Editor’s Notes Feature Story: FAFA 2012 Chew on this Health Talk G-Spot December Food Book Review No Evil Tech Buzz Press RELEASE Vote of Thanks Adverts Subscription
Editor : Wangechi Ruguaru
Editor : Linda Obel
Contributor : Gerald Montgomery
Contributor : Kabura Wahome
Contributor : Kenny Githina
Editor : Eva Githina
Contributor : Wambui Wamutongoria
Designer- Sam Gathenji
2012 was quite a year for AIM Magazine and for you too I’m sure. Most of us begin or end the year working on our to-do lists. We all have a list of goals we want to attain in any given year and we put a lot of thought too on what we have accomplished at the end. We tend to plan on things, prepare for things, by laying the ground work, getting background, studying and saving for the things that we definitely want to attain or accomplish. This year has taught me to appreciate the unexpected and unplanned for. The best part of life is the surprise factor. The things that come to us when we least expect it. Although I am not a big fan of surprise parties, I have definitely learned to appreciate those little surprises that come with the everyday. Even for AIM Magazine, we have been blessed this year, like all the years since we began, by the dedication shown to this publication by our brilliant contributors and readers. They keep surprising us every year with the wealth of wisdom they share, the panache with which they craft their columns and the inspiration with which they touch our very lives. As we go into 2013, I want to ask that you leave room in your list and in your lives for the little surprises. Also, check out this issue to see what surprises we have in store for you. Live Long and Prosper,
a n i h t i G a Ev
Festival For African Fashion And Arts 2012 FAFA was set up in 2008 during the post-election violence which took place in Kenya. It was envisioned as an event that would bring people together to promote a message of unity and peace. FAFA aims to break the negative stereotypes based on fear of the unknown; Africa remains one of the biggest victims in terms of misconceptions and misinformation. As more and more people realize their responsibility in creating a more harmonious for the African continent, it is vital that another story of the continent be told. This is why on a warm night in a suburb in Nairobi Kenya, designers, fashion lovers and the press assembled for a fabulously glamorous fashion gala. Here’s a highlight of looks shown at the event
ANIL PADIA As one of the only producers of Fabric at FAFA This collection stood out for me, Anil Padia’s work involved intricate craftsmanship by hand painting and embroidering their fabrics. This collection for me was a perfect merge of African minimalism.
ANNA ADERO Anna Adero specializes in alternative bridal gowns and develops her own textiles using tie and dye and bleaching and beading and hand embroidery. Her all men’s collection was bold and showed interesting use of accessories for styling.
AZRA WALJI Sister to Jamil Walji Azra too was born in Nairobi Kenya and graduated from Limkokwing University of creative technology in Malaysia. Azra showed a great collection of denim with a splash of color and best of all the collection was styled to perfection. Geomatrical patterns were used in her designs as well as her accessories.
B’EXOTIQ Anna is the head designer at B’exotiq Ghana, a design house with classic demure as well as flamboyant and quirky pieces. Fabrics used are often hand painted, embroidered with ethnic symbolism. She showed a mixed collection of both bridal and cocktail items.
DEEPA DOSAJA Born In Kenya, Deepa Dosaja spent her early years in Montreal Canada. Deepa’s inspiration is derived from nature and her spiritual journey. She showed a collection with a bouncy 60’s vibe, large flower cuts, bright colours and well draped clothes brought a bright fun energy to the runway that was definitely fun to watch.
GALINA TATARINOVA Galina is a Russian born designer living in Kenya, her education is in Radio and TV engineering and she started her fashion house after she moved to Kenya and she credits her inspiration from the African continent. Galina showed gowns which in my opinion could be worn as evening or wedding gowns. I loved that she showed non-conventianal bridal wear and gave brides a new way to wear their gowns on their wedding day.
JAMIL WALJI This designer’s eccentric quirky vibe was a great ice breaker to open the show. Born and raised in Nairobi Kenya he graduated from Linkok wing university of creative technology of Malaysia. He was a former lecturer in fashion and retail design in Limkokwing Malaysia. He showed a great collection that showed innovative fun pieces.
KIKO ROMEO Ann McCreath is the founder and leading designer of Kiko Romeo. She studied general arts at the university of Edinburgh Scotland in the country of her Birth. Ann is also the founder of FAFA. Her collection showed a youthful collection with an awesome merge of colour and geometric patterns.
KONDAKIS Nike kondakis is well known for her use of recycled parachute to create fashion. Accessories such as earrings and bangles are made from dead wood pieces of bark that fall off trees making it a sustainable way to use wood pieces for accessories. Her collection was a show stopper as the models converted skirts to dresses and as they showed more than one way to wear each outfit.
KOOROO Habret Lakew and Enid Lanez are the founders of Kooroo. Habret has a degree in fashion design from the Fashion Institute Of Technology In new York and Enid has a diploma in accounting. Kooroo was established in 2006 and has shown their collections at FAFA in 2008, 2009, 2010 And of course 2012. They showed a collection of easy to wear pieces that with a precise cut and bright fun colours.
MONICA KANARI With over 12 years in the fashion industry Monica’s business specializes in special occasion outfits and bridal wear. She however showed a collection of easy to wear tie and dye outfits with precise cuts and awesome a clean finishing.
MUDI AFRICA Nigerian born Clement Mudiaga Enajemo is the founder of Mudi Africa. The brands head office is in Lagos with other branches in Abuja, Accra, Dakar, Johannesburg and Nairobi. This all mens collection showed looks for easy going African man with easy necklines and light breathable fabrics.
OGAKE MOSONI Ogake holds a degree in fashion product innovation and has worked for Jenny Peckham, Antonia Pugh-Thomas, and has taught design at the University of Nairobi, with this impressive experience I was looking forward to seeing what angle she would take on the collection. This collection stood out to me as high glamour with its sheen and low and open backs the collection had a little something for everyone wanting an evening glamour.
ZEKARYAS SOLOMON Eritrean Born designer spent his early years in the Republic of Sudan before moving to Germany as a young boy. He initially studied architecture, design and art in Wuppertal Germany. His world view seamlessly merged with fabulous African Fashion and had a futuristic fantasy effect.
The Role of Fashion in the Future (Image taken from Strong Afrocentric Mind set) By Wambui The past couple of months have been a blast for me as far as my fashion events calendar is concerned. I attended the a fashion market, a fashion forum and a fashion gala. I should really be beaming from ear to ear right now but that’s not the case. I am usually an optimistic person but all I kept seeing was the lack of progress, not necessarily with designs and concepts being actualized by creative people and designers in the fashion industry, but a definite lack of progress in the business concept. Despite my creativity, I was very clear when starting my fashion line that it was a business. I had never started a business before and despite the fact that I had majored in international business, and had no real world experience in what was needed to start and maintain my business. I see that my peers in the fashion industry, are making amazing pieces and collections but the business aspect is sorely lacking. My fashion friends constantly reminds me that sewing, shipping and marketing is not the business I’m in; selling clothes is the business I’m in. I would like to throw this out there for Africans in the fashion industry and lovers of African fashion. Until we sell our beautiful clothes and make a profit from it we can no longer claim to be in the fashion industry. I have seen a ton of support directed towards African fashion; African fashion designs from African designers are more accessible today than they were 5 years ago. Product lines have expanded from the African print dresses you wear to that special occasion to tribal clutch bags and shoes, yet according to statistics Africans themselves buy less than one per cent from African designers. Africa’s population numbers in the billions in and out of of Africa, (that’s not including Afro Europeans, African Americans and African diaspora in the Caribbean). If each and every one of these people owned one item from an African designer, be it a T-shirt, dress or jewellery, the industry would have the economic leverage needed to compete globally with the so-called global designer brands. As Africans and friends of Africa all over the world, we must start to see how little it takes to have an economically strong Africa in the future. We don’t have to settle for poor quality, pre-used clothing anymore we can take control of our image by donning African accessories, wearing t-shirts with quirky African-ness, wearing clothes with African prints and quality African fabrics such as organic cotton from different parts of the continent. Foreign aid has never been the answer for us, all we need to do is take responsibility for our role in our current condition and make better decisions. The dominos effect will be felt for generations and maybe in the future, our children’s children will write books about how this generation took control of their economy by choosing the African brand.
BENEFITS OF TURMERIC Chew On This: Benefits of Turmeric Turmeric is an asian plant of the ginger family that is used to spice foods for flavor, and when it is taken separately as a pill or in powder form it has medicinal benefits and is even used to add color to fabrics as a dye. Turmeric is affordable and readily available worldwide and it is beneficial medically and cosmetically speaking in the following ways. Medicinal Benefits • Is a natural antiseptic and antibacterial agent that disinfects cuts and burns. • Reduces the risk of childhood leukemia. • Is a natural liver detoxifier. • Is a natural painkiller • Aids in fat metabolism and weight management. • Is used in Chinese medicine as a treatment for depression. • Turmeric is a natural treatment for arthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. • Speeds up wound healing and assists in remodeling of damaged skin. • Aids in the treatment of psoriasis and other inflammatory skin conditions. Cosmetic Benfits • • • • • •
Heals and prevents skin conditions such as eczema and acne, and slows down the aging process. Hindu brides rub turmeric on their bodies for glowing skin. Traditionally, hindu women rubbed turmeric on their cheeks to produce a natural golden glow. Washing skin with turmeric improves skin complexion and reduces hair growth on body. Turmeric is effective in the treatment of dandruff, and is a main ingedient in hair colorants and dyes, Turmeric plant extracts are also used as hair growth stimulators, because they accelerate blood circulation and increase nutrition to the hair follicles.
Kick start your Fitness Routine By Eva HA kick is movement where one strikes out with the foot or feet. Kicks are great for strengthening the legs, hips, and thighs and sculpting them to perfection. Kicks are fundamental in a kickboxing routine, but can be practiced easily at home too for improved balance, and for self defense preparation. Before practicing your kicks however it is important to hydrate well to prevent cramping. Make sure you warm up and stretch out your muscles before you start, or else you may suffer from muscle sprains. Here are a couple of Kicks you can use to add a little pizzazz to your workout. Snap Kicks A snap kick uses a striking action that recoils as soon as contact is made. In a snap kick, the knee serves as a hinge. The foot travels toward the target in an arc and returns as quickly as possible to the position where the knee is fully bent. Thrust Kicks Here the lower leg is thrust toward the target with the foot leading the way. Thrust kicks use the large, heavy muscles of the hips as well as the muscles in the thighs. Just as with a punch, the path to the target should be as short and as straight as possible. It is important to start with a light, quick movement and then concentrate all the body’s power at the point of impact. Round Kicks Round Kicks move in a circular movement to the target. The round kick is useful for striking practically any part of the body with high speed and power. The roundkick should strike with either the shin, the instep, or the ball of the foot. Front rising Kicks This kick is used to spring up the opponents punching fist under forearm or the opponents foot by kicking the inner tibia. With this technique, the knee joint of the kicking leg should not be bent to severely. This kick is also used as a dynamic stretching exercise and for muscle development. Jump Kicks Here, a jump adds height to the kick. So any of the above mentioned kicks can be executed with a jump for the more advanced.
– for the first time. Initially I had no intention of seeing the old neighborhood, which I already knew had been completely remodeled. I had driven through it on previous visits so it wasn’t something I felt compelled to do on this trip. But after picking up my rental car a strong urge to see my old projects took over the steering wheel and headed in that direction. Once I arrived I knew I had to get out and walk the grounds, to take it all in… The Present, as in “the here and now,” is life’s pacifier; obliging those of us fortunate to exist in it to forgive, and then consequently forget the most authentic lessons of our past—as it limits our worries and concerns to today’s sunset. Because tomorrow’s sunrise, people say, is not guaranteed. “Wish not, worry not; be happy you are alive and not dead,” some say.
Closure [What began as a trip home for a younger cousin’s wedding turned out to be a much needed and long overdue therapeutic stroll down memory lane. And while this experience in no way makes up for everything I had to endure growing up, it certainly invoked deep reflection and left me with a sense of accomplishment, solidifying the man I’ve become (despite the hand I was dealt). Most importantly it taught me first hand the true meaning and purpose of closure. I hope that by sharing this experience you are inspired to seek true closure.] Columbus, Ohio – the home of “The” Ohio State University Buckeyes and city where “Michigan” is a four-letter word. I still bleed Scarlet and Gray! The blue-collar mentality of this capital city has always been just what a Boy Scout like me needed – even when the city no longer needed me (referring to the recession in the early 1990’s which subsequently lead to my enlistment in the U.S. Marines). I love the attitude of the people; the almost southern ways of the women and the “F#@k it, I’m down” mind-set of the men (sorry to put it that way, but it’s the truth). I always tell anyone who asks that the people are what I like least about Minnesota and love most about Columbus. If it were not for the African community in the Twin Cities I would not be in Minnesota. I would have moved back home a decade ago. The first week of July 2011 would be the second time in 6 years that I had an opportunity to visit. This time it was for my cousin Tamekia’s wedding and I would be in town for an entire week. So I had planned a few mini-reunions as well as the annual Eastside Reunion
I never once considered closure could be so necessary to opening one’s future. Previously believed impossible to ensnare, the prospect of closure seemingly grew more elusive as the years dissolved. Time, then, being the only true way we got over negative experiences, making closure, therefore, a condition forced upon us when the appropriate time had elapsed. Or so I thought. When people thirst for revenge masquerading as justice, they seek it in the name of closure—as if it were their constitutional right, criminal for any to deny. When jilted lovers want one more chance to tell their ex just how much the sudden breakup devastated him or her, they say the confrontation would bring them closure. So, until now, I’ve always felt closure was nothing more than mitigation for people to impose upon their offenders consequences they knew deep down wouldn’t atone, but the mere act of requesting it relieves them of any and all residual accountibility for starting the healing or forgiveness process. Or perhaps it was pretext to have one more chance to extend a moment they where forced to let go; like a cliffhanger does for a novel. But as I recently visited the rehabilitated site of my birth and various dilapidated locations of my childhood, I found myself staring into the past searching for a little boy and hoping he was able to see the me he had become. I so desperately needed him to know that everything worked out for the better, and that he was right about me; the adult him. Then for one brief moment I did see him; translucent and discolored by time. But I saw him nonetheless. He was a beautiful boy, much more than I remembered. He was modestly dressed and overly serious for a child his age, just as I remembered. He used his wisdom as a shield and shyness as a cloak of invisibility,
as if to hide from the rest of the world in plain sight. But I could see him, nonetheless. Before I had time to fully appreciate what was taking place, little me acknowledged my presence with a quiet smile and gentle wave. He saw me! Then just as gradually as he materialized to wave a final goodbye, his smiling face and waving hand faded into forever. And as I stood there for a moment, in the moment, baptized by my own tears, I realized right then and there, closure had occurred. And it was wonderful, and deserving, and so necessary. Several nights throughout my adult life I’d dream variations of the same dream; I’d go to the old neighborhood to either visit relatives or that I still lived there in some capacity (either full time or part time). However when it was time to leave I could never find my car. I’d pace the parking lot trapped in the projects, but feeling as if the car was still there somewhere. So having seen with my own eyes that the project housing apartments I called home for most of my childhood had been completely made over, as if to remove every trace of it from both my past and future was emancipating, to say the least. It was as if I were a spectator, watching my present atoned for my past and paid forward to a hopeful future. I was transformed. Into who or what, I am not exactly sure. But I knew that I had been released from whatever held me captive all these years. This liberation, a confirmation that I had finally made it out of the projects, seemed to possess my entire being— as if to validate the notion that I should have never taken residency there in the first place! And as I gathered myself and parted ways, I thought that maybe, just maybe, knowing the buildings were no more, I will never have nightmares of returning to the projects again. The good book says that if a man finds a wife, he finds a good thing. For me, finding closure was a pretty good thing too. And I found it, not at the expense of another, the demise of a foe, or to the shame of someone else. I found it—as many lost things or rediscovered—when I wasn’t looking for it. Iron sharpens iron, so let’s be better because of it!
Gerald A, Montgomery
Indian Mango Dal • • • • • • • • • • • • •
1 cup yellow lentils 4 cups water 1 teaspoon salt, divided 1/2 teaspoon ground turmeric 1 tablespoon cooking oil 1/2 teaspoon cumin seeds 1 medium onion, chopped 4 cloves garlic, minced 1 tablespoon minced fresh ginger 1/2 teaspoon ground coriander 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper 2 mangoes, peeled and diced ( less-ripe mango = tart flavor and holds its shape; ripe mango breaks down = a sweeter taste 1/2 cup chopped fresh cilantro
PREPARE 1. Wash the lentils in a colander and rinse until the water is clear. Combine lentils, 4 cups water, 1/2 teaspoon salt and turmeric in a large saucepan. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat to a simmer, partially cover and cook, stirring occasionally, for 12 minutes. 2. While the lentils cook, heat oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium heat. Add cumin seeds and cook until fragrant and starting to brown, about 30 seconds. Add onion; cook, stirring, until soft and beginning to brown, 4 to 6 minutes. Add garlic, ginger, coriander, cayenne and the remaining 1/2 teaspoon salt and cook, stirring, for 1 minute. 3. Stir the garlic mixture and mangoes into the lentils. Return to a simmer; cook, stirring occasionally, until the lentils are falling apart, let it cook for 10 to 15 minutes. Turn off the heat then stir in the chopped cilantro. 4. Serve with white or brown rice or naan depending on your preference. This recipe serves 6.
The Joys of Motherhood by Buchi Emecheta The Joys of Motherhood is a fictional collection of stories. The main character in the book is Nnu Ego who hailed from a town called Ibuza in Nigeria. She is the daughter to Nwokocha Agbadi and Ona. Nwokocha is a very a wealthy local chief who was naturally accepted as a leader. and had many women in his compound. Most of the women that Nwokocha chose as wives and slaves were women that could match his arrogance, his biting sarcasm, his painful jokes and when the mood was right, his human tenderness. Ona managed to combine his stubbornness with arrogance. Ona was born to a chief too, Obi Umunna and she went everywhere with him. Ona was not her real name, her father would drag her everywhere with him and it was said to him, “ Why don’t you wear her around you neck, like an ona, a ‘priceless jewel’ and the name stuck. Ona’s father loved her so that he maintained that she would never marry, she was never going to stoop to any man. She was free to have any man she chose. If she bore a son, he would take her father’s name. Ona was beautiful and was Agbadi’s mistress and together they had their love child Nnu Ego. Because Ona was a mistress and not a wife she lived with her daughter on her father’s compound even after she had Nnu Ego. It was after her father Chief Obi Umunna passed that Agbadi was able to convince Ona to move out of her father’s compound and into his, still as a mistress. Ona’s second pregnancy was hard on her and as a result she went into premature labor. She was weak and she knew she was slowly but surely dying. Her last words to her lover was... ‘Agbadi, l was not destined to live with you’ You are a stubborn man, my father was a stubborn, l am stubborn too. Please do not mourn too long for me, However much you love our daughter, allow her to have a life of her own, a husband if she wants one, allow her to be a woman.’ The stories in Joys of Motherhood take us through complex family relationships that buck tradition only to lead to pain and disapointment. Buchi Emecheta tells these stories very well. There is not only joy but heartache, sorrow, disappointment and love. There is tradition and history in the book. Emecheta shares an insight that l found to be lost in today’s society. In discussing suicide she says... “a thing like that is not permitted..; you are simply not allowed to commit suicide in peace, because everyone is responsible for the other person....... an individual’s life belongs to the community and not just to him or her” Even though Nnu Ego’s character was highly valued by her father, this was not the case with her own children. This is still the case even in most African countries, boys are valued more than girls. ”The Joys” points out the differences, or pros and cons of living in the Village versus the city. Raising children in the village is a community process, there is always someone to watch over the little ones when one has to step out for a while. In the city it is easy to do what one wants to do because the weight of what others might think or have to say was not that much because they do not know you, unlike the village where everyone knows everyone and one is held accountable. It is interesting to note how in their old age, the characters all went back to the village. The Joys of Motherhood was first written in 1979 and most of the the subjects covered are still relevant today. Although traditions are a way of maintaining our culture, we need to be discerning of their strengths and weaknesses. Buchi Emecheta is Nigerian born author that has written several other books including- In the Ditch, Second Class Citizen, The Bride Price, The Slave Girl as well as children’s books and a play.
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Hear No Evil Freshly Ground feels like a fresh cup after a long day. Two years after their first album, they have followed up with a new album “Take Me To The Dance�. If you loved them the first time around, you will love them even more now. If you do not know who they are, boy are you in for a treat. Go ahead and take a listen
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Africn Gaming Scene One of the most exciting companies to realease gaming content based on Africa is Nigeria’s Maliyo Games The founder of Maliyo Games Hugo Obi saw the lack of African themed games and decided to fill the gap left by other gaming companies that either focus on war or western lifestyles. Maliyo games was the first to develop gaming content specific to Africa. Maliyo games feature experiences that allow players to be invovled in unique events that could only take place in Africa. Some of the obstacles also incorporated in the games are road blocks, hawkers, pedestrians, boda bodas (commercial motorcyles), beligerent pedestrians and the ever famous and non-moving traffic that is a mainstay on African streets.
To see the full selection of games offered by Maliyo, go to http://www.maliyo.com/games/
Thanks all who have been Featured, Writers, Readers and Subscribers