M A G A Z I N E
AIM MAGAZINE 2011 Jan
Eva Githina AIM Network Editor
Linda Obel AIM Network Editor
Gerald Montgomery AIM Contributor G-Spot
Alita Watson AIM Contributor Alita’s Travels
Contributors Nyandia Kamawe AIM Contributor Read her blog about her summer adventures. http://enkaydesigns.wordpress.com/
Wangechi Ruguaru AIM Network Graphic Designer
Rebecca Taiti AIM Contributor A third year student at Moi University in Eldoret- Kenya, majoring in Economics. She is an ardent reader of all types of books and developed a passion for writing a few years back. She helped and actively participated in writing various articles for her high school magazine. Rebecca Taiti is currently the Assistant Brand Manager of her school club, Business Management Students Association, where she continues writing articles for the club.
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AIM (Africans In Motion) Magazine is a subsidiary of AIM Network. AIM Magazine is a monthly publication which highlights fellow Africans that are inspiring, driven and successful in their various fields. Our AIM is to celebrate and share our differences. Please subscribe to AIM Magazine and feel free to contact us with any questions or suggestions at aimminnesota@gmail.com
By Time to try a new approach!
By Eva Githina
It is time to admit that despite all the posivity, wisdom, and the endless platitudes, this year has rained crap every which way on my parade. Every time my glass was half-full, the fates or karma or life such as it is took it down back to empty. I recently read somewhere that there was a movement that was encouraging the expression of radical honesty. The re-inventors of this theory (I call them reinventors because there is nothing new under the sun, and I believe that this is a re-incarnation of an older more ancient philosophy) believe that it is crucial to be brutally honest with our friends and family and even co-workers despite the hurt this will cause or the financial and career loss that would of course result. Would this be radical honesty- or an opportunity to say every random thought that passes through our heads? Since this a radical philosophy, I would advise that you reflect seriously (or evaluate the amount in your savings account) before undertaking such a radical lifestyle change. Being the more cautious sort, I decided to start with myself, especially because of all the setbacks I have endured. One of the things I strongly believe is that we all have some delusions about ourselves. Regardless of who you are, there is an aspect of your life that you either ignore or that you are not honest with yourself about. It could be your job, your financial situation, your relationships or even the size or lack thereof of your ego. Whatever it is, you need to evaluate it honestly for your own benefit. I believe that if I had done this earlier, I would have fared much better when crap was raining down on me. I also believe that it would also be good practice to remove the speck in our eyes before we dare to point it out in others. So, dear friends, I challenge you to start being radically honest with yourselves because that is the first step towards understanding who you really are. In the words of Clark Moustakas - 'Accept everything about yourself- I mean everything. You are you and that is the beginning and the end- no apologies, no regrets.
Eva
By Eva Githina Simphiwe Dana came to my attention after I stumbled upon her video of Ndirendi on YouTube. She has an ethereal way of singing that blends the old and the new and then some. Born in rural Gcuwa, and then raised in the town of Lusikisiki. Simphiwe went on to study graphic design, and IT at the Wits Technikon, Johannesburg. She is well respected in the music industry and has received 6 SAMA Awards, including Best New Comer in 2004 and Album of The Year in 2007 for The One Love Movement on Bantu Biko Street. Her third album Kulture Noir comprises of thirteen new songs and builds on the fusion of deep African musical roots, inspired melodies and a stunningly unique contemporary voice. The result is another beautifully crafted collection to add to the South African songbook. Kulture Noir was recorded alongside acclaimed producers from the African continent and Diaspora including Thapelo Khomo, producer of her debut Zandisile; Nigeria's 'Afro Juju' and jazz guitar maestro Kunle Ayo; and the SAMA Award winning Mozambican artist and producer Moreira Chonguica. Ndirendi is my favorite track by Dana. It is simply done with subtle harmonies that lead you to sway without realizing it. The video has hints of futuristic and traditional African elements intermixed. The first single from Kulture Noir, Ndimi Nawe, is a track that, like so much of Simphiwe’s work, defies genre. Simphiwe describes her music as "meditative and celebratory," the haunting Ndimi Nawe is a textured blend of light and dark over which Dana invokes the spirits and finds strength. Simphiwe challenges those that have come before her and those with much more tenure as artists, because she does her thing so well. She has a truly unique view as far as jazzy style is concerned and she is not afraid to be mellow in a way that resounds harder than some of the harder beats we hear coming from South Africa. There is a confidence that she portrays about where she wants to lead her listener, and I think it would be wise of us to take a moment to listen.
AIM followed up with Simphiwe and this is what she had to say….
What is your full name and where are you from? My name is Simphiwe Dana and I come from South Africa in the Eastern Cape. How does your family feel about your music? My family is very happy with the path I've chosen musically. My mother is especially proud. What was the hardest adjustment to making a career out of music? The fact that I wasn't guaranteed a pay check every month like a nine to fiver. Nothing else besides that as I'd psyched myself all my life for a career in music.
“As I am an African my main concern is the condition of African people”””
What inspired you to become a music artist? The art of singing itself, which my mother excelled in. I never could get over how she sang and how singing made her feel. There was always so much calm on her face when she sang. Like she was connected to something beyond mundane everyday life. How did you get into the music industry? Because of my IT background I was quite techno savvy. I put together my own home studio very cheaply and went on to write my songs a cappella. One day I was doing a collaboration of my songs with a poet friend of mine Zee. A music festival organiser, Roshnie Moonsamy happened to be there. As she wanted to book me for her festival, Urban Voices, she offered to help me get organised. I gave her a demo which she shopped around. I later got a call from Gallo Record Company and went on to launch my debut album on her stage at Urban Voices alongside Angelique Kidjo.
● ● ● “Your passions are what will change the world, not your fears” ● ● ●
What is the main inspiration behind your music? The One Love Movement of Bantu Biko Street and Kulture Noir also what was similar or different in the artistic approach or your life perspectives as you worked on compiling those albums? The main inspiration behind my music is the human condition. I believe that as an artist you are the measure of where society is spiritually, culturally. As I am an African my main concern is the condition of African people. When I wrote The One Love Movement on Bantu Biko Street I had just gone through a traumatic period in my personal life. I had just been involved in a car accident that left me with a big scar on my face. I really threw myself into trying to fix my society. I think in part because I wasn't ready to fix myself yet. With Kulture Noir, though it is a celebration, in the somberest of manners, of African Kulture, it was my celebration. I saw Africa in my own image, I was Africa. So it is a personal album, where every song stemmed from how I feel. So it was therapy for me. I felt cleansed and empowered after Kulture Noir. What advice would you give to young and upcoming music artists? Your passions are what will change the world, not your fears. What causes or issues are you passionate about? I'm passionate about education and children; I'm passionate about creating a better tomorrow. I realise that in Africa it is easier to fix the future than to fix today. Who are your top 5 favourite African Musicians? Fela Kuti, Salif Keita, Buika, Toumane Diabate, Miriam Makeba, (please note this list could change at a moment's notice). You have a very unique sense of style, what inspires your fashion choices and which African designers do you favour? I'm intrigued a lot by the future whilst being an old soul. That is reflected in my fashion choices. I like Palesa Mokubung of Mantsho, Stoned Cherrie, David Tlale. My new favourite, though not African, is Clive Rundle. I think he gets where I'm at right now. I mostly wear his clothes these days.
www.simphiwedana.blogspot.com
info@enkaydesigns.com 678.570.7174 www.enkaydesigns.com
AIM MAGAZINE 2010 DEC
56
Fashion
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$75.00 4 inch platform wedge covered in fabric.
Alita is blessed to be able to travel for work; these travels take her to countries in Africa and South America. She pens her experiences in the most amazing way and has agreed to share her stories with AIM Magazine. Enjoy!
Alita Watson has always had a passion for helping those who don't have the resources or capabilities to access health care and education in the U.S and developing countries around the world. She has spent extensive time traveling through South/Central America, and Africa, volunteering her time to develop projects that empower the impoverished populations. http://www.smilenetwork.org/Smile_Network/Volunteer_for_a_Mission.html
Sitting on Flamingo Hill April 14, 2011
I write from Lake Nakuru, Kenya sitting underneath my bamboo-thatched patio at Flamingo Hill. I am surrounded by plush green in leaves, shoots, and blossoms with views that stretch beyond the Great Rift Valley. When I close my eyes I can sense the hundreds of species of birds, flowers and wild animals that surround me with songs, screeches and smells of lion poop and honeydew. This is the meeting point of two Smile teams, one traveling from Mbale Uganda after an 8-day mission, the other having just arrived for the mission taking place in Kijabe, Kenya this week. I am eager to greet my Mbale team, who will travel over ten hours by bumpy road with a touch of border harassment to reach us tonight. I know they have seen a lot and done some amazing work this past week, I can’t wait to celebrate them with gratitude and splendid new company. Africa has greeted us in its entire splendor and the beginning of the rainy season gave way for a spectacularly beautiful road-trip today through the Rift Valley, towns and villages leading to Nakuru. I love bringing people to Africa for the first time, watching their eyes widen at the curiosity and beauty of this continent, culture, and people. Especially young Caroline, who is only 15 years old. Her father Rick gave her the best Christmas present I could ever wish for at her age; not only a trip to Africa with her dad, but a journey that will expose her to the gift of giving. This is a journey that will undoubtedly change her life, forever. We have a fabulous cast of characters joining the long and spectacularly decorated dining room table this evening; some well-seasoned volunteers of Smile, and some newbie’s who have no idea just what they signed up for! I couldn’t have picked a finer group or place to begin Smiles first mission in Kenya. I will surely take a moment to toast all of them, and all of YOU who have supported our efforts to get here, and bring even more bright glowing smiles to Kenya! Alita Watson
“I love bringing people to Africa for the first time, watching their eyes widen at the curiosity and beauty of this continent, culture and people� Alita
Drink
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[Type text]
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The Caipirinha Recipe You will need: Cachaca/Barcadi Lemon Limes Superfine sugar Crushed ice A "lowball", "rocks" or "Old-Fashioned" glass A pestle (from a mortar and pestle -- or something similar) for the muddling Preparation: 1. 2. 3.
4.
5.
6. 7. 8.
9. 10.
Cut the ends off of the lime and discard. Cut the lime in half lengthwise and cut out the white pith in the middle. Cut the lime in half, and cut one half of the lime into four wedges and place in the glass. If your lime is small, you will need to add more lime to the glass. Add one to three tablespoons of sugar. The amount of sugar depends on your personal taste as well as the size of the lime you are using. Use the pestle to "muddle" the limes and sugar together. Basically, you want to crush the limes so that they mix in well with the sugar. Be careful not to break the skin of the lime. When you've gotten all of the juice out of the lime, you're done. Pack crushed ice in the glass all the way to the top. Add Cachaca or Barcadi lemon all the way to the top of the glass. (It's really only about 2 oz.) Use a larger glass or bottom of a cocktail shaker and put it over the top of your drink. Pick up with two hands and shake very well for at least 15 seconds. Garnish with a wedge or slice of lime. Drink...and enjoy the best Caipirinha!
See No Evil
There is nothing better than sitting under a shady tree in the summer, engrossed in a good book. This summer, I would recommend you take a look at the list of Africa’s best books as defined by the Commonwealth Writers’ Prize which is one of the world’s most important literary awards.
It is presented annually by the Commonwealth Foundation with support from the Macquarie Group Foundation. Established in 1987, the prize aims to recognize the best fiction by both established and new writers from Commonwealth countries and ensure these works reach a wider audience outside their countries of origin. The 2011 list for Africa’s Best Books are as follows: -The Memory of Love by Aminatta Forna (Sierra Leone) - Men of the South by Sukiswa Wanner (South Africa) - The Unseen Leopard by Bridget Pitt (South Africa - Oil on Water by Helon Habila (Nigeria) - Blood at Bay by Sue Rabie (South Africa) - Banquet at Brabazan by Patricia Schonstein (South Africa)
Hear No Evil Speak No Evil
Simphiwe Dana, featured in this issue of AIM Magazine is a bright vocal talent whose music is a fusion of traditional African music and Jazz. She has three amazing albums for you to pick from, and we recommend that you listen to all three: Zandisile (2004), The One Love Movement of Bantu Biko Street (2006) and Kulture Noir (2010). http://www.simphiwedana.com/
Please spread the word on AIM to all all your friends, family and even to strangers. Please subscribe to AIM Magazine by going to www.issuu.com/aimminnesota selecting the latest issue clicking on the Subscribe button and follow instructions
By Eva Githina
HEALTH
By Eva Githina
Hot Weather Work out Tips
You would think that with warm weather, we are apt to work out more. However, the disadvantage of hot weather is that it has a tendency to make us want to lounge or if we push ourselves too hard, we could reduce the effectiveness of our summertime workouts and or even harm ourselves. To prevent that from happening, here are a few guidelines I put to use for this time of the year. 1. Adjust your body temperature Although this feels like a waste of water, since you will be hopping into the shower after your workout anyway, cooling your body temperature is a way to get you in the right frame of mind and body for a sun time work out. If you are like some people I know and you do not do cold showers, try cooling your neck or head with an ice pack. 2. Find the Shade To maximize your summertime workouts, avoid working out when the Sun is at its highest. It is better to work out at sunrise or sunset, than at noon. If you cannot avoid the hottest hours of the day, make sure you wear a hat; sunglasses and that you have adequate sunscreen to protect your skin. 3. Watch your heart rate The hotter it is, the harder your body has to work. There are a hundred and one gadgets out there that are meant to help you keep track of your heart rate, but for me the talk test is a true and cheap way of keeping track of my heart rate to ensure that I do not over do it. You can sing as you run or you can recite a poem. You should be able to complete a full sentence. If not, you need to ease up on the pace, speedy Gonzalez! 4. Watch what you step on If you are running, cycling or walking, choose the dirt path over the gravel paths which radiate more heat back to the atmosphere. The dirt is also more forgiving on the poor old joints. If you workout near a body of water such as a lake or pool, you will have a cooler workout since the water helps to keep the temperature down. 5. Focus on your intervals Do your regular cardio (be it walking, running or biking) at a slightly slower pace, then add in 30-second speed bursts every five to 10 minutes. This will improve your conditioning and allow you to burn more calories. 6. Maximize with your sun-friendly workouts Maximize your higher body temperature by doing more yoga and Pilates. When your body temperature is up, you can go deeper into a pose. So take the time to work on your practice. 7. Mix it up Sneak in little bits of exercise with some summer-friendly activities e.g. washing the car, gardening, playing tennis, walking the dog, mowing the lawn, biking around the neighborhood, skipping rope or hula-hooping. All these will burn calories and keep you entertained. 8. Be Fruity Fruits are made up mostly of water, and with the summer, your local farmer’s market will offer great options at affordable prices. Fruits such as grapes, watermelon, cantaloupe, papaya and honeydew are a tasty way to replenish fluids and boost your energy after your workout. For a cool and refreshing treat, throw them in the freezer and eat them cold, or make a lush fruit smoothie.
AIM MAGAZINE 2011 Jan
MORALITY RECENTLY I FOUND MYSELF NEEDING TO EXPLAIN THE IDEA OF MORALITY, THE IMPORTANCE OF DOING GOOD EVEN WHEN NO ONE IS LOOKING AND THE DAMAGE DOING THE WRONG THING ULTIMATELY DOES TO OUR BEING, TO MY 7-YEAR-OLD DAUGHTER.
BELIEVE IT OR NOT WE WERE HAVING A TEA PARTY (YES, I SAID TEA PARTY; A DAD'S GOTTA DO WHAT A DAD'S GOTTA DO). I WAS, INITIALLY TRYING TO EXPLAIN (BUSINESS) ETHICS TO HER BECAUSE WE WERE PRETENDING TO START OUR OWN COMPANY . TRUST ME; IT WAS MUCH LESS COMPLEX THAN IT SOUNDS.
APPOINTED TIME.
THE CREATOR, WE WILL CALL HIM
“KING”. THE WATER IN THE GLASS IS IN ESSENCE OUR “SPIRIT” AND THE GLASS, OUR “SOUL”. EACH UNRIGHTEOUS THING WE DO ROBS OUR CONTENTS OF A SIP, DEPLETING THE SOUL OF ITS SPIRIT. IN CONTRAST, EVERY RIGHTEOUS ACT ADDS HALF A SIP. THUS WE NEVER REALLY GET AWAY WITH ANYTHING WE DO; BE IT GOOD OR EVIL, NO GOOD DEED GOES UNPUNISHED. EVERY GLASS IS NOT THE SAME SIZE AND THE QUANTITY OF EACH SIP, LOST OR GAINED, VARIES. THEREFORE THE AMOUNT OF SIPS EACH CUP STARTS WITH IS KNOWN ONLY TO OUR MAKER, THE KING, AS IS THE WEIGHT OF EVERY DEED ON ITS EVER-CHANGING BALANCE.
THE KING QUENCH
WILL COME TO EACH OF US IN DUE SEASON TO
HIS
THIRST.
A
THIRST THAT MATCHES
GLASS.
IT IS FOR THIS VERY CREATED. IF THE AMOUNT OF ANYWAY, THE FOLLOWING IS THE PARABLE I CAME UP WITH, USING A GLASS OF WATER AS A VISUAL AID. TO MY SATISFACTION SHE WAS VERY RESPONSIVE TO THIS ANALOGY.
SO I WANTED TO SHARE IT WITH ALL OF YOU, MY FELLOW G SPOT READERS. I HOPE YOU FIND THIS ALLEGORY AS USEFUL AS I DO. THIS IS THE SLIGHTLY MORE INTELLECTUAL VERSION.
“MINE BE
IS ONLY TO
THE
BEST
ME
ANYONE CAN BE” WE ARE ALL LIKE GLASSES OF WATER; TRANSPARENT AND FRAGILE YET REDEEMING TO OUR MAKER. REDEEMING BECAUSE WE ARE THE ONLY CREATURE FOR WHICH HIS GRACE AND MERCY ARE AS ESSENTIAL TO OUR EXISTENCE AS HIS BLESSINGS AND OUR LABOR. WE WERE ALL “CREATED” WITH OUR GLASSES HALF FULL, OR HALF EMPTY DEPENDING ON YOUR PERSPECTIVE. FROM THE START THIS AMOUNT WAS SUFFICIENT TO QUENCH OUR “CREATOR’S” THIRST, IF HE SO CHOOSES, BUT HE DESIGNED US WITH ROOM FOR IMPROVEMENT; TO QUENCH HIS THIRST AT THE
HIS
EXPECTATION OF HOW MUCH WATER WE SHOULD HAVE IN OUR PURPOSE WE HAVE ALL BEEN WATER IN OUR GLASS THEN IS
KING’S THIRST HE WILL DECLARE US “A WASTE OF HIS TIME” AND “DISCARD” US. OUR LOWEST LOWS AND HIGHEST HIGHS IN LIFE DO NOT MATTER. ONLY THE BALANCE OF WATER IN OUR GLASS AT THE TIME OF RECKONING IS WHAT MATTERS. BUT IF WE ARE SUFFICIENT TO QUENCH HIS THIRST HE WILL “SPARE” US. NOT SUFFICIENT TO QUENCH THE
WHAT IT MEANS TO BE DISCARDED OR SPARED IS LEFT ONLY FOR THE KING TO DETERMINE. MINE IS ONLY TO BE THE BEST ME ANYONE CAN BE. YOURS IS TO BE THE BEST YOU ANYONE CAN BE. HIS IS TO, THROUGH GRACE; PASS US OVER UNTIL WE ARE FIT TO QUENCH HIS THIRST.
WHEN
THE
KING
COMES TO QUENCH
CUP RUNNETH OVER OR WILL
HIS
THIRST WILL YOUR
IT’S WELL RUN DRY? WILL YOU
BE SPARED OR DISCARDED?
IRON SHARPENS IRON, SO LET’S BE BETTER BECAUSE OF IT!
BY GERALD MONTGOMERY
By Rebecca Taiti
When I was a young girl, I prayed for life and vehemently feared death. As the years passed, I grew up. Became more sure of myself and confident in my prayers and petition to God. I loved life, looked forward to beautiful summers and springs and longed for the autumns and winters. I feared death less. Then, I lost my mother. Fear was not a word enough to describe death. I was mortified. The world as I saw it was no longer filled with daisies. It was a sad place. Unbearable. All those many prayers I had said over the years seemed to vanish into oblivion. Absolutely vain. My faith was shaken. Everything I believed indamaged. I wanted to sue God for tearing my heart into tiny pieces. I felt betrayed by a God who had promised life to those who trusted and loved him. I questioned everything I believed in. Everything became void. I can vividly remember just like it was yesterday. I was sobbing quietly in my grandmother’s bedroom when my cousin came in carrying a sealed box. Incoherently, amid sobs, I asked him, “Daniel, what is contained in the box?” “You probably should not open that until tomorrow.” He tried to pick his words carefully. “Tomorrow.” The word resounded in my mind.
It was the day of the burial. My brother, Timothy, who all along was lying silently in the opposite bed, looked up into my eyes. Waiting. As Daniel respectfully exited the room, I moved closer to the box and tore it open to reveal its content. It was at that moment when I realized what was held inside. It was my mother’s eulogy, printed in small booklets with a photo of her at the cover of each duplicate copy. Timothy looked at me grimly. I had never seen this side of him. He seemed benumbed. Suddenly, he stuttered, his tears clearly visible, “Anita, is that mum on the cover?” I could not hold my tears any longer. Every muscle in me was tearing apart. I wept. Bitterly. Somberly. Rebecca, my aunt, who was in the other room, came to my side to console me. Timothy on the other hand, wanting to conceal his anguish, turned his face to the wall. The poor boy was grief stricken. I could not bring myself to tell him that everything was going to get better. Not with the reality of
knowing that my mother was really gone. That she had not gone on a long journey and was going to come back. This was the acme of pain. Rebecca, knelt by the bedside and whispering she blurted out, “You should not let Timothy see you like this. You are the first born Anita. The least you should do is to try and be strong for him.” I did not blame her for that uncalled for “callousness.” She was not in my shoes. How could she possibly know the hell I was going through! All along, my father was standing beside me with his brother-whispering in hushed tones. I could tell he was shaken. That he too, was questioning, just like I was. He seemed to be in stupor. I could not console him. He did not either. We looked at each other, not certain of anything. My mind raced back to some of the plans I had for the future. In particular, my wedding day. I had pictured both my parents walk me down the aisle. My mother, vibrant and full of life just like always, making merry. The grim reality was, she would never be there. Life truly, had dealt us a hard blow. I could not stop blaming myself and everyone who I deemed fit and who apparently, played a role in my mother’s demise. “Why did my uncle have to die?” I questioned myself. Had he not passed on, my mother would have never had to travel to his burial and heavens knew she would still be with us. I wanted the reckless driver, who had caused the accident to pay dearly. He should instead, have taken my mother’s place. The world would be a safer place without him. My father told me that witnesses at the accident scene confessed of my mother’s courage. That she was a strong woman despite the unbearable pain she was in. That she screamt and cried for help but everyone was helpless. They just stood by and watched as she lay trapped in the mangled wreck of a car. She was in pain for two hours before she finally died. “God could surely have come to her rescue. He had two hours to do it. My mother was too young and too loved to die!” I argued. “What part of religion had I neglected to deserve this?” “Had I not been pious or piety enough?” “Hadn’t we, as a family, dedicated our lives to God and wholly relied on his love?” And as it poured heavily on that fateful night, I knew in my heart that with time I would learn to forgive myself, others and most importantly God-if only for the sake of my father and brother. I know now why my mother had told me that our ways were not Gods ways and that our reason could not comprehend everything that happened to us. As days unfold into weeks, weeks into months and months into years, I learn to remember my mother not by how she left but by how she lived.
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AIM MAGAZINE 2011 Jan