in this issue ... This issue includes a number of stories that focus, in one way or another, on the question of identity and self-image. How we regard ourselves, how we fell about who we are, is of course not only about our age but about so many factors and facets of our lives.Let me say that I am a magazine enthusiast, a junkie who from my earliest school days has been obsessed with flipping though the pages of magazines, first absorbed in their images and stories, later assigning and editing my own. I really believe that no matter whether a magazine is delivered to your computer, on cheap tabloid paper, appearing on your iPad or your cell-phone screen, it is still and foremost the work of an editorial team for a discerning audience, a beautiful and meaningful— we hope— package of ideas, words and images that a group of experts prepares for its readers.
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MEET CHRISTELLA BIJOU
MY APRIL SCHEDULE
18 SELF ADJUST
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28
30
BARE THOUGHTS
UNDER THE STARS
Contents 36
MEET HENDRIK HINKEL
ALIANE UWIMANA
Photography: Gilles Marie Zimmermann Hairstyle: Raynald Bernard Muse: Aliane Uwimana Style: Gilbert Maria Makeup : Kakie
Photography: Chris Schwagga Edit: Christella Bijou
CHRISTELLA Tell us about yourself. What makes you tick?
I’m a female digital Illustrator. I’m 27, self employed. I’m an old soul and a zero to anything maistream. Finding comfort in the discomfort, finding the hidden beauty of every small thing
What sort of illustration do you do?
I draw women, black women most of the time. I like them to appeal regal and serene
How did you get started as an illustrator?
I started drawing very young around 5, but I became serious about it around 23 years old. I started practicing and learning as much as I could since then
How did you find your style? Has it changed since you started?
I knew what I wanted from the get go but it took me a lot of trial and error to be able to express it Yes my style has definitely changed since by trying different techniques; switching mediums... I have found resting ground for now but who knows what I might try next?.
Can you briefly explain your creative process, mediums, etc?
I work with Adobe Illustrator. I don’t really have a big creative process. I like to store everything that inspires me in a file and then whenever I start working, I peruse the file for elements that fit the mood of the moment.
How do you come up with new ideas? Do you have a process? I’m very inspired by shape photography and old paintings. I surround my digital workplace with lots of them and love to combine their moods. Like I said, I don’t have that much of a process, I don’t create around an idea, I mostly create with a mood in mind and just keep working until I’m satisfied with the image I have on the screen.
Do you ever have creative slumps? What do you do then?
Yes I do.I don’t take creative slumps as a bad thing. For me it is a message that my mind needs a little bit of a rest. I focus on something different. Pinterest is a good creativity booster, I recommend :)
B I J O U
Is illustration a passion or a hobby? Its my day and night job.
Best / most fun part of your job
Creating something that people love. I detach emotionally myself with the outcome of my work and I’m always always beautifully surprised when people like my work.
Worst / most difficult part of your job Becoming and staying relevant
Do you have side projects you work on?
Yes, I work on different projects, but I always chose them very carefully.
What’s on your horizon? Any current/future projects and plans/dreams you can share with us?
Well, I hope we (creative people) will be able to carve enough comfortable space for ourselves and the future generation in our different professions.
ILLUSTRATION BY CHRISTELLA BIJOU
My April Schedule My April schedule was in storm My April schedule was only screams My April schedule was full of pain My April schedule wasn’t a dream My April schedule wasn’t a scribble. My April schedule wasn’t forged My April schedule was my own My April schedule wasn’t a stanza My April schedule wasn’t my pleasure My April schedule was upsetting. I saw days getting red I saw blood streaming ahead I saw mom standing but soon a dead We’ve been chased more than a decade But yet it wasn’t the end. I saw Rwandans divided Like they never been united But yet Rwanda wasn’t my pride. What I heard was weird What I heard was extremely weird I heard the screams all over the country I heard killers singing proudly I heard babies crying hungry I heard them killers mocking hardly. I saw the days no longer brightly But I wonder wasn’t your work so drudgery? I remember them killing bravely And celebrated like it was a pageantry. Enough is enough, What I heard and what I saw is enough Enough is enough. I don’t wanna face that pain again That’s why I yell never again Never again, never again But never again couldn’t be Only a saying, but a way of living as Rwandans. Never again
- Manzi Le Poète
SHA DDYBOO ROCKING TANGA DESIGNS OFF THE BRAND NEW COLLECTION A WEDDING DRESS BY
PASSION, FASHION & ACTION Style: Tanga Designs Photography: Luqmanmahoro Spot: Grand Legacy Hotel Make up: Milly Beauty Beauty: Shaddyboo
Tanga Designs
The Story Behind “18 Self Adjust “
Z - How would you describe the sound of your new album to any potential new fan? C - 18 Self Adjust sounds psychedelic on its pop side,
a mix of nostalgic melodies and rap and a Little bit of soulful R&B sounds.
Z - How long did it take to record 18 self-Adjust? C - I started working on it sometime last year, April to be
“ I HAD TO ADJUST MYSELF TO ACTUALLY BE AT A PLACE WHERE I KNOW WHAT TO ACCEPT AND WHAT TO REJECT ”
specific but as I was working with two producers, two different studios It took longer than expected , the recording sessions were done by August, mixing and Mastering took the rest to the first week before it dropped.
Z - Why did you release Pardon Me first? C - Actually I dropped Too Proud First not Pardon me, And I honestly dropped it because it was ready at that time no other reasons,
Z - Please inform us about your favourite songs and lyrical highlights and why? C - Well Deep Ends is special to me, It was actually the
Z - How has the reaction to your latest Album ? C - People been Honest with it, people been going on
details to let me know how much they like the project, which to me means they actually took they time to listen, and I appreciate that. People Fuck with the project
Z - What does the album title reveal, if anything, about the album impact and themes C - Imma have to go with this, the 18 in the title stands
for last year 2018, and that’s the year that revealed most of the things I talked about in my songs. 18.Self.Adjust is a full stop to a certain stage of my life, in a way that I’d say that I actually know what I’m into, and it’s more about appreciating what the universe chooses for you and making peace with whatever that is. I had to adjust myself to actually be at a place where I know what to accept and what to reject, who to keep and who to lose, and mostly how to live with myself after every single choice I make. Self Love is Precious and forgiving ourselves is really the hardest thing we go through as human beings and I can say that my album is light to that, a free space for love and inner peace.
song we recorded first and it’s the kinda song that shaped the album, in a way that I’d say that I knew how the album was goin be like after makin Deep Ends, and the Album came exactly like that, One of my favorite line in the song is “ That Smile is worth a fortune, I pray you never lose it” i fuck with the song really , I feel like I was talking to everyone in the song, and that makes it special..
little things is one of my favorite too, after everything we go through in life, it takes less than a second for life to end, Same as how it starts, and the truth is that little things in life makes it worth it, my favorite line is, “I’m always up but I stand down when Mother Nature responds I’m only righting my wrongs, Hopin’ I’ll get to watch while you grow.” Ice Alert “ I saw my life as a dream and now that dream is my life,” “All that trust should be yours you can’t trust nobody” First Time In Italy, “ I don’t wanna be alone in this town,” it’s just more than it is to me. Pardon Me “You’re vibing with another me”
Z - If you could replace one song on the album, which one will it be? C - Nah, I’d never replace any of the songs, the whole album to me is a whole one clear story, and it’s a full story like that.
Z - If you could choose to work with some of today’s established artists or producers, to move your game to the top, with whom would you like to collaborate? C - Kanye West Z - What are your plans for the future? C - I’m gonna keep on makin art, and will try to push as
far as I can, with the help of people that listens of course, more videos, and shows too
Z - Finally, what is on your turntable/playlist at the moment? C - Man, I don’t know what you mean here but this goes
with my taste of music which is weird but I listen to Lots of Otis Redding, Linda Eder, Lana del Rey, Avril Lavigne, Dolly Parton, Frank Ocean, Kanye west, Billie Eillish, Alessandro Mannarino, Andy Williams and George Ezra
Z - Any last words ? C - I’d like to use this platform to thank everyone that
follows what I do, and let’em know how grateful I am for the love they have shown the album, Keep streaming the shit out of it, it’s all love.
Style: Zora Akermi Pics: Knas Photography Make up: NoĂŠmie Laborde Beauty: Aliane Uwimana Acne Studios Antibes jacket in storm grey Acne Studios Navid tee in white Norse Projects Anker rain coat transparent
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“ NOT JUST A MAGAZINE ”
- A MOVEMENT
You Don’t Need Their Approval I recently got triple piercings on each of my ears! My society takes it for something crazy or something a typical slut would do but I am not any of the two; I just I got the piercings, I love them and I feel good. Period! If I gave much value to what people thought and what they would say, I wouldn’t have got them. I am not saying that to be our best selves we should never listen, that would be rude and dumb. The thing is that we just have to judge and decide. It’s our lives and not theirs, after all. A lot of dreams are killed, most people don’t get to their vision and the excitement we get from our goals slowly fed away because we are surrounded by people who don’t understand what we want to do, people who haven’t achieved much; because they are already too busy listing things they shouldn’t do, things that their ancestors did not do and that shouldn’t be done by them, as well… These very people who tell us to stop every single move we are about to make in the name of being realistic and to fit in the society norms that hold us from greatness most of the times. Resistance holding us from being the best version of ourselves comes is in different forms, but people telling us that we are insane because we dream a little too much are insupportable. They are too much! We can’t throw them in some type of hole and carry on with life without them, for these people are part of our lives and we love them, they are either family or friends. The only thing we can do is understand who we are and meant to be and make sure we teach them how to respect and support that. You have to own who you are right before teaching people to respect that. Do you know who you are or at least who you want to be? If no, then stop reading this and find out and get back after (kidding). I don’t care if you find it out through meditation, fasting & prayers or if you take online tests… All that matters is that you learn who you are and what you want from life and what you want to give. It’s not something you find out in a snap, it will take you time but it’s okay; the whole point is to find yourself not to win a race. When you do or if you already know, then use all the energy (both internal and external) you have to be that. Own who you are. It will automatically define what you don’t want to be and what you must do to be the best version of yourself. People’s opinion will be welcomed but less powerful if the opinion are not helpful. You won’t be afraid to take a leap towards your dreams because you will know that if you fall you won’t break, but that you will just get up and jump again until you get where you want. Stop giving much attention to what they might say or not say. Give the attention to your “what should I do?” and go with that. One person might want you to do this and another that, you can’t even satisfy them all, so why give up on your identity to satisfy one person who’s not even worthy? That person is not worthy because if they were they would understand that you have to be yourself and they would support you till you own it fully. Just do you and always remember that you don’t need the permission to be who you are destined to be. It is your life, you don’t need their approval!
You Don’t Need Their Approval By Nadia Lorraine
Style: Tanga Designs Photography: Chris Schwagga Make up: Trendy Shadow Beauty: Christelle Kabagire
Beauty: Leslie Akimana
UNDER THE STARS You pulled me closer, kissed me passionately under the stars, You took my face into your hands and stared deep into my eyes I don’t know what you were looking for exactly but I had this feeling that you needed to see that burning love I have for you. We laid down and only talked about the wonders of the universe, your touches were sensitive, your kisses were sweet and then we made art and love that only us could describe the beauty of it. I wanted time to freeze for ever so I could listen to you talking to me about the moon and stars, I wanted to forever stare into your eyes and only see you and me. Under the stars I found what my heart desired for so long and I will hold on to it forever.
- Ines Rutayisire
WANT TO BE FEATURED IN THE NEXT ISSUE ? WE WANT TO FEATURE YOU Also, feel free to submit your photographs, accomplishments, poems, articles to our email thezoommagazine@gmail.com
Aliane Uwimana Gatabazi A Rwandan, French model fights apathy with soul.
My name is Aliane Uwimana, I’m a Rwandan-French model based in France. Born in Rwanda, Aliane was a regular schmegular girl with no dream of becoming a model one day or any day. Living with her entire family in Huye, her six brothers and sisters, Aliane wasn’t thinking about modeling or anything related to fashion instead she wanted to help people in need and now she have a diploma in “l’aider à la personne”. In 2007 Aliane decided to travel to see faces and explore, her first destination was France, Paris “the city of love” and what Aliane didn’t know is how her life was radicalily going to change. In that time living in Europe was a dream to most of us (including me), i remember when i used to see people living in European countries on TV i usually asked myself is it the camera or climate because everything was so clear and colorful compared to ours and for Aliane everything was about to be colorful.
Story by Shema Abdoul Photography Pauline Darley
Around the year 2013, Aliane got spotted by Mademoiselle Agency, one of ten most popular agency in France with a good reputation and management team. That’s when everything started to change for the young lady, “Half of my Instagram posts are with Mademoiselle Agency” she said. I remember when i saw Aliane for the first time, is when she channels and pays homage to the Icon Grâce Jones for GALA Magazine and now i got the chance to interview her in person.
A CHAT When did you know you wanted to be a Model? I never really knew I was going to be a model that was a surprise for me when I got spotted and so far each day I spend in being always surprises me as much. Do you work for an agency? / With what agency would you love working with and why? I work with Mademoiselle Agency Agency for five years now and I love my agency, I wouldn’t change it for anything in the world for that beyond the work is also my family. How many languages do you speak ? I speak three languages that is French, Kinyarwanda and a little bit of English. Since you have started modelling what is the best thing that happened you? Since I started modeling I cannot choose a single best things that ever happened to me because every shoot I did was the best thing that could happened to me, I enjoy every moment as if it were the last time I set foot in a studio. What is your favorite holiday? Favorite holiday I’d say it was my reunion with my family after 9 years away in December 2017. Even if one day I go around the world in the best places in the world will my best holiday ever with my family in Rwanda.
What is the worst thing that happened to you during a photo shoot? The worst thing that ever happened to me unfortunately and fortunately until now there has not been, I have always been fortunate to work with great people watching well.
Have you ever visited Rwanda And what it your favorite place? So far I have not really had the opportunity to visit Rwanda in depth but since my return my favorite place is Kibuye and Gisenyi.
Do you have any short / long term goals? My only goal now is to do my best to go as far as my career.
What are some of your fashion essentials My essential fashion I would say Grâce Jones, Iman Bowie, Alek Wek and Liya Kebede. Where can we find you on social media ? I can be reached on Instagram: @alianeuwimana or Facebook: Aliane Uwimana Gatabazi
Photography: Franck Axel Muse: Hendrik Hinkel
I AM MORE COMFORTABLE RIDING MY BIKE THAN WALKING, IT’S FUNNY BUT IT’S TRUE By Shema Abdoul
He is name is Hendrik Hinkel, is a 16 years old Rwandan-German pilot. Hendrik is passionate about riding dirtbikes, He’s passion of riding come when he was young “My dad put me on two wheels ever since I could walk and I never stopped from then on” he said. He started taking it seriously at the age of twelve, practicing every day and night working hard on and off the bike for his fitness and speed. At the age of 14, Hendrik started racing Enduro in the pro class with people much older than him. That’s when he knew he was born for this, his potential of riding and wanted to do more to improve himself. He is currently representing Rwanda and the Rwanda Automobile Club in this sport being the only rider of level in the country. “It’s not always easy, the hard work, the financials, the injuries, the pain, the sleepless nights in the hospitals, the intensity and the pressure makes things difficult but it’s all for a cause.” Where do you see yourself in the near future? I see myself as one of the best in a few years, I won’t stop until I get there! Let me take you with me on my journey on my Instagram @hendrikhinkel_250
ABOUT US Why You Need to Tell Your Story to the world Who are you? I bet you have a story to tell. Will you tell it? What would be the cost to you in your life if you choose not to tell your story? What would you like to share with the people who know you- and those who don’t?
WHO ARE WE ? We are an online magazine providing space for the youth to create and share their stories through art. It is important that we see ourselves in these spaces, showing that we do exist and we’re not going anywhere not only for ourselves but, for the future generations to come.
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