Featured Friday: Kambua Manundu

Kambua Manundu is the quintessential gospel music guru. Singling in Swahili and English, her passion for music is infectious.   Her lyrical, soaring, compositions are at once intuitively accessible, melodically sophisticated, and spiritually dazzling. Find and listen to her music at www.myspace.com/kambuam

This “2008 AFRO FUSION FEMALE ARTISTE OF THE YEAR”  is a very personable musician.  Her manner is open, friendly, and completely devoid of arrogance. Plus,  she talks music with the genuine enthusiasm of a kid who grew up to live out all his musical fantasies. Her love of God is shared by others through lyrics and songs.  So when she agreed to an interview, I was naturally thrilled.

1.) Introduce yourself:

My name is Kambua Manundu. I was born and raised in Nairobi, Kenya. I sing for a living, primarily because I am called to minister through song, and secondly because I absolutely enjoy anything that involves music. Apart from music, I am embarking on being a voice for women and children in developing countries. I believe that more people need to speak out on issues of poverty, FGM and other forms of sexual abuse, HIV/AIDS, and so on.

2.) How would you describe your music?

My music is gospel, that is comprised of a fusion of African sounds such as zouk, kwaito, rhumba and Western sounds such as Soft Rock, R&B and Jazz…and so I call it Afro-fusion or Afro-pop.

3.) Which musicians do you admire?

I have a lot of admiration for Yolanda Adams, Chevelle Franklyn, India Arie, Aretha Franklin, Cece Winans, Angelique Kidjo, Khadja Nin, Jonathan Butler, and many more…

4.) Favorite lyric from a song:

“The highest expression of love is to give without expecting” India Arie

5.) Words that you live by:

There are no limits to what you can do when you are set free! Many times we are held back not by our limitations, but mostly for fear of daring to be the best that we can. Marianne Williamson best said it, that ‘our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate, our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure’. I’ve learned to not limit myself because I serve a God who knows no bounds!

Black Beauty

Growing up my mother taught me that being black was a gem. It was part of being formed by God. Kissed by the golden sun.  The combination was unbeatable. I said to myself, If I am going to think black, I will think positive about it. Don’t think down on it, or think it is something in your way. And this way,when you really do want to stretch out, and express how beautiful black is, everybody will hear you. Enjoy the black beauties. Next up on a later post, I will explore this beauty in black men.

Aton Arjork (from Sudan)

Teiko Dorno, She is Ghanaian and fabulous:

Yasmin Warsame her look is considered too “haute couture”was discovered in Toronto
while she was five months’ pregnant with her son Hamzah.wow thats really amazing if you have potential no one can really take that away from you.

Oluchi Omwegba from Nigeria:

Rahma Mohamed. I believe she is of Somali heritage:

Laura Izibor, musician from Ireland:

Nigerian-Sierra Leonean beauty Di’Ja (Real name: Hadiza Blell) is a rising musician taking the Canadian music scene by storm:

More to come 🙂

The Catwalks Finally Have Color

The catwalk has been freed to swell with color and majestic graces of diversity.  Even though black people don’t realise this small changes, these are the “I have a dream” speeches coming true. Not only the presentation of blacks on runways but the equal appreciation of beauty in every color. It makes us relate and appreciate the dorned coutoure as a style that can be dynamically wearble regardless of race. Anyhow, although change is slow, at least it is gradual. That is fabulous.

Jourdan Dunn one of the colors paining the runway fabulous....

Arise Magazine and African Beauties

Arise featured these three beauties during the 2008 Africa Rising event.  It was also a  chance to feature  couture/custom pieces by Nigerian designers: The supermodels (Naomi Campbell, Alek Wek & Liya Kebebe) were best dressed by Nigerian designers, Deola Sagoe, Fati Asibelua of MOMO Couture, Lanre DaSilva Ajayi of LDA. As I browsed through the magazine, I was overcome with glee. As a woman of African descent, I was proud to see that African fashion is booming. 

Alek Wek in Deola Sagoe

Naomi Campbell in Deola Sagoe

Liya in Deola Sagoe

Alek Wek in MOMO Couture

Liya in Lanre DaSilva Ajayi (LDA)

African Collections on the Runway

Arise Magazine did a coverage of an event that showcased African Fashion Collective at New York Fashion Week in February 2009. It was the group’s fashion debut at the prestigious fashion extravaganza. Xuly Bet, Tiffany Amber, Stoned Cherrie, and Momo presented their Fall 2009 collections to the fashion elite. 

Nanette Lepore Does Gypsy in Darker Colors

Nanette Lepore truly channels the inner nature gypsy and her bohemian influence is well suited no matter what colors she chooses to showcase. Watch out for these fall colors:

Inner fall gypsy in darker shades of a fading summer.

Rhi Rhi Style

Got style and mapping her own fashion stance so why not borrow some of her fashion awareness: 

Here’s another complete outfit:

Yes Yes.

And one more outfit:

Ever the fashionista!

Music Spotlight: Ayo

Ayo is a fresh face. This Neo-soul singer is not just sharing the steps, she is stepping on them and has great potential. I recently discovered her hidden treasures and now I’m on there stepping with her. 

Singer: Ayo

Listen to her: Down on My Knees: 

In B. Republic:

B. Republic ad with Ayo.

Shari Belafonte-Esque beauty

Shari Belafonte is beauty. Her talent has range: actree, singer, model….she is after all a progeny of the talent himself: Harry Belafonte! Anyways, she has her own rights to her classic nature.

Timeless beauty.

Inescapable and memorable:

Joburg Fashion week

Many designers gathered to potray, and claim, the golden era of African civilization.  Stoned Cherrie, one of S.A’s big fashion players was there to ring the alarms of the vibrancy of African designs. Johannesburg was up in the clouds with bold colors and fabrics reminiscent of royalty.  Sleek modern lines and funky street-wear are both things you can’t have enough of. Fashion in post-apartheid South Africa reflects the country’s journey from pariah state to a multiracial democracy.  Young designers mirror the country’s diversity and growing cultural confidence.  It’s not just fashion that’s exhibited in these pieces. It’s sentimental value as well. 

African beauty and accessories:

An outfit by Sun Goddes at Joburg Fashion Week.

A model displays an outfit created by Stoned Cherrie with the theme "Fashion for food" to create the awareness of child hunger during Joburg Fashion Week Photo: Reuters

David Tlale rocks the Johannesburg Fashion Week.

David Tlale goes green!

Thula Sindi’s Collection

Sun Goddess @ Audi Joburg Fashion Week 2008

Street style

Selita goes to NYC home of the big apple:

Casual as in great footwear and dressy fit.

Beyonce in Paris: always a show-stopper.

Peep toe boots are a check... check mark away.

This one lady has got that futuristic look working for her:

The wrap-around snug around shades and the Shemagh scarf work nicely. Dare and be different: Check!

This one lady is looking fly:

The sunglasses and outfit beem her up. Coutesy of Essence.

Rock a dress.

I like.

Ciara is taking back style: Even on a casual day:Can I hear a YES!

Ciara arrives at BBC Radio in London, England. Looking fab.

Farrell is never out of step with his game…even if the game is grey:

Grey never looked this freshly adorned!

Jourdan Dunn on her day off looking casual:

The effortless look I say.

Okay you know I  just had to throw in Mr. West in there. Street styler himself!!!

At Fashion Week in Milan 09: Let me higher elavate his ego:..great coat and jeans!

Check That Out

Check this makeup out. Wahida Fowler’s beautiful dark skin is glorious in showing the great colors:

 

Wow skin so beautiful.