September 2017 / Issue 1 Volume 1
BE DISCOVERED
PINKY GHELANI
*60%
INTERNET PENETRATION IN KENYA. THAT'S 31.99 MILLION PEOPLE! * SOURCE: NENDO.
FACEBOOK HAS THE LARGEST NUMBER OF USERS
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EMAIL: HELLO@BEAFRIKA.ONLINE
VIEW FULL STATS
CREATIVITY “To be creative means to be in love with life. You can be creative only if you love life enough that you want to enhance its beauty, you want to bring a little more music to it, a little more poetry to it, a little more dance to it.” ― Oshoe. Page 30
PINKY GHELANI In honour of her legacy and in recognition of the importance of her irrefutable influence on Kenya's Fashion, Lifestyle and Media scene we present our inaugural issue muse: Pinky GhelaniRaj. Pinky is a household brand who wears many hats - mother, model and fashion icon. Page 23
FACES What's in a face? Do we need makeup? Our Lead MUA, Kate puts together an interesting show of eclectic makeup, using natures most beautiful canvas: the human form Page 35 . BEAFRIKA.ONLINE 4
TABLE OF CONTENTS
3 8 White Glory
2 9 Get the look
iWhat's your most favourite colour to wear? Beata Otieno explores the colour white. Photographed by June-July, at the Alchemist
1 8 Africa is Risen Africa isn't rising, it's returning to its former glory. We explore stars making a mark in the industry
Tired of stringent rules of men's casual dress? We've got a twist!
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Be Discovered? We're quirky, eclectic and not afraid to re-write the rules. Welcome, to the first issue of BE! BEAFRIKA.ONLINEÂ 5
THANK YOU!
We're glad you're here! WRITE US: HELLO@BEAFRIKA.ONLINE
Love, the BE team
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EVENT QUEEN Karen Lucas host the most amazing events!
THE NAIROBI FLEA MARKET: 2ND SEPT This edition, which was held at the flea market, attracted an eclectic mix of event goers and shoppers!
LOADS TO DO
Shop, play games or just chill in the sun
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www.beafrika.online
HUAWEI Y SERIES LAUNCH Huawei Mobile Kenya has launched the Y Series range of phones in the Kenya to provide consumers with quality and affordable smartphone options. Retailing at Sh. 22,999; Sh.12, 999 and Sh.8,999 respectively, the new Y series range of smartphones are all powerful upgrades of their predecessors that were launched last year in April.The Y7 Prime comes with a 5.5-inch screen with HD 720, 4,000mAH battery capacity with intelligent power-saving technology for longer use, even with the advanced and faster latest Android 7.0; fingerprint scanner for better security and 12MP rear camera for quality
Huawei Device Kenya Country Director, Derek Duh
photography.
Huawei Kenya Marketing Director, Brenda Makhulo
Getting the full Huawei Y Series experience at the 3C Hub
The African landscape is changing rapidly. Today, anyone with access to a computer or smart phone has the ability to produce content, interact with brands and market themselves. It's a wonderful time to be creative! While we face challenges, we know that Africa is reclaiming its past glory. Beginning with this issue, we celebrate creativity in all its forms and provide a platform for opinion leaders, inspiration brands and innovators to share ideas. Be Discovered Magazine is available for online download, wherever you happen to be! Look out for limited-edition print-versions and freebies from time-totime. With Kenya as our anchor, we connect an upwardly mobile, globally exposed audiences to their peers, new innovations and powerful brands. We celebrate those making an impact in the creative economy and those creating solutions in the sciences, businesses and their jobs. All of us have a creative bone - and contribute to the beauty of this world. Through storytelling, high impact graphics and cross-inspiration, we aim to encourage, educate and empower creatives to be true to themselves. This inaugural issue is dedicated to everyone who identifies with the term “creative.” May you never forget that you are gifted and capable! “Don't be satisfied with stories, how things have gone with others. Unfold your own myth.” - Jalaluddin Rumi
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PERSPECTIVE AFRICA IS RISINGÂ
Africa is going through growing pains, but the potential is great.
MOHAMED ALABBAR
Latoya Nontokozo Buthelezi (Toya Delazy), is a multi-talented South African performer with fire in her soul. “Music made me heal from my loss and that is where it started!” she said in 2016
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* Creative Lookout *
TOYA DELAZY
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This month, it was announced that she would voiced the newest addition to Cartoon Network Favourite, Powerpuff GIrls. " And just like that, I became a powerpuff girl!" she exclaimed on Twitter.
"I need to thank my mom, if it was not for her allowing me to be myself; to dress myself I don’t think I’d be as edgy and unique as I am!" She told Michelle Siro, while on a visit to Kenya in 2016
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SANE TRENDS
* Creative Lookout *
We're all tired of learning about trends that are best left off on the runway. Here are some trends that you can actually try out!
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NATURAL HAIR
Yes! It's still a trend for some people, although it is now more a lifestyle for most. Whether you are male or female there's still room for you!
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DENIM IS MORE THAN PANTS
Here's a unisex "trend." Jeans are, umm, back? The contemporary use of the word "jeans" comes from the French word for Genoa, Italy (Gênes), where the first denim trousers were made. Denim has been used in the USA since the mid 19th century. Denim initially gained popularity in 1873 when Jacob Davis, a tailor from Nevada, manufactured the first pair of “rivet-reinforced” denim pants.
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HOT DENIM LIPS!
Step aside red lip, Jason Wu's: ombré is a wearable ombré lip colour that is not awkward for "us." Whatever your skin tone, this will work for you!
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* Style Star *
BEATA Young, energetic and focused on her goals, Beata Otieno is Kenya's Celebrity Stylist and the founder of Ojwa Styling. Here are a few reasons to love Beata and her funky legs! By Lisa Tepteli So Beata, what is the Ojwa Styling about? Well, other than personal styling, we work to make fashion fun and enjoyable. Something we can all access yet which reflects the personality of each of our clients. We work with celebrities. We also do editorial work, TV shoots and personal styling for individuals. How did you start? I've always been interested in putting looks together. After blogging for some time, I began to dress friends, before going into celebrity styling and then editorial work. I now have a small team of amazing people and Ojwa Styling. I can't wait to keep growing. What is styling? Styling is the process of getting the model, looking for the location, looking for the photographer, the designer and organizing everything. It’s not just pairing shoes…it’s a whole different aspect!
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* Creative Economy *
THE AFRICAN IMPACT The African creative sector is on the rise with new names and faces making big breaks. Here are some of the Africans making an impact all over the world. Words: Ciku Kimani | Photos: Courtesy
Zedekiya Lukoye (Zeddie Loky) Social Media Handles: @zeddieloky (Instagram & Twitter) Nationality: Kenyan Profession: Fashion Designer / Stylist Loky started his fashion line, Narok NYC partly because of his Kenyan experience. Growing up in Kenya, he was inspired by all the scenes of beauty in the country; most notably, the Maasai Mara located near the town of Narok. He is so in love with his foundation and using his network, he sends his mother for African prints, and fabrics whenever her can! He has been a part of the change in the male fashion industry which has seen drastic improvements and a lot of self-expression that most African men have been looking for, for a long time. He aims to be an example of humility, creativity and graciousness and to inspire others to be the same. Winning awards such as the most stylish African man in the Abryanz style and fashion awards in 2016 and being featured in many style magazines such as GQ are a few of the achievements that have seen a large growth in his brand and he is on his way to becoming a household name. All the while, he continues to make an impact on youth and the fashion industry.
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* Creative Economy *
Vanessa Kingori Social Media Handles: @vanessakingori (Instagram) @VanessaKingori (Twitter) Nationality: Kenyan Profession: Publisher of British GQ Portfolio Vanessa was born in Kenya, raised in the Caribbean before moving to London. She was scouted as a model prior to working as a personal shopper Mick Jagger. Today, she is a top publisher. She has worked for popular publications such as Condé Nast UK, Esquire and Evening Standards ES magazine. This year, she appeared 6th in Vogue's list of top ten women shaping British menswear. She is the first black woman to be named publisher of British GQ. She has shown that there is no limit to success regardless of where you have come from. Kingori is breaking barriers every day as the publisher of GQ which, as you might know, is a male oriented magazine. She takes it a notch further by not only mentoring young people in fashion but helping them turn their creative ideas into lucrative fashion businesses that can earn them a proper living.
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* Creative Economy * Social Media Handles: @TebogoMalope (Twitter) Nationality: South African Profession: Filmmaker Growing up in Soweto, Johannesburg, Malope always knew that he wanted to tell stories. By the time he was a teenager, he had started gaining work experience by directing community projects such as plays. He paid his dues by fixing his neighbour's TV sets. In his youth, he worked as a camera assistant, camera operator then made his way up the ladder in the film industry. Today, he is described as a prolific director of music videos, advertisements and films. He was the second unit director on the film, 'A Country Imagined' and has produced his own films such as the famous Love and Broken Bones. He is an inspiration to many filmmakers in Africa with more than 130 productions under his belt. He is not only making an impact by inspiring youth, he is also getting African content in the global market and allowing people outside Africa to see that there is a lot of talent in the motherland both on and behind the scene. Definitely, someone we look up to!
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* Creative Economy *
Keinan Abdi Warsame (K’naan) Social Media Handles: @knaanstagram (Instagram) @K’NAAN (Twitter) Nationality: Somalia Profession: Musician While K’naan is not based in his homeland, he stays true to his African roots. He left Somalia when the civil war was at its worst. He grew up in North America and listening to the rap tapes that his father kept. He is known for his hit song, ‘Waving flag’ which was the theme song for the 2010 FIFA world cup in South Africa. This song, like many of his songs, spread a message of peace and unity. The impact that he made and continues to make with his words is immense. He speaks about global issues which affect us all, and has an edgy, relevant approach to his craft. He appeals to a diverse demographic and his music can shape the mind set of youth all over the world for the better.
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KEEP TRUE TO THE DREAMS OF YOUR YOUTH
* COVER STAR/*
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"I HAVE LIVED MY LIFE THE WAY THAT I HAVE ALWAYS WANTED. I NOW LOOK BACK AND I HAVE NO REGRETS AT ALL.” Photographer: June-July Stylist: Beata Otieno of Ojwa Styling Assitant Stylist: Wendy Wangui of Ojwa Styling Makeup Artist: Kate Waititu Muse: Pinky Ghelani Pinky Ghelani, is a trendsetter in popular culture and fashion. She's a role model for women in entertainment, fashion and lifestyle. She is the perfect inspiration for our first photo story! She is bold, yet warm, mature, yet fashionable and most importantly, timeless. The former radio presenter is married to Raj and has two beautiful children. Elegant, timeless," here's an ode to Pinky - a true sister and inspiration! BEAFRIKA.ONLINE 24
/COVER STAR/
Red cowl neck sleeveless sweater KSh 3500, Vivo Active Wear
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/COVER STAR/
Blue turtle neck poncho sweater: KSh 3500, Vivo Active wear
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/COVER STAR/
Black and white loose button up sweater: KSh 3000, Dees Collection KE BEAFRIKA.ONLINEÂ 26
/COVER STAR/
Blue turtle neck poncho sweater: KSh 3500, Vivo Active wear BEAFRIKA.ONLINEÂ 28
SMART & CASUAL!
You don't have to fit into the mould of what's smart. Get some denim ( dark or semi-washed will do), and round neck tops for a relaxed office look!
SWEATER
Tip: a jacket will work. Still, sleeves are best for work!
DENIM
Have a meeting? slim-fit jeans and darker colours are more formal and smart!
e h t get k o o l
SHOES
Choose a style that's comfortable and pairs well with your pants
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BUSINESS
The African creative community is continually evolving with more designers, artists and other creative icons emerging. There are many reasons for this, on the continent and globally. The creative community is getting bigger. Kenya has become a hub for scouting these new acts. Globalization is has had an impact, as has advancing technology which accelerates the speed of foreign implementations in the African community. Information spreads fast and directly with the barriers of communication reduced level. The global community is one of the main factors which has enabled change in the African creative community.
This is due to the fact that two people in different parts of the world are able to see, hear and be aware of the same piece of art. Whether it is a song, a movie, a book or even a poem. This means that the impact of art can extend beyond its intended audience.This has been clear in African poetry, books and even songs. Famous artists have used African works to complement their own. For example, American artist Beyonce, sampled Warsan Shire's, a Somali/Ethiopian poet's work in her highly acclaimed Lemonade album. This brought a lot of attention to the poetry scene in Africa with more celebrities looking to discover such talent.
The publishing sector is has also caused changes. Authors like Chimamanda Adichie of ‘We should all be Feminists,' have allowed African writing to expand beyond the realms of the continent. Additionally, Magazines have enabled Africans to grow in the global creative community. Filmmaking is another reason for the growth in the African creative community. Filmmakers all over the world are always looking for new and unique places to shoot and produce their films. Africa continues to see large growth in the creative sector and this is becoming a route for people to express themselves and forget the old African ways that saw any creative work as a non-lucrative venture. BEAFRIKA.ONLINE 30
BE DISCOVERED LIFE
Get your diet right
Get your mind right! by Eddie Mutua I will attempt to begin from the following point of view, hoping that it will lead us to understand once again what it is we are really doing. Okay? Here goes! When we feel tired, we always, whether subconsciously or consciously, try to replenish our energy. This is done either by staying dormant for some time (resting) or by ingesting fuel. Yes, fuel. We are going to approach this in terms of fuel. Don’t worry; you need not understand a car engine to understand this analogy. You see our body is an extremely sophisticated piece of machinery
with systems within systems that work together to keep you in ‘tiptop’ condition. Just as a car has a radiator - this contraption is what you see the petrol station attendant pour water into - we have a cooling system, which we rarely pour water into! If we do not keep the radiator's water supply at optimum levels, your engine could overheat and knock. If we do not keep our water levels in our bodies at the required level, we could wither and die! It really is as simple as that. Now, when we are travelling from destination Ato-B using a car, we usually add fuel to the car and topup all through the journey. You never wait until
your car is making funny noises; you are attentive to signals and sure to follow warning signs on the dashboard. So why is it that when we go to the gym (for those that do) then continue to binge eat and drink? Why do we rarely eat right and only keep fit so as to lose weight? Has it ever happened that after a filling meal you feel uncontrollably sleepy? Well, a scientific study, published in the journey of Nutrition and Dietetics 2016 finds, “Though all foods are digested in much the same manner, not all foods affect your body in the same way. Some foods, like turkey, can make you sleepier than others.
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BE DISCOVERED LIFE
Understand the real fuels intended for your magnificently designed body. Practice balance, take care of yourself. EDDIE MUTUA
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BE DISCOVERED LIFE
Turkey and other high-protein foods, along with spinach, soy, eggs, cheese, tofu, and fish contain the amino acid tryptophan, which is used by the body to create serotonin, possibly responsible for that post-meal haze. Cherries affect melatonin levels, carbohydrates cause a spike and subsequent fall in blood sugar, and the minerals in bananas relax your muscles. Any one of these factors could leave you sleepy." What we eat then directly affects everything that is involved in keeping us alive. Not only are we trying to stay alive, but also thrive! So before we go on, it is vital that we draw a demarcation between brain and mind. Are they the same? The brain is the physical place where the mind resides. Â The mind is the manifestations of thought, perception, emotion, determination, memory and imagination that takes place within the brain. The mind is often used to refer especially to the thought processes of reason. Others have said that the brain is the organ of the mind, much in the same way as the stomach is an organ of the digestive system. When the stomach malfunctions the person can get indigestion. Therefore if what we eat (or do not) affects the supply of blood to the brain, which in turn makes it malfunction, then what we eat affects our mind. Mind blowing, yes? So what should we eat? This is where the cookie crumbles, because there are thousands of theories offered by scientists, and the same number debunking these theories. My father tells me in his time (meaning when they were the young working class), cigarettes were actually advertised as healthy stress relievers, heck even the doctor would have a cigarette in his mouth as he prescribes you cough syrup! Now we have murky smoking areas that make the once 'cool' smokers look like apocalyptic zombies in pursuit only of lung cancer and shunned by society for their ill choices. To be honest, I am unsure which doctrine to follow, as they are all guided under the ever convincing umbrella of the phrase 'scientific study' not knowing the agenda behind said, scientist. Because we know that doctors and scientists don't always know everything, researching and finding the common good in the in the research. Learn from people that have tried different diets and what it may have done for them. In short? Sieve out the propaganda and hidden agendas. Understand the real fuels intended for your magnificently designed body. Practice balance, take care of yourself. Love yourself. It really is time to question everything. I mean, are going to put diesel in a petrol engine? Have a lovely day.
Issue 27 | 234
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PAGE 10
When used with finesse and skill, makeup enhances our best features. We asked our lead makeup artist, Kate of Kanai Beauties to get creative with some paint and colour. With three beautiful models, these are the stunning results. Photography: June-July
Painted Face
BE BEAUTY
BE BEAUTY
Dance of Art Products Ben Nye Magic Cake Aqua paint Kryolan Supracolor Aqua Paint House of Tara Eyeshadow Margaret Ekpo
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Symmetry
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WHITE GLORY
PHOTOS: JUNE-JULY
STYLIST: WENDY - OJWA STYLING
MODEL:Â ANNA MBURU
SHOT-ON-LOCATION: ALCHEMIST BAR, WESTLNDS White shirt dress: KSh 3500, Kawaii Clothing Ke
THIS MONOCHROMATIC LOOK IS EASY TO PAIR AND ADDS PROMINENCE TO YOUR LOOK. WHETHER IT’S A LWD FOR A COCKTAIL, A SHIRT DRESS TO A BRUNCH-DATE WITH THE GIRLS OR A CROP AND SKIRT FOR THAT SPECIAL DATE TIMELESS WHITE IS A WARDROBE MUST HAVE! meryl morris
White sleeveless skater dress: KSh 5000,Alata Exclusive
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White lace crop top: KSh 3000, Kawai Clothing Ke; White slim skirt: KSh 4500, Alata Exclusive ; Black pumps: KSh 3000 at Oh Lala Boutique
White V neck dress: KSh 6000, Alata Exclusive ; Black ankle strap high heeled shoes: KSh 4000, Backyard Shoez
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Submit your events, poetry and music for listing: hello@beafrika.online
SKATE-R! This look works for everyone AND keeps everything tucked in!
Photographer: June July Stylist: Beata Otieno of Ojwa Styling Ass Stylist: Wendy Wangui of Ojwa Styling Makeup Artist: Kate Waititu Model: Barbra June All shoes are from Backyard Shoez
" Flower Garden" KSh 6000 at Alata Exclusive BEAFRIKA.ONLINE 43
'Skies' KSh 5000, Fashion Frenzy
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Floral skater skirt: KSh 6000, Alata exclusive
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'Colour me blue': KSh 6000, Sarai Afrique
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One thing I've come to learn about myself is that I have to keep going! Andrew Mason