DJ Bizi Brown - international DJ and Producer

Most people in Germany know pop music  but not Afropop. A socially conscious DJ and producer is changing that. DJ Bizi Brown is that special Afropop and hip hop icing on every event with a refreshing flavor. An impressive example of passion and professionalism. It all started like a joke at house parties, wedding receptions etc...but the brother actually meant business and went from Brown to Bizi Brown. His drive, focus, passion and professionalism never knew nahsayers. 

He is currently a celebrated game changer: bringing Afropop and his roots on platforms which would otherwise miss out on this spice to life. 

He is part of the Freedom Movement with other famous Afrogerman stars like Gerald Asamoah, Nelson Müller, Metaphysics etc. Yep! Even my cruch Xavier Naidoo sent out a video message in support of the movement. That's huge!

 

Last but not least he is one of the forces behind Afrolicious Festival, which broke all records of Afropop Events ever organized in Germany featuring stars from the mother continent like Wizkid and Magique System!!

I strongly believe there is a lot more to expect from Bizi Brown... Can't wait for the surprises...For now I hear he is on tour in China! 

www.djbizibrown.com

Usman Shehu - Journalist, Editor - Africa Desk, Deutsche Welle,

Usman Shehu - arbeitet in der Afrika-Redaktion der Deutschen Welle in Bonn. Der Journalist stammt aus Nigeria, wo er seine schulische Ausbildung und Studium absolvierte.

Usman Shehu - works in the Africa department of Deutsche Welle in Bonn. The journalist comes from Nigeria, where he completed his primary education and university studies.

Richard Khamis - freier Journalist und PR-Berater (a freelance journalist and PR consultant)

(deutsch, see english below) Richard Khamis – , freier Journalist und PR-Berater , stammt aus dem Süd-Sudan und hat zwischen 2006 und 2009 bei einem UNO-Radioprojekt in Juba mitgearbeitet. Er hat Englisch in Kairo und danach Journalistik in Deutschland studiert. Er arbeitet als Medien-Experte für UNO-Projekte.

Richard Khamis - a freelance journalist and PR consultant, comes from the southern Sudan and has been involved in a UN radio project in Juba between 2006 and 2009. He studied English in Cairo and then journalism in Germany. He works as a media expert for UN projects.

Highlights from 10. Africa Festival Düsseldorf Launch

We were there and here are the highlights:

Africa Festival Düsseldorf is organized  "Enije for Africa". The opening of the 10th Edition took place at the University of Dusseldorf on 07/25/2017. The Mayoress, Mrs Klaudia Zepuntke officially opened the events to this year's celebration: Art Exhibition at the University of Dusseldorf and Volkshochschule Dusseldorf, Kids Workshop, poetry and dance workshops, film exhibitions and a large stage Program from 08th to 09th Juli 2015

More about the events here: http: //www.afrikatage-düsseldorf.de/

10. Afrika Tage Düsseldorf - Eröffnet

Wir waren vorort und hier sind die Highlights:

Die Düsseldorfer Afrika Tage sind seit 10 Jahren von Enije for Africa e.V organisiert. Die Eröffnung des 10. Jubilaums fand am 25.07.2017 an der Universität Düsseldorf statt. Die Bürgermeisterin, Frau Klaudia Zepuntke öffnete offiziel die Events zu diesjähriger Feier: Kunstausstellung an der Uni Düsseldorf und Volkshochschule Düsseldorf, Kids Workshop, Poesie und Tanz Workshops, Filmausstellungen sowie ein großes Bühneprogram vom 08. bis 09.07 2015.
Mehr zu den Veranstaltungen hier: http://www.afrikatage-düsseldorf.de/

Leute und Pics - Afro Beauty Festival Cologne 2015

Szenen aus Afro Beauty Festival letzte Woche in Köln!

Scenes from Afro Beauty Festival last weekend in Cologne

Photo credits: afro beauty festival facebook

Poet and author Aunty Glo @ afro beauty festival koeln 

Carmen Brown performing and recording artist from Düsseldorf @ the festival 

See you next year!! 

Onita Boone - Jazz Singer and Songwriter

Oni, as her friends call her is a Cologne-based American singer and composer. Your name translated means "strong wind" and reflects her voice, will and life philosophy. In 2011 she convinced the audience and jury with her musical performance and resilience, during the final round "The Winner Is" on SAT.1 . She won the concluding vocal duel and could walk away with 100,000 euros. However with the words "No Guts, No Glory"she went for joker and took the public vote: a million euros or nothing. And she won!!! One could use those words to describe Oni, because it is this confidence in her own skills that has made her the extraordinary singer, she is today ...

She was born in New York. She sang her first solo at rhe age of 3, wrote her first song at 8 and made her first recording at 9. Despite her career as an architect, she kept her passion for music. She 's shared the stage with many famous artists like Patti LaBelle, Whitney Houston, Mariah Carey, George Michael, Jennifer Holliday, Stephanie Mills, Teddy Pendergrass, The Clark Sisters, Bill Cosby, Take Six, BeBe and CeCe Winans, Udo Jürgens, Nils Landgren, Faith No More und Jonathan Butler.


Onita live on Stage

Discographie:
Albums:  Onita 2012
EP und  Singles:  Free by Tatana feat. Onita Boone 2006 

See Onita live on the last Monday of the month at the VIP Lounge, Café Noa, Maastricht Str. 3, 50672 Köln

 

www.onitaboone.com 


Photos via Onita Boone Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/BooneOnita?fref=ts 

Rosa Keyla Dude - Friseurin, Kosmetikerin - Mein Fernster ins Afro-Latino Deutschland

Keyla ist eine Kosmetikerin und Friseurin aus der Dominikanischen Republik. Vor 6 Jahren zog sie mit ihrer Familie nach Deutschland. Eine Mutter von drei Kindern (sieht immer noch wie 21 aus) und stolze Besitzerin von Keyla Fashion. Als Eventveranstalterin ist sie sehr aktiv in der Afro-Latino Gemeinde in Deutschland.

   Mit Linda Asamoah und Keyla bei Face of Africa Germany. 

Mein erster Kontakt zu Keyla war im April 2014 beim Schönheitswettbewerb „Face of Africa Germany“. Sie war im Beauty-Team und ich war Jurymitglied.

Monate später beschloss ich meinen Friseur zu ändern und brauchte ein Profi, der sich mit Afrohaar auskennt. Keyla wurde mir empfohlen.

Sie gab mir einen exklusiven ersten Termin: ich war der einzige Kunde für den Tag, damit genug Zeit sich auf mich zu konzentrieren. Mit dem Endprodukt war ich natürlich sehr zufrieden.

Verwöhnt von Keyla Fashion

Noch mehr beeindruckend ist die Atmosphäre in Keyla Afro-Latino Salon, wie Ich in folgenden Termine erfuhr. Es öffnet sich ein Fenster ins Afro-Latino Deutschland. Frisieren zu Latino-Charts inmitten einer fröhlichen und lebhaften freundliche Crew. Zum ersten Mal traf ich Frauen aus der Dominikanischen Republik, Kuba, Venezuela, etc. die in Deutschland leben. Ich lernte ein paar Schritte Bachata, Salsa und Merengue. Ich genoss Gerichte aus der Dominikanischen Republik; Sie schmecken ähnlich wie in Westafrika. Mein Spanisch ist noch sehr rudimentär, aber die Motivation spanisch zu lernen wurde erweckt.

Keyla bei der Arbeit 

Ich gewann einen Einblick in die Demografie der Afro-Latino Deutschland durch meine Interaktion mit diesen schönen Menschen.

Keyla und Freundinnen @ an Afro-Latino Night in Deutschland

Schade dass ich sie völlig in meinen bisherigen Beiträge nicht hatte. Afrika ist ein Kontinent mit facettenreichen Nachkommen in jeder Ecke der Welt. Und Afro Latino Deutschland ist ein Teil dieser schönen Vielfalt.

Danke Keyla.

Keyla Fashion Afro Latino Salon

Ribbeckstr 48, 45127 Essen. 

Tel: 0201-42968639 

Keylafashion@hotmail.com

www. Facebook.com/KeylaFashion

#afrolatino #afroeurope #afrodeutsch #beauty #hair #salon

Onita Boone - Jazz Künstlerin

Oni, wie ihre Freunde sie nennen ist eine in Köln lebende amerikanische Sängerin und Komponistin. Ihr Name übersetzt bedeutet " starker Wind" und spiegelt ihre Stimme, Wille und Lebensphilosophie wieder. 2011 überzeugte sie mit Ihrer musikalischen Leistung und Nervenstärke das Publikum und die Jury  bis in die letzte Runde der TV Show "The Winner Is"  auf SAT.1 .Im letzten Gesangsduell dieser Endrunde schlug sie einen sicheren Geldbetrag von 100.000 Euro aus.Stattdessen entschied sie sich mit den Worten "no guts, no glory" ("Wer nicht wagt, der nicht gewinnt.") für die Publikumsbewertung, in der es um Alles oder Nichts, in Form eines Schecks im Wert von 1 Mio. Euro ging – und gewann! Man könnte diese Worte zu ihrem Lebensmotto erheben, denn es ist auch dieses Vertrauen in ihr eigenes Können, das sie zu der außergewöhnlichen Sängerin gemacht hat, die sie heute ist...

Sie wurde in New York geboren. Im Alter von 3 Jahren sang sie ihr erstes Solo, schrieb ihren ersten Song mit 8 und machte ihre erste Aufnahme bereits mit 9.  Trozt ihrer Karriere als Architektin,  blieb ihre Leidenschaft für Musik. Ihre Musikkarriere setzte sie fort. Sie stand bereits mit vielen bekannten Namen auf der Bühne wie  Patti LaBelle, Whitney Houston, Mariah Carey, George Michael, Jennifer Holliday, Stephanie Mills, Teddy Pendergrass, The Clark Sisters, Bill Cosby, Take Six, BeBe and CeCe Winans, Udo Jürgens, Nils Landgren, Faith No More und Jonathan Butler. 

Onita live auf der Bühne

Discographie:
Albums:  Onita 2012
EP und  Singles:  Free by Tatana feat. Onita Boone 2006 

Sie ist am letzten Montag im Monat in der VIP Lounge, Café Noa, Maastrichter Str. 3, 50672 Köln live zu erleben. 
www.onitaboone.com 

Fotos via Onita Boone Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/BooneOnita?fref=ts 

FashNeting @ BERLIN FASHION WEEK with Maischna Magazine and Coko Diamond

It's Berlin Fashion Week again from 6. - 10. July 2015 and this time I am looking forward to fashneting. Yep! FASHNET is the new verb on the block. Conjoined from FASHion and NETwork, no two women give it more phenomenal meaning than Coko Diamond and Tonia. One a designer and CEO of Presema Fashion www.presema.com and the other the brain behind and CEO of Maischna Fashion and Lifestyle Magazine www.maischna.de. Both of them are self-made successful African women living in Germany.  Together they will be putting up a networking and entertainment event during the Berlin Fashion Week called "FASHNET". 
Asked about their motive, this is what they say " We are seeking to enhance visibility and inter-business networking between participants; fashNet -also aspires to promote social collaboration between these ambitious fashion artists and the audience by setting up a spectacular show with a high entertainment factor in a fun, fashionable but productive networking setting." 
.. 

  "The event will be graced by different fashion shows accompanied by musical entertainment. Each fashion show will throw a limelight on the skills and talents by various aspiring artists, giving each artist the opportunity to present their work of art at the end of the show to the public"

I'm looking forward to meeting independent designers, models, stylists, photographers, make-up artists, fashion bloggers, singers, instrumentalist, DJs and comedians at this event. Everything between the designer and the final product, so to speak.
 (phot0 credit: African Fashion Day and PG)
 Fashion and Entertainment is a powerful duo ...same can be said for Coko Diamond and  Maischna Magazine.
 
It's all about Fashion, Networking and Entertainment!

Get your tickets for this event and ..see you in Berlin on July 7th 2015.

.It's  Berlin Fashion Week Baby!!

Program

• 6:00 pm: Doors Open for Galerie View, Drinks, Snacks and Networking
• 6:15 pm: Opening performance
• 6:30 pm: Official opening and launching of fashNet
• 7:00 pm: Show #1 
• 7:15 pm: Entertainment / Musical performance
• 7:45 pm: Show #2 
• 8:00 pm: Entertainment / Musical performance
• 8:30 pm: Show #3 
• 8:45 pm: Awarding the face of preSema 2015
• 9:00 pm: Networking, Fashion, Fun and More
  

Venue: 
The fashNet launch event will take place on the 10.07.2015 at Haus Ungarn Karl-Liebknechtstrasse 9 10178 Berlin Germany 

Link: http://fashnet.cokodiamond.com/the-show

 

Rosa Keyla Dudde of Keyla Fashion - my window to Afro-Latino Germany

Keyla is a beautician and hairdresser from the Dominican Republic. She moved to Germany about 6yrs ago, has three kids (and still looks 21) and is the proud owner of Keyla Fashion. She is also an event organizer and very active in the Afro- Latino community in Germany. 

   With Linda Asamoah and Keyla at Face of Africa Germany. 

 I first met her in April 2014 at Face of Africa Germany Beauty Pageant. She was on the beauty team and I was a member of jury. 

Months later I decided to do a perm after ten years of being a naturalista. I needed a professional who could handle afro hair. A friend recommended her. I gave her a call and found out we only live a few minutes apart.

She gave me an exclusive first appointment: I was the only client for the day, thus enough time for her to concentrate on me. I need not say I was satisfied with the final product. 

Spoiled by Keyla Fashion

More impressive is the atmosphere in Keyla Afro-Latino Salon. It opens a window into Afro-Latino Germany. Hairdressing to Latino Charts amidst a joyous friendly and vibrant crew. For the first time I met women from the Dominican Republic, Cuba, Venezuela etc living in Germany. I learned a few  bachata steps, salsa and merengue moves. I savored meals from the Dominican Republic; they taste like what I know from West Africa. My Spanish is still very rudimentary, but the motivation to learn has been awaken.

Keyla @ work 

I now have a glimpse of the demographics of Afro-Latino Germany through my interaction with these beautiful people. 

Keyla and friends @ an Afro-Latino Night in Germany

Its a shame I completely left them out in my previous posts. Africa is a multifaceted continent with its descendants in every corner of the globe. And Afro- Latino Germany is a part of this beautiful diversity I now enjoy. Thank you Keyla. 

Keyla Fashion Afro Latino Salon

Ribbeckstr 48, 45127 Essen. 

Tel: 0201-423968639 

Keylafashion@hotmail.com

www. Facebook.com/KeylaFashion

#afrolatino #afroeurope #afrodeutsch #beauty #hair #salon

Brian Yeboah - An Inspirator: Creating Awareness on Sickel Cell Disease

Brian has touched more lives with his personal story and awareness on sickle cell disease than many health professionals. He is a regular and often the youngest guest (that's if he doesn't drag Brenda, his younger sister along) at the annual CAMFOMEDICS conference and other health education forums.

Brian lives with sickle cell disease, a much stigmatized condition in many African settings. Regular blood transfusions, days in hospital fighting one infection after the other and bone marrow transplant are all normalities in his life. His very reassuring smile, brilliant spirit and forever grateful heart outweigh his condition. Despite his challenges he achieves good grades in school.

Brian uses his story to educate his immediate community and fight the stigma surrounding sickle cell disease. The support he receives from his family, friends, school and neighbourhood is amazing. I did an interview for Ask Docta! with his mum on this subject some months back, whereby Brian was the man behind the camera.
Little did I know that a few weeks thereafter he and his mum will be recognised for their advocacy in our community by none other than his excellency Horst Köhler, the former German president.

Brian is such an inspiration to me and many others..
Ride on Brain..You Rock!!