Latinas With A Fierce Fashion Sense...

Colombian Singer Erika Muñoz

... and the gift of song puts Erika Muñoz and Concha Buika in a league by themselves. Erika is greatly influenced by the music of Angélique Kidjo and Colombia's own música embassadora, Totó la Momposina as a way of returning to her African roots using the traditional instruments of percussion, maracas, and bass drums.

Erika's idol-Totó la Momposina

Her music is a mix of Afro-Colombian rhythms and Congolese soukous delivered with her beautiful voice which closes all emotional distance between her and the listener.

Erika is a native of Barranquilla, but tours all over the world giving her listeners the sounds of the palenqueros who live along the Caribbean region of Colombia. To learn more about Erika Muñoz, click here.

Erika

Concha Buika is Spain's primera señora of "Nuevo Flamenco"  who blends her smoky voice into a enthralling instrument that produces jazz, soul, traditional coplas and bulerías. It's like hearing the blues, but only in Spanish...one can still feel the deep passion in her voice.

Concha was born on the Spanish island of Mallorca to parents from Equatorial Guinea and now resides in Madrid.

Buika's first major tour kicks off Oct. 15 in Chicago and ends Nov. 20 of this year in Miami. To learn more about Concha Buika, click here.

Fashion For A Good Cause: Lauren Pierce Atelier by Lauren Bush

Fashion Designer Lauren Bush

First lauren Bush showed the world that burlap indeed can be glamorous again by creating her iconic
Feed Bag to end world hunger. Lauren Bush has partnered with a women’s cause for each of her collections. This time she worked with Women for Women International, which works with women in the Democratic Republic of the Congo who create one-of-a-kind hand-dyed fabrics.

These unique and beautiful one-of-a-kind materials accent Lauren Pierce’s timeless dresses are perfect-for-Spring and Summer, and 10 percent of the proceeds from sales go back to supporting the artisans. Lauren Pierce Atelier is available exclusively at Barney's New York stores. Women can choose the design and fabrics of their choice to create a unique dress that no one else will have.

A few of the Lauren Pierce Atelier Designs.

Please join or contribute to the organization of Women for Women International, who do so much to help our sisters all over the world, to not only thrive, but to survive in these environments that threaten their very existence.

Koku Gonza: Reaching For The Sky

I'm sure when Koku Gonza sings, people listen. When she plays her guitar, I'm sure people are in awe of her talented ability. Her songs are well written and are a cut above the corny music that's out here disguised as music today. Her understated lyrics come across with a sense of believability that any one can connect with. Success comes only to those whose hearts, souls and minds are in sync with each other and in due time the world will know who she is. Once you hear her music, you won't want to talk. You'll just want to listen.

Influenced by two musicians in her life. Her father a Tanzanian guitarist and songwriter, exposed her to Tanzanian music and her mother a flute/sax/keyboard player from the U.S. exposed her to Jazz, Classical and Gospel music. Her father was a known song writer in Tanzania. So, naturally she is inclined to the creativity of combining various styles. At young age Koku learned how to play and piano, and like most singers sung in the Gospel and Classical children's choir.

While attending college, Koku Gonza studied music production and song writing at Indiana University School of Music in Bloomington before deciding with true faith to pursue a career in the music industry. Her love for the guitar has resulted in mandatory accompaniment with most of her songs, but she works with different instruments to create her unique sound. Koku currently resides in Chicago, IL.

To learn more about Koko click here. To hear more of her beautiful music click here.
(Photos: The Artist)

Janet Jackson Says Good-Bye To...and Hello To Style!

I'm Loving The New 'Do' Janet!

Janet Jackson's New Hairdo

...The unecessary hair and cuts it off, other wise known as the Big Chop. One way to celebrate a birthday and I can honestly say that I've done that myself quite a few times, especially after turning thirty years ago. When a woman becomes over 40 and fab, it's not about the hair, it's all about surviving and self-definition. We tend to not give a (fill in the blank) about what anyone thinks and I'm sure Miss Jackson doesn't either.

Removing the weaves and things is one of the most liberating things that a black woman can do. "Go head Miss Jackson with your bad self!"

And please gossip bloggers spare us the crap as if Miss Jackson is going through some changes or something! The only thing she's feeling right now is her freedom to be just who she is!
(Photos: Pacific Coast News)

Thanks to ChicChocolate Blog for the info.

Negra Li: Delivering The Best of Both Worlds

Bonito Afro

Beleza Negra

Brazilian singer Negra Li at an recent event for the upscale-boutique, Daslu.

Negra Li  whose real name is Liliane de Carvalho, is a Brazilian model, actress, rap-tress,singer and dancer best known to me as one of the actresses from the movie, "Antônia." To learn more about Negra Li click here.
(Photo: Rodrigo A. Meadow)

Self Love...

...There's nothing like it!

As women we're still involved in personal relationships with ourselves and are now learning to love everything that we used to loathe about ourselves. Some of us have built fortresses around us because we've found it easier than being rejected.

Our hair. Our bodies. Our skin colors. Our luscious lips. Some say our butts are God's gift to blue jeans and no ones looking for a pair to diminish all that you were born with; those injections or implants don't count. Those curves that we can't seem to lose by excessive dieting and exercise don't seem to be moving either, so dress them up in the best colors you can find.

Our lips are waiting to glossed with the simplest of lip balms or berry hued lipsticks, and again injections don't count because if you had to buy it...it ain't right!

And the hair! Who has hair that can be woven into intricate braids? Molded into any style that fits our hearts desire? Honey... we do!

For some women learning to love our whole selves has caused many women a lifetime of unnecessary grief. In all honesty we all know where are most greatest pain has come from when it comes to accepting our true selves and I don't need to tell any of you.

We live in a society that celebrates and exalts one standard  of beauty by negating our own and many of us have bought into this mind-set. The hurtful words used as assaults against us from our own and others is nothing but a reflection of who they are and what they feel and it's not any of our business.

Acceptance of our own beauty has often eluded us and our people for decades, now we're in the process of reclaiming all which has been lost. Even if no one else is heralding our physical charms we must learn to define and cherish our own unique beauty everyday while we're still alive.


After viewing this film I can no longer provide free advertisement's and sing the praises of clothing designers who don't even feature anyone who looks like me or considers me as a customer. We've got to find a sense of consciousness and this is no better time to find one than now. This is 2010 and this sad, no wonder so many women are still messed up in the head!

All of which we've done to attempt to hide, camouflage, diminish, erase, disguise, and reject who we are will be no more. I realised a very long time ago who I was and there's no turning back now because we have so many powerful memories and knew so much pain. These women who were once wounded little girls are wounded no more because they now have dusted themselves off and the battle is now over because they will be the only ones defining who they are from now on.
©2010Creative Concepts.

Happy Mothers Day To Each And Every One Of You!!!

If She Can Look Up To You

She'll Never Look Down

On Herself.

Our Mothers Taught Us To Never Compromise Our Standards!

Mothers are legends, pioneers, revolutionaries or simply everyday women who take extraordinary stands. We are artist, activists, or grass-roots organizers with a love for our communities.

Whatever the endeavor may be, we exemplify motherhood at it's most excellent. And today I salute each and everyone of you!!!

Happy Mothers Day Afrolistas!!!

Shala Monroque Out And About

Shala Monroque and Samantha Boardman Rosen

Who: Shala Monroque
What: The Whitney Museums annual American Art Award Gala, which raised over 1.6 million dollars from the event.
Wear: Wearing Prada of course.
(Photos: PMC)

Tolula Adeyemi Out and About

Model/Actress Tolula Adeyemi

WHAT: Husband and wife design duo Wright and Teague showcasing their new jewellery collection, Nuba.

WHERE: The Wright and Teague gallery and studio on Dover Street, Mayfair, London

WHO: Tolula Adeyemi