Friday, June 12, 2009

BARACK OBAMA TAKES ACTION

President Barack Obama personally withdraws the US visa of some corrupt Cameroonian politcians as he believes that their US bank accounts are disproportionately furnished compared to the level of living in Cameroon.

In his note sent to the head of the US embassy in Cameroon, Obama lists the names of those politicians who have been banned from entering the US inclusive of the names of their wives and children.

After the CIA and FBI conducted their investigations, they discovered that their apparent hefty bank accounts were tax payer's money diverted.

For more information on this story, please go here: http://www.camerounlink.net/fr/news.php?nid=46339

Stay sweet
Dulce
xxx

Thursday, June 11, 2009

ARISE AFRICA FASHION WEEK 2009

With over 30 designers originating from Africa and with 7 days to watch a mix of fabrics, style, creativity and stylistic originality, the countdown is nigh!

Tomorrow June 12th from 6pm South African time is the first of the catwalk shows in Jo'burg with an unveiling by designers Ituen Basi from Nigeria and Sika Designs from Ghana.

The show will also see a showcase from 2 Cameroonian fashion houses namely, Louise Njamen and Anna Ngann Yonn.

I hope to bring you the pictures later on!
For more information, please go here : http://www.africanfashioninternational.com/africaFashionWeek/schedule.html

Stay sweet
Dulce
xxx

Tuesday, June 9, 2009

KIRETTE COUTURE HITS NEW YORK AND MANCHESTER IN STYLE

Fashionistas just can’t get enough of KiRette Couture’s latest shows.

The hot new label partnered with charity, Living Measure, to present the Threads for a cause event in support of the campaign against sexual exploitation.

Manhattan’s swish Boucarou Lounge was the place to be last Wednesday as 150 of New York’s greatest movers and shakers savoured exquisite designs from KC’s recent Afrik Lux collection and grooved to the soulful sounds of Cameroonian star, Wax.

“It was a very enriching and entertaining night. The runway show was very vibrant and totally told our story” said KC’s US director, Kibonen Nfi.

Approximately $3000 was raised from the showcase. Fifty percent of the money will benefit Living Measure’s Girls Educational and Mentoring Services' (GEMS) project. The New York-based programme provides young victims of sexual exploitation with a range of support services including shelter and education.

“We believed KiRette Couture would bring the right blend of cache and high end exposure to the event that our guests would appreciate.

In turn, this would be beneficial in our effort to raise funds for the campaign against youth sexploitation,” said Living Measure co-founder, Mirande Valbrune.

For Kibonen Nfi, the event was as eye-opening as it was dazzling. “Many Americans tend to think that youth sexploitation occurs mostly in Asian Countries like Thailand.

A lot of people were shocked to learn that it happens in their own neighbourhoods too. It was an educative night for all present,” she explained.

Event organiser, Liz Oton of Fete Atelier received much praise for creating an impeccable experience.

“Fete Atelier had collaborated with KC and Living Measure on previous events. Our strength is in developing strategies and building partnerships that result in quality get-togethers,” she said.

And her impressions of KC’s new collection? “It is an exquisite mix of luxurious fabric, detailed embroidery and vivid colours. African Luxe at its best,” she declared.

And if you thought KC was keeping all its classy cool stateside, think again.

Only days before the New York soiree, KiRette Couture brought unprecedented chic to Manchester, UK by teaming up with George Tyrone Eko (GTE) Styling to present its latest collection at Manchester’s trendy Northern Quarter.

The classy event featured a gallery style showcase, peppered with spoken word performances from Layode Asgill and Segun Lee-French.

“I chose a gallery theme because I wanted to show our spring/summer collection in a setting where everyone could fully experience the superb craftsmanship and art that goes into making KiRette Couture creations,” said the label’s UK director, Anrette Ngafor.

Backed by live kora music, she captured fashion fops with the stories behind the vividly embroidered and print pieces, which draped the bodies of gorgeous models as they sashayed down the runway and posed magazine style on wooden plinths. Their charm ensured many a man had a hard time voting solely for their favourite outfit.

“The rating process was the highlight of the evening! It proved quite an ice breaker and gave our show the interactive edge we wanted. Everyone really enjoyed it,” noted Anrette Ngafor.

Laurette Matembe’s blue bubble dress, adorned with a gold chiffon petit coat proved the fashionistas’ favourite and following closely was Norah Finney’s one strap embroidered dress.

For proud stylist, George Tyrone Eko, the show fulfilled its promise of “simplicity and drama.”

Layode Asgill’s was a poetic verdict. “It was a night of pure resplendence,” he remarked.

Indulge in some pictures of the night as per below.


The winning blue bubble dress!


The second fave of the night!






Ms Anrette Ngafor, CEO (Middle)


















Kirette Couture also featured in this month's online issue of Ghubar magazine, check them out here: http://ghubar-magazine.com/mag_juin.htmlb
Stay sweet
Dulce
xxx

Thursday, June 4, 2009

BE BOLD, BE VIBRANT, BE DARING!

Côté Minou girls are back with a new collection and according to this duo (Maryanne & Stephanie), their spring collection is all about..Vibrant prints..Bold styles all with the same African stamp.

They created outfits for you to wear out at night and they want you to leave the house feeling Daring giving people a reason to look.. They want you to Expect more of these looks in the summer - STAY TUNED to Côté Minou ;-))





























The new collection will be unveiled at The Hampton Conference Center, 207 West Hampton PL, Capitol Heights, MD, USA.
Time: 7pm - 10.30
Ticket: 20 USD and are available @ http://www.groovetickets.com/ KEYWORD: PAPARAZZI II
Also check out their website here: http://www.mycoteminou.com/
Stay sweet
Dulce
xxx

BEATING WING ORCHESTRA AT MIF

July 7th & 8th 2009 at the Pavilion Theatre in Albert Square, Manchester sees the opening of a musical concert called The Beating Wing Orchestra (BWO).

Formed in Manchester from musicians of refugee and other migrant backgrounds coming from countries as diverse as Kurdistan, Cameroon, Bangladesh and Brazil, BWO speaks a global music vocabulary, forging new connections between the city’s rich mix of communities.

A collaboration from Malian superstars Amadou & Mariam, whose terrific new album Welcome to Mali which has received rave reviews and led to sell-out shows galore will take place on the nights. MIF (Manchester International Festival) therefore offers fans a rare opportunity to see this Malian duo in an intimate venue, joined by a very special group of musicians for these extraordinary concerts.

Community Arts North West are giving away tickets to this event. This will be free to Asylum Seekers and £3 to refugees or those on low income.

There is limited availability, and tickets will be given on a first come first served basis. If you are interested please email admin@can.uk.com, with your name, postcode and the night you wish to attend.

For more info, please check out: http://www.can.uk.com

Dulce

xxx

Wednesday, June 3, 2009

BRINGING RAPE OUT OF THE SHADOWS

Talk openly about rape, that is the gist of a new campaign in Cameroon, where according to a study an estimated 432,000 women and girls have been raped in the past 20 years.

Some 200 rape survivors gathered on 28 May in the capital Yaoundé, several of the women and girls telling their stories during the campaign's opening ceremony.

"From now on we are going to speak publicly about rape so it will no longer be a taboo subject in our society," said Olivia Bikoe of RENATA (Réseau National des Associations de Tantines), a local NGO that supports young mothers and one of the campaign's organizers.

As part of the campaign - led by the German development organization GTZ - women and girls who have been raped will be encouraged to talk about it in schools and in the media.

Organizers said the campaign is aimed in part at calling society's attention to rape and incest, which they say are on the rise in Cameroon.

Nearly one-fifth of the some 432,000 people raped were raped by a family member, according to the report by GTZ and the Health Ministry, based on interviews with 37,719 women across the country.

In Cameroon rape is a crime punishable by up to life in prison but only about one in 20 rapists is convicted, largely because rape is trivialized in society, Ndonko said.

For more details on the story, please go here: http://allafrica.com/stories/200906020953.html

Dulce
xxx

FASHION TARGETS SEXPLOITATION

Forget Sex and the City. Africa is taking over Manhattan this week! And it is all for a good cause.

Fresh new fashion label KiRette Couture (KC) is joining forces with charity, Living Measure to present: "Threads for a cause".

The fundraiser is aimed at boosting Living Measure’s campaign against the sexual exploitation of youth.

“Sexual exploitation is an issue which urgently needs addressing. Fighting this injustice is something we believe in,” said the label’s New York director, Kibonen Nfi.

Due on Wednesday 3rd June, the event will feature a premier debut of KC’s highly acclaimed “Afrik Lux” collection to trendy New Yorkers.

“Fashion brings people together and is an amazing platform to promote such an important subject. As such, collaborating with Living Measure was an easy decision.”

Founded in 2007, Living Measure prioritizes community, connection and social change.
Its Girls Educational and Mentoring Services' (GEMS) project is committed to ending the commercial sexual exploitation and trafficking of 12 to 21-year-olds.

Through this scheme, Living Measures provides young victims with a range of support services including shelter and education.

Fifty percent of proceeds from today's extravaganza will benefit GEMS.

Fashionistas will also be serenaded by the sweet sounds of African soul star, Wax.

This event takes place today at the swish Boucarou Lounge, 64 E 1st St, New York.
Time, 6pm
No entrance fee, charity donations accepted.

Calling all fashionistas...go there and represent!
Stay sweet
Dulce
xxx

Tuesday, June 2, 2009

CAMEROONIANS MOURN CHARLOTTE MBANGO

Cameroonians are still dazed by the death of makossa diva, Charlotte Mbango.

The award-winning star breathed her last yesterday. Website, Kaï Walaï, noted she had been ill for a while. Details of the cause of her death are still to be confirmed.

Tributes have poured into social networking sites and internet forums.

On face book, fellow songstress, Coco Mbassi expressed her condolences to Mbango’s family.

“It is a sad day for Cameroonian music,” lamented The Apprentice Africa star, Kathleen Ndongmo.

The grand daughter of makossa legend, Eboa Lotin, Charlotte Mbango began singing in church choirs at the age of nine.

She entered the Parisian music scene as a backing vocalist for various African and Caribbean artists.

In 1987, Mbango launched her solo career with the upbeat Nostalgie album. But it was mega-hit, Konkai Makossa, that shot her to global fame and earned her a Golden Record award.





She also received an Honorary Tamani in Bamako, Mali in 2003.

Renowned for her pure voice and lively style, Charlotte Mbango collaborated with musical greats including Manu Dibango and Paul Simon.

Her death deals another blow to the Cameroonian entertainment industry which recently lost music luminary, Hoigen Ekwalla.

“May she rest in peace,” said fan, Betty Abeng.

By Ngum Ngafor

Please also share your memories of Charlotte Mbango with us.

(Picture courtesy of Flickr, uploaded by Fakoman)

Tuesday, May 26, 2009

JUNE

From one fashion post to another, I hereby bring to you JUNE.
Julie a 30 year old French darling and Nelly a 28 year old Cameroonian native living in France met during a summer job they had together 7 years ago.
Their friendship bonded and so did their creativity and they decided to take things further by fusing their artistic but yet complementary ideas to come up with “JUNE” (JU-lie & NE-lly) a prêt-a-porter label which dialogues the West meets Africa theme to create a harmonious union between authenticity and modernity.














If you are in Paris, check out their shop here:
June Shop
13 Villa Saint Michel
75018 Paris

Or go to: http://www.myspace.com/juneshop
Or www.juneshop.net
Stay sweet
Dulce
xxx

FASHION THE GALLERY

For all you fashionistas out there, there is a fashion exhibition hosted by KiRette Couture and George Tyrone Eko Styling this saturday in Manchester.

For one night only, rising powerhouses KC and GTE styling present exquisite designs at Manchester's trendy and arty Northern Quarter.
The showcase will feature creations from KC's latest Afrik Lux collection.

According to KC's UK Director, Anrette Ngafor, she chose a gallery theme because she wants to show their spring/summer collection in a setting which gives everyone a chance to fully experience the superb craftsmanship and art that goes into making KiRette Couture creations.

Catch Fashion The Gallery, this unique event at Joe's Bar, 4 Oldham Street, Piccadilly, Manchester M2 2JQ on saturday 30th May 2009. Entry fee is £5 and it starts at 7pm prompt.
Please support and experience the arty side of fashion!!

Stay sweet
Dulce
xxx

Monday, May 25, 2009

LETTRE AU PRESIDENT

I was sent this and I am totally feeling it, from the rhythm to the lyrics which describes the feelings of the Cameroonian youths.
What do you think?
Enjoy!


Stay sweet
Dulce
xxx