we mention that he is a badass graphic designer with a sublime collection of neck scarves?
Lola Adesioye – The provocateur
Look up the phrase ‘high achiever’ in the dictionary and you’ll probably see a picture of Lola Adesioye beaming back at you. The 30-year-old Cambridge graduate has worked as a music industry executive in London, a consultant in Johannesburg and now lives in New York where she is using her Masters in Social & Political Science to follow in her grandfather’s footsteps (Nigerian newspaper editor and PR guru Ebun Adesioye) into the world of journalism. Currently working as a writer and political commentator for The Guardian, CNN, The Economist and The Huffington Post, Adesioye plans to push forth with her activism but judging by the topics of her blog Lolacreative.com we reckon she could add life coach as another string on her bow.
Chika Unigwe – The multilinguist
Writing a book is hard enough for most people but to do it in a foreign language takes some guts. Yet that’s exactly what Belgian-based novelist Chika Unigwe did, despite being born and educated in Nigeria up until university level. In 2005, this mother of three became the first Flemish-language writer of African origin to be published with her debut novel ‘De Feniks’ (The Phoenix). Her 2008 follow-up book ‘Fata Morgana’, was published in English in 2009 as ‘On Black Sisters’ Street’, which was named as one of Alistair Campbell’s favourite books.
Iyeoka Ivie Okoawo – The poet
Like Tolu Ogunlesi, Boston-based Nigerian American Iyeoka Ivie Okoawo is living proof that Nigeria has the highest ratio of pharmacists-turned-poets in the world. A bard, singer, activist and educator with a degree in pharmacy, Okoawo was also appointed a 2010 TED Global Fellow, a move which underlines her commitment to let her message be her medicine. Okoawo released her first solo album of poetry and music (“Black and Blues”) in 2004 and at the beginning of this month she put out her third, an album titled “Say Yes” which made history as the first-ever ‘Evolving Album’© which gives purchasers added content for free as the album evolves. Her name means “I want to be respected” in her native Esan language, and with her extraordinary talent we don’t see how we could do anything but.
Chibundu Onuzo – The one to watch
Lagos-bred, London-based Chibundu Onuzo hasn’t even been published yet and she is already being touted as a literary star of the future. The A 19-year-old Nigerian undergraduate at King’s College recently signed a two-book deal with Faber, making her its youngest ever female author. Her first novel, “The Spider King’s Daughter” is out next year and tells the story of the unlikely friendship between a male street hawker and an ajebota girl whose father is a member of the country’s ‘corrupt elite’. In an interview with CNN recently, Onuzo revealed that she wrote the book in her last year of school and is currently working on her second novel, a story about two soldiers stationed in the Niger Delta.
10 Nigerian iconographers you oughta know
October 29th, 2010Our next set of Naija AfriPOP! stars take reality and make a pretty picture out of it. Adding style and substance to the arts, often juggling different disciplines and they push boundaries to create powerful images in fashion, film, photography, design, and publishing over which we will marvel for years to come.
TY Bello – The Jill of All Trades
Not content with being a singer, make-up artist and the proud owner of an almighty afro, Toyin Sokefun aka TY Bello (pictured above) is also an acclaimed photographer. Formerly a singer with Nigerian urban gospel group Kush, Bello is one of the leading female photographers working in Nigeria. She is also a member of Depth of Field, the influential Nigerian photography collective whose members also include Kelechi Amadi-Obi and .Uche James-Iroha. Bello’s work, which has been exhibited from Bamako to Brussels, is something she describes as an extension of her music, which is an account of her life experiences.
Kehinde Wiley – The Renaissance Man
We heart Kehinde Wiley. With his opulent, powerful portraits of African-American and African men, this 33-year-old visual artist has become one of the biggest names in the art world by recasting the hip hop generation as Renaissance figures. Born in South Central Los Angeles to an African-American mother and a Nigerian father, Wiley works spins everything from west African fabric design to French rococo art to create what he describes as a “conversation about power”: who has it, who doesn’t and who does what with what they have. For the South Africa World Cup he teamed up with Puma to paint portraits of some of Africa’s biggest footballers, design the team uniforms and create collection of accessories to go with it. So while Africa didn’t bring home the cup, they definitely came first in the style stakes.
Kunle Afolayan – The Groundbreaker
In the future, Nollywood films may be referred to as BF and AF: “Before-The Figurine” and “After-The Figurine”. With his 2009 film actor turned filmmaker Kunle Afolayan changed the Nollywood game, bringing crisp cinematography, coherent editing, celluloid and genuine special effects to an industry where commercial success isn’t usually matched by technical brilliance. At once a pacy thriller and a contemporary Yoruba folk story, with a romantic sub-plot to boot, it stars Afolayan alongside Nollywood sweet boy Ramsey Nouah playing hilariously against type (at least in the beginning of the film) as a swaggerless misfit with a Coke bottle glasses. Although the film is far from perfect, it’s a step in the right direction as the five awards at this year’s African Academy Movie Awards attest.
Dammie Amolegbe – The Fashionista
About three years ago, a then 20-year-old Damilola “Wadami” Amolegbe was looking for a high quality Nigerian fashion glossy. She couldn’t find one, so she made one. The result was HauTe Magazine, a gorgeous quarterly glossy which showcases the best in African talent. In 2008 she went on to launch FashionAfrica.com, an online resource for those interested in fashion from the continent and beyond. And the next step is HauTe TV, a fashion and lifestyle show hosted by Hauwa Mukan which be broadcast in the UK and in the US this November.
Dawn Okoro – The Pop Artist
Some of our more observant and committed readers may notice that we have covered Dawn Okoro a couple of times before, but we really cannot say it enough: her work is the ish. Inspired by fashion and pop culture, and brandishing oil paint, acrylic and pencil, Okoro’s vibrant paintings capture the fragility and strength of womanhood. Erykah Badu is a fan and Okoro’s work has been exhibited in London, New York and Sydney. Like Wiley, Okoro was born to an African-American mother and a Nigerian father and while she has previously said that she wasn’t really exposed to Nigerian culture growing up, the fact that she qualified as a lawyer while pursuing her art career provides that she is Naija through and through.
Clarence Peters – The Video Star
While most Nigerian videos seem to be stuck in a Hype Williams time machine where flossin’ and champagne poppin’ are still the order of the day, a “Clarence A Peter Expression” sticks out like a sore thumb. Working with artists like Tuface Idibia and 9ice, Peters has made his mark with a videos that marry original concepts with stylish execution and a little bit of political commentary thrown in for good measure – no easy feat in a place where directors also have to be their own editor, set designer, costume consultant, gaffer and grip. Check out his video for MI & Sound Sultan’s “2010” and “Only Me” for Tuface – more than any other director out there, Peters presents an image of Nigeria which neither denigrates nor deceives. He just tells it like it is. The son of Nigerian music legend Shina Peters and actress Clarion Chukwura, Peters also heads Capital Hill Records, an up-and-coming music label.
Stephanie Okereke – Ms Nollywood-Goes-To-Hollywood
Stephanie Okereke may have started her film career as one of Nollywood’s leading ladies (appearing in over 90 films) but it’s very unlikely that her Wikipedia entry will end there. Over the past few years, this former beauty queen has been inching ever closer to Hollywood, first as a film student in New York and most recently as the director, producer and writer of “Through the Glass” which premiered at Cannes earlier this year. Okereke was also instrumental in bringing her alta mater, the New York Film Academy, to Nigeria to train a new generation of young filmmakers. We look forward to seeing what’s coming next.
Lemi Ghariokwu – The Afrobeat Artist
Think Afrobeat, think Fela, think Lemi Ghariokwu. Despite only being in his late teens when he started working with the people’s Poet Laureate, Ghariokwo was instrumental in creating a visual identity for the sound of Afrobeat. His riotous images married the exuberance of the music with it’s unapologetic political content. Starting with “Alagbon Close” in 1974, Ghariokwo went on to create 26 covers for Fela and over 2000 in a career which has spanned three decades. He may have been the first Nigerian to make a career from designing record sleeves but we don’t know of anyone who has come even close since.
FAB Magazine – The New African
FAB Magazine, which stands for Fabulous, African and Black, really does live up to its name. Publisher and fashion designer Familusi Akin Babajide has assembled a dream team in Nigerian-Turkish creative duo Suby & Sinem Onabanjo and Nigerian-British wunderkid Mista Skee on design duties, creating a high-end quarterly lifestyle magazine for Nigeria’s global diaspora. The first edition was a two-in-one music special for men and women, one featuring an original illustration of Nneka on the cover and the other featuring Eldee. And FAB’s fresh approach to photography and visuals, coupled with strong editorial and exclusively African advertising makes FAB a unique and welcome addition to the magazine market.
Andrew Dosunmu – The All Seeing Eye
The work of fashion photographer (Vogue Homme, Fader), TV/music video director (Talib Kweli, Common, South African drama “Yizo Yizo”) and now filmmaker Andrew Dosunmu has a very special way of rendering the mundane absolutely extraordinary. Seen through the eyes of Nigerian-born, London and Paris-educated and now New York and Lagos-based Dosunmu, street traders from Malaysia are reimagined as modern-day dandies, hip hop’s biggest artists become fifties-era film stars. And all of his images – warm, intense, honest – absolutely radiate soul. We expect nothing less from his film debut, a love story called “Restless City” set amongst a community of African immigrants in New York which he describes as “a beautiful, poetic film. Almost like watching a Godard, just with black people in it.”
10 Nigerian music makers you oughta know
October 11th, 2010To say Nigeria’s music industry is booming doesn’t begin to describe this colossal marketplace, the proceeds from which could sustain a small country.
It used to be a time when making it big overseas would be the ultimate for the average African music hopeful. But with the traditional western music model circling the drain, right here on the continent there exists one which suggests it ain’t over till the Naija massive say so: It’s not unheard of for uber stars like P-Square to command tens of thousands of US dollars in performance fees for a single show.
Obviously it helps that there are loads of Nigerians. Everywhere. But as summed up in this article by our peoples at Museke, it’s the loyal support that keeps Naija buzz going. And we pledge ours too.
Continuing in our series of 50 Flyerians, here is the second instalment: 10 Nigerians making moves in music that you should know by now.
(click on each image to read the summaries)
10 Nigerian trail blazers you oughta know
October 4th, 2010
The debate around whether Nigeria should even be celebrating 50 years of independence rages on. The car bombings at an event in Abuja on Friday October 1st intended to celebrate this milestone anniversary threw even more shade on the perspective of a country so full of contradictions: So much remains to be addressed, but at the same time, Nigerians represent the cream of African talent. Fearless, innovative, with swagger for days, no other black nation has made such a remarkable contribution to the world be it in science, the arts, business or upholding the Swiss economy.
If only her parasitic politicians (Governor Fashola of Lagos and a few others excepted) could just get it together or get the hell out of dodge, there’s no telling what this country could bring to the world.
Our hearts go out to the families of those who lost their lives in the tragic events of last Friday. And while we wait for political revolution, an end to corruption, a solution to the Niger Delta crisis and 24-hour electricity supply, AfriPOP! is celebrating the 50 young(ish) Flygerians (© British-Nigerian emcee Bigz) who are doing something to bring change to Nigeria and the world. Over the next five weeks, we will bring you a list of ten such people out of five different categories. Not everyone mentioned will be a green passport holder, but every single one of our picks represents Nigeria to the fullest.
This being Naija, we probably could have featured 500 people and we would have still missed someone out. So get at us if you have any comments or suggestions.
And to Nigerians everywhere, you no dey carry last!
AfriPOP! interview: Netsayi
April 18th, 2010Here at Afripop we’ve been big fans of Zimbabwean Netsayi ever since she burst onto the scene with her 2006 debut Chimurenga Soul. With her rootsy, soul vibe and clever, heartfelt lyrics she won critical acclaim. Now six months after the release of her second album Monkey’s Wedding and just a few weeks shy of the arrival of her first child, Netsayi talks to us about the birth of albums, babies and nations.
AfriPOP!: So how is all the baby stuff going?
Netsayi: Fine, it’s been quite exciting. Just trying to mentally prepare.
Is it your first?
Yeah [she says cooing]. I know. Quite exciting. I have six weeks left.
You must be quite big and belly-ful.
[Laughing] Yeah! It’s a bit of a shock actually. Because in the second trimester you have lots of energy and then you kind of get stuck. You get heavier and you know you are only going to get heavier.
Did you attend the Zimbabwe Pearl Ball (a fundraiser held in London recently in aid of Ndoro Children’s Charities)?
No, I don’t really believe in charity. Not in principal. I just think it has become so politicised. As Africans we’ve always got a structure for charity within the family. There are always orphans and children that need school fees paid. So I believe in community looking after each other but I can’t stand the way charity has become institutionalised. Like Comic Relief (British television fundraiser which raises money for projects mainly in Africa) – it plays up to so many pre-existing notions that people have [about Africa] and so people confuse the reasons why misfortune happens and they think that if we throw lots of money at the problem it will solve it when in actual fact it’s about politics and policy and racism and imperialism and all these sorts of things tangled up. And those images of people suffering are just used to manipulate people because charity is a business. It is a huge business. Maybe if I was in Zim and I knew there was an orphanage that needed help I wouldn’t be over thinking it to the extent that I am.
As a Zimbabwean singer, do you feel pressure to counter all the negative images we have of the country?
Yeah, definitely. Especially when I first came out. I realised that my story coincided with the story of the ‘disastrous state of Zimbabwe’ and I felt I had to defend the idea that it is not as simple as demonising a whole country. I have become very frustrated by the way that Zimbabwe has been portrayed and the way in which the problem has been aggravated by the media. That’s not to deny that we’ve had problems but those problems have been executed by more than one person. It’s not just about Mugabe being an arsehole.
Score4Africa Awards reviewed
December 10th, 2009AfriPOP! was at the Score4Africa Awards in London last week and it was pretty inspiring to see the African footballing fraternity getting props for the good stuff they do off the pitch instead of the fandanglement they do on it. Set up in 2008 to celebrate those who use football to create positive change on the continent, this year’s awards were hosted by playwright and actor Kwame Kwei-Armah. In attendance were the likes of property lawyer/philanthropist/socialite Nancy Dell’Olio, singer Mpho Skeef, Senegal international and Fulham strker Diomansy Kamara, his teammate South African international Kagiso Dikgacoi and Chelsea/Cote D’Ivoire star Salomon Kalou.
