LIFESTYLE - The African Mirror

Jul

29

2021

The story of an African children’s book that explains the science of skin colour

LITERATURE

SKIN We Are In is a landmark South African book for children (and grown-ups) on the subject of skin colour. Published in 2018, it was co-authored by an artist and a scientist, both South African luminaries – the author Sindiwe Magona and the anthropologist and palaeobiologist Nina Jablonski. Here they talk about how – and why – the book came about. NINA G. JABLONSKI, Evan Pugh University Professor of Anthropology, Penn State I had found, in the course of my work, that people knew its social significance, but they didn’t understand it. Many were convinced that there was a genetic…

Feb

16

2021

By The African Mirror

Celebrity Somizi good for business

ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT

AFRICAN MIRROR REPORTER A collaboration with mega South African influencer and celebrity Somizi Mhlongo-Motaung has become an instant boost to the business of entrepreneur Theo Baloyi, the brains behind the local shoe brand Bathu. Barely 24 hours after the launch of a specially designed shoe for Somizi - BathuXSomizi - Bathu sold over 30 pairs. The buyers were Somizi’s friends. And the celebrity took to social media to celebrate the purchase. “Friends like this are a blessing … two of my close friends just bought 30 and 10 pairs of my #bathuxsomizi pairs for their staff members... at full price...sneakers…

Feb

16

2021

By The African Mirror

Aliens in Lagos: sci-fi novel Lagoon offers a bold new future

LITERATURE

IN his satirical essay How to Write About Africa, the late Kenyan writer and journalist Binyavanga Wainaina advocated for a rethinking of clichéd and stereotypical representations of the continent. Wainaina was in favour of looking beyond the despair that has plagued and continues to plague Africa. GIBSON NCUBE, Associate Professor, University of Zimbabwe African science fiction is a literary genre which tries to imagine utopic futures of the continent. Nigerian-American novelist Nnedi Okorafor calls her brand of sci-fi “Africanfuturism”. She explains in her blog that Africanfuturism is “concerned with visions of the future” and that “it’s less concerned with ‘what…

Jul

27

2021

By The African Mirror

Building an art gallery in the midst of war in Zimbabwe

ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT

AFTER being disenchanted with his work as a detective inspector in Rhodesia’s British South Africa Police, Derek Huggins quit his job and in 1975 decided to open an art gallery. The venture, Gallery Delta, is now an important institution in Zimbabwe’s art history. His partner and collaborator was his wife, Helen Lieros, a talented artist in her own right. In a documentary, Art for Art’s Sake: The Story of Gallery Delta, released in June 2020, Huggins explained: While we knew that a tiny gallery of three rooms in the midst of conflict and war and sanctions would not make a…

Feb

27

2021

By The African Mirror

The importance of remembering Kenyan artist Rosemary Karuga

ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT

ANNE MWITI, Lecturer, Kenyatta University A vast chapter of the still mostly untold story of women’s art in Kenya starts with Rosemary Namuli Karuga. Karuga passed away on 9 February 2021 at the age of 93. She was one of the pioneers who made major contributions to contemporary art on the continent and is recognised as one of the finest East African artists of her generation. Karuga is known for her collage works depicting pastoral and domestic African scenes, commonly villagers and farmers and animals. They would go on to be shown internationally, but she only began to produce commercial…

Feb

26

2021

By The African Mirror

Fighting for Black women’s rights

LITERATURE

JOYCE PILISO-SEROKE ACTIVIST and community organiser Joyce Piliso-Seroke fought overseas and at home in the struggle against apartheid, eventually joining the Commission for Gender Equality in 1999. I was still working for the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) when Thenjiwe Mtintso resigned from the Commission for Gender Equality (CGE) on 1 April 1998 to take up the full-time political position of deputy secretary-general of the ANC. She had completed just two years of her five-year term. Since I had vowed to continue my involvement in South Africa’s transitional process beyond the end of the TRC lifespan, I was excited to…

Feb

26

2021

By The African Mirror

Vanessa Bryant slams Meek Mill over Kobe lyric

ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT

AFRICAN MIRROR REPORTER WIDOW of NBA Hall of Famer Kobe Bryant has lashed out at American rapper Meek Mill for the use of Kobe’s name in his song, calling the rapper’s actions “extremely insensitive and disrespectful”. Meek Mill released his new single titled ‘Don’t Worry (RIP Kobe)’ where the rapper mentioned the way in which Kobe Bryant died in a helicopter crash. In the song, the rapper from Philadelphia said: “Yeah, and if I ever lack, I’m goin’ out with my chopper, it be another Kobe.” Vanessa Bryant voiced her anger on an Instagram story, writing: “Dear @meekmill, I find…

Feb

25

2021

By The African Mirror

Cardi B opens up to Mariah Carey

ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT

AFRICAN MIRROR REPORTER CARDI B has as many layers as an onion. She does not come off as someone who struggles with self-confidence judging by her large personality, daring fashion looks or her risqué covers, but she told Mariah Carey that it was a big factor in her going under the knife. The New York rapper sat down with the R&B queen of confidence Carey for her cover story in Interview magazine, speaking about her journey to superstardom, the insecurities that she faced growing up in the Bronx and “I’m Trini and I’m Dominican, and there’s a lot of Dominicans…

Jul

22

2021

By The African Mirror

Megan Thee Stallion brings hot girl summer to Sports Illustrated

ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT

MPHO RANTAO MEGAN Thee Stallion has brought her famous ‘Hot Girl Summer’ energy as the cover star for Sports Illustrated (SI). The Texan rapper was unveiled as one of the cover stars for the annual SI Swimsuit issue, along with transgender model Leyna Bloom and Tennis champion Naomi Osaka. All three women appearing on the cover is a historic feat, with Osaka as the first female black athlete; Haitian and Japanese woman; Bloom being the first transgender model of colour, and Megan Thee Stallion being the first rapper. Previous cover stars of the swimsuit issue include Beyonce, model Tyra Banks,…

Jul

22

2021

By The African Mirror

Kenneth Ize and Karl Lagerfeld launch collection

BEAUTY AND FASHION

MPHO RANTAO KENNETH Ize and Karl Lagerfeld have officially revealed their collaborated collection. The rising Nigerian designer launched the collection with Maison Karl Lagerfeld (KL), the luxury label founded by the late Chanel designer and Ize’s inspiration, even though Ize and Lagerfeld have never met. Ize was shortlisted as a semifinalist for the 2019 LVMH prize - the same year that Lagerfeld died. Maison Karl Lagerfeld announced in June 2020 that they would be releasing their first collaborated collection with Ize as their first black designer collaboration. “It was very important for me to express where I’m from, because it…