Africa @ 78 RPM

Sometimes the past can be so NEW. In this case I'm referring to the "fresh" beats compiled Jonathan Ward a four-disk collection called Opika Pende. Opika Pende means "be strong" in Lingala (Congo) and the songs collected here reflect the amazing strength and diversity of music from throughout Africa.  Covering the period from 1909 to the 1960s, this collection features musical sounds most of us have never heard before. It would be so interesting to hear some of these beat remixed by current producers.

{Photo: via}

On Travel...or "Should be"

As you read this post, the words playing across your eyes should be "On Travel....lalala, so excited to be headed to country X." Instead you get to read a silly tale which goes like this....

....(three months ago) I was very excited by the prospect of going to country X (no, I'm not trying to be dodgy, just hoping to reveal later). Then the trip got postponed until just about "whenever." I know...life is so "exciting" when you know that "whenever" (often translated into "tomorrow") is your next travel date! 

....to this time last week when I was sitting at my desk sweating about the million approvals needed for me to book a flight to leave within a week, finally heading back to Africa. The "i" is dotted and the "t" is crossed, trip is a approved and ticket is booked. Yay - go me! Even better: Yay go me going back to Africa!  I move on to the million other stresses that instantly consume my life when I have less than one week to pull my act together to be out of the country for practically a month!

Umm - "1 laundry list of things to do at work" + "43503945 loads of laundry that I was postponing" +  an "oh, no must pick up dry cleaning before they throw all my silk clothing away" +  "darn, my friend is going to be camping out in apt....clean clean clean!" Plus you can't forget the ever important "lose 100 pounds" + "become an super cool artist" and if you can handle it add in "panic about what to wear in two countries with really different climates!"

....to about 24 hours pre-departure when a little birdie whispers in my ear: viiiiisssssaaaaaa! Anyone else hearing crickets!??!? If you aren't hearing crickets then you are certainly remembering this "almost deported" tale posted only as recently as this year!! Turns out that, YES, my destination does require a visa and HECK NO, they don't issue it upon arrival!

While I could very easily play the "urgh, what kind of country doesn't let you get a visa upon arrival" card, that would just be a disservice to the country which is just doing it's sovereign duties of making "foreigners" bleed when the reality is more like "Brandie, please use your 10 fingers and possibly 3 toes to list the countries that DO allow entry sans hoopla!" The fact remains that just getting the approval for the trip in the first place felt like such a triumph that I went forward with my sword hoping to slay a few more dragons pre-trip only to be taken to the cleaners by something as straightforward as a lack of a visa!

Will I have to cancel my flight (ummm, that kinda goes without saying)? Will I get a new flight ticket? Will I get a visa in less than 48 hours in order to board the next flight? Will I arrive in time to attend the conference which I've been anticipating for months?

.....is clearly the word of the day!

Under African Skies

On Sunday, after a quick stop at the American History Museum to catch the last day of the Julia Child Kitchen exhibit (yes, her kitchen is the stuff chef dreams are made of), my friend and I strolled over the the National Museum of African Art to see the "African Cosmos: Stellar Arts" exhibit. This piece by South African artist Gavin Jantjes is what drew me to the exhibit in the first place and let me tell you: it did not fail to work it's magical voodoo! In person, the piece is huge and I got the chance to look at it from just about every angle!

The painting is based on the San myth of a young girl who reaches into a fire and tossing the burning embers to the sky. The coals become stars and the ashes become the milky way. The figures, representatives of humans despite how much they remind me of E.T., are inspired by ancient Khoi San  paintings.

{Photo: via}

This Scarf...

from lemlem is just what I need for fall.

Obsessed

Again, nowhere to wear this dress, but obsessed I am!

Just Dance

This is how kids in Senegal do it as captured by Abby Ross. How do you?

Happy Labor Day

The Brogan Boot

Yesterday, in the midst of all the things I had to actually do, there was a massive online debate regarding the purchase of these Cole Haan Brogan boots. One friend was "for" but under the condition that the boots only be worn outside of pants; another friend was a "meh"; and my sister was a "I love." Yes, it's kinda early to be thinking of these things, but you see, I'll soon be in a foreign country with fall weather and I kinda need a go-to shoe for all the strolling around I intend to do. Plus these could be ideal the fall/ pre-snow winter State-side as well (I know, radical that I wouldn't buy a shoe just to wear for one week abroad). Plus there is the added pressure that I literally only have 3 shipping days left before I board a plane to decision time is seriously upon me!

What's your take: love them or leave them?

{Photos: Boots, jeans, sweater, earrings}

Art Scene: Kemang Wa Lehulere

Dear Kemang Wa Lehulere: I have the perfect place on my wall for this piece. Please coordinate with Stevenson Gallery where you have this on exhibition to send it right over to my place. If the originally is sold out, don't be worried, I also accept prints! You're the best!
xoxo Brandie

SKORZCH

In the tsunami that is is the current trend in menswear (i.e. being that you can't escape from it), I love that South African label Skorzch is making sure that guys on that side of the Atlantic/Indian ocean aren't being left out.

According to GQ South Africa, the whole idea behind the shoot was to show "the journey a man goes on in his ambition to keep moving forward with the times." But my question is this: where is this "ambitious" man going without socks?!?

{Photo: Anthony Bila}

I'll Take This....

Over the last few weeks, I have been nuts about things that dive into the category of "over the top"! (Exhibit A which my friend Jenn was very quick to point out that girls with "un-model-like butts should not be enthused to walk around like a cowboy cupcake, yet of course I love it!)

This is the kind of clothing where you KNOW you have NOWHERE to wear these pieces but you can't help but wish there was a way to rock the crazy without looking....ummm...crazy!

{Photo: Beauty is Diverse}

The Yellow Factor

Just in case you weren't sure about what I love about this dress that Sudanese model Grace Bol is rocking! This makes me feel like I could use a little more yellow in my closet.

{Photo: Beauty is Diverse}