Friday, December 21, 2012
Wednesday, December 19, 2012
Tuesday, December 18, 2012
Monday, December 17, 2012
Tuesday, December 11, 2012
Thursday, December 6, 2012
Wednesday, December 5, 2012
Monday, December 3, 2012
Friday, November 30, 2012
Thursday, November 29, 2012
Wednesday, November 28, 2012
Xola X The Xilaman & Quest Maguire - My Backpack (Prod. by Envy The Loop Digger)
Finally they this project is starting to gain steam. Two of the hottest mcees in Cape Town, Xola X The Xilaman & Quest Maguire have come together to give us a hot collaborative project titled, The Adventures of Mr Maguire & The Xilaman.
Tuesday, November 27, 2012
Thursday, November 8, 2012
Tuesday, November 6, 2012
Now…we all know you don’t have to be an elite writer or columnist, or whatever the hek you aspire to be, or better yet, get asked by a mate to be a once-off freelancer for a new idea of hustling a magazine that might not even be published, to remain relevant in this demanding world we live in. I say this with all the niceness in me, which varies from time to time, based on my “how do I make today more significant than yesterday” moments or why I chose to wear a yellow t-shirt instead of a clown suit? Awkward moments consume even the best of us at times. But in this day and age, we channel all those “awkward moments” into something else and somehow let our weaves do the talking.
Yes, this could get ugly. Much like the awfully painful-looking weaves we make a part of our daily lives. It’s become a serious matter, an awkward cause for concern; because as young children, growing up, I’m pretty sure we were taught to surround ourselves with greatness. Or at least, that’s my hopefully accurate conclusion. And if we struggle to be amongst the best, we often resort to forcing notions of conforming and trying to perfect the almost impossible, which can be quite tricky. ‘Tricky’ could very easily lead to “tacky” and guess what, people who fall under that category really couldn’t care less.
That so-called “tacky” weave definitely tells a story about you, by the way, just in case you didn’t know, which often screams “cheap-ass, broke-ass, and skanky hood-rat”. These are the ‘kind’ words society has dubbed on their fellow African sisters. Funny, sad, but more realistically, true.
In the spirit of beauty, the weave fascination has become a sensation to many females world-wide. It has managed to blast our African female beauties at large lengths (excuse the pun. It really wasn’t intended. Well, maybe just a little bit) and more so, our black South African sisters at even greater magnitudes. Divas, hustlers, ghetto-barbies, ladies, honeys, babes and dolls all miraculously united in the weave war-front. Okay, maybe that was a little too dramatic, but in essence, each of these characters have their own perception about how to go about making their weave the best in S.A. It’s become a battle of judgment and prejudice confrontation, without saying a word. The weave does the talking.
Rock-hard, busted, ‘rotten’ hair has become popular, in a world of its own, believe it or not. More and more South African females are content with the tarnished brands they choose to consume and have somehow created their own niche in the weave hustle. Make no mistake, they know for a fact that they are indeed purchasing one of the worst products in their entire lives, but for the love of conforming to what they hope is the best, the doubt and painful regret becomes null and void. Strange people out there hey…
Then there’s the lavish, pretty, goal-orientated (which honestly isn’t as relevant as society makes it out to be when it comes to which weave brand they prefer) and sassy black South African woman are in a league and class of their own, apparently. Society has its way of creating labels for its fellow citizens and strangely enough, they accept those almost unnecessary yet awkwardly relevant attachments to define their amazing hair. Oh sorry, I mean…weave? Yes, that! My kindness tends to get slightly ‘retarded’ at times, so don’t mind me. Pardon instead.
From 8 inch to 24 inch pieces and packets of Indian and Brazilian human hair (literally), men are making wives out of these beautifully weaved-up divas. How refreshing is that? Err…rather arbitrary and corny, I’d say. The slick and sexy weave ends up becoming more worthy of mature daily life traditions and happenings than the actual purity and soulful spirit of a natural South African beauty. The things we do to be the greatest woman, is the story told by our weaves; Astonishing.
‘Afro’, what is that? ‘Natural’, who are you trying to insult? ‘Bald’, I refuse to be cast as an alien in my awesome circle of friends! ‘African’, I know who I am okay!? This is the reality we are scared to face. Man or woman, young or old. We live in a nation and society where we just let things slide. Makes people talk less. Show off more. It’s that weave that makes “them” real. Sure.
Nontombi "Mini" Mdlalo is a bubbly and charismatic young lady with a wit sharper than Debora Patta's nose. Mini is a lover of all things alternative. A marketing student who is truly passionate about her work.
Wednesday, August 1, 2012
With fashion styles being at the palm of our hands and a browse away, you can simply google Solange Knowles fashion diaries for Vogue and boom you are well on your way to looking stylish and turn a few heads for the day.
Eavesdropping on a conversation at Neighbourhood walking past two young girls with my cocktail special in my hand, “I’ve grown to like vintage clothes nowadays, it’s all I have been shopping for lately. Is that a vintage blouse on you too? I have something similar friend” and then they give each other an emphatic high-five. I composed myself back to my table withdrawing from purposely spilling one of my mojitos on their oh-so-Vintage blouse.
I’m not here to define what vintage is as I have better things to define but may I say there’s a big difference looking like you haven’t shopped since 1998 and wearing Vintage, I’m sure you get the picture.
I’ve lived in Cape Town most of my days here on this Earth and I’ve seen the giant leap of style and culture transformation just by mere observations. I remember the sad era of rasta/ soul sister/ female poets you call them whatever you want, they had their whole body covered and if you dare show some skin, at grapes and weren’t vegetarian you were shun upon, and where did that take them? no where. Fast forward to today, most of those “soul sisters” have come back to the light dragging in their weed-smoking habits, their skirts are shorter, their laugh is louder, and not forgetting their signature identity hair of dreadlocks is shaven off. This is a sad and insensitive truth I’m saying but someone had to say it. Then I asked myself, “would wearing Vintage just be an era too?
Excuse me two girls on the balcony of Neighbourhood I understand that wearing Vintage clothes makes you look stylish but could you please go back to your shopping habits of looking like the next girl, I’m sure Country Road and Woolworths are keen to have you back. Leave the Vintage markets and the dusty charity stores alone, do not try to be something that you are not or else I’ll ask the previous dead owner of that blouse to visit you in your sleep.
Siki Msuseni is a design student, a passionate blogger and an avid twitter head filled with opinion follow her @msuseni and follow her blog www.sikidesign.blogspot.com
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