AfroElle: January 2011

Showing newest 5 of 14 posts from January 2011. Show older posts

Editor's Notes; The New New

Posted by AfroElle On 12:39 PM 0 thoughts

Dear Readers,

Happy New Year!Yes, I know I'm a little late on the wishes just like the way I'm late with our new January Issue but it's finally here. New year, new layout, new name, basically, new things. Its all about the new new!

For all those who knew this blog as The Ladies Room, I now introduce you to AfroElle; a blog for women of afro-descent from all over the world.

What does AfroElle stand for?
Afro in this context represents the afro-descent
Elle is a French word and it translates to 'She' in English.
Therefore we have 'AfroElle'

There is so much in store for our readers this year, from more diverse interactive discussions, new features and interviews to giveaways. We hope to make AfroElle your online destination for all you need, whether you want relationship advice, the latest in fashion, tips for you money matters or inspiration to nourish your mind, body and soul. So stay tuned.

That aside, in AfroElle's premier issue, we have special features with on stage personality and writer Miss Liberia, Nyikita Garnett who also graces our January cover, phenomenal woman Mameisia Kabia and Wawi Amasha of Mami Afrika Designs. Apart from our other signature features such as Featured Cause, Featured Couple, Reviews, Inspiration and Singular, look out for newly added features like Marriage 101 with our debut article being 'Marriage Enhancements for 2011' and Fashion and Style with Fashion Inspiration, Sharon Wanjiku. Other new features include Mind, Body and Spirit with the article "One Step At a Time"; giving you tips on how to prepare your resolutions if you haven't already and Elizabeth Karina giving us tips on how to your own financial CEO in Finances.

This and so much more is available in this issue. Take time to click through the virtual pages of AfroElle. Let us know what you think of our new online look. Join our new Facebook page and follow us on Twitter. We appreciate your comments, topic suggestions, article contribution and feedback.

Enjoy our January issue!

In This Issue:

Featured Cause: Ivorian Hope 'Call For Action'
Phenomenal Woman: Mameisia Kabia
Featured Couple: Eugene and Melvina
Sisterpreneur: Wawi Amasha of Mami Afrika Designs
Beauty With Purpose: Nykita Garnett
Marriage 101: Marriage Enhancements For 2011
Fashion Inspiration: Fashionista Sharon Wanjiku
Finances: Making Financial Goals
Mind,Body&Soul: What Does Attitude Have To Do With It
One Step At A Time
Book Review: Who Moved My Cheese
Inspiration: Dear Heart
Singular: "I Wanted To Meet Him in 2010"

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Editor's Note |

Featured Cause: Ivorian Hope

Posted by AfroElle On 10:22 AM 0 thoughts

‎"More than 13,000 people have sought sanctuary in makeshift camps in the town of Duekoue, a rise of 10,000 in just the past week. And the local hospital is packed with patients with machete and gunshot wounds - victims on all sides of the political divide," a correspondent reports about the situation in Ivory Coast.

For the first time since the civil war erupted eight years ago, Ivory Coast finally held its presidential elections. The elections had been pushed back numerous times since the peace accords were signed in 2007, and the UN was charged with recognizing the next president of Ivory Coast. After the elections of November 2010, the UN declared Alassan Outarra, former prime minister and preferred candidate of rebel forces from the Northern part of Cote d'Ivoire, as the new president. However, the Constitutional Commission of Cote d'Ivoire declared the incumbent president and representative of the southern part of Cote d'Ivoire, Laurent Gbagbo, as the new president. The commission recognized Gbagbo on the basis that half a million votes should not have been counted. The Ivorian commission alleges that voting districts in Gbagbo's home region were influenced by methods of intimidation, violence, and were therefore, unfair. The result is that the country has two presidents, one recognized by the international community, and the other recognized by the Constitutional Commision of Ivory Coast.

meeting with the women's association to hear their concerns and discuss micro-credit

Ivorian Hope Charity largely focuses its efforts in the rural villages in the western region of Cote d'Ivoire because it was the most devasted region during the initial civil war. Unfortunately, this area, rich in natural resources, is currently experiencing high occurences of violence. This is primarily because Gbagbo comes from this region and it is where the rebels from the North and government military converge. Villagers are fleeing the region and migrating towards the cities or going into hiding. The UN has increased the presence of peacekeepers and Ivorian Hope is monitoring the situation closely and preparing to provide any humanitarian assistance that may be necessary.Ivorian Hope's preoccupation is the safety and well being of the people.

As a 501(c)3 organization based in the U.S., we have been serving the rural Ivorian communities since the civil war broke out in 2002. Ivorian Hope is also an NGO recognized by the UN and the Ivorian Embassy in Washington D.C. The charity was started by an Ivorian American who felt a need to respond to the affects of the war and deaths of her family members. Christine Hall’s dream has grown from a need to serve her family and providing basic human needs to a dream of more self-sufficient and empowered Ivorian communities. Christine, with the help of a few college students, has been able to accomplish what means worlds to the Ivorian community and has even become their voice for change and a source of hope.

Ivorian Hope Charity honored with an exhibit at Towson University for outstanding community involvement.

We know that there are many causes out there, but we can't change things without your support and care for these communities and all communities. A little goes a long way and 100% of your donations go directly to our programs and the rural villagers of our region who are dealing with violence, a tense and divided environment, political turmoil and an uncertain climate and future. The villagers have our number and are in contact with us on a weekly, even daily, basis. They are depending on Ivorian Hope, as well as you. You can get involved in so many ways.

Report by: Nicole Ndamiba, Ivorian Hope Community Outreach Coordinator

*Learn more about the situation on BBC and our Facebook Page!

*Support and Donate to our URGENT CALL FOR ACTION!

*Spread the word to your friends, family, twitter, facebook, blogs, etc!

*Join our mailing list...really get to know who we are and who you're helping.

*Talk us directly about how you can get involved with our Community Outreach Coordinator at

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Featured Cause, Guest Writer, Ivory Coast |

Phenomenal Woman: Mameisia Kabia

Posted by AfroElle On 10:20 AM 4 thoughts

When Mameisia Kabia decided to take a one year break from medical school to pursue other passions, she did not know exactly what to do and so she asked God to guide her in the right direction. That’s how she tried her chances for the 2010 Miss Africa USA pageant where she made it to a finalist representing Sierra Leone. It’s this pageant that gave Mameisia a platform to address the issue of poor health care affecting the people of Sierra Leone.

This passion didn’t start with the Miss Africa USA pageant but at 12 years old, when Mameisia had started conducting medical research on various health issues at facilities like National Institute of Health. At 20 she received her first publication in the American Journal of Medical Genetics and has since visited college campuses giving talks about health issues concerning Africa.

We talked to 22 year old Mameisia who describes herself as fun, loving and open minded as she talked to us about her life and her movement.

Tell us a little about your background?

I’m a first-generation Sierra Leonean American; I was born in the United States; however I frequently visited my grandparents and other family members in Sierra Leone due to her father’s line of work. Having been caught between the two worlds had its advantages and disadvantages. For one, in America I am considered African and in Africa I am considered American. It was tough growing up and feeling like I did not fit in to both groups completely. As I grew older and especially after I went to college that became less of an issue.

What are you currently doing?

I graduated from Villanova University last May (2010) as a pre-med student with a major in Human Services. My sisters and I own Four Sisters Beauty Supply in Lawrenceville, NJ. Using the store to increase awareness on breast cancer and other women’s health related issues is one of our long term goals. We are currently working with some breast cancer organization to supply them with wigs and hair products at discounted rates.

Apart from that I am also the founder of the New Hope Movement (NHM) which is a non-profit organization also based in New Jersey. NHM focuses on addressing infant and maternal healthcare issues in Sierra Leone, West Africa.

Mamesia in Sierra Leone for a New Hope Movement meeting with Dr. Soccoh Kabia- Minister of Fishries and Marine Resources, Dr. Aleona Lewis- Emergency Surgeon for Mercy Ships Sierra Leone, Fatima Diallo- LPN Nurse, and Dr. Ankur Purohit- Materials Scientist/NHM consultant

I am deeply involved in work with the New Hope Movement. We are currently filming a documentary “Their Blood Cries Out”; about maternal mortality in Sierra Leone which will raise awareness on this issue with the hopes of bringing the proper attention to that region. I am also a partner for Joyce Meyer Ministries and I sponsor a child for the Savior of the World (Sierra Leone) organization.

I decided to give back to Sierra Leone because I felt in a sense that it was my duty especially after witnessing the impact the war had on the country. I was blessed with the opportunity to receive my education in the US and had access to some resources that could greatly benefit the country so I wanted to use what I had to positively impact Sierra Leone.

Tell us more about your passion to eradicate infant and maternal mortality in Sierra Leone.

I believe that infant and maternal mortality are problems that should be addressed immediately and can be solved with the proper attention. In Sierra Leone, hundreds and thousands of women die each year while giving birth due to completely preventable circumstances. Children die because the proper resources and knowledge pertaining to their health is just not there. Improvements in healthcare related mortality rates have been seen in countries like Ghana and the Republic of Congo so it is possible in Sierra Leone as well. If no one will speak up and if no action is taken, this injustice will continue to happen. I am passionate about this because we are not just dealing with numbers and statistics; we are dealing with actual human lives. It does not need to happen and improvements can and will be made once the proper steps are taken.

In this photo: Mamesia holding a baby at PCMH in Freetown, Sierra Leone whose mother had been hospitalized for 3 months after giving birth because of a poorly done c-section

What challenges have you experienced with starting New Hope Movement?

One major challenge is learning what it takes to run a non-profit organization. It is not something you can sit down and learn in one session, it is a daily process. Another challenge I have experienced is balancing NHM with running Four Sisters and preparing to further my education. They are challenges, but at the same time it is rewarding because in the end it serves to help others.

At 22 yrs you have achieved quite a lot with your organization and business, how do you stay grounded?

I must be honest and say that it's definitely not easy to stay grounded. I continue to push forward, however, because I have so much support from my family and they are the ones who keep me grounded. In terms of the New Hope Movement--one thing I discovered over time is that it’s best not to share everything with everyone because too many visions could eventually make yours something completely different. I make sure that the people I consult with are trustworthy, wise, and are as passionate about the cause as I am. With Four Sisters Beauty supply without the support of the girls, it simply could not function. The key word to remaining grounded overall is support, support, support.

Of success, achievement and life.

I have seen and heard of people who have an abundance of money, ideal jobs, houses, and cars yet are still unhappy. In my opinion, that is not at all success. I believe that we were all created by God to perform certain duties in this life. To me, we are successful when we operate in our divine purpose. When we discover what it is we are born to do and actually do it, I think that we gain a true sense of fulfillment and happiness.

Honestly, I want to leave a legacy. I want to do everything I was created to do and do it well. I want to be well-educated, have a family of my own, and be able to take care of my friends and extended family as well. The greatest achievement l want to have though is to make a positive change in people's lives around the globe, but I want it to be a change that will last for generations to come.

When it’s all said and done, I want people to remember me by my faith in God. I say this simply because it has brought me to where I am now and I believe it will carry me to an even greater future. I honestly would be far from telling the truth if I said it was by my own strength or even my own wisdom that has brought me to even this point in my life. I want people to be able to see what I was able to do in my life and attribute it not to me, but to the great God I serve who was able to work through me and can do the same for them.

Who does a woman of substance to you?

A woman of substance is God-fearing, extremely loving, not arrogant, hypocritical, or deceitful, but very modest, truthful, and humble. She is one who does not compromise her beliefs for any person or situation. She is proud of who she is, where she comes from, and always has a large vision of where she is going. A woman of substance does not let anything stop her from being who she is.

Can you share with us some words of wisdom that you live by?

"Any and everything is possible through faith in the Lord. Don't limit yourself with simply TRYING to do something, just do it."

Are you a phenomenal woman with strong motivation and a undying spirit to climb and reach great heights to make your dreams come true,do you

want to share your story to encourage, empower and elevate other women? T

hen this is the feature for you, please drop us an email to [email protected]

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Interviews, Phenomenal Woman, Sierra Leone |

Featured Couple; Eugene and Melvina

Posted by AfroElle On 10:19 AM 1 thoughts

"We all have a list, even if it’s a short one, we all have some preconceived ideas of what our Mr Right will be like," says Melvina. “From about age 12, my aunty (known in our family as Aunty Philosophy) had given me general life tips and rules for how to spot my Mr Right. I had an image of my ‘husband’ in my mind and I definitely did not expect to meet him at a Fresher’s Fair.”

Eugene and Melvina met in Durban University in 2004 at a Fresher’s Fair they tied the knot in Berkshire UK in January 2010.

'the beginning'

Melvina’s version:

I met Eugene - at a Fresher’s Fair at our University. I was trying to recruit people and let’s just say he and his friends didn’t make a good first impression. Later that day, I bumped into him and he apologised for being cheeky. That was it – we were officially introduced.

Crazily, I didn’t consider Eugene as anything more than a ‘fresher’; I was completely blind to the possibility of dating him, simply because in my mind I was expecting to meet Mr Right in some glamorous and utterly perfect setting. I was unprepared for an awkward first encounter and the prospect of a relationship did not enter my head – what would we tell the Grand-kids. Yet, a few weeks later, I was the one insisting that my friend invite him for dinner. I called him and he said ‘yes’. My heart was pounding, my stomach doing somersaults – I didn’t understand why. He was just a ‘fresher’, right!?! Before he arrived, I was really nervous, but once he arrived, it was as though we had always known one another. The three of us sat together at a little table eating jollof rice and Eugene and I dominated the conversation. I don't remember what we spoke about but I know that evening I had to give in perhaps ‘freshers’ weren’t so bad after all.

Mother's words of wisdom

Fast-forward a month or so and Eugene offered to walk me home from my lectures and carried my library books. We walked and talked – and really, that was it. I had fallen - hook, line and sinker, for a 'FRESHER'!

Eugene’s Version: What Melvina didn’t know is that I had already noticed her in a bar, a few nights before meeting her at our Freshers’ fair, but she had disappeared before I had a chance to ask her name. The day we first met, I had walked into our university fresher’s fair with a few friends feeling so fly I was literally floating. I checked out a few fresher’s stands and was still feeling like I was the business. As soon as I saw Melvina, I felt humbled. She asked me a question and I laughed out loud to avoid looking as nervous as I felt deep down. Needless to say, she wasn’t impressed.

I hung around hoping to see Melvina again and saw her putting up posters. I helped her and this time she smiled and just then, I knew she was going to be a part of my life forever.

"We had the sand ceremony, gombe durms from Sierra Leone, Sierra Leonean and Ghanaian food, lots of hip-life music and changed into traditional west African gear in the evening."-Melvina

A few days later she called me and asked if I wanted to join a friend and her for dinner. I got there and immediately felt at home, we talked for a while and it felt like we had met in a past life. A few weeks later, I walked Melvina home from lecture (in the rain!), we talked and again it felt so natural, like we had forever been friends. I stood in-front of her door, miles from university, not knowing exactly where I was and missing my lecture, but I knew then I was right, "Melvina was going to be a part of my life forever".

‘We just knew’

Melvina: Eugene and I hit it off from the early days and a few months after meeting him, I told a friend ‘there’s this guy Eugene, if I start a relationship with him, I don’t think it’ll be any 6 month thing’. My friend thought I was mad. I knew I wasn’t and I just ‘knew’, that we could have something amazing – and now we do.

During my final year of University, I went on an exchange programme. We missed each other SO much and this was all the confirmation that we needed that we were supposed to be together.

'Project wedding'

Eugene and Melvina: Fast forward 5 years and we found ourselves in the thick of wedding planning! We chose a winter wedding much to the shock of our families. A lot of blood, sweat, tears and spreadsheets went into planning our big day, and it was worth every moment. Our initial wedding plans were highly influenced by wedding magazines, the knot and Martha Stewart.We had a sit down meal arranged in a big stately home, with chair covers etc but half way through our wedding planning we decided to scrap all that .We decided (just in the nick of time) that the key to wedding planning was to ‘keep it real’. We tired of trying to make our wedding unique and instead opted to personalise it.

Our day was fun, filled with laughter, music, family and friends, delicious food, fine wine and topped with festive cheer,what more could we ask for? I suppose on reflection, our wedding was somewhat of an extravaganza! Heck, we’re only doing it once, right? We had 230 very important guests, a sand ceremony using Ghanaian and Sierra Leonean sand, a steel band to welcome our beloved guests, pink uplighters, fairy lights, candles EVERYWHERE, hand-made touches, a dancing entrance, a HILARIOUS best man’s speech, a stunning dance performance by our groomsman, beautiful bridesmaids, one tossing of my garter to the boys, one exploding balloon, one tower of Krispy Kremes and this was before the traditional African ‘Gombe’ drums, which accompanied our change of outfit in the evening!

Lets dance.

It really was an action packed and really fun day. In its simplest terms though, it was a celebration of our *love* and we wouldn’t have changed it for the world.

‘Against all odds’

Eugene and Melvina: We think that our approach to marriage is different from many couples. We had already struggled through some of life’s most difficult curve-balls - you name it, we’ve dealt with it. We are under no illusions that marriage is going to be easy. It isn’t, and I think that helps us not to want to throw in the towel when the going gets tough.

'different cultures’

We both enjoy learning about each other’s cultures – similarities and differences. We both make the effort to learn each others’ languages and each others’ food and we can’t wait to visit Ghana and Sierra Leone together.

'marriage so far'

Eugene and Melvina: We still feel like newlyweds, so feel weird giving ‘advice’, but here are some things that we have learnt so far:

Always show each other respect and love – it sounds obvious but very easy to forget. ‘Please’ and ‘thank you’ should not be reserved for strangers and giving each other more respect than our bosses is a great comparison.

Keep family and friends opinions out of your relationship – they mean well, but no-one can understand your relationship as you do.

We believe that the grass is greenest where you water it. So we water our little patch – and if one day we forget, then we make up for it the next day.

Going on dates and mini-moons.We decided not take a honeymoon actually. Instead we are taking a series of mini-moons – this way, we hope that the supposed ‘honeymoon’ period lasts forever. We think it’s important to have things to look forward to and to take time to reflect on our achievements as a couple.

The little things-we still leave little post it notes for each other, send cute texts and plan surprises for one another.

‘The ultimate advice’

Melvina: My Mum’s advice was to ‘plan, pray and play together’, and we believe in this a lot. Most of what we’ve said elsewhere can come under this idea. I love it so much that it has inspired my entire blog – Planning,Praying, Playing!

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Featured Couple, Ghana, Love Stories, Sierra Leone |

Sisterpreneur: Mami Afrika

Posted by AfroElle On 10:18 AM 1 thoughts

Sisterpreneur Wawi Amasha is the woman behind ‘Mami Afrika’ designs. Born in the Mwea rice district and raised by her maternal grandmother in a small village called Rwika in Embu-Kenya, she later on moved to America to join her mother just before her 18^th birthday.

“Growing up in the village was the best gift by my mother and grandmother. It has provided me with deep roots of knowledge and wisdom that I am sure I wouldn’t have if I grew up in America. I deeply love Africa and Kenya will always be my home. I currently reside in the beach city of Santa Monica California.” She says.

Tell us all about MamiAfrika?

Mami Afrika is a brand of products, (clothes, jewelry and wearable art), that reflect my love for African cultures. Every item is handcrafted with love and is totally unique and never exactly duplicated. The designs/paintings are all about the celebration of life with the use of vibrant colors inspired by Africa and that warm the heart at a glance. Most of the fabrics used hail from different parts of Africa, but the majority are the Khanga/Lesso from E. Africa. I am very passionate when it comes to Africa. I know I have a role to play to preserve our cultures, so everything I do is dedicated to Africa and its role in the international community.

What motivated you to start MamiAfrika?

Back in April of 2006, I was at the Maasai Market in Nairobi shopping for gifts and just browsing the market when I discovered all the beautiful fabrics displayed everywhere. Without any hesitation, I started buying the fabrics not knowing what I was going to do with them. I was especially drawn to the khanga fabrics choosing carefully which Swahili proverbs they carried.

When I got back to Santa Monica, I was working on a painting of three women dancing at dawn, and the dresses I painted on them were so pretty that I wished I had one like it. In the same week, I had a wedding to attend, so I decided to use the sewing skills I had been taught in school and by my grandmother to make myself a dress. Since Khanga’s are very unique, I knew it had to be something simple so it would display the beauty of the fabric without interfering much with the design. The dress was gorgeous and was a hit at the wedding. A week later, I made one for my best friend and soon after, several friends and random women on the streets that saw the dresses started to inquire about them. By this time, I had started designing different styles including skirts and tops. I saw this as a clear sign of a calling to transform the beauty of African wear in this modern world. And so I started on a new venture as a clothing designer.

Mami Afrika is a unique name, how did you settle on it and what was the inspiration behind it?

It took about a week to come up with the name. I was taking a bath one evening listening to one of my favorite African musicians Miriam Makeba, also known as Mama Africa. I really liked the song Mama Africa, and it occurred to me that my name Mami (mother) is also my name Wawi upside down. I have always preferred to spell Africa with a K, and in that moment I was certain “MamiAfrika” would be the name for my creations.

Is Mami Afrika your full time or part time job?

I wouldn’t call it a job, designing is something I enjoy doing. I am a very creative person and I can’t just stick to doing one thing all the time. My creative nature is in such abundance that I just effortlessly move from one project to the other depending on what I feel at the moment. I am in the process of publishing a book of my paintings based on African proverbs that are loaded with wisdom. But I must say, I spend a lot more time painting on canvas and ceramics telling stories of African cultures that are slowly disappearing in the hope to keep them alive and as a reminder of their importance in this fast paced world.

One thing I know that makes Africa unique in the world is its simplicity in the way of life. That too has been decreasing as the illusion of possessing wealth has blinded the majority due to corruption and greed. In observing people’s way of life here in America and around the world, I see a people obsessed with work they don’t even enjoy in pursue for worldly possessions, and in this struggle, people lose sight of what’s most important; our relationships to each other as a people rooted in love and compassion. I would say my full time job (as should be for every human being) is to live by example and remind people of the beauty that we are as a human race and how we are all the same regardless of our backgrounds, race, creed etc.

I love and practice these simple but powerful truths by Mahatma Gandhi “Live simply so others may simply live” and “We must be the change we wish to see in the world”.

Did your business require you to study design or is designing your in born talent?

I have always loved fashion and I would always manipulate the clothes I bought to make them more fun. As a young girl, I would watch my grandmother sew clothes for us on the singer machine and I remember practicing a lot especially when I started taking home science classes in primary school. Later in high school, I learnt a little bit more about sewing and cutting patterns, but for the most part I am self-taught and it’s definitely a passion.

What are some challenges you have encountered since you started your business?

Two areas come in mind, pricing and mass-producing of my creations. My main goal for everything I do is love and to share and promote the beauty of Africa. If I didn’t have rent and bills to pay, making a profit would be the least of my desires, but in reality, I have to make a living. Finding seamstresses that are fare can be a challenge, their fees are not low and therefore I have to mark up the final price to make it possible to keep it going.

But my goal is to have all of designs made in Africa. On my next trip to Kenya, I plan on recruiting people from my village and other parts of Kenya to sew for me. Kenya has so many talented people who don’t have the means to share their creativity, and it is my wish to uplift them by opening up the opportunities and offering them fare trade.

Can you share lessons you've learned from starting your own business?

With intention, you can make anything happen. I have learnt that it’s important to listen to your hearts desires and do what feels right and true, not what others want of you and always do it with love and compassion.

What advice would you give to any sistapreneurs venturing into your type of business?

We are all here as a gift from God and a gift to each other and we all have a part to play in this life. It is crucial to listen to your heart and understand your purpose in life because once you understand it; everything else will fall in place. Never make money your priority in life, it will cripple you; rather seek truth in everything you do, trusting that God will reward you in abundance. All you have to do is your best, mastering your craft, for it is your service to God and to the world. Always do everything with LOVE!

Mami Afrika products range from $10-$200. You can check out more of Mami Afrika products here

WWW.WAWIART.COM

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Interviews, Kenya, Sisterpreneur |

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Editor's Notes; The New New

Featured Cause: Ivorian Hope

Phenomenal Woman: Mameisia Kabia

Featured Couple; Eugene and Melvina

Sisterpreneur: Mami Afrika

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