A Dream to Empower Diaspora Kenyans, Africans to Excel
May 3, 2010
She is not following the path most Kenyans and Africans in the diaspora do. Her desire is not to become a doctor, nurse, lawyer, professor or accountant.
Lucy Kitavi’s dream job is the opportunity to motivate others to excel. Her passion is powered by the desire to empower Africans in the diaspora to act on their dreams, shape their destiny and not limit their potential to day-to-day survival.
“America is still a land of plenty of opportunities. We have been putting artificial limitations on ourselves for far too long. It’s about time we unleashed the sleeping heroes in us and followed our dreams. Our attitudes have to change and we should set our bar higher,” says a confident Lucy.
Lucy Kitavi was born and raised in Narok, Kenya to a young Maasai woman. She graduated from Kenya Polytechnic University with a degree in institutional management and is currently the staffing coordinator at Presbyterian Homes in Minnesota, USA.
Lucy has been featured as a motivational speaker by Hennepin County Medical Center, University of St. Catherine and the Uganda Women’s Association. She officially launches her dream of becoming an independent motivational speaker this month and would like to see Kenyans and other Africans come out to support each other’s dreams. The event is free and open to the public with complimentary refreshments.
WHAT: Empower the hero in you
WHERE: McKenna Crossing
ADDRESS:13810 shepherd’s path, Prior Lake, MN 55379
WHEN:Saturday, May 15, 2010
TIME: 2:00 pm
You can reach Lucy via email at lucykitavi@gmail.com or by phone: 651-398-9376
Italy kicks out Reggae Sunsplash Festival, Cites Ganja Use
May 2, 2010
After 16 years as one of the major summer reggae festivals in Europe, Rototom Reggae Sunsplash, has moved from Italy to Spain because the authorities (in Italy) have accused the organisers of promoting the use of marijuana via reggae music and Rasta culture.
“The excuse is that we facilitate the use of ganja because we are promoting reggae music and Rasta culture. So Rasta culture and reggae bring the people to smoke marijuana,” publicist/art director for the Rototom Sunsplash, Sabrina Trovant Sunday Observer in an exclusive interview after the launch of the festival at the Ashanti Restaurant at Hope Garden in Kingston last Tuesday.
However, this, Trovant pointed out, came as a result of a change in the political climate in Italy. “The far-right conservative party won the election in 2008. They are more closed to immigrants … people who are not Italians. So the festival is the symbol of completely the opposite. It is multi-cultural. We promote peace, love and unity between people. No matter your culture, your religion or your tradition, anything. We are one blood,” she explained.
The Rototom Reggae Sunsplash is a big event wherein more than 100,000 people for more than a week with 120 different nationalities in the same place. “In a place where there is no riots, between them, y’know,” Trovant stresses.
“It’s not just a music festival, it’s much more than a music festival. It’s a reggae university. The singers, journalists, producers come to the festival to meet other people to learn about the history of each other. During the days we do meetings, debates, workshops, picture exhibitions,” booking manager Giovanni Vinci explained.
“It has become a meeting point for intellectuals, politicians. We talk about life”, added Trovant about the sponsor-free event. “Our sponsors are the people. The people buy the tickets six months before and we usually sell around three thousands tickets six months before because the people trust us. It’s more a European congregation of the reggae people than simply a festival of stage production. The movement of a community,” she said.
It was the second time the Rototom Sunsplash was launched in Jamaica. Three years ago, it was launched at Strawberry Hill. “On that occasion we brought European journalist to let them learn the culture of Bob Marley. They spent five days here visiting the Bob Marley Museum, Tuff Gong Studio, Nine Miles, etc. This time, we are meeting with the Jamaican press because here everything was born. For a reggae festival, the centre of the world is Jamaica. Without Jamaica there would be no Bob Marley and without Bob Marley there would probably be no reggae in the world. So, for this reason we came here to meet with the Jamaican media and the minister of culture, Ms Olivia Grange,” Vinci said.
“This year we are changing country and language. This idea that who promote reggae is promoting ganja, so to promote reggae is a crime, is totally stupid. Spain is more opened to integration between different culture, more democratic,” declared Vinci.
The Rototom Sunsplash has been taking place every summer at Osoppo, in the province of Udine, Italy. The new location for the 17th edition will be in Spain in the town of Benicassim, situated on the Mediterranean coast in the province of Castellon.
“Spain is certainly a more liberal and welcoming country. The local authority in Spain is very happy that we are there. And also they also have a different attitude towards the festival because they recognise the festival can bring economic results,” Trovant said about the week-long festival slated to run from August 21 to 28.
The line-up so far includes Alpha Blondy, Aswad, Alborosie, Fantan Mojah, Bob Andy, Big Youth, Glen Washington, Anthony B.
By Basil Walters, Jamaica Reporter
Somali Sisters’ Journey From Civil War to New York Fashionistas
May 2, 2010
Two Somali women are making a splash in the New York fashion scene, designing a range of clothes that take their inspiration from Africa. Identical twins Ayaan and Idyl Mohallim were born in Somalia, but
left for the United States aged nine to escape the civil war.
They grew up in Washington D.C. before going to college — one in Boston and the other in Michigan. After graduation they headed for New York City and set up fashion label Mataano — the Somali word for twins. Seeing that New Yorkers were wedded to wearing black, the Mohallim twins were determined to brighten up the city with a splash of African color. Ayaan told CNN, “We came into this industry and realized that with
a lot of the clothes that we saw, everything was black. “You know in Africa, with everything you wear it’s almost like the peacock theory — people want to be noticed, they want to stand out.
“So the world’s taking notice. It’s not about designers going to Africa for a safari and coming back with an animal print and big bangles and saying ‘here’s your one trick pony.’ “Africa is not a homogeneous place — it has different cultures. So now there’s a medium for it and there’s more designers that are traveling abroad and bringing that aesthetic to this market.” The pair have been in business for less than two years, but they
are taking inspiration from the entire continent of Africa, drawing on the traditional dress of specific regions and subcultures. Their childhood in Somalia has left a lasting impression that can be seen in their designs.
“The Somali woman has strength and we want to evoke this through our collection,” said Ayaan. “So we design really flowy, beautiful dresses that have a nice strong print that showcases the strength these women really have.”"For our Spring 2010 collection we also used Somali references and inspirations,” said Idyl. There was one silhouette that’s worn by every woman in Somalia, called a ‘dirac.’ We didn’t want to recreate it too much, we just wanted to introduce that and say ‘it’s relevant and you can wear it in a western culture.’”
But while they are fusing traditional African clothing with modern Manhattan sensibilities, they have to be sensitive to cultural differences in their more conservative homeland. “We got a lot of feedback from Somalis everywhere,” said Idyl. “A lot of our consumers and fans are writing us and saying ‘you guys are making beautiful clothes but some of them are not modest enough, especially not for the Somali culture and Somali woman.’ “So that’s something that we really had to pay attention to and try to create something for everyone, while staying true to the collection.” The twins’ new collection will debut on runways in South Africa this summer during Africa Fashion Week. They say it’s a big step in the right direction, but they have their sights set on expanding even further. 99-year-old graduate fights Africa’s brain drain “In the next few years we definitely want to expand our business,” said Idyl. “We want to go global. We want to be in Europe, the Middle East, and especially Africa. “We want to speak to the global consumer — and not just for women
– we’ve been getting a lot of requests from men.”
As they grow beyond the boutiques of Brooklyn and Manhattan, the twins believe their story is one that resonates with people from all backgrounds. “We’re bringing a positive story and people connect with that
because we’re following the American dream and we’ve overcome a lot of obstacles,” said Idyl. “We’ve had to assimilate, but at the same time there are so many immigrants, so many different individuals doing that throughout the Diaspora, throughout Africa, so there is a positive story that needs to be told.
“I think it’s really refreshing to hear a different side of Somalia … that we’re not all pirates!”
By Isha Sesay, CNN
Recent Comments