Friday, February 28, 2014

EMERGE WITH IRENE @ THE CLEVELAND NATURAL HAIR & FITNESS EXPO

Hello People, It's Friday...Good stories, Good vibe and it's the last day of February..Camers are making us proud all over the globe and this weekend....

Join Irene @  the 4TH ANNUAL CLEVELAND NATURAL HAIR & FITNESS EXPO - Sunday March 2, 2014. 11am - 7pm. 

 Irene Easterling is the spokes model and face of the CLEVELAND NATURAL HAIR & FITNESS EXPO. 

Look out for IRENE'S WEST AFRICAN DESIGNS (see cover photo), on the runway with other talented designers and hair stylists, 


if you are in Cleveland please go and show some love to a sister this sunday!!Check out Last year's event video produced by Irene


Event Info
THE 4TH ANNUAL CLEVELAND NATURAL HAIR & FITNESS EXPO
Sunday Sunday, March 2, 2014. 11am – 7pm
Location: Cleveland Convention Center
300 Lakeside Ave Cleveland, OH 44113
Tour Contact: Malaika Cooper
Local Contact: Monica Green
For more info: kinkycurlystraight@yahoo.com
(216) 938 – 9537




Love this Interview on Dunia Magazine..Please read more on the event & Emerge with Irene!
Check out her new Facebook page Emerge With Irene!
Go and support a sister!Thumbs up Irene..Looking forward to a follow up feature on the event.

Enjoy the weekend..

Y.M
IRepCamer

Thursday, February 27, 2014

CHRISTA EKA's Short Film "BELEH" To Screen @ The WINTER FILM AWARDS INDEPENDENT FILM FESTIVAL In NY


Christa Eka's short film, "Beleh" is on the official selection list of the Winter Film Awards independent film festival which takes place from February 26th - March 1st 2014. Beleh will screen on Friday, February 28th at 12:00pm at the Blue Diamond Theater 777. 


2014 Winter Film Awards Independent Film Festival Official Selections


Beleh Synopsis
The difficulty Joffi faces in her first pregnancy is made worse by the petulant and selfish demands of her irate and uncompromising husband, Ekema. Things come to a head when Ekema wakes up one morning to a world very different from the one he went to sleep in.





BELEH Trailer - English Sub from Christa Eka on Vimeo.

Beleh made the official selection list at the Toronto Black Film Festival which took place from the 11th - 16th February 2014.                                                                                                              
Thumbs up to Christa Eka & her team. The movie seems to be getting some good visibility at film festivals. If you are in NYC please go check it out and support a sister!

Y.M.
IRepCamer

MARLYAND State Governor Appoints KATE ATABONG


I love sharing good stories...Good Jist must spread. A strong and dynamic paysan lady was appointed by a State Governor in the US of A..That is a big deal and something we should be proud of...
******REBLOGGED FROM CAMEROON TRIBUNE******
Kate Atabong has been appointed as commissioner for African Affairs for the State of Maryland, USA.
Kate Atabong
Kate Atabong
Cameroonian born, Kate Atabong, has been appointed as Commissioner for African Affairs for the State of Maryland, USA. The appointment came on February 11, 2014 when she received a call from the Governor’s Office of Maryland State at about 10:00 a.m. during which the person at the end of the line stated: “I am calling on behalf of the Governor of the State of Maryland, Governor Martin O’malley, to inform Ms Atabong that she had been appointed as commissioner for African Affairs for the State of Maryland effective today”!
Observers say it is a well-merited appointment given the amount of community service and tireless work Lady Kate, as she is fondly called by friends, has put in over the years to better the lives of her fellow Africans, with a particular focus on young African Girls. Kate Atabong has done tremendous work via her annual Pageant, Miss Africa USA, which has given its participants limitless opportunities to better themselves which they ordinarily would not have had.
In the role Lady Kate has just been appointed in, she will work with the Governor, the Government, Private Institutions and other leaders, to address needs specific to the African Diaspora community in the state of Maryland. She will also work to strengthen relations between the state of Maryland and African Institutions, Diplomatic Missions, Communities and other Organisations both in the United States and in Africa.
Kate Atabong was born and raised in the seaside town of Limbe in the South West Region. She graduated from Saker Baptist College, Limbe in 1987 and later moved on to Baptist High School Buea, where she graduated with the Class of 1989. Thereafter, she went to the United Kingdom for further studies and undertook a Bachelor in Economics and Social Sciences at the Victoria University of Manchester. She later became a Registered Nurse and worked for a few years in England before immigrating to the United States.
The mother of two currently resides in the State of Maryland with her family. She is the CEO and Founder of the Miss Africa USA Scholarship Pageant which she started in 2005 in Atlanta, GA, as a way of bringing the African Community together to celebrate its culture and at the same time empower young women to embrace their beauty and use that as a platform to serve humanity.
******

Lady Kate is the second Cameroonian to join the African commission. Theo Ngongang was appointed last April. She joins 16
 African commissionersThe State of Maryland has 8 ethnic commissions and the African commission is one of them. Makes sense given the diversity in the state!.
Thumbs up to Lady Kate. All the best in your new role. Sure this commission gives African affairs the visibility it deserves in the state of MD which has a lot of African immigrants..
Y.M.
IRepCamer

Monday, February 24, 2014

MMPR @ 1: WeBuzz, WeBrand, WeBuild


OK ModeMaison PR celebrated its first Anniversary in Style!!

Event: MMPROne

Location: Lynk Lounge, Bonapriso Douala

Date: February 18th 2014


The celebratory mood was activated as ModeMaison PR celebrated its first year journey in Douala with tea and champagne at the glamorous well interior decorated LYNK Lounge in Bonapriso.




The MMPR One soiree gathered a host of representatives from the urban showbiz scene - TV presenters Fidjil & Bonas Duvalier, Kristelle from STV, Jumper from Boom TV, music artists Sophy Aiida, Vanessa Payge, Steveslil, small business owners such as Etonde Martin from SIPEC Cameroon, as well as the chief IT officer of MTN Cameroon also in attendance to provide his support to the initiative.
Assorted teas – English Breakfast, Peppermint, Green Tea, Earl Grey were served with scones, buttercream cupcakes topped with Mambo chocolate, biscuits and assorted pates, cakes as well as hot canapes washed down with champagne.



The entertainment on the night was also in celebration of the urban music scene in Cameroon with performances from crooner Mr Leo, rasped voice ModeMaison PR client Daddyblack, rap queen in the making Ciana as well as starboy Stanley Enow who brought the night to a close with a thrilling rendition of his well aired debut song Hein Pere.
ModeMaison PR with the tagline of “WeBuzz, WeBrand, WeBuild” is a public relations, marketing, branding and styling/rental agency run by Cynthia Tabe and Karen Ayungwa primarily serving the showbiz industry with a commitment to changing perceptions, building a reputation and improving the overall image of the industry through a one at a time brand collaboration.


 Etonde  Martine (SIPEC Cameroon) & MMPR Boss Lady, Cynthia Tabe

 On est Hein Pere? Stanley Enow Delivers


 Alenne Menget & Stephanie Fonachi (Looking forward to Viri, the movie!)


 Saraah Nkwanyuo & Etonde Martin


 Hello Sophie & Rahul Fongod..Whats good? lol

 Peace back at you, Martin Enow..And Daddy Black with signature hat!


 CIANA (The only and only CIANIC babe), Karen Ayungwa, Nkanya Nkwai

 OK whatever was happening..It was fun..lol!
 OK Sophy Aiida..On est Hein Pere? 

 Mr Daddyblack No be small boy...

 For whatever reason.I love this pic..
I see you Reneta Ndisang (R) reping Mareta West


 Love this pic...Leila Elisabeth..

 +237 swag

 Panjo Master, Steveslil (R)....hope you had all the delish cup cakes..lol!


 CIANA bringing down the house..Love the outfit Pam Happi (Middle)..Reneta & Sophy watching too!
Peace Mr. Elad..with PR boss & Valerie Fotso Kamno

PR Lady, Karen Ayungwa




We are very thankful to be celebrating our first year. The best is yet to come!” states Cynthia.
The journey continues as team ModeMaison PR also celebrates growing from 2 to 3 members.
For more information, please visit:
Twitter: @ModeMaisonPR

Instagram: modemaisonpr

Thumbs up to Cynthia Tabe & her MMPR team on turning one!Running a small business takes commitment, hard work and determination..Keep up the great work. Looking forward to a collabo...(Need the delish cupcakes..lol)

Y.M.
IRepCamer

Immigrant English Language Learner Students Highlight DCPS Failings

         

February 24, 2014    

CONTACT: Maria Alejandra 202-470-6835
mariaalejandra@mlovdc.org              



Immigrant English Language Learner Students Highlight DCPS Failings
Washington, DC – Local immigrant English Language Learner (ELL) students from area public and public charter high schools, including Coolidge, Wilson, Capital City and others, sent a powerful message to DCPS through a dynamic public demonstration today. 
Starting at 4 PM today, members of the multi-lingual DC-based activist youth group SMART (Student Multiethnic Action Research Team) along with other DCPS and DCPCS youth staged a demonstration using plastic drums, chants, posters and dancing in Tivoli Square in Columbia Heights [14th & Park Rd NW].  This public action builds on a Twitter campaign that the youth launched on Valentine’s Day.
According to Franck Vincent, a native French speaker from Cameroon and one of the youth leaders of SMART, “We are broken hearted because 1 out of 2 ELL students are dropping out of high school.  DCPS is not providing us with enough bilingual counselors so immigrant students don’t have the same opportunity for success.” Franck is correct – half of DCPS’s ELL student population is dropping out.  Additionally, according to a report by NPR on the Nation’s Report Card, while D.C. showed the most improvement in reading and math in the nation, this was true “among all subgroups such as race, income and special education — except for English Language learners.”
Guidance counselors are just one of the things that the group today highlighted as contributing to the 50% drop out rate among ELL students in DC.  They are also demanding other supports that the DCPS budget is supposed to provide for, including interpretation when their parents come for Parent-Teacher conferences, and more teacher training and support for teachers who have ELL students in their classrooms.
Currently, one out of ten students enrolled in DCPS are classified as ELL, and an even larger proportion are what DCPS calls “Linguistically and Culturally Diverse” or “LCD” – LCD students often come from families where their primary caretaker does not speak English as a primary language.  This language barrier limits parents and guardians from engaging with their child’s teachers without interpretation and translation services, a resource that schools are actually mandated to provide under the DC Language Access Act of 2004.
Paola Perez Amador,  a native Spanish speaker from Mexico and another youth leader that participated in the demonstration today stated, “No todos los maestros de ELL están capacitados para enseñarle a los estudiantes de ELL o usar los recursos como los interpretes por teléfono en Language Line.  Ellos quieren mas entranimineto tambien” (“Not all of the teachers that teach ELL students are sufficiently trained to teach ELL students or use resources like the telephonic interpreters on Language Line.  They want more training too.”) 
The members of SMART, who are supported and trained by DC-based non-profit Many Languages One Voice to understand the root causes of immigrant youth education disparities, and advocate on their own behalf, have launched their own peer-based student survey to further investigate the reasons for the alarming ELL drop-out rate in DC.  They will release the findings in a report at the start of the 2014-2015 school year.  The youth have developed an ELL Student Bill of Rights and list of ELL Student Solutions which provide data-driven recommendations based in their own experiences.  SMART hopes for greater opportunity to share these recommendations with decision-makers, and for room at the decision-making table for greater student voice.  Chancellor Henderson recently launched a Parent Cabinet and task force to study student testing, but DCPS did not include a call for students to join these bodies.     
In addition to public demonstrations such as the one that the youth organized today, SMART testifies at public oversight hearings and budget hearings of the DC City Council.  Particularly given that this is an election year and the 2015 budget is currently being set, SMART youth join other advocacy groups and policy research institutions to demand DC government enforce Title III[i] and the DC Language Access Act of 2004[ii], and provide transparency around spending for ELL needs under the approved DCPS budget[iii].    
For more information about the specific issues facing ELL students and how SMART and MLOV is organizing for greater education equity, please contact Maria Alejandra, Lead Education Organizer at MLOV mariaalejandra@mlovdc.org or 202-470-6835.

Thursday, February 20, 2014

MUSIC THURSDAY: CAMER URBAN MUSIC IS ON A ROLL...

Hello people..It's your fav music day..Thursday!Is Camer Urban Music on a roll or what? 

Mumak presents Mr. Elad in "Chakara"



OK this is my latest obsession.That is a bit of an understatement...lol!!MuMaK came back with a bang. Production and lyrics on point..And I just found out producer Melody is Mr. Elad..Thumbs up guys on this one!Released almost a week ago on Valentine's day, it already has over 3700 plays on soundcloud!



Stanley Enow - Tumboboss
Can't wait for the video of this song. Love the video quality. The lyrics are killing me.lmao. Starboy Stan delivers...


Nafon - Let me be 
Some tracks are just a breath of fresh air. Video directed by the talented Mr. Adrenaline..



Numerica - Wallaye Billaye 
Love is in the air...Another one of my fav swag artists!!

Franky P - On fait ca bien
OK Franky!



Krotal feat. Abracadabra & Le Reflet - On a tous des soucis
I am sure you already know my big time groupy nature for Krotal..LOL. He and his crew deliver! On a tous le soucis  vraiment. Chacun a son tour!



Jango Jack - African Queen
African Queen French Version....Love!


Ngoma - Afe Nkap
OK the special effects  for this video worry...lol. Produced by JayJay & Video directed by the talented Adah Akenji...+237 is on a roll mennnn. Thumbs up guys..



DJ NegRo - Kwatt N Beatz Vol 1 (Cameroon's Finest Afrobeats)
In The Mixtape by DJ NegRo Talent you can listen to tunes extracted from  different Cameroonian compilations like MboaTape Vol 1 & 2, Vibrations Urbaines Vol. 1 & 2 and others. It features artists like X Maleya, Sine, Petit Pays, Krotal, Pit Baccardi, Magasco, Denzyl, Francky P, One Love, Michael Kiessou, Habib Du Bled, Prosby, Philjon, Maahlox and many others.DJ NegRo is one of the baddest Afro DJs in Germany..Love me some DJ NegRo..lol


 Check out OKAY AFRICA's 10 Cameroonian Artists to Watch in 2014....

Btw, if you haven't been to Camer movies portal..MboaMovies..Check it out. Looking forward to a real dose of pays movies soon!Camer Entertainment is on a roll..

Enjoy the music!

Y.M.
IRepCamer

Wednesday, February 19, 2014

KIBONEN NY To Showcase @ THE SMITHSONIAN's "EARTH MATTERS, FASHION MATTERS"

Couture Comes to the National Museum of African Art in “Earth Matters, Fashion Matters”

Top African Fashion Designers to Showcase High-End Collections
The Smithsonian’s National Museum of African Art will host some of Africa’s hottest designers at “Earth Matters, Fashion Matters” a fashion show and concert at the museum Saturday, Feb. 22, from 6 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. Katie Rost, a Vogue 100 model, will emcee the sold-out event.
Global Fashion New York Inc. is producing the provocative show, which will feature eco-friendly fashions inspired by the exhibition, “Earth Matters: Land as Material and Metaphor in the Arts of Africa.” DJ Adrian Loving will set the tempo for the evening with a playlist influenced by “Earth Matters.”
Ten of Africa’s most innovative fashion designers will respond and interpret with eco-friendly fashions inspired by the “Earth Matters” exhibition: Thula Sindi from South Africa, Taibo Bacar from Mozambique, KibonenNY from Cameroon, Chouchou Lazare from Gabon, MaXhosa by Laduma from South Africa, Patience Torlowei from Nigeria, Mushana from Uganda, Kenema from Sierra Leone, Abai Schulze from Ethiopia and Sindiso Khumalo from South Africa. The exhibition is on view at the museum through Sunday, Feb 23


About KibonenNY
KibonenǀNY is the brain child of the most revolutionary Cameroonian designer Kibonen Nfi. Inspired by traditional Cameroonian garments, West African fabric and New York’s vibrant fashion scene, Kibonen delved into the fashion scene with the never before seen ingenious idea of contemporizing one of the most delicate and intricate hand woven traditional garments of Cameroon western highlands region, the “Toghu”. Today the African Fashion International Awards Nominated “Emerging designer of the Year 2013” is a Fashion Design student at the Art Institute of NYC, a decision she made in order to help transform her natural talent to a money making establishment. A serious career in Fashion is unfathomable in Cameroon, but this ideology is gradually changing thanks to pioneers like Kibonen, who takes it upon herself to cultivate and mature this untapped industry.


KibonenNY – The Company
KibonenNY (KNY) is a fresh fusion of this rich culture with contemporary styles, fabrics and trends. KibonenNY aims to capture an international clientele through its trendy designs, with very sensual silhouettes. The KNY client is one who is confident, colorful and free spirited. KNY is for the classy trend setter with a strong sense of style and a refined taste for contemporary and authentic Africana clothing.
KibonenNY explores traditional African fabrics – Wax prints, Tye-dye, Kanga, Mud Cloth, Toghu and Nduop 
KibonenNY designs Clothing for men women and kids,  Accessories - Bags, Ring, Bangles and Footwear, Home Goods, Corporate Gift items all inspired by Africa


Besides being a fashion lifestyle brand, KibonenNY is an ethical fashion brand. Cameroon is a country with abundant talent, unbelievable design aesthetics, amazing and beautiful people yet over 49% of the population live below the poverty line. This was another gripping factor that urged the formation of my brand, using the business of fashion to help create employment in Cameroon, paying employees a fair wage that will not only aid survival but allow them to improve their standard of living.

KibonenNY has successfully showcased her talent as well as Cameroons culture and aesthetics at:
-          Mercedes Benz Fashion Week Africa - Tswane, South Africa, November 2013
-          Africa Fashion Week NY – New York, USA July 2012
-          Mercedes Benz Fashion Week Africa Johannesburg South Africa– October 2012
-          Nigeria’s Next Super Model Fashion show - Lagos Nigeria - November 2012
-          American Chamber of Commerce Fashion show - Douala, Cameroon – January 2012
Her collections have received rave reviews and have been featured on BBC - Focus on Africa, GQ Style SA,
 New African Woman and in countless fashion blogs and newspapers.
On realizing the potential that ethical fashion could provide, KibonenNY together with some partners formed the Cameroon Fashion Association of America and instigated the startup of an ethical factory, “Made In Camer” Clothing and Accessories Fair Trade Manufacturing in Bamenda, Cameroon.

KibonenNY - Earth Matters Collection – The Bamboo Jersey Collection
      “When invited to the exhibition Earth Matters: Land as Metaphor and Material in the Arts of Africa, the first thing that came to my mind was eco fashion and how through fashion we can help save our environment. “Bamboo Fabric” – jersey like fabric made from Bamboo came to mind. Bamboo is a highly sustainable crop as it does not claim farming land, grows very fast and needs very minimal care. It is a much better CO2 extractor and oxygen emitter than trees, and all bamboo products are completely biodegradable and recyclable. The raw material bamboo is certified organic.
After going through the actual art exhibition that took place at the museum, the work of Osodi spoke directly to me as I reflected on the theme. I hence picked out the painting which I had printed on silk jersey and found a way to incorporate it into the designs.
I clearly went a little out of my habit by designing very sensual garments all with the aim of bringing out the fact that we can be ecofriendly at the same time comfortable, sensually sexy and classy.”

Support
      Support for “Earth Matter Fashion Matters” comes from Ecco Bella (makeup and gift bags), T∙H∙E Artist Agency (models) and Wholefoods. Thanks go to the students of the Fashion Club at Fashion Design and Merchandising at Marymount University, The Art Institute of Washington School of Design and Aveda Institute in Washington, D.C.

About the Exhibition
      “Earth Matters” is the first major exhibition exploring the ways in which African artists and communities mediate their relationship with the land upon which they live, work and frame their days. The exhibition investigates the intersection between art and knowledge and brings together approximately 100 exceptional works of art from the turn of the 19th to 21st centuries. It is divided into five thematic sections: The Material Earth, Power of the Earth, Imagining the Underground, Strategies of the Surface and Art as Environmental Action. A sixth section, Earth Works, is the first installation of land art by three artists to be assembled outside in the Smithsonian Gardens and on the National Mall.
These categories provide vantage points from which to examine the most poignant relationships that Africans have with the land, whether it be to earth as a sacred or medicinal material, as something uncovered by mining or claimed by burial, as a surface to be interpreted and turned to for inspiration, or as an environment to be protected. A separate sculpture by Ledelle Moe (part of section two of the exhibition) will also be on display outside of the museum.


About the National Museum of African Art
The National Museum of African Art is America’s only museum dedicated to the collection, conservation, study and exhibition of traditional and contemporary African art. The museum is open daily from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. (closed Dec. 25). Admission is free. The museum is located at 950 Independence Avenue S.W., near the Smithsonian Metrorail station on the Blue and Orange lines. For more information about this exhibition, call (202) 633-4600 or visit the museum’s website at Africa.si.edu. For general Smithsonian information, call (202) 633-1000.

Note: To arrange an interview with the designers or for selected high-resolution images, contact Eddie Burke at (202) 633-4660 or BurkeE@si.edu.

OK People.Go and support our Camer sis make us proud!Being an art lover, The Smithsonian is on my to visit list..So this is a big deal. Kudos to Kibonen & team!

Pictures courtesy of Kibonen NY.

Y.M.
IRepCamer

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