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EAST AFRICA’S HOME OF FASHION FASHION . BEAUTY . CULTURE ISSUE 59 MWANGI MUKAMI Doing Well By Doing Good ALAN DONOVAN’S AFRICAN TWILIGHT BODY BEAUTY SELF-CARE& KES 500 USD 4.5 | UGX 22,000 RWF 7,000 | TZS 14,000 FIONATHE KAY DOLL HOUSE

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HOME IS WHERE THE HEART IS.

Fiona Kay Brand is a ready to wear brand established on the principles of creative arts, sophisticated construction techniques and intricate detailing.

COUTURE CONTENTS

46 MWANGI MUKAMI Mwangi Mukami is a new breed of visionary philanthropist.

CONTENTS COUTURE IN-HOUSE 10 THE COUTURETEAM NEWS 12 DIGITAL 16 COUTURE 20 FASHION 22 BEAUTY 24 COUTURE 34COUTURECULTUREFASHIONTHEFIONAKAYDOLLHOUSE

COUTURE GENTLEMAN

COUTURE STYLE 72 OFFICE STYLE 74 CLEOPATRA KOHEIRWE 76 JAMES ONG’WENY 78 GADGETS 80 86CONVERSATIONSTRAVELSELFCARE: What self-care is – and what it isn’t 94 LAST WORDS COUTURE CONTENTS two

COUTURE HISTORY 54

COUTURE

ALAN DONOVAN'S AFRICA TWLIGHT

In the light of existing stereotypes, arguing that Muslim women’s selfrepresentations should be seen as part of a politics of belonging, the married mother of two and Commercial director at Africa Express Airways has deﬁed all odds and risen beyond the stereotypes.

The Gala Night of the Century dubbed African Twilight was held at the African Heritage House PROFILE KALTUMA HASSAN: UNVEILING THE VEIL

DISTRIBUTION & EVENTS MANAGER Gemiene couture@coutureafricamag.comMueni

COUTURE CONTRIBUTORS 10 | COUTURE AFRICA

EDITORIAL & ADMIN ASSITANT Ruth info@coutureafricamag.comWambui

Andy Nicole from Lintons Beauty College Dgohnie of Dgohnie Hair Arts

Alan Donovan for African Heritage

GRAPHIC DESIGNER Eric creative@coutureafricamag.comKinyanjui

STAFF WRITER Jackline jackline@coutureafricamag.comNjagi

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ACCOUNTING Alphacap Ltd

COUTURE Africa Magazine

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email: editor@coutureafricamag.com @coutureafrica instagram / limkedin / twitter / facebook / tumblr / pinterest Follow us on : www.coutureafricamag.com STAY CONNECTED TO COUTURE AFRICA MAGAZINE ALL THROUGH THE MONTH linkedin

COUTURE NEWS

BATA FASHION WEEKEND

This year, leading international shoe brand BATA marked its 125th anniversary globally and 80th anniversary in Kenya at the BATA Fashion Weekend held in Prague, Czech Republic. The international fashion weekend had two Kenyans participating in the Bata Young Designers Challenge and had two of Kenya’s leading fashion inﬂuencers attend the same – Lucia Musau and Silvia Njoki. Nairobi was however not left behind, with BATA holding a watch party at their store at the Junction mall the same evening. As with any watch party, the Fashion weekend showcase was streamed live in Nairobi, giving all in attendance a taste of what Bata International looks like, which we must say was more fashionable than we ever thought the show brand we all grew up wearing would be! Looking forward to where the next fashion weekend will be held [Kenya maybe?]

LANCOME’S ART OF FRENCH GIFTING

Gina Din Kariuki, Lionesses Wandia Gichuru and Joan Mwangi and personalities such as Muthoni Drummer Queen, Janet Mbugua and Adelle Onyango. The gift box containing fuchsia roses, and an array of Lancôme products was with no doubt an innovative way of celebrating women that we foresee many brands taking on.

16 | COUTURE AFRICA

International Women’s Day 2019 had well over 20 different events taking place at the same time around Nairobi, not to mention in-house corporate events taking pace to celebrate and appreciate women. No doubt, this globally celebrated day could one day become a public holiday – you know, like May Day. Lancôme Kenya however took on a different approach to celebrating women by way of ofﬁce storms. This activation saw Lancôme crews gift various leading women around the city in their elements. From media personalities, inﬂuencer and celebrities to corporate and business leaders, some of the women gifted included Safaricom’s Sylvia Mulinge, GM’s Rita Okuthe,

The supermarket scene in Kenya has been more versatile now than it has ever been since the fall of the mighty elephant, Nakumatt. In came French Brand Carrefour, with their ﬂagship stores at two Rivers Mall and The Hub. Followed closely by South Africa’s Game with

THE FOOD DELIVERY TREND

their ﬂagship stores at Garden City and Karen’s The Well, and then, Tanzania’s The Village Supermarket opening at The Village Market. And now, the newest kid on the block, looking to disrupt the industry even further is South Africa’s Shoprite who opened their ﬁrst store at Westgate Mall and more recently at Garden City mall. This amazingly stocked supermarket

COUTURE AFRICA | 17

COUTURE NEWS

Jumia Food, like Uber, came into the market and completely disrupted the way people consume fast food. Suddenly, from having to call your favourite fast food outlet or restaurant, you could conveniently order from the app and pay through your card, Mpesa or cash upon delivery. Of all the digital innovations, food delivery has deﬁnitely been the most successful – after taxi hailing apps. You can tell this just by the number of new entrants in the market since Jumia. Eat Out brought us Yum. Uber brought us Uber Eats, now we have Glovo, and there are six more apps pegged to launch in the market in 2019 alone. Looking at the growth of digital convenience, this has moved from fast food delivery to alcohol deliver and now supermarket delivery. We even have those that will deliver anything you want at 100 shillings or less. Now if this is not making Kenyans lazy, I don’t know what is, but we love the convenience! Did you know you don’t have to step into a Zucchini anymore?

has taken on a Naivas approach with an array of fresh foods and cooked meals right at the entrance followed by your supermarket experience. Kenyan shoppers are deﬁnitely excited at all the new players who bring in a different vibe and shopping experience suitable for each persons taste.

SHOPRITE TAKES ON KENYA

Africa’s largest e-commerce operator, Jumia went public this April and Uber is set to go public shortly thereafter both on the New York Stock Exchange. The Jumia IPO which opened at $14.50 is especially unique as it shows the

MYKE RABAR BAGS BIG SPORTS GIG

one-week period and shall see young athletes from over 120 countries around the world participate. It shall indeed be an exciting time for Kenya – and Kenya’s youth to shine under the leadership of the KCB Lion.

UBER & JUMIA GO PUBLIC

potential and growth of digitization in Africa. We are not sure the impact of the Uber IPO on its Africa operations, but with the massive success of Jumia, we are deﬁnitely going to see this brand more in Kenya and East Africa. Jumia which started as an online shopping portal diversiﬁed in to food deliveries, then alcohol

18 | COUTURE AFRICA

which shall be taking place in Nairobi, Kenya in July 2020. A ﬁrst for Africa, the 2020 IAAF U20 is set to put Kenya on a global map as we are after all the global home of athletics champions. The international level event shall be held at the Kasarani stadium over a

Former DJ and HomeBoyz founder Myke Rabar seems to be gearing up for the corporate life with his new appointment as the CEO of the 2020 World IAAF Under 20 Championships

deliveries, then supermarket deliveries and now seems to be dabbing in pharmaceutical deliveries. We at couture think this is deﬁnitely one lifestyle brand to look out for. Could it perhaps be pegged to become Kenya or Africa’s Alibaba? Let’s wait and see.

Excessive Alcohol

AMALFI COAST, ITALY

Enjoy Responsibly. Not for Sale to Persons Under the Age of 18 Years. Consumption is Harmful to your Health.

SOUTH AFRICAN WINS INTERNATIONAL FASHION SHOWCASE 2019

There is a very thin line between culture and fashion and the impact on how culture affects our daily fashion. Whatever fashion and trend you are into today - casual, old school or urban hype – culture plays a big indiscernible role in it. The beauty of this is something meaningful and authentic is created when the two are mixed. Like the KOY clothing brands items. There is a thrill and earned identity that comes forth when a culture is recognized, and its ornaments and fabric used to create attire that is not only local but world renown. KOYs inspirational pieces are bridging cultural gaps while being infused with an international British touch. Owned by two British brothers Alastair and Jimmy Scott, gets its inﬂuence on local pieces while giving them a unique naming’s from Kenyan tribes. The pieces which include belts, suits, blazers and ties are originally tailored using African kikoys and embedded using maasai beards while giving them a British style. The Fashion brand has items such as Nusu Luo jacket, Nusu Kamba jacket, Luo and Mara jackets as well as Oxford white Luo shirt for their February 2019 collection. Besides this, the clothing line also collaborates with local communities like the maasai and thus have lawful rights to use their name and inspiration. The KOY also gives 5% of any piece that is purchased to the community that inspired the item.

2019 seems to be the year of many African designers, taking the global fashion market by storm and with a little surprise. The 2019 International Fashion Showcase that incorporates British Council, British Fashion Council, London College of Fashion, UAL and Somerset House runs an exhibition that taps talented designers worldwide. Some of this year’s participants were designers from South Africa, Rwanda, Brazil, Kenya and the Netherlands. With this year’s theme being “highlighting politics, one’s heritage, identity and sustainability,” South Africa’s Thebe Magugu’s presentation captured the panel’s and the audience’s attention to win the award. His showcase vividly brought on stage the gradual

describe them, the cotton eaters showed up, all the way up. Everything from how they spoke to the way they danced and their fashion sense, proved that they were there to get entertained [Cotton Eaters is a nickname for those with an appetite to consume new fashion and feel that it represents who they are]. Their dress code was versatile, fashionably outlandish and fabulous. Lot of designers also brought forth their work in style and energy. What distinguished the event from other hip-hop events was the incorporation of art. Different artist had their murals and portraits for exhibitions while others painted on set. While many may not understand the movement, the concert proved for sure that it is a force to be reckoned with.

If there's one thing the Cotton Festival, which took place in early February proved to the Mzansis – it is that the cotton ‘eaters’ movement is alive and well. A fashion and music lovers event for the new generation of South Africans, curated and hosted by Riky Rick, the festival brought trendy joburg people together, with rapper Ricky Rick’s taste in fashion and performance killing it. The concert, which boasted an impressive line-up [sans Cassper Nyovest] was a vibe that will go down as one of the best 2019 had to offer. The concert had a market-like feel when it started but ended up being a full-blown party by the end of the night. It was clear from the get-go that the festival attracted a particular market - however you

20 | COUTURE AFRICA

THE SPECTACLE THAT WAS COTTON FEST 2019

KOY CLOTHING: PUTTING KENYAN TRIBES ON THE MAP

changes that South Africa’s constitution had gone through in the past. He also incorporated Africa’s past motifs in a more contemporary and urban manner. Thebe Magugu is initially known for taking over fashion through current affairs; jobs, politics and identity. He gets his inspiration from his fellow youth and puts it into fashion to inspire and create an identity of their own. Cedric Mizero, from Rwanda also got a highly appreciated mention, for his use of objects and ornaments from in a Rwandese village and their inﬂuence in the particular marginalized communities. The fashion awards are giving platforms to young African designers and letting them freely use what they have in their everyday environment to inspire their designs.

COUTURENEWS | FASHION

It is unfair that most black women and men have had to face discrimination based solely on their hair. However, following a series of documented incidents whereby discrimination against black hairstyles has made the headlines in the United States, the New York City Commission of Human Rights has passed new laws giving New Yorkers have the right to "preserve natural hair or hairstyles closely associated with their racial, ethnic or cultural identity". Under the new guidelines, appearance and grooming policies that ban natural hairstyles, including locks, cornrows, braids, twists, Bantu knots, fades, and Afros, in public are illegal and punishable by law. In large part intended to combat racist stereotypes that black hairstyles

while the packaging is sporty and streetwearinﬂuenced. It boasts super-saturated colours and high-endurance technology, ensuring that your makeup keeps up with you and goes the distance. It's sexy and sporty enough to take you from the ofﬁce to the gym to the streets. The results of their limited-edition collaboration recently hit shelves on early February with prices ranging from $9 to $13.

The PUMA X MAYBELLINE Collection

It is basically Athleisure in makeup form. In the short time that "athleisure" has been a part of mainstream culture, "athleisure make-up" has quickly blown up as a thriving subcategory. Drug store brands have also caught on by developing products that appeal to women's desire to combine both their sporty and fashionforward sides. Following the same trend,

are “unprofessional," employers are banned from dictating how workers wear their hair, meaning that those who have encountered harassment can take legal action, and organizations found to have violated the new guidelines can face penalties of up to $250,000. The commission passed the law ofﬁcially on February 20th and thus it is applicable to anyone who has faced such discriminations. Not only does this law ease life for the black Americans and African in New York, but it also paves away to the world reception on who and what Africans and black Americans are made of. Being bold and conﬁdence rocking your own natural hair style should not be an offence, neither should it be a crime. And maybe the world is just learning to realize this. A win for one black person is a win for all.

COUTURE AFRICA | 21

Most creams are never scented and if they are, the scent does not last long, and we end up using body sprays and deodorant all day to smell good. Ythera’s new body cream wants to change that narrative. Following the successful launch of Ythera Beauty ﬁne fragrance body mists, Anna Njoroge, founder of Ythera beauty just released a new body cream. Hydrating, soft and luxurious, the new body creams have Mango Butter and Sweet Almond Oil and are scented as Ythera Beauty Body Mists; Vanilla Orchid, Frangipani, Goddess and Tuber Rose which allows for layering with other fragrant products, which helps the fragrance last longer. The creams can also be used on their own to hydrate and moisturize the skin and they also smell divine. The body creams will be available in a 200g container and will retail at RRP (recommended retail price) of KES 450. Ythera Beauty is a Kenyan brand inspired by the African woman; phenomenally resilient, passionate in the pursuit of her dreams and inspirational in her drive to succeed. The brand is set to ﬁll the gap in the beauty industry for accessible, high quality products that are locally created and locally manufactured and currently trading in 26 stores across Kenya.

I AM MY HAIR: NEW YORK BANS DISCRIMINATION BASED AGAINST HAIR

YTHERA’s New Body Cream

comes: PUMA x Maybelline releasing their joint sporty but oh so chic make-up collection. The collection fuses beauty, fashion, and sport into one high-performance collection – certainly tapping into "the athleisure obsession". And it is not just athleisure-inspired; it is packed with multi-tasking, on-the-go, and engineeredto-last products that suit your busy, active, and demanding lifestyle. The ﬁve-product, 12-piece assortment products are functional

COUTURE NEWS | BEAUTY

22 | COUTURE AFRICA COUTURE NEWS | EVENTS

PREMIERTEX AFRICA 18th – 20th June, Sarit

KENYA FILM DISCONNECTNIGHT:

EVENTS CALENDAR

Tuesday 7th May, The Alchemist Nairobi

There are enough events around the city to keep you happy all month long - from literary highs to euphoric trance. Some life-changing experiences crammed into a few days, which transforms you from jaded commuter into free spirit, or opens your mind through art, music, poetry and performance. Plan your month with our May 2019 events calendar of the best activities:

In partnership with the European Film Festival it shall be a great evening of European and Kenyan cinema. There will be a screening of a selection of short ﬁlms from the Machawood Film Festival, followed by the screening of Kenyan romantic-comedy 'Disconnect' and completing the evening with the Embassy of Belgium's selected drama 'Insyriated'.

Premiertex AFRICA is the most exclusive meeting platform for the home textile, leather, accessories and footwear industry. In 2019 top international decision makers meet to evaluate the future trends and prices with African counterparts. African and International sourcing companies discuss with African manufacturers and designers about international fashion made in Africa. Premiertex AFRICA is the place where exclusive business is made on professional level. They expect 150 exhibitors from East Africa, Middle East and Asia and about 3,500 wholesalers, retailers, chains, manufacturers and dealers from East and central Africa.

Convention Centre Nairobi

The Kenya Kite Festival is a family event that allows adults to relive their youth and kids to learn something new and exciting through kite ﬂying at a picnic style event with live music. Activities at the festival will include kiting competitions and an interactive kiddy corner. Food, drinks & kites will be available for sale throughout the day.

Sunday 28th May, KICC Nairobi

COUTURE AFRICA | 23 COUTURE NEWS | EVENTS

Premier people’s choice awards for wedding service excellence. KWA recognise those businesses which exceed the expectations for their customers, providing outstanding service and inspire their customers to want to actively and positively promote them.

The Mater Heart Run was started in 2002 as the main fundraising avenue for the Cardiac program. Initially held only in Nairobi, the Heart Run has grown over the years and is now held in NINE (9) different towns; Nairobi, Mombasa, Machakos, Mumias, Meru, Kisumu, Nyeri, Eldoret and Nakuru The main Objective of the Mater Heart Run is to fundraise for the cardiac program. The cardiac program was started in 1995 to cater for children who cannot afford the surgery and the ﬁrst openheart surgery was performed in 1996. This was in line with the Values of the Sisters of Mercy, which emphasize on compassion for all and seek to uplift the lives of the under privileged in society. To date over 3000 heart procedures have been performed courtesy of the support from well-wishers. Most of these surgeries were done at Mater Misericordiae hospital by Kenyan doctors, with a few being referred overseas or done by visiting Cardiologists.

KENYA KITE FESTIVAL 2019

KENYA WEDDING AWARDS GALA Wednesday 8th May, Diamond Plaza II Nairobi

Sunday 5th May, Nairobi Polo Club

MATER HEART RUN 2019

A The documentary by Reality Media Online of the spectacular launch of the double volume book of the vanishing rituals and ceremonies of the African continent by Carol Beckwith and Angela Fisher with a carnival of music, dance, fashion, cuisine, costumes and fashions created of the vanishing hand woven and hand printed textiles of Africa at African Heritage House, March 3, 2019. Now available for the world to enjoy.

COUTURE NEWS | EVENTS

AFRICAN TWILIGHT

24 | COUTURE AFRICA

Monday 6th May, Alliance Françoise Nairobi

Get ready to experience the best Afro-House live act in the world when Black Motion perform live. With performances by SURAJ, Jack Rooster & Foozak, it will be an afro-house

BRANDED FOR SUCCESS: THE GLOBAL PERSONAL BRANDING WORKSHOP

COUTURE AFRICA | 25

6th – 8th June, Radisson Blu Nairobi

COUTURE NEWS | EVENTS

A ﬁrst in Kenya, Branded for Success: The Personal Branding Conference has been created as a convergence of minds to discuss the most important thing in business: YOU! With both local and international speakers and trainers, this conference shall see the best of industry share a platform to work with delegates as they demystify, unpack and develop their personal brands. Whether you run your own business or work for an organisation, developing a strong personal brand is what every individual needs to take that extra step towards completeness.

BOOKS A GOOD DAY BY KEN AWALIBORAbookthatageneration of thousands of Africans have enjoyed reading - Ken Walibora’s popular novel in Kiswahili Siku Njema is now available in English with the name This Day. The book deals with the life of Msanifu Kombo a young man born in Tanga, Tanzania. The young man faces family hardships with his single mother including being chided by his schoolmates in a culture that frowns upon illegitimate children. Msanifu would go out to find his father who is based in Kenya. The author through kombo unveils single mother’s struggles and the hardship children who are fatherless face in their daily lives. The novel would later make its author, Ken Walibora, a household name in Kiswahili fiction across the region. He would follow this book with Innocence Long Lost (2005) a fictional account of child abuse in Kenya and the nonfiction tome Narrating Prison Experience: Human Rights, Self, Society, and Political Incarceration in Africa (2013). As times are changing and more people yearn to read from different authors and in a language they can comfortably relate to stories written, it is a sure win for Siku Njema to be translated to English by Dorothy Kweyu and Fortunatus F. Kawegere. The two authors follow Walibora’s Siku Njema and brings it out as fresh and entertaining as it is in Swahili. With the large number of English readers across the world, we are sure the book will get mass reading and recognition just as the Swahili version. Look out for the title when you go out to do your book shopping in the future.

TELEVISION

COUTURE NEWS | CULTURE

African Game of Thrones? Yes please. We guess that when Michael B(ae) Jordan chanted 'Wakanda forever', it was not just for swag. It seems like the Black Panther star loves himself all things African-storytelling. Michael B Jordan's latest acquisition of the rights to adapt African fantasy novel, Black Leopard, Red Wolf, is proof that he cannot get enough of stories about Africa. The actor recently snapped up the movie rights to Marlon James' upcoming book – which is set in a fantastical African country and draws on several mythological elements, and decidedly adult themes. The starring star named Tracker is on the hunt from one ancient town to another; in search of the scent of a wonder boy. And in the midst of the search he wonders why so many people are not in for him ﬁnding the boy. Being drawn from our own African narrative its imagination is breathtaking and Black Leopard, Red Wolf will be both surprising and powerful, leading the audience to ask questions about the truth of the boy and understanding the wolf and leopard situations. It is also a twist of fun to know that even though blood will be spilled, there will be humorous and awkward moments that will mix the ﬁlm up. The great thing about the Black Leopard, Red Wolf is its take on African myths, exploring them and putting them into play. After all, epic fantasy needs to leave medieval Europe. At least, that is what the Jamaican writer and author of the book thinks. Describing the book as an African Game Of Thrones, James is fully prepared to ‘geek the f*ck out’ with it.

A woman is boxed out by the male sports agents in her profession, but gains an unexpected edge over them when she develops the ability to hear men's thoughts. Following the footsteps of Ghostbusters and Ocean’s 8, What Men Want is a remake of the 2000 romantic-comedy which starred Mel Gibson as a chauvinist advertising executive who learns to understand and respect women after an accident gives him the ability to hear women’s thoughts. What Men Want manages to both feed into the gender divide while making a weak gesture toward gender equality. The film pays a lot of lip service to topical issues — with characters talking about the current political climate, the boys club mentality, and several mentions of the #MeToo movement - but that’s all that it is, lip service. What Men Want does not try in the least to address the systemic oppression of women apart from Ali’s constant rants about double standards, but even then, it feels like the film is dismissing her concerns just because she’s a little mean and the prototypical careerdriven woman. But do not worry, by the end of the movie, she will soften up! Henson gives a broad performance in the lead role, though she is not alone in delivering loud, unsubtle performances — from her stereotypically chauvinist boss and colleagues, to her gay assistant Brandon, to her girl squad cut-outs masquerading as characters, What Men Want is a film that traffics in stereotypes. However, what is disappointing is the lack of significant screen time for female characters outside of Ali. For a remake that is supposedly more womencentric, there are shockingly few women. While Henson and co., do their best to elevate their flat roles, and a few timely jokes do elicit a chuckle, What Men Want is ultimately better left unspoken.

26 | COUTURE AFRICA

FILM

AN AFRICAN FANTASY

WHAT MEN WANT

COUTURE NEWS | CULTURE

MUSIC SOWETO CHOIR BAGS A

SouthGRAMMYAfrica’sﬁnest

Abidjan - the city where culture meets talent is to mold amazing festivals all year round. Speaking of festivals, the second edition of the Inter-Cultural Encounters of the Circus of Abidjan [RICA] which took place in the Ivorian capital from February 6th – 10th was nothing short of what is expected from the city. The ﬁveday cultural and social festival was aimed at introducing a pan- African contest by bringing together artists from Africa to encourage the creation of new circus troupes. While hosting artists from Japan, France, Morocco, South Africa and Ethiopia, with a prestigious guest, the Circus of the Sun from Canada, the event was mostly concentrated on art and the idea of Africa having a mass creative from all backgrounds that is affecting the outside world to be part of. There were also talks to create a circus arts training center that would cater to the African talent. The organizers hope to set up the Circus training center in Abidjan by 2020 for the young people across Africa. This is with hope to unite all African circus, ﬂavor, color and unique identity.

ART

ABIDJAN CIRCU FESTIVAL

COUTURE AFRICA | 27

vocal exports have made a splash stateside yet again. The Soweto Gospel Choir have taken home the Grammy Award for “Best World Music Album”, after releasing Freedom in September 2018. Of course, the Soweto Gospel Choir are no strangers to international and African accolades and awards, having previously won an EMMY for their collaboration with global pop icons U2 as part of ESPN’s 2010 FIFA World Cup coverage, [tied with Rihanna and Jay-Z’s Super bowl performance], as well as four South African Music Awards among others. The group was also nominated for an Oscar for their collaboration with Peter Gabriel on the theme song for the ﬁlm “Wall-E”. The Grammy Award-winning album “Freedom” was recorded as part of the group’s tribute to the 100 Years of Mandela celebrations. It also features a selection of South African struggle songs. Founded in 2002, their ﬁrst album Voices of Heaven reached number 1 on the Billboard’s World Music Chart in America after which the group rose to international acclaim. This year's Grammys also saw Kacey Musgraves triumph in the Album of the Year category, while Childish Gambino took home the Record of the Year Award. English singer Dua Lipa won the Best New Artist accolade while Cardi B’s Invasion of Privacy took the Best Rap Album Award. Other winners included Drake, Lady Gaga & Bradley Cooper, Willie Nelson and Ariana Grande.

The best of Nairobi’s corporate scene gathered at Garden City’s Century Cinemax for the premier of What Men Want. A female remake of the blockbuster movie, ‘What Women Want’. This VIP movie premier held at the VIP screening room of Century Cinemax started with an indulgent cocktail event courtesy of Moca Loca Restaurant in Garden City serving their famous AmaCoco Cocktail tied up with mini-make-overs by Lintons Beauty World. The movie itself did not disappoint, culminating in a well spend ‘girls-evening out’ for all in attendance, courtesy of Couture Africa and Garden City Residences.

WHO: Nairobi’s Fabulous Females

28 | COUTURE AFRICA COUTURE EVENTS

WHAT MEN WANT PREMIER AT GARDEN CITY

WHEN: 22nd February 2019

WHERE: Century Cinemax, Garden City

COUTURE AFRICA | 29 COUTURE EVENTS

30 | COUTURE AFRICA COUTURE EVENTS

WHO: Art and fashion lovers and collectors

WHEN: 3rd March 2019

WHERE: African heritage House, Mlolongo

ALAN AFRICANDONOVAN’STWILIGHT

The Gala Night of the Century dubbed African Twilight was held at the African Heritage House, and was a remake of the African heritage Festivals held by Alan Donovan many years back, and frequently featured in our pages. This event was no different. An explosion of African culture, fashion and art, it started with a train ride from the Nairobi railway Museum to the African Heritage House in Mlolongo where guests got a chance to tour the historical property and mingle before the fashion show produced by Alan Donovan himself kicked off and run well into the evening under the starry Nairobi sky.

COUTURE AFRICA | 31 COUTURE EVENTS

WHO: The Kenya Hair Industry

WHERE: YMCA Thika Grounds

WHEN: 21st April 2019

SIMAMA NA MTOTO

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Simama na Mtoto was a charity event held to celebrate Dgohnie Hair Arts’ 10 year mark in the fashion, hair and beauty industries. The celebration was marked by hosting children from various children homes for grooming, food and entertainment. The event, graced by madam Gladys Chania, MCA Macharia Taki, and former speaker Gathii Irungu among others was supported by Thika barbers and salons, Dgohnie Empire, Kuza Kipawa, Amo La Moda Kenya, Tulink for Charity, Chapati Forum, Urban Hair Studio, Natural Hair Kenya, Rainbow Ruiru Resort, Marini Naturals, Zetech University, Cascades Institute, Gorgeous College, Vera Beauty College, Mansion Arts, Tsassy Make-up Arts, 3stylists and Darling Hair, Kenya among others.

COUTURE AFRICA | 33 COUTURE EVENTS

Fiona Kay Brand is a ready to wear brand established on the principles of creative arts, sophisticated construction techniques and intricate detailing. Collections comprise of themed designs meticulously put together hence surprising you every season. Every collection tells a story, every piece is an epitome of couture workmanship and every fabric is a character. The character of her intricately detailed pieces were brought to life in the Garden City Reseidence Townhouses which worked as the perfect backdrop to Fiona’s modern touch of couture.

Photography: Teddy Mitchener Photography

Photography Assistant: Sharon Mitchener Make-up: Andy Nicole of Lintons College of Beauty Hair: Dgohnie of Dgohnie Hair Arts Model: Rue Baby from Ajuma Limited Shoot Production: Nadia Macharia Production Assistant: Debra Olum

FIONATHEKAY DOLL HOUSE

…in partnership with Garden City Residences

COUTURE FASHION Market.VillageandCityGardeninstoresKayFionaatavailableOutﬁts|ShopShoeInstyleatavailableShoes

COUTURE FASHION

HouseCoutureTheatlocationonShot|2018]KenyaTourism[MissLimitedAjumafromPkyachSarahModel:|BeautyofCollegeLintonsTrainer,LeadNicole,AndyMake-up:|LouieKhalifabyPhotography

COUTURE FASHION

FASHION

COUTURE FASHION

MWANGI MUKAMI Doing Well by Doing Good

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CA: Compliments for the great work you are doing both in San Francisco and Kenya. What motivated the idea of the foundation?

KinyanjuiEricbyPhotography

Mwangi Mukami is a new breed of visionary philanthropist. In a world where philanthropy did not change much in the last couple of decades, Mwangi is trying his best to reimagine how modern children can have easy access to resources. Also a seasoned motivational speaker, writer, social activist and a humanitarian worker, Mwangi Mukami is the Founder of MLife Foundation based in San Francisco. Couture sits with Mwangi as he talks about his Foundation’s work and much more.

MM: Our main challenge is getting people to listen. The kind of reaction we get from Kenya is so different from that we get in San Francisco. In Kenya, for instance, majority of the people are Christians, so talking to them about Jesus is easy. However, talking to the same people

Couture Africa (CA): Tell us about MLife Foundation Mwangi Mukami (MM): MLife Foundation is a Non-governmental Organization that I founded back in 2015. We are currently going through a phase I call theory of change; meaning the organization is changing its strategy. Initially, the MLife Foundation used to focus purely on issues of education and issues of peace. But now we want to go much deeper and so we have become more of a faith-based organization than non-proﬁt. We want to retell the story, like the Jewish order, where people grow to be religious despite their beliefs. Now that we are faith-based, our mantra is God accepts people which translates to GAP. Our goal is to reach out, invite, engage and serve. This has nothing to do with religion or spiritual history – but seeing Jesus as a mentor. I just want to remind people that He was a human being and there is a lot we can learn about him.

CA: What are some of the main challenges you have encountered?

By Jackline Mukami

MM: MLife is founded based on my story –my longing, my experiences and struggles that I have had. I was born and raised in a disadvantaged family in Kawangware. As I was growing up, I had a lot of difﬁculties, from struggles at home to a learning disability which I never knew I had, and I felt that despite all these I needed to do something. I wanted to start a foundation that geared towards leading people to Jesus’ practices - not necessarily Him as a son of God but Him as a person, and then importantly promoting the intersectionality of art, liberal education and tech so that every one's identity is accepted and we could all feel the love of Jesus. Our programs are centred towards the discovery of self, community, and contemplative prayer as practiced within the context of Christian tradition.

COUTURE GENTLEMAN

CA: Your foundation is very active in San Francisco than in Kenya. What characterizes the philanthropic culture there?

CA: You seem to care about civility and bringing together parties from both sides of the aisle. How do you keep that spirit alive?

CA: How does the channel between the organization and the people work?

46 | COUTURE AFRICA

COUTURE GENTLEMAN

MM: In San Francisco we have a lot Christian churches that are actually empty. It is actually a challenge since most of them cannot deal with Christianity. And then again technology has created income inequality. That is why we wanted to be a Non-Proﬁt so that we could have these conversations. We have helped bridge those conversations. We have had a lot churches and groups starting to hear our story and agree that it is high time they join hands with us.

CA: How does the foundation attract the ﬁnancial help for its realization?

about Gays and Lesbians elicits an entirely different reaction. In the US, it the vice versa. People are very open-minded and they love the gay people. However, they do not like to talk about Jesus.

MM: A lot of people who support our program actually do that by donating something they are not using. However, we do not want people

CA: How has been the reception generally?

In return, we bring local leaders from Kenya to San Francisco for our annual dinners, annual trainings among other events. It really inspires them.

MM: It has been amazing. First because it breaks the stereotype and secondly, a thing that most Kenyans do not know is that the US faces as many challenges as Kenya. Back in the US, they face stark income inequality and also the issue of racism especially towards the historically minority communities who happen to be the most poor. It is not as ﬂawless as many people think.

It is hard to reconcile the glaring disconnect between the black Jesus and priorities. And that is because many people have been hurt by the church. We are trying to change that mentality. At the end of the day, we believe that Jesus is about breaking those walls and promoting reconciliation, restoration, and renewal of all these.

MM: Certainly. We have done quite a lot to keep that spirit alive. For instance we have these bags we get from Kenya and donate to people living in San Francisco. We donate the bags and also pledge to sponsor their education. And they always go like, wait, these are from Kenya? These changes their attitude towards Africa. They go crazy. They cannot believe it.

MM: We strive to help people who have demonstrated that they cannot make it without our help despite trying. They also have to prove to us that they are willing to give back to the society. That is why our slogan is compete for good. How about if we competed to help others?

CA: What makes MLife standout?

CA: How come you do not share what you do?

CA: What positive changes do you hope to bring through MLife Foundation?

MM: My dream is to have campuses all over where young people can come and get the assistance and support they need – then go out there and change the world. And also there is a lot of research that shows that people who believe –whether it is in Jesus or Allah – happen to navigate better in life and that is something that we want to do more often. We make people more grounded, have more peace and change their world through meditation and self-discovery.

CA: Before MLife Foundation was borne...

giving us old clothes and stuff; we want people giving us stuff they would gift to a friend. And that is what we do for both Kenya and San Francisco. We get a chunk of money from the US to help people in Kenya, then get people in Kenya make the bags that we donate back to the US.

MM: We do not share because we believe that we should dignify those we serve. You will not ﬁnd those stories out there. When we write our reports we write them statistically – how many people we have helped. One of our commitments is that we have put our lives and livelihood on the line to create a just, equitable and diverse and inclusive world and measure the impact of our programs by the success of those we help rather than the numbers we serve. It is a radical departure from many nonAlso,proﬁts.we count those we support as equal and as friends.

MM: First of all, our funding is in-house. It is not done like grand writing. It is people who have been helped by the program - whether it is through skills or paper work –who come back and fund our projects. For instance, I commit 10% of my income to the foundation and my friends do the same. They just pledge. We want to raise a community where people do not see giving as charity but rather righting the wrongs. We stand out because we do it for justice.

MM: After my form four certiﬁcate, I worked with Kenya Children Covenant as the Junior Vice President back in 2001-2003. Later I became their ﬁrst Junior President. In 2004-2005, I served as the Youth Parliament of Kenya which I had started and served as the Youth President. From 2006-2009, I started and served as the Chairman for the Martin Luther King (MLK) Junior Foundation in Africa. And that is where I stopped and took a sabbatical leave for six years.

CA: Anyway, what were you doing for those six years?

MM: Yes. I did not have a degree the whole time. I even used to have body guards and motorcades. Life was amazing; I felt it was working perfectly for me.

COUTURECOUTUREGENTLEMANAFRICA | 47

CA: All those achievements with just a form four certiﬁcate?

48 | COUTURE AFRICA

MM: While in the US, I got involved in programs that helped me overcome it.

MM: Yes, Obama wrote to me when I graduated back in 2015. It really inspired me and pushed me to do more considering that an Associates degree in the US is an equivalent of a Degree in LetKenya.meactually brag a little. If you get a chance and log onto Wikipedia and type Obama’s inauguration, my name pops out - I was one of the notable guests invited at this inauguration party in 2009. I loved him and what he used to do. I believed in him and I consider him a mentor to me. I am actually one of those who believe that he should have done more, being the ﬁrst African American to hold the ofﬁce without any scandals. I even started this worldwide Obama support campaign.

CA: Son, choices have consequences…

MM: Yes, I bore a son back in 2005, at 25. His name is Lincoln. Part of having him was because of this thing I call alpha masculinity. This is because I got the worst advice in life when I disclosed my sexuality to the ﬁrst person I ever did. He told me that if I slept with a lot of women, I would turn straight. And I really wanted to be straight. I saw women as objects to sleep with to change my sexuality. I am ashamed of that past because there are so women that I hurt in the process purely thinking that I would eventually love them. So getting my son and just that whole relationship with him, there was just a whole disconnect.

CA: What about the learning disability?

CA: Amazing! Then Obama happened!

MM: It is splendid. Lincoln now has one more brother and two sisters. I have the greatest

CA: Oh dear. So how is your relationship with Lincoln at the moment?

CA: Besides MLife foundation, you have been a strong activist of the LGBTQIA rights.

COUTURE GENTLEMAN

MM: Yes I am. I grew up in a society that prized masculinity. You have to be an alpha male for you to do this and when you grow up in that kind of a society, coming out was a big thing. I personally felt that the best thing I could do for myself was coming out to my family. I did not want then ﬁnding out through external sources. However, it was not an easy choice.

MM: I was trying to ﬁnd me. I just needed a sabbatical break since a lot of things had happened around that time, especially with the Government. We also happened to lose a lot of money with the ﬁnancial global crisis. It was not the right time for me. I felt that this was my time to slip out of the country and try something else. So I moved to the US. I would just sit home and watch life go by. That was until 2012.

CA: What happened in 2012?

MM: In 2012 my mum urged me to go back to school and get myself a degree. I enrolled in Campus, studied for six years and in 2018 I graduated with two Associates degrees. I then graduated Magna Cum Laude with a double major.

CA: How did you eventually go about disclosing your sexuality to your family?

CA: It must have been so liberating coming out though

Itme.is now part of what I do as part of my Nonproﬁt. I want to inspire and tell that young kid that God loves him or her and that there is a larger network outside your home that will accept, afﬁrm and love you despite your sexuality.

Withthing.

COUTURE GENTLEMAN

relationship with my kids. Also living in San Francisco, which is a very afﬁrming city, has eased our relationship - my four kids see the kind of family setup that we have in other families. At the end of the day it does not bother them. They are growing up to become world citizens so that if they go to other countries, they will not ﬁnd it strange.

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CA: I can imagine the reaction from your family…

MM: I remember a lot of people getting upset President Kenyatta said that the LGBTQIA is not a Kenyan issue in an interview with CNN. As a person who identiﬁes with the community, I appreciate that the President gave time to respond about the issue since it is so hidden in the society.

MM: I actually wrote a letter to my family and emailed it to them. In the letter I stated that I have really struggled with my sexuality and I just wanted to let them know that I am LGBTQIA – and that I did not want them reading it from the sources since I was going to speak about my sexuality more often. I had come to this realization that I am a human being and I deserved happiness like everyone else.

time my brothers came around. One of my brothers wrote back promising they would support me equivalently. I have a brother who is a pastor who disagrees about that – but whether we disagree or not, the fact is that we are respectful about it.

CA: In the wake of #repeal152 in Kenya, do you think Kenya as a country is ready to fully support the LGBTQIA community and their rights?

MM: Deﬁnitely. After that I felt good about my life. A lot of people wrote to me telling me how I inspired them with my journey. The love I felt from all these people who surrounded moved

MM: Initially my siblings were really upset, and at that point I really did not understand them. I was really upset at them as well. However with time, I realized that this was a new thing for them. And I was making them carry my shame given the fact that they lived in a country that did not accept gay people. My mum reacted differently though. I remember her telling me how she felt disappointed in herself that she had acted in ways that made me feel I could not trust her with such information all those years. She promised me she would spend the rest of her life ﬁlling that love for me. She accepted me for how I am. It was honestly the most amazing

CA: Is retirement ever on your list?

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MM: I want to help a lot of children all over the world and change their lives. I want to help kids who live in poverty, who are in shame and who have been traumatized – I want them to feel loved, appreciated and more importantly reafﬁrmed. I also want to change the education systems both in San Francisco and Kenya. If we could offer the kids this kind of love, they could build the next fortress, go into the space and boldly change the world.

CA: What are your passions outside of MLife foundation?

MM: I love travelling, meeting new people and socializing. You have noticed I like to talk a lot, haven’t you? I also watch a lot of movies.

COUTURE GENTLEMAN

Personally, I do not think Kenya is ready for the repeal. The question is not actually whether Kenyans are ready or not. The question is what is the right way to approach this issue? You do not have to accept it; you can be ignorant of it, but you should read and research so that if you are disagreeing, you are disagreeing from a point of knowledge not ignorance. It is after this that we can make any further decision.

CA: If you were to imagine the retirement party of your dreams, what are we toasting to?

MM: I hope so. Right now I am doing what I love – I do not think of my foundation as a job. My joy is working with people who need help; whether it is personal development or Nonproﬁt. But I do not think I want to retire – I just want to be a millionaire and help others.

NATIONAL MUSEUMS OF KENYA where heritage lives on TINGA artists PRESENTS LEGENDARY OF TANZANIA The Nairobi April 7thOpening of Tinga Tinga Opening of Pioneer Tanzanian beside Kenyatta Avenue Private

TINGA artists PRESENTS LEGENDARY TANZANIA Nairobi Gallery - Nov 7th Tinga art April 7th 2PM Tanzanian Artists to be announced Private Entry and ample free parking open daily 8.30am - 5.30pm

Ghana

The show.GhanaRoyalmagnificentfabricsofopenedthe

The launch of a double volume book on the vanishing rituals and ceremonies of the continent by Photographers Carol Beckwith and Angela Fisher celebrated at the African Heritage House with over 200 authentic costumes and fashions created of the vanishing hand printed and hand woven textiles of AFRICA.

The first gown Alan designed of Ethiopian

Sharma hornblower.followedclothby Ethiopia www.africanheritagehouse.info

AFRICAN TWILIGHT....

Photos by Gilbert Otieno

Cameroon

www.africanheritagehouse.info

Photos by Gilbert Otieno

MORE AFRICAN TWILIGHT

NIGERIA featured in vibrant fabrics woven by both men and women, the Ibo appliqued costumes,ceremonial masks and Marcus in Hausa embroidered trousers. Dancers above in rare geerewol costumes from Niger.

COUTURE HISTORY H

Nigeria and Niger

MORE AFRICAN TWILIGHT

Congo Kuba King and two Queens Cowswede finale

Lyna as Masai Bride

Sally Karagu (2nd from the left) receiving African Heritage lifetime achievement award in fashion design from Alan Donovan

www.africanheritagehouse.info TWILIGHT

Photos by Gilbert Otieno

Alan Donovan installed as a Chief of Nigeria, Babalaje of Ido-Osun with Amb. Amina Mohammed looking on.

Ajuma in beadwork from the Dinka and MasaiFinale photo by Teddy Muchiri Alan Donovan with Angela Fisher and Carol Beckwith of African Twilight

BEAA

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Using a contour brush, prime your face ﬁrst using minimal foundation. This will help you achieve an all-natural look at the end. Brush through using a mate powder to set the foundations light effect. For subtle eyes, use all human natural lashes and a nude eyeshadow palette. Top off with lipglass over a nude lip colour.

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BLK/OPL True Colour Pore Perfecting Foundation Powder: KES 2,250

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BODY BEAUTY COUTURE BEAUTY | BEAUTY 64 | COUTURE AFRICA

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Taking care of your body on the outside is just as important as taking care of your body on the inside. A little pampering goes a long way in calming your mind and uplifting your spirit!

COUTURE BEAUTY | BEAUTY COUTURE AFRICA | 65

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KH: My most deﬁning moment is when I joined Africa Express in 2008. It was such a great opportunity – it came with lot of blessings, opportunities and growth both in my life and career. I thank God for that.

Beautiful, modern and emancipated – Kaltuma Hussein has succeeded in smashing stigmas and championing causes close to her heart. In the light of existing stereotypes, arguing that Muslim women’s self-representations should be seen as part of a politics of belonging, the married mother of two and Commercial director at Africa Express Airways has defied all odds and risen beyond the stereotypes. She has also redefined the look of the modern Muslim woman with her own sense of style and good taste in fashion. In an exclusive interview with Couture Africa, Kaltuma talks her struggles, freedom and being on the frontline, fighting for gender equality.

By Jackline Mukami

COUTURE PROFILE

KALTUMA HUSSEIN [KH]: My biggest motivation is my family. Coming from a large family of eleven and being the second born means there are a lot of responsibilities. Thankfully, my parents taught me the importance of family and I carry it with me every day. I am for the notion that family always comes ﬁrst.

COUTURE AFRICA [CA]: As a successful woman working with Africa Express Airways, what is your biggest motivation?

KH: I got to say it is the people. Working with Africa Express has been a blessing. We are like one big family and above all we all understand the importance of team work. Not only are our employees accommodating, but they are the most amazing people to work with.

THEUNVEILINGHASSAN:KALTUMAVEIL

KH: I attribute most of my success to patience – it is my number one personality. Additionally, I would also say Integrity, selfreliance and passion. Above all I trust the process – it is as equally important as the CA:results.We all have some deﬁning moments in our lives. What is yours?

CA: Which personality trait or behavior do you attribute mostly to your success?

70 | COUTURE AFRICA

CA: What is the best part of working with the Airline?

CA: What message do you have for young Muslim women and other women in KH:general?Iwould urge all the young women in general to stop playing victim of circumstances they create. I mean you are responsible for the life you are living. Look at the choices you make and be accountable for them.

CA: Besides your career and the foundation, which other projects are you involved in?

KH: Gender subordinations is a common thing in Africa - it happens and sadly it is still happening. Coming from a conservative community, Muslim women face a lot of discriminations, gender bias and the same time religious discrimination at their prospective work places. These are situations that should not be happening at this age and time. Gender relations in my community in particular dictate that men are bread winners while females are the homemakers. These have therefore shaped the role that women and men play in the society. But knowing how resilient women are and can be, I hope that they will one day come to pass. Women are being empowered against such discrimination.

KH: Fortunately, no. However, away from the work place I once met someone who had quite a lot to say about Muslim women. We were having this conversation and out of the blue he told me how people from his community would never dare come near a Muslim-Somali woman since they are very hideous. It was unbelievable.

KH: One of the biggest challenge I face in my department is market threats. Knowing very well that success of every business depends on the level of customer satisfaction. Our plan aims at attracting and retaining our

KH: Currently I am not involved in any projects. However, I was a Sponsor and part of the organizing team for the recently held Somali International Fashion Show [SIFS]. The event took place in Kenya recently for the ﬁrst time.

CA: Are there any misconceptions about Muslim women you have faced at your work place?

customers. However, from time to time new Airlines enter the market and disrupt our comfort zone. Some of the moves they make especially those dealing with pricing are sensitive to customers. Therefore, I have to adjust accordingly to the strategies of the competitor. We need to analyze and monitor the competitors strategies if we need to maintain and improve our position in the market.

KH: Yes, I am part of the Foundation. The Muna Kay Foundation is a philanthropic organization that offers help to the disadvantaged and provides artisanal training and mentorship to women and girls. The society has in return welcomed the initiative since it is aimed in improving their living standards. It is basically a way of giving back to the community.

KH: Exactly, that is more important than worrying what the outside world is telling us. Now I am not saying that we do not try to talk to the outside world and correct the impression of women, but I think the issue is how to empower Muslim women so they can speak out for who they are. They are more self-conﬁdent.

COUTURE PROFILE

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KH: Personally, I wish I had networked from day one. I came to realize that I used to be so conservative until recently when I started to meet wonderful people and learnt a lot from them.

CA: You are actually giving more selfesteem to these women.

CA: You are a partner at Muna Kay Foundation, how has the society reacted to the initiative.

CA: What are the challenges that you have faced in your career?

CA: I read an article that was trying to demystify identities and gender opportunities. It was mainly focusing on the challenges Muslim women face in the work industry and there is a lot going on regarding Muslim women. What is your take on that?

CA: What should be done to change the situation of women rights in the work KH:place?Work places need to be adoptive for women. The work environments should be free of hostility - where women may not endure sexual harassment of any sort. It should also continue to empower women and pass laws and guidelines that protect women against gender-based CA:discriminations.Wheredoyou think this process begins?

KH: This process begins at home. It begins by instilling these values to our children and family members, treating both genders equally with respect for one another, listening to one another and solving any conﬂict in amicably manner. Empowering the girl child and educating them about their rights is certainly part of the process.

CA: At the beginning of your career what do you wish you had known?

SENIOR ACCOUNT MANAGER

DOUGLAS MURIITHI

Blazer: Jades collection

SENIOR ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE

Shoes:Watch:Earrings:Kimono:OnlineCustom-MadeOnlineGiftedForeverTrendy

SENIOR ACCOUNT MANGER

Top: Shoes:Hoops:Watch:Jeans:Custom-madeOldNavyDubaiUSClarks

PocketTrousers:WaikikiLCWaikikiSquare:Jades collection

ANGELA MAINA

My personal style is boho-chic with an African touch. I am into African prints with solid colours. Thanks to our flexible office style policy, my office look is not in any way different from my personal style. The mood, weather and the occasion determine how I will dress for the day. I draw my fashion inspiration from Rihanna; she is a rebel, not defined by the norm and simply goes against the flow when it comes to fashion. My favourite accessories are my earrings, hoops in particular and watch. I splurge most on nice fancy tops. I have come to learn investing in something worth the price than cheap things. As far as my shopping habits go, I am both of a planner and spontaneous buyer – I spot, plan then buy. Instagram has recently become my shopping stage.

Shoes:Watch:Ring:Earrings:OnlineGiftedSternsCBDModeChateau

WHAT WOMEN [AND MEN] WEAR TO WORK

ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE

My personal style is very casual. I am also keen on what I wear; I do not want to clash colours and wear uncoordinated outfits. It is however different from my office look since for the office I go for the smart casual. I love sports so I draw my fashion inspiration from what the key players wear outside the field. I like their well-fitting and sharp suits. I admire Ronaldo’s style in particular. I spend most on trousers. When shopping, I try getting well-fitting and matching shirt, trousers and shoes for a complete outfit. I would never be spotted wearing shiny colours. My favourite accessory would be the pocket square when I am donning a coat or blazer. Otherwise I do not accessorize much. I normally shop at LC Waikiki since they have genuine products and their pricing is fair.

Shoes: Jades Collection

By Jackline Mukami

Shirt: LC

My personal style is chic, comfortable and sexy. It is also very feminine. My office look is more or less the same as my personal look. I blend the outfits effortlessly to create a unique personalized look. The weather and my mood determine my look for the day. I normally dress with outfits from Uzi Collection from Rwanda. Given a chance I would switch my wardrobe with Lorraine, who is the founder of the Uzi collection. The fabric and the patterns rule my ideal wardrobe. My favourite accessories are my rings. I can never leave the house without one. I would never be caught dead wearing jumpsuits. I splurge most on shoes; I believe that every outfit has a shoes that makes it perfect.

My personal style, which is not different from my office look, is smart casual. My diary determines how I dress for the day. Comfort is also key when selecting my day-to-day outfits. I could go for jeans, nice designer t-shirts and sneakers any day. I draw my inspiration from random people. I splurge most on statement items. My ideal wardrobe is eclectic, spontaneous and unpredictable with lots of shades. However, I am very keen on fabrics. My favourite accessories are my Kazuri beads and hoops. You would never spot me wearing platform heels; I am not the shoes kind of person. I am the kind of a shopper who spots and buys. When I want my outfits custom-made I have Kenyan Ankara custom making them for me. I shop anywhere – in the sense that I shop when I travel and credible online stores.

KEZA MPYISI

Dress:

Fashion is not just something that happens after hours. Image is everything and you have to look amazing in the ofﬁce environment too. The COUTURE Africa Team goes on a monthly hunt for the most stylish work environments.

72 | COUTURE AFRICA

COUTURE CULTURE | OFFICE STYLE

WANGUI MAINA

My personal style can best be defined as bad and boujee. It also happens to be trendy and wild. It is however different from my office look which happens to be a little conservative and smart casual. The occasions ahead of me mostly determine how I will dress for the day. Given a chance, I would switch my wardrobe with Rihanna. Her style is chic and she looks good in absolutely anything. I would say Rihanna is everything fashion. I would never be caught dead wearing crocs or anything close to the Yeezy “homeless” collection. I splurge most on make-up. My ideal wardrobe is a walk-in closet with colour coordinated outfits. My favourite accessories are my earrings and lip balm. I am a planner not a spontaneous buyer. I normally shop online, Fashion Nova or misguided.

Black Top: Nanyuki Market Skirt: Karen Thrift Market Glasses: Shoes:Watch:Earrings:VogueThailandSouthAfricaBata

REDHOUSE GROUP

Smart casual with an African touch bests describes my personal style. It also happens to be spontaneous and unpredictable. Thanks to working in a creative space, I do not have a different office look since we are not bound by strict dressing rules. I also define my own style. The weather and the occasion determine how I will dress for the day. My watch is my favourite accessories. I spend most on shoes; I believe shoes maketh a man. I would never be spotted wearing polyester trousers. I never plan my shopping, I spot and buy. I do not have a specific store where I shop from, but I have “my guy” who supplies me with what I want.

Shirt: Trousers:CBDThink twice

KENDI KIRIMI PUBLICIST

Watch: Gifted

GRAPHICS DESIGNER

Top: Mr. Price

Shoes: CBD

MORGAN MAJIMBO

My personal style is flirty. I like to show just a little skin and some cleavage. I also go for outfits that define my figure. Comfort is also a priority when it comes to choosing my outfits. Being in production unit means that my personal style is not different from my office look. Occasions determine how I will dress for the day. I cannot leave the house without earrings and my lip balm. Given a chance I would switch my wardrobe with Kim Kardashian in a heartbeat –her style has evolved to cut across almost all generations and she certainly does it for the culture. I also admire Solange’s sense of style –you cannot separate style from her. I splurge most on dresses and shoes. I would never be caught dead wearing kitten heels. As far as my shopping habits go I am the spontaneous kind of buyer. I spot and buy. I love thrift shopping especially in Nanyuki market.

My personal style is smart casual – which is not in any way different from my office look. My ideal wardrobe is smart casual dominated by blues, blacks and white. Occasions I have ahead of me during the day determine which outfits I will rock for the day. I do not draw my fashion inspiration from any particular personality. I define my own fashion sense. I appreciate trends, but I do not change the said trends. I would never leave the house without my favourite watch. I splurge most on shoes. I would never be caught dead wearing baseball caps and maybe suspenders – I find them too old school for my taste. I would best describe my shopping style as spontaneous – I spot and buy. With that said, I shop

COUTURE CULTURE | OFFICE STYLE

Shoes:Watch:Trousers:Shirt:anywhere.IdentityKampalaOnlineKampala

Redhouse Group provides leading brands with solid Thinking, Insight led and Results driven IMC solutions in Advertising, Design, Strategic Planning, Public Relations, Digital, Media Planning, and Audio-Visual production services across the East African Region.

BeautyofCollegeLintonsfromBrendashii&BreeMwangibyMake-up|KinyanjuiEricbyPhotography COUTURE AFRICA | 73

Top: HighThriftedWaisted Trousers: Earrings:Australia Lovisa Bag: Shoes:UKGifted

PRESSY NKIROTE CONTENT LADY

BARASA PAUL ACCOUNT DIRECTOR

CA: What are your main challenges as a media personality?

CK: When I joined Obsessions. It put me out there more and gave me a pedestal on which I got noticed and was offered work in TV, Radio and the Magazine. My background in theatrical acting too earned me my first film role back in 2005 in The Last King of Scotland. That was my break into film.

CK: Musically I liked Aaliyah, TLC, Michael Jackson, Madonna, Usher, Timbaland, Ciara, Beyonce, Janet Jackson, among many others because of their performance abilities and uniqueness. I also liked Alicia Keys [whom I later on met, I love her. She is amazing], Nneka, Lira, Oliver Mtukudzi [I met him too. He was a good man], Linkin Park, Evanescence, Chris Tomlin…Gosh! I could go on and on. Acting-wise, I admired Denzel Washington and Angelina Jolie. I wanted to act as well as they do. I still look up to them.

CA: You have been in the game for quite a long time. How do you continue to remain a consistent force in this industry?

CK: It takes discipline, professionalism, determination, persistence, re-invention, learning, self-respect, respect for others, patience, adaptability, and prayer, to sustain oneself in this industry. It’s not easy but God has been my guide through it all. Also knowing the right people in the industry helps because once they acknowledge your work, they recommend you for more jobs/gigs which is a result of one’s professionalism and relatability.

COUTURE Africa [CA]: You have a lot of ‘artistic pies’ in your hands – how did you get there?

Cleopatra Koheirwe [CK]: I have grown up loving music, dance and film/TV shows. I also used to love poetry and literature with my talents becoming more prominent during my A-levels when I joined a school which was mostly known for its music, dance and drama productions. I grew steadily when I joined OBSESSIONS in 2001, one of the best music, dance & drama groups ever in East Africa. I became more confident, more outspoken, and more comfortable with my talents and it was during that time that I got jobs in TV [WBS TV, now defunct], Capital FM Radio and the publication – African Woman Magazine. I am however nit actively singing at the moment. My last solo video for my song Lay you Down featuring Kenyan Reggae/Dancehall artist Levysill came out in 2013. At that time, we were both signed to Cypher Studios under Jimmy Okungu aka The Beatmekah, in Kenya. Once I had my first baby in 2014, I sort of drifted from that musical creative part of me.

CA: What or who were your early passions and inﬂuences when starting out?

CK: Life onscreen is my getaway since I get to be someone else. It is interesting and different from radio, because I am playing a character that is probably far off from who I am in real life, for an audience that will either love or hate or sympathize with the character depending on the type of role I am playing. On radio however, I am relating with my audience. I can also be silly one minute and geeky the next. It’s fun - I call it edutainment. The listeners get a bit of everything on Midmorning Magazine –the show I co-host at Radiocity 97fm in Kampala.

CLEOPATRA KOHEIRWE

COUTURE CULTURE | HER STYLE

CA: What do you personally consider to be the incisive moments in your artistic career?

CA: How is life onscreen? And how is it different to life behind the mic, on Radio?

CA: Thus far, what has been the best experience/ worst experience working in the industry?

Current playlist?

The Bahamas, Paris or Italy.

Rewrite the Stars by Anne-Marie & James Arthur Cleopatra in 3 words… Creative. Outgoing. Loyal

How would you describe your personal style?

CK: Over the years I have mastered how to manage my time and plan my schedule. This is because all I do is under entertainment and each complements the other. I am fortunate enough to work with people who appreciate my work and support my side hustles.

CK: Motherhood is a journey that every woman has to experience to understand it. It is an exciting and scary at the same time. Motherhood has taught me to be more patient - a child can test you [laughs]. I have also learnt to think beyond just me - everything I do now is all about her. I want to make sure she a comfortable life but also let her know that life is not a bed of roses. We toil to get what we have. I do not want her to be an entitled selﬁsh brat.

CK: When I featured in The Last King of Scotland alongside Kerry Washington, James McAvoy and Forest Whittaker. Interacting with them was eyeopening and watching them in action blew my mind. It impacted my choice to pursue ﬁlm seriously. Then when I got a role in the Kenyan DSTV series Changes as Nanziri in 2008 helped me break into the Kenyan market. My other best experience was in 2016 when I acted in Sense 8 season 2 as Mother. Working with Lana Wachowski of The Matrix franchise fame, and Tom Tykwer as directors was amazing. These have to be my best experiences. For worst experiences, I do not like dwelling on the negative – they are all learning experiences.

CA: What are ﬁve things that encapsulate the woman that you are today?

CA: What future projects do we expect from Cleopatra?

The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*uck by Mark Manson.

CA: Speaking as the mother to a little girl, what is the best experience that you can share about the parenting journey?

CLEO QUICKFIRE

CA: You have become a star in every sense, and you are quite busy! How do you manage to maintain a balance and make sure all ventures get the appropriate amount of attention?

CA: How do you handle the pressure that comes with being a public person?

CK: People thinking that a media personality is swimming in money. Lol. You ﬁnd that when you go into a shop that does not have set prices, you are overcharged. It is as though we are not expected to budget [laughs]! We too have families and are working just like everybody else. I wish people wouldn’t put price tags on us.

CK: She is now 5 years old and she too loves music, singing, dancing, modelling and acting. She also loves to draw and colour so she seems to have a lot of artistic traits. Her father, Lwanda Jawar, and I want her to ﬁnd her own path. We will encourage

Chic and casual

Perfume, lip gloss, and moisturizer. Favourite dish?

COUTURE CULTURE | HER STYLE COUTURE AFRICA | 75

3 beauty essentials you cannot leave the house without?

CA: Are you encouraging her to walk in your footsteps or ﬁnd her own path?

CK: I would probably be a journalist or a lawyer. I have always wanted to be able to stand up for others, defend them and help them get justice. If not, I would be a Fine Artist.

CK: I am myself. I do what I want and try to live a simple normal life. I will use boda bodas if I want to. I will take a matatu if necessary. I keep my life private, avoid being all over the place for no reason and only share what I am comfortable sharing on social media. I mind my own business and endeavour to keep a positive outlook on life.

CA: You have quite an impressive portfolio to be honest. But I am curious to know which path is your most favorite?

CK: I equally love them all, but I would go for ﬁlm without a second thought. It is my passionI love acting, and I want to direct or produce my own screenplays someday. If only acting was as sustainable in Africa as it is in Hollywood.

and support her in whatever she chooses to do in life.

CA: If you were not in the entertainment industry, what would you be doing?

CK: I am God-fearing, loving, hardworking, strongminded, and kind – when I want to be [Laughs!].

3 random facts about Cleopatra that most people do not know about?

Pilau and gravy, or chapati and chicken or liver. Favourite vacation spot?

I am left-handed, short-sighted, and a good cook. Current read?

CK: In Uganda, there is a project that we, female filmmakers, came together to work on voluntarily. It is about gender-based violence and the working title for the film is Bed of Thorns- Tosilika. Tosilika is a Luganda word meaning “don’t keep quiet”. The film focuses on shedding light on domestic violence. I cannot quite mention the other projects I am to be involved in yet due to Non-Disclosure Agreements, but there are a couple on the line-up for me this year. I hope to do a lot more in regard to filmmaking. God speed!

JAMES ONG’WENY of ITIKADI HOUSE

From red carpet events to fashion magazine editorials and ad-campaigns, James’s creations are everywhere - which is almost becoming a sartorial delight in itself. A host of celluloid beauties have worn his Itikadi House designs with great élan. There is no iota of doubt, he has ﬁrmly established himself and is at the top of his game, and he knows it too - devoid of any arrogance. In this exclusive interview with COUTURE Africa, he gives us an insight into his creative vision, success and much more.

COUTURE CULTURE | HIS STYLE

One Designer to Watch

By Ruth Wambui

JO: I have this vision of becoming one of the biggest luxury brands in Africa and by doing so, we will prove to upcoming designers that home grown businesses can be rewarding. It is high time we have the growing middle class ﬂexing with African brands on Instagram the same way they do with Gucci, Versace and the likes. There are so many African brands that are really good with high quality luxurious work. It is my job as Itikadi to make you invest in my brand – and make you feel that you can wear an Itikadi shirt knowing that it is home grown and at the same time luxurious.

JO: Yes, it was and still is challenging especially because the business has taken different phases. Finding an identity has to be the most challenging but you learn unique design styles nevertheless. However, I have always wanted to retail, especially for women - I like personalizing and creating bespoke pieces for my clients. It feels more appealing to me when I have to create and design new things all the time. However, when I started out, I realized that I was not ready for the market and vice versa. We have had brands like Annabelle Onyango and Diana Opoti open their own retail stores and I wanted to do the same. I have predominantly been stocking with Annabelle’s RepubliKe - where we have had a brilliant experience for the past one and a half years. People are buying. We have to show to the world that Kenyan brands are shop-able.

An ideal Itikadi house man is appreciative – one who does not consider suits a 9-5 outﬁt.

CA: Do you do fashion forecasting?

CA: What do you do for fun?

STYLE BOX

James in 3 words? Creative, simple, hardworking.

CA: Who is the ideal Itikadi fashion man and woman?

CA: How did your fashion adventure begin?

CA: Being a fashion designer can often be portrayed as being glamorous. However, it can be quite challenging while starting out. How did you motivate yourself during this time?

CA: Your ﬁve-year plan?

JO: True - it can be glamourous and every fashion designer starts thinking of making quick sales which is not the case. You realize that your market demands more than you are showing and most of

CA: Was it challenging for you to create your own individual identity as a designer, especially with all the comparison and judgement that comes?

COUTURE CULTURE | HIS STYLE

Grooming/ beauty products you swear by? A comb and lotion. Current playlist? Sauti Sol.

CA: What is the most exciting part during the process of design conceptualization and why? How does inspiration come to you and translate into reality?

JO: Hanging out with my son is the ultimate form fun. I also like watching football and movies and listening to music.

JO: I have grown up around fashion. My mum and grandmother were in the business for a long time. My grandmother did more of what I am doing, she made her own ready to wear designs and did a bit of wholesale too. My mum, on the other hand, took over and expanded it to where she did sportswear and corporate stitching of uniforms. When I was young, my mum and aunt used to binge watch The Bold and the Beautiful show which was predominantly fashion-based. Generally, I have drawn inspiration from my grandmother’s approach to business and my mum’s crazy love for the TV show.

JO: Open more stores, maybe in Lagos, Cape Town, Uganda or Tanzania.

How would you describe your personal style? Spontaneous and quite unpredictable. Boxers or briefs? Boxers.

Suits and ties or jeans and sneakers? Jeans and sneakers.

Couture Africa [CA]: Who is James? How did you come up with Itikadi as a brand name?

CA: Your fusion of style with comfort and an element of nonchalant elegance has remained unchanged. What message are you addressing with your label?

Garages and workshops or massages and pedicures?

Garages and workshops. Favourite fragrance? AXE.

JO: The most exciting part is production - when I see ideas translated into pieces. Ironically, the most painful part is designing, sketching, marking, removing some sketches. Everything works just ﬁne while on paper and until you conceptualize it, there is a lot of input. I draw my inspiration from art and culture. Currently we are raising awareness for women through #SheDoesSomething – to give them stronger identities to enable them make independent social decisions. That is the kind of power we translate through our work.

the time people do not understand your designs. However, you have to keep pushing your designs to them. Personally, I did not have a plan B. I invested into it wholly - I was in it for the ong-haul. The trick is to listen to people who work with and around you. And that is what I do with my business partner. I want to grow and branch out into accessories, bags and maybe other forms of design – and fashion is my ultimate route.

JO: The ideal Itikadi Fashion woman is stylish, fun and predominantly happy with themselves. A woman who is boldly self-aware and who is not scared of merging trendy pieces into her wardrobe.

James Ong’weny [JO]: James is a normal guy who loves practicing fashion design though not bound by it. I like culture, architecture and art and that can be seen through my designs. I am a husband and a father which has now changed my perspective in terms of business more than anything in terms of legacy and such. The name Itikadi means traditions in Swahili language. I went with that name to pay homage to my grandmother. She is the inspiration behind Itikadi and everything behind it.

JO: Yes we do. Each time we are doing a collection, we check the trends, what colours are in and what colour pallets do we use. By the time we are done with the pieces, we know how we are going to shoot in terms of the theme and the budget for the model. Forecasting is necessary for the business.

By Wambui Waruingi

Goplus ExerciseUprightBike

Riding this bike almost resembles riding a classic normal bicycle. The seat is built to support the user’s weight while the pedals are aligned under the feet and the bike engages the core and upper muscles as well as the upper body. The user has to be upright while the arms are engaged with the special moving handlebars. They have the smallest footprint and are easier to transport, thanks to their minimal design. Hey, who said you can only watch TV in the conﬁnes of a house? Some models come with an option of customizing your own TV that will require electricity meant to distract riders as they exercise or for interactive ﬁtness programmes designed to enhance riders’ workouts.

Want to burn calories as you build muscle and develop proper cycling technique all at one go? Then the stationary bike is what the doctor recommends. Fixed at one point and common in gyms and ﬁtness centres, this bike is customised such that you can swap out peddles and saddle easily to allow a comfy ride. The Indoor stationary bikes are also common in spin classes led by an instructor through a riding session, and are adjustable to ﬁt anybody out there regardless of size, height, shape and weight. This allows the user to adjust the level of resistance they must pedal against.

Looking for a strenuous aerobic workout without a class session in the aerobics studio? Then the road bike most commonly associated with outdoor ﬁtness is what you are looking for to get your ride on. It is thin, lightweight, with an aggressive riding position and aerodynamic wheels and tyres. This is a bike built for the ultimate speed and used exclusively on roads.

Titan In StationaryDoorBike

COUTURE CULTURE | GADGETS 78 | COUTURE AFRICA

Spin classes are all the rage, but not everyone wants to spend an hour pumping away in a sweaty, loud room full of strangers. If riding solo is more of your taste, exercise bikes make it easy to pedal to a fitter you within the comfort of your home. And if you hate running, a bike gives you a perfect excuse to ignore treadmills entirely. From the fitness neophyte to the ultradedicated spin fanatics, there is something for everyone here. All you have to do is take a seat and ride. Check out these options from top-tier brands for your at-home fitness setup.

PEDAL FOR FITNESS

Hyper Road Outdoor Exercise Bike

A folding bike with a pulse? This is the best decision you could ever make when purchasing an exercise bike. Not only does this bike fold half its size, and offer a big workout in the smallest space, it also has sensors located at the handle bars to monitor your heart beat and allows you to stay intact in your cycling position while monitoring your pulse. You literally get to watch your pulse on the computerized LCD as well as calories burned, speed, distance and length of workout. It is equipped with different resistance settings to allow you to add even more intensity to your workout. Once folded, you can store it away quickly as well as transport it in a jiffy, or store it under a bed or in your closet. These selling features deﬁnitely make it a good buy.

Vive Peddle Stationary Leg Excerciser

We all want the most support from a bike and the recumbent bike gives the rider the outmost support while riding. Associated with its dope recline design, the seat is more of a chair and allows the use to lean back and peddle on the front pedals that are in front of the users feet and not behind. This bike’s design helps reduce stress on joints and offers the lowest intensity workout but is recommended for those with back and knee problems or recovering from injuries. Just like the upright bike, this bike can be ﬁtted with extra features of your liking such as monitors and a TV.

Heard of a bike that works with wind resistance? Sounds imaginary right? Imagine no more. Enter the air bike with a unique classiﬁcation of its own. A bike in its own lane! The harder you peddle, the harder the resistance. This is the only type of bike with moveable arms. You can work out your upper and lower body independently or simultaneously and this dual action bikes include an in built fan partially to assist in cooling the rider but also as a resistance mechanism.

Best RecumbentFitnessBike

Sunny Tornado Fan / Air Bike

COUTURE CULTURE | GADGETS COUTURE AFRICA | 79

Talk of a miniature bike that can be used from under your office desk, or when watching TV, or playing video games or when on your phone. A bike that can be rested on a table top, carpet and hard floor surfaces! A bike designed with convenience in mind! The options are unbelievably amazing. The vive pedal exerciser is the bike of the century and also the smallest exercise bike ever made. It is a low impact portable mini cycle bike with a slim design for arm or foot great for toning muscles and improving concentration. It is fitted with non-slip feet to ensure the bike stays in place on any surface. The low profile design keeps it from wobbling and sliding while in use. It is fitted with a tension knob for a personalized exercise experience and is great for low impact exercise as well as perfect for rehabilitation after an injury or surgery.

Exerpeutic Magnetic Folding Bike

Taking a vacation to improve your spiritual, physical, or emotional wellbeing is not a new concept. Actually, health-inspired travels date back to ancient times when people used to travel vast distances to bathe in the therapeutic waters of the Dead Sea, and Europe’s healing mineral baths were a must-visit for elites. However, the last decade has seen fitness-themed vacations gain renewed popularity. The industry has ballooned to include weight-loss programs, holistic cruises, spiritual and creative retreats, backpacking and hiking trips, weight-loss clinics, and healthy hotels as the go-to places for those looking to embark on a wellness vacation. Whether you’re looking for a meditation-based vacation or a regimental boot camp, there’s definitely something to suit your budget, ability, level, and fitness tastes. Pack your sneakers and head to one of these upscale boot camp-style vacations to break a sweat.

RETREAT YOUR BODY, MIND AND SOUL

COUTURE AFRICA | 81

In northern Kenya, the Samburu tribespeople are also known as the ‘Butterﬂy People’ - not only because of their vibrant traditional dresses, but because of the freedom with which they enjoy a simple life that is intrinsically connected to the earth. Their serene existence amidst the raw and rugged wilderness of the northern desert,

swimming pool. Whilst Karina strengthens your body, Heather (nutritional therapist and therapeutic chef) nourishes it. Her fresh food is all organic, gluten free and full of goodness. Sasaab is the ultimate Zen zone where one can switch off, reconnect with nature and observe the incredible wildlife that inhabits this area whilst nurturing your mind, body and soul.

provides the required inspiration for Sasaab’s Wilderness Wellness Retreat - a retreat suitable for those seeking a wellness-inspired safari. Throughout the four-day wellness retreat, days are be spent under Karina’s (professional personal trainer and Pilates instructor) guidance doing Pilates by the river, walks with the warriors and stretch sessions in the

Wild Fitness Kenya

Wilderness Wellness Retreat

With the focus being on the wild; wild living, wild eating and wild moving – the WildFitness retreat might just prove to be life-changing. The fitness side will have you moving in myriad ways – whether it’s jumping, hanging, crawling or carrying – with a strong emphasis on helping you find pleasure in doing so. Located at one of the country’s beautiful beaches, Watamu, WildFitness Kenya has been voted as one of the top ten fitness boot camp destinations in the world. In the stunning Watamu landscape you can take part in intense training sessions that will kick-start your fitness regime into high gear. It is a life changing, profound process that helps you connect with nature and exercise in the way that our bodies were designed: tree climbing, jumping off sand dunes, walking across a slack line, swimming across creeks and bare foot running all feature as part of this 8 night luxury boot camp fitness holiday which aims to naturally and healthily help you to transform your lifestyle. The luxury boot camp and fitness holiday is not purely for the super fit. During your course you will take part in tailored assessments, bare foot running, group flexibility and stretching classes and 2–3 training sessions per day. Your accommodation is in one of three lovely houses with bedrooms overlooking to Indian Ocean, tree tops or gardens. Also take time out to relax in the swimming pool, one of the beautiful communal areas or the indigenous forests. Retreats are held throughout the year ranging from £2,840 (Ksh 400,000 approximately) per person for a week.

Fit Kenya Boot Camp

Yoga at the Treehouse, Watamu A few years back, the mention of the word yoga wouldn’t get people talking. The new ﬁtness craze is now growing, attracting hoteliers selling yoga holidays. One of the Wonders of Watamu is the Yoga Session at the Watamu Treehouse Yoga Centre. Yoga retreats are a mainstay here, with seven retreats having been scheduled for 2018 alone. Owners of Treehouse, Paul, Aja and Vera are passionate yogis and they offer the yoga classes on stand-up paddleboards (SUPs) in the sea or in the mangrove creek. Every retreat is different, featuring different types of yoga, detox and other wellness aspects, with guest instructors, both from the region and overseas, brought in to lead the retreats. It is a daily dose of mental clarity and physical wellbeing – salute the sun on the beach at sunrise, pause to meditate in an indigenous forest, or ﬁnd stillness on a sandbar, suspended in azure ocean water. No experience is needed; just a sense of balance and humour. The price range starts at 595 euros per person (Ksh 75,000 approximately).

Rapids Camp Sagana Also known as the ‘Adrenaline Camp’, Rapids Camp Sagana is a camping site located 106 Kilometres from Nairobi. The camp, which is surrounded by many of nature’s endowments, including rivers, waterfalls and rocks, offers limitless opportunities such as Team Building Venue, Kayaking, Camping, Picnic River Swims, River Glides, Rock Climbing, Men’s Bathroom Activity, Plunge, Local Boating, Moon Light Walks, Nature Walks, Fishing, Rice Fields Tours, Star Gazing & Water Sports such as Slalom, White Water Rafting, Tubing down River Sagana, Angels Bowl Sagana and Bungee Jumping. The camp also offers its guests bush and local meals which can be enjoyed while watching and listening to the massive waterfall of the Sagana River. Best part is that they offer offers parking, airport and city shuttle services for guests upon request.

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FKB (Fit Kenyan Boot camp) has transformed, inspired and made people sweat in Kenya since 2013. The Fit Kenya holds boot camps at different locations throughout the year, ranging from a weekend to several days. FKB was founded with the main aim to create an affordable work out regime with the concept to make use of their beautiful parks and green areas for health and fitness purposes. Outdoor workouts gives natural challenges for the body, leads to improved oxygen uptake and better workout results. Definitely working out outdoors is more stimulating, fun and motivating than the inside of a gym. The main focus of FKB, apart from Health and Fitness, is to create possibilities for young motivated individuals from unfortunate areas in Nairobi and give them a head start in life by educating them in health and fitness and offer them the opportunity to work as trainers. In Nairobi, they usually meet at Arboretum.

Lamu Yoga Festival

Alomba, a Banana House yoga instructor, the annual “go-to” event on Kenya’s yoga calendar - a Swahili-inspired festival is all about changing up your routine to try one of the many different types of yoga offered by the 26 instructors, and communing with hundreds of like-minded yoga fans from all over the world. Classes span the unspoiled Shela and Manda Bay beaches, to Lamu Town. The festival brings people not only

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Lamu Island is the perfect retreat where one gets to stretch and do breathing exercises in pristine and unpolluted environment with no trafﬁc – a perfect combination, perhaps, of tree poses, seafood and the sounds of the sea. A brainchild of Monika Faith, owner of Banana House, a wellness centre in Lamu and Kelly

The Travel Yogi Yoga-travel the world and strike a balance between culture-packed, nature-engaging, invigorating and energetic one-of-a-kind wellness adventures with the Travel Yogi. The Travel Yogi has pioneered taking yoga retreats out of their comfort zone and continues to change the way we look at traditional adventure travel destinations. Wanderlust-loving yogis can keep their sense of adventure going on their mats all around the world with The Travel Yogi. You’ll stay in lux private glamping camps and boutique lodges before heading off to secluded nature reserves and conservancies for intimate, awe-inspiring nature sightings and interactions. You will also enjoy a life-changing celebration with Maasai locals and have private, intimate hands-on access to the baby elephants at the Sheldrake Orphanage. Savour ten full days on their African yoga journey with top guides who know how to ensure epic animal encounters, sundowners, sun-uppers and memories that will stay with you for a lifetime. And (bonus) get the expertise of their been-there-done-that ofﬁce crew.

within the East Africa but yogis and teachers from as far as UK, Holland, Sudan and other parts of the world have been coming to join this wellness festival. The four days festival offers meditating under the moon, a dhow sail, workshops, fun competitions, Swahili dishes and a grand ﬁnale beach party with Lamu drummers and acrobats.

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What is social media largely used for in Kenya?

The socialite scene in Kenya all started on Facebook and Snapchat but has quickly taken a whole new life on Instagram fuelled by the popularity of social tv shows like Nairobi Diaries. The dream of today’s young beauty is no longer to become an airhostess like it was less than 10-years ago, but to become a socialite, perks included. Why work on the flight when you can get first class tickets of Instagrammable moments? This has brought the sponsor conversation to the forefront as seemingly nothing to cringe about [a sponsor is an older man who takes care of a younger woman’s financial needs in return for various favours from the woman]. This situation has become so rife that they [the sponsors] have been known to get onto Instagram in search of these ‘socialites’ – and they can tell who they are based on the type of pictures they put up. One DM later and the Socialite’s dream is done.

The Rise of the Socialite

Pushing products and selling anything and everything, people included. What social media was created for – a platform where people can cross time and distance barriers and interact –has quickly dwindled into a platform to push people, products and agendas. What was supposed to be a place where one can share their lives, work and ideas with the masses has become a space where people curate and create persona’s for likes and shares. You do not have to fake it ‘til you make it on Instagram, you simply make it – with the right photography skills and Instagram ﬁlters to boot.

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While still on Instagram, we still have your everyday working women ‘living their best lives’ all day every day. Putting out this image of perfection and awesomeness. These images trigger a feeling of defeat and hopelessness in many women who do not seem to or feel like they are able to match up. This is one of they key reasons why social media causes such high rates of depression. Everyone puts their best foot forward to put out an image of perfection. Whether it is by getting their hair and make-up on fleek, spotting the best outfit, fronting the perfect couple and carrying the perfect baby – complete with a weird single-vowel name. What we do not see is the pain they went through when micro-blading, the hot mess underneath their lace-front weave, the fact that they borrowed the outfit from a designer, the fights they had the night before with their beau and the three hours spent trying to stop the baby from crying to take that darned picture! And when they look at other people’s pages, they think ‘oh my, look at her, her life is perfect’ forgetting that they are probably going through the exact same struggles you are.

Living For the Gram

According to the Journal of Social and Clinical Psychology, Social Media has been known to increase cases of depression and loneliness. Whilst most of the studies on the effects of social media are US-based, the same realities are quickly streaming into African cities where social media use is growing by leaps and bounds and Kenya is no exception.

By The Curious Observer

THE SOCIAL MIRAGE

It has happened to everyone. You post a picture on Instagram or Facebook and keep going back to it to see how many likes you have. Studies have shown, that each like gives you a little psychological high because of the release of dopamine into your bloodstream, making this one of the root causes of social media addiction.

The Likes Junkie

The Big Data Bubble

Then in comes twitter and the famously infamous Kenyans On Twitter #KOT. If you have any anger issues and you want to vent, open an anonymous twitter account. Whilst #KOT are rarely able to create meaningful conversations that leave lasting change, they have become well known for their ‘Take Downs’! We know of many women who are scared of getting into politics, not for politics sake, but because of #KOT. Under the leadership of the likes of Cyprian Nyakundi, Robert Alai and Dennis Itumbi, twitter has been known for trolling people almost into their graves. According to urban dictionary, Trolling can be deﬁned as the deliberate act, (by a Troll – social media user), of making random unsolicited and/or controversial comments on various internet forums with the intent to provoke an emotional knee jerk reaction from unsuspecting readers to engage in a ﬁght or argument. Trolling by #KOT can be equated to the mob justice of the past days where more often than not, people barely know what they are talking about, or what is happening, but jump in anyway.

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The Rise of #KOT

” The fact that there is no real historical precedent for social media “Likes” illustrates how disturbing it is that we have introduced a system whereby we can visibly quantify and publicly display our social worth. Throughout history, humans have come up with an abundance of ways to demonstrate their social worth, but none have been as pervasive and prevalent as the “Like” button.”

Have you ever searched for a speciﬁc pair of shoes, and suddenly you start seeing shoe and clothing ads everywhere you turn? Well, that is big data for you. Because of how the internet is structured, big data has been tailored to bring only things of our interest to us. These things are determined by our search engines, the web pages we visit and even the people we follow. While this may not seem particularly harmful, it does give us a very myopic view of the world, with the internet only bringing to your line of site what it thinks you want. [see how we talk about this internet like it is a person]. So, while we may think that we are opening up our minds to new things and new experiences on social media, they are pretty much giving you more and more of the same thing. Could that be the very thing / things that are feeding you depression? It’s a vicious cycle.

Like any drug, social media likes give you real psychological highs and lows, and when you ﬁnd a social media inﬂuencer or celebrity ‘fall from glory’ or become redundant due to a newer, cooler, younger version of themselves, they are highly susceptible to suffer from severe depression if they did not have real life, strong social structures.

"Social media is akin to ﬁre; use it well and it will light up your home, use it carelessly and it will burn down your house."

2.Be Authentically You

We all live life for the gram, so we are not about to start suggesting that you take a selﬁe without any make-up on, but try and get a little more realistic with yourself and what your followers expect from you. If yours is a personal page, you need to realise that people want to connect with you, the person, behind the Estee Lauder ‘Flawesome’ Foundation. The best version of you is your most authentic you, and you will be surprised how many real connections and conversations you will have online.

Spend more time on websites like LinkedIn and Pinterest that are geared towards more productive content. Diversify the type of people you follow to get a wider array of information. Unfollow all negativity and any page that makes you feel even the least bit inefﬁcient and start interacting with different yet interesting conversations to you. I can guarantee you, there is more information on the internet over and above fashion, food and face-beats.

Now, it is not all gloom, doom and grey water. Social media deﬁnitely has its perks. You get to connect with business associates you probably never would have. You get to promote your business and services for close to nothing. You get to keep in touch with your family and friends on a regular basis. And you can freely stalk your latest crush without looking like a crazy person. However, social media is akin to ﬁre; use I well and it will light up your home, use it carelessly and it will burn down your house. Here are some easy intentional ways avoid the glare and snare of the monster that can be your Instagram / Facebook / Twitter feed.

1.Diversify, Explore, Expand

THE SOCIAL CHOICE

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3.Remember the Real World

As you read this, I just have one commitment I need from you. Your preferred social media platform should NOT be the last thing you check before you go to bed, and the ﬁrst thing you check when you wake up! It should not. It should never have been. But since we all know it is, it should not. Not anymore. Do not become a slave to the very thing that was put there to facilitate your life. Wake up, pray, meditate, go to the toilet or do whatever thing it is you used to do ﬁrst thing in the morning before smart phones were invented. If you –like many – cannot remember what it is they used to do – this is a great chance to form a new habit.

5.Use It, Do Not Be Used By It

Just as we have become slaves to money, we have also become slaves to social currency! Stop. Be intentional about what you post, how often you post and the conversations you join. Do not be driven by FOMO. If you missed todays trending topic on #KOT I guarantee you, there will be another tomorrow, and the next day, and the next. Do not let your life be run by what is happening on social media, nor by how appreciated or unappreciated you feel based on the number of likes you get. Do not fall into the trap of sleaze and negativity to engage with strangers. Use that energy instead, to engage with the real people around you.

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There is no point in having 6,000 friends on Facebook and no real friends in real life – cue, depression. Make intentional effort and time to make real friends. Not fabulous friends. Real friends. People that you can really connect with and talk about life with. If you crew is full of a group of superficial gals who spend most of their time taking selfies and planning for the next selfie, there is something wrong. Perhaps you do not even have to change said friends, just connect with those that you have the way our mothers connected with those friends who have been around so long you call them auntie. Because it is quite likely that if you are feeling lonely in your superficial friendship, they are too.

4.Tune Out to Tune In

Self-care has often been seen as a self-indulgent luxury reserved for people with a high sense of self-importance - and that is a problem. It has become cool to be soooo busy. The societal narrative goes that it is impressive to not have enough time to rest, play, or sleep well. The word ‘selﬁsh’ has been demonized. However, self-care is the recent buzzworthy phrase that is more than just a trend. It has become a kind of background noise. Self-care is a lifelong habit. It is culture.

SELF CARE: What self-care is – and what it isn’t

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By Jackline Mukami

‘These are our daily activities in looking after ourselves. The process of looking after one’s self. Avoiding all threats and issues that may make a person face irritable and uncomfortable circumstances.’ – Psychology Dictionary ‘Care of the self without medical or other

The self-care resurgence in the past decade has taken on a different tone. It has been used to sell everything from candles, to throw pillows to teas under the guise of treat yourself. With all the buzz surrounding the word, it is easy to forget what it actually means to practice it. The concept actually got its start in the '70s, but now, more than four decades later, lots of selfcare focused tools such as podcasts like Forever 35, meditation apps like Headspace and Newsletters like Girls' Night In are cropping up. Today, experts have a clear deﬁnition for it: According to Helen L. Coons, PhD, a clinical health psychologist at the specializing in women’s behavioral health and wellness at the University of Colorado School of Medicine Department of Psychiatry in Aurora, Colorado, ‘Self-care is one’s action is around our physical, emotional, relational, perhaps professional, educational, and, for some people, spiritual well-being that reﬂects the way that we take care of ourselves on the most fundamental ‘Referslevels.’ to actions and attitudes which contribute to the maintenance of well-being and personal health and promote human development.’ –According to Wikipedia

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WHAT IS SELF-CARE?

taking time for yourself; it is about knowing yourself. Knowing when you are being strained mentally and emotionally and seeing that you can intentionally step back to replenish yourself.

WHAT IT IS NOT

When misinterpreted, self-care can be counterproductive. In more extreme cases, self-care can become an obsession. The rise of wearable devices like Fitbit that track our steps and sleep cycles can feed perfectionistic tendencies. According to a study published by Harvard Business Review, most women in possession of a Fitbit device felt guilty whenever they fell short of their goals. Although knowing our daily step count may provide the illusion of control in our lives, quantifying the work we are doing on ourselves [and ostensibly for ourselves] not only reinforces the idea that selfcare should be work but also presents excessive opportunities for self-criticism.

professional consultation.’ – Dictionary.com

I bet that word, or the concept of self-care has not been on your radar for a while – you have forgotten what it is like to think about yourself. Do you suppose this could be one of the reasons some people become depressed in the first place? Perhaps you think self-care is a hollow synonym for pampering yourself – and that does not ring true for you. Perhaps you think self-care is an indulgence; something for people with plenty of time, and money. A luxury that does not fit into your life. Yes, some people do equate self-care with lavish vacations, spa days and expensive – seemingly selfish gifts. We neglect taking care of ourselves because our culture values and glorifies self-sacrifice. We promote the employee who works 60-plus hours a week. We idolize the mom who never seems to need a break. We are constantly rushing about in a wave of anxiety – the new norm. We function on 4-hour nights and use it as bragging rights as to how committed we are to our work and family. We have absolutely lost the However,plot.

When asked the question, do you take care of yourself? Most of us will answer, Yes, of course, I care about myself. I take care of myself. When asked, In what ways do you take care of yourself? Well, that is where the tricky part begins. If you do genuinely take care of yourself, congratulations! If not, maybe it is time for some intentional self-care.

There are a million different ideas on how to take some extra steps towards taking care of yourself. One person will you have to get up at 5am in order to maximize your morning routine, another one will say that you have to stay up late to make sure you read 100 pages of some book or do yoga and meditate before you fall asleep. Another person will say you should light ten lavender scented candles and infuse your bathwater with essential oils.

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These posts exhibit a range of photographed activities, from meal preps, to candlelit bubble baths and all. For all the buzz about #SelfCare on Instagram, it is not actually increasing our well-being. In fact, a recent study calls Instagram the worst social media platform for mental health, showing that it heightens users’ feelings of inadequacy and anxiety by creating unrealistic expectations or, as a friend said to me, “Gym pics make me feel out of shape. Vacation pictures make me feel poor. Food pics make me hungry, and anything well-curated makes me nervous that I do not pay enough attention to detail.”

in comes technology, to solve all out problems – or so we think. Today, like so much around us, the industry is heavily inﬂuenced by tech. Our focus is shifting away from the actual self — our bodies, minds, and spirits — and toward data about the self. With iEverythings around us at all times, we expect our steps to be enumerated, our REM cycles to be recorded, and our breathing patterns to be measured. It is not enough to just feel better — we need our devices to afﬁrm that we are doing the work. Now do not get me wrong; that is not a criticism, just an observation. Many of us actually do not know how to take care of ourselves anymore. We were actually not taught how to pay attention to our inner states — or to trust them. Instead, we are taught what we are supposed to think and feel and try to ignore feelings that we think we should not feel.

Regardless of whether future scientific findings confirm the benefits of mindfulness, it is important to remember that there is no onesize-fits-all approach for stress relief. And while self-care can include pampering yourself, it is so much bigger. It is so much more meaningful and important. Self-care is more than just

Also, given how readily self-care can turn into self-criticism in this landscape, social media is a vicious trigger. Instagram in particular pressures us to share our personal victories and turn them into opportunities for self-marketing. The intoxication of getting likes on that photo of your colorful salad or post-workout selﬁe is a powerful source of motivation.

MEDITATE

TRY SOMETHING NEW

CARVE OUT TIME FOR YOURSELF

If you are hungry, eat. If you are tired, take a break. If you are upset, talk to someone you trust. If you are struggling with anxiety, see a therapist. Self-care is taking small things that serve our wellbeing. It is individual. It is based on the speciﬁcs of what works for you to be well in your body and mind. How do you know what that is? You experiment. It is not some empty, meaningless term. It is not deﬁned as spoiling yourself. It means paying attention to yourself, understanding how you work and taking action that serves your personal needs.

TAKE SMALL ACTION.

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When was the last time you tried something for the first time? Join a sports club, take yourself on a date, journal, try a dating app. It is time to get creative! The benefits of regularly engaging in a creative activity can help make you a better problem solver, expand your sense of time, improve your self-awareness and reduce your urge to buy compulsively. There are infinite opportunities for personal growth, and genuine stress relief that do not require money or clenched fists, but instead enable you to take a break from goal-oriented and metric-driven thinking. What about cutting ourselves some slack on the days we do not get as much done as we had planned? Or reminding ourselves that laughter is healing? We may idealize the actions we are able to document and share, or the data we can collect and track, but there are plenty of times when what we need to do to feel better — and get better — is less.

WHERE DO YOU START?

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Take a moment every day to practice mindfulness. You can practice this on your own, or even download a meditation app. Breathe. Count to ten. Staying focused on your breath removes distractions, worries, and restlessness from the mind. Being in touch with your soul and inner emotions helps you feel more connected to the world and is a perfect way to relieve the burdens of activism and the daily stresses of everyday life.

When it comes to you, visualize the instructions given on airplane. Should a safety issue arise, people are instructed to put on their own oxygen masks ﬁrst before helping others. Selfcare is much the same. Learn to pay attention to your needs ﬁrst. This is a skill you can sharpen. Because, again, many of us were not taught to identify, acknowledge and respect our needs. Rather, unfortunately, we are often taught to dismiss or judge them.

Many a professional stress the importance of ﬁnding the time to focus inward. They recommend trying to take ﬁve minutes a day for some deep breathing. See what that does for your life and go from there. What would your day look like if you took 15 minutes for yourself, even if it was only to be alone with your thoughts? It could be one thing or several little things you do for you, as long as it is intentional and adding to your life.

SECURE YOURSELF FIRST

One of the main excuses most people make for ignoring self is that they just do not have time. Good news is that there are many different practices, and none of them are especially difficult or require a lot of planning. The trick is to find some that you genuinely enjoy and that fit with your life and values. Once you start adding emotional self-care to your life, you are likely to become fiercely protective of that time and wonder how you ever managed without it!

TYPES OF SELF-CARE

PHYSICAL

It might look different depending on whether you are an introvert, extrovert or an ambivert. However, connecting with other people is necessary for happiness for a large diversity of people. Social self-care is all about having a supportive group and network of relationships around you whom you trust and turn to when required. Having caring and supportive people around you builds a sense of belonging and connectedness. It helps you to understand that you are not alone. It is not about just doing things with others for the sake of it, but about choosing to do things with people who really make you feel good.

EMOTIONAL

FINANCIAL SELF-CARE

The importance of self-care deﬁnitely extends to purely physical aspects of your health. Physical activity is vital not only for your bodily well-being

If you are not religious, you might be tempted to skim-read this section or skip it altogether. However, spiritual self-care is not just about believing in a deity. It is applicable to atheists and agonistics as much as to religious people. Spiritual self-care involves the beliefs and values that are important to you and guide your life. This includes pursuing your noble goals and the practices that support you developing spiritual awareness. It is about getting in touch with your values and what really matters to you.

but also for helping you let off steam. You might think there is nothing fun or self-compassionate about going to the gym, but that is far too narrow a way of thinking about physical aptitude.

SOCIAL

Sensory self-care is all about helping to calm your mind. When you are able to tune into the details of the sensations all around you, it is easier to live in the present. And when you are in the present, you can more effectively let go of antipathies related to the past or anxieties about the future. When you think about practicing sensory self-care, consider all of your senses: taste, touch, smell, sound, and sight.

SENSORY

literacy, navigating emotions, increasing empathy, managing stress effectively and developing compassion for self and others. When you face them head-on, this actually helps with stress. You may feel tempted to push down feelings like anger or sadness, but it is healthy to feel them, accept them, and move on. Remember that emotions are not good or bad in themselves. You are not blameworthy for the emotions you feel; only how you behave in response to them.

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When it comes to your emotional health, one of the best tips is to make sure you fully engage with your emotions. It involves enhancing emotional

Being responsible with your ﬁnances and having a conscious relationship with money will go a long way as part of your self-care routine. This can also extend to professional intelligence which involves sharing your strengths and gifts, having clear professional boundaries, whilst living your purpose.

SPIRITUAL

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“… if, when you stop and look around, do not like what you see, make a ﬁrm and concrete commitment to change it!”

Becauselike?if,

Our dollhouse theme in this month’s issue of COUTURE Africa magazine, coupled with the piece on the social media mirage by our curious observer makes me think that perhaps – in one way or another – we are all living in a dollhouse of our own making. I remember I used to love to play house as a little girl. Not the barbie type house – I do not think I ever owned a doll – wait, I did, a black doll with a soft ﬂuffy center that cried when you dropped it or pressed it – I’d drop and press it all the time, it never broke, that was one solid doll. The house I used to play was with my friends in the back yard where we would create rooms [house plans] out of the mowed but uncollected grass – our house was the only one that didn’t have those fancy lawn mowers that collect the grass as its being cut – our house was cool like that. Then indoors, I had a ‘live-size dollhouse’ in my bedroom made of carboard boxes. And I would make it myself – with the help of my mum or dad of course – and it had little bedrooms cushions, curtains, the whole nine Theyards.excitement

when you stop and look around, do not like what you see, the only person who can change it is you – with help from those close to you of course. If you do not like what you see, make a ﬁrm and concrete commitment to change it! And if you are not able to change your circumstances, you clearly do not dislike them enough. It is said that with great pain comes great change, and you will never be able to even make a dent in your circumstances until you cannot stand them anymore. And when you do make a strong decision to change your circumstances – that decision that comes from your soul – the universe nods and aligns. So, as you continue building your dollhouse in this cycle called life, remember, there is nothing – not one thing – that is there that you have not invited in. Build a good one, build an intentional one and build in love.

we had then, as children, is not different from the thrills we get today, as adults, when we buy that brand new ﬂat screen TV or upgrade the 10-year old fridge. Such is the cycle of life…work hard…get paid…buy stuff… from someone who is also working hard…to get paid from the stuff you have just bought. Oh, the joys of commerce. Then comes your persona… I admit that I cannot leave the house before “putting on my face” even if I am just going to the supermarket and back home because we have to present ourselves a certain way to the general public. Look at our social media pages…riddled with moments only of perfection. Do not get me wrong, I do not think it is a bad thing, I think it’s great – if it’s authentic! I am a true believer that you – consciously or unconsciously, actively or passively play a very present role in the creation of your reality. In the creation of your ‘dollhouse’. What does yours look

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