Euro-African Life in Namibia

The evening of Friday, 2nd August 2013 , is the day of  'Africa's Finest Fashion Renaissance' . The venue is Hotel Thuringerhof, Independence Avenue, Windhoek, and the aim is to showcase Namibia's best designers. The British-based Namibian designer, Mrs. Eva Miarka (pictured below), can be contacted on eva.miarka@gmail.com for more information and will also showcase her range. Tickets are available at the following rates: Early Bird = N$ 150.00 , Standard Entry = N$ 200.00 and VIP = N$ 300.00.  The beneficiary of the first ever Africa's Finest Fashion Renaissance is NEKA (Namibian Exile Kids Association) and entertainment will be provided by Namibian musicians Marvin Sanzila, Tunakie and Sunny Boy.  I'm looking forward to seeing strong Euro-African flavours , getting much-needed inspiration and therefore reserved a VIP seat for my camera and I. For more information and to reserve your ticket for what promises to be an exciting evening, please con...

‘Optimist’: An Exhibition by Papa Shikongeni Ndasuunje Shikongeni, who is popularly known as “Papa”, is a Namibian internationally recognized visual artist; he is also storyteller, spiritual believer and leader in Namibia’s post-independence arts education and culture. In his visual arts, Shikongeni has worked extensively in wood and paper mache sculpture and pioneered novel techniques in printmaking by using cardboard, painting, ink on paper and linoleum, he is also created with the innovation zips technique stretched on frame. In the past decade, Shikongeni’s works, which depicting different aspects of Namibian culture and traditions, have been showcased around the world. Since the early 1990s, Shikongeni has hosted 16 solo exhibitions and over 40 group exhibition in countries including, Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, South Africa, Kenya, Zimbabwe, Eritrea, Uganda, Burundi, Zambia, London, The UK, Germany, Russia and Norway. Shikongeni has also lectured at John Mauf...

So, Tuesday is defined as the day after Monday and the day before Wednesday, hope that makes sense. Monday is the first day of the week and Wednesday, the middle of the week...working week, that is. Today, Tuesday, started with a cold, sharp wind thumping rudely against the decent windows and doors of respectable houses in Windhoek. It started last night and by this morning, it was thoroughly prepared to blow us into our polo necks, long-sleeved jerseys, vests, knee-high boots and double decitex pantihose . It was really cold in Windhoek this morning! I'm warmly dressed today; wearing almost my entire winter wardrobe all at once, in an effort to remain warm. I have all of the aforementioned except for a knitted beannie on my head. Taking a look around Windhoek, and especially visitors to  Wernhil Park Shopping Centre, it appears I may be one of the few people struggling to endure the chilly wind. 'Ninja' (pictured above) looked light, airy and almost summery in t...

Namibia Diamond Trading Company (NDTC) is a 50/50 joint-venture between the Republic of Namibia and DTC (Diamond Trading Company), the mining and sorting arm of DeBeers; and I trust we all know by now (we should, at least) diamond mining is the most prominent industrial activity in Namibia. I'm not sure about you, dear reader, but seeing Namibian diamonds in any setting makes my head spin and my pulse race. I LOVE diamonds! I don't just love them because they're 100% local and a premium product, but diamonds really 'pop' my particular skin tone, especially when they are in my ears, close to my eyes (take note). And I've come to this conclusion purely through trial and error ; testing and fitting hundreds of ear adornments in the search for that special precious gem to compliment my skin tone. In February of 2013, NDTC launched the 3rd annual Shining Light Awards Diamond Jewellery Collection, and the theme this year was 'Woman of Africa, Your Light Shine...

This (pictured above) is a colour-themed corner of the NAMCRAFTS shop in Maerua Mall, Windhoek, where, I've been tipped, it is possible to find if not the best, really great, Namibian-made COCKTAIL rings. I have a pet peeve and they're everywhere at the moment, turning up like spoilsports at every decent event, like dust in my eye on a windy day in Windhoek, so are cheap, garish, made-in-China, plastic cocktail rings worn casually and without a hint of shame in and around our lovely African city. What a pity. I decided there must be a good, well-made, genuine Namibian alternative to these plastic horrors. Asking a few trendy and fashionable folks, listening to a few words of advice from my hairdresser, it wasn't long before I was directed to the NAMCRAFTS outlet in Maerua Mall. And what I found, was worth the effort... On dun coloured cushions in the store, are a selection of almost 100 great pieces, all unique and handmade ( 100% Namibian ). Sea-shells, bo...

Sundays in Windhoek, as any resident will know, are very relaxed. I mean, here in Namibia, we take 'relaxed' to a whole new level, as many a tourist can testify. If you're not relaxed in Namibia, there's something wrong with you. On Sundays, many residents attend church in the morning and then amble into different directions afterwards, perhaps to enjoy breakfast with the family or pop over to the mall for a bit of shopping and pick up a few items for the coming week. Cool, trendy couple, Harry and Kaylin , were spotted in the underground parking of Maerua Mall, early this morning, on their way to do a bit of shopping. Harry sporting a Giorgio Armani t-shirt, tribal tattoo, and Kaylin in a grey cowl beanie and sheer sleeveless shirt, over a red camisole.You guys looked super! Later, after a quick brekkie (breakfast) at the Craft Cafe , I ran into these friends, on their way into the Namibia Craft Centre to pick up a few gifts. They were a bit shy to give the...

On a whim some time ago, while on annual leave, I decided to visit Ibenstein Weavers in Dordabis. My car is not exactly suited for off-road driving but I'd made up my mind to go and see this magical place. On the B6 towards Hosea Kutako International Airport, you'll find the turn for Dordabis (C23), a charming farm settlement, with a genuine white sand road (typical of the rural Namibian landscape) running in a lovely bend through the settlement, tall and old camel-thorn trees (indigenous acacias) arching over it on both sides. That's not all...a 2-track slip road up a small incline brings the visitor to the neat and tidy production plant of 100% Namibian, natural fabrics and carpets, Ibenstein Weavers . I was shown around the facility by Wolfgang Ramdohr , including a holding area for the range of beautiful locally-spun linen . No kidding, next time you consider a linen suit , or skirt, look no further than Ibenstein Weavers. The looms are set slightly larger a...

'The Stone', aka Sharon, of ' Basic Instinct' , yes, THAT movie, the same (cough) leg-crossing scene we'll never forget, and of course, for her unforgettable portrayal of 'Ginger' in the critically acclaimed Scorsese film, Casino , (one of my favourite movies of all time, watched it 8 or 9 times, no joke) was recently spotted in Paris, looking fabulous as usual, and 'going AFRICAN' . Sharon is a gorgeous woman, and at 55 she still has presence, charisma, charm and her signature good looks. She is also well-proportioned and I'm still wondering what the latest furore is about... she isn't wearing a bra , in Paris, her breasts look great though and it must have been a chilly day, so...why's everyone tut-tutting and pursing their mouths at Sharon going 'African' ? Well, apparently, going  bra-less in Europe, or a Western country, in this particular manner, and having perfectly natural nipples-stands to top it all, is not c...

The island of Ibiza in the Mediterranean Sea is famous for its exciting nightlife, as a spectacular holiday destination and the curious fact that no one, not even the authorities, knows how many people actually live there. That aside, Ibiza is a premier Summer holiday destination for tourists from all over the world and large parts of the island are registered as UNESCO World Heritage Sites. That's the 'about'... The island of Ibiza is also the home of Namibian artist and designer, Zsa-Zsa Maasdorp, and her fantastic range of uniquely ethnic leisure wear, Ethnic Zsa-Zsa: The Zennith Project . Zsa-Zsa moved to Spain for love, a few years ago. We lost touch, reconnected on Facebook and great was my pleasure to see this Namibian beauty is now the proud mother of a beautiful boy, an artist and designer. I absolutely LOVE Zsa-Zsa's style! Sensual, quirky and sensitive, Ethnic Zsa-Zsa is a reflection of the fine hand of the artist behind it, and a handmade label...

The Namibia Craft Centre ...did I say I love it? Handmade gifts, decor, jewelry and clothing at the craft centre are 100% Namibian, special and unique. I've never been to the craft centre and went away without something. And most of the items at the craft centre are at the top of my Christmas wish list. In the Hilda List Loft, upstairs, I found these gorgeous cushions made from Nguni cattle, springbok and goat hides. The natural hides are my favourites, beautiful as they naturally are, and there are coloured variations, as well. Get yourself these beautifully made and carefully stitched cushions (see picture below) for your favourite couch. Down the stairs towards Nucleus Gym and the courtyard at the back of the old Breweries complex, you'll find tucked away in a corner, two Namibian women, Petra and Angelica , who make handmade light fixtures. People, the stuff looks great. I had to have one. Petra made me a circular light fixture, grey in colour, covered with gauze ...

Dean and Dan Caten are identical twin brothers, fashion designers and owners of international fashion house, DSQUARED2 . They were born in Toronto, Canada, in 1964, and moved to New York in 1983 to study fashion at the world-famous Parsons School of Design. In 1991, they moved to Milan, Italy, worked as designers at Gianni Versace and the denim brand, Diesel. The first DSQUARED2 shop openend in Milan in 2007. They also designed the new official uniform of Italian soccer team, Juventus, in 2006. Known as the ' Horrors ' and for staging elaborate fashion shows, no one does bling accessories like DSQUARED2. And I mean it, no one. Elaborate and OTT (over the top) don't come close to describing how great costume jewelry can look if properly accessorised for a genuine avant garde evening at Namibian hot spots.   For inspiration and to view their latest collections, visit  http://www.dsquared2.com/  . With stores in Athens, Capri, Isanbul, Kiev, Cannes, Singa...

The NAFTAs (Namibian Film & Theatre Awards) were held at the NTN (National Theatre of Namibia) in November last year. This is a bi-annual event, held every 2 years with the aim to recognise and honour film and theatre practitioners in Namibia. Tickets were sold out a week in advance as it is genuinely THE event to attend on the local social calendar. Ensure your tickets are bought in time, to avoid disappointment. A well organised PR campaign informed the public about the event, the nominees and the evening was made extra special with a red carpet for invited guests. I still can't forget Tanya Turipamwe Stroh 's  amazing outfit. It's a stroke of artistic genius. Nothing was out of place, everything was perfect (see below) and she even made for a perfect picture. Red lipstick, matching red nails, a beautiful traditional necklace, cropped black jacket and then THAT dress...lime yellow, perfectly fitted and perfectly constructed made for a stunning combination of Euro...

If you were born in Namibia, you'll be acutely aware of the sun in Namibia . You can't miss it. Sunlight in our country is a given, unavoidable and pervasive. It's great especially if you have a lot of laundry. We're used to it, sometimes can't stand it, happy when it's cloudy, thrilled when it's raining but subconsciously, Namibians love their sun. It's also on our flag...the sun. And as countless tourist websites have proclaimed, we live in a sunny country. Winter is our dry, cold season. Cold in the morning and evenings, the day always heats up around 10:00 in the morning and cools sharply after 15:00, in winter. One thing we're blessed with is a sunny winter. So, tonnes of good Vitamin D all year round, available right here in sunny Namibia! For free! The sun, we all know by now, is not always healthy. Well, actually, I was taught that too much of a good thing is never healthy. The trick is moderation, apparently. That said, I spotted t...

Opposite the Natis offices in Tal Street, Windhoek central, is the old Breweries complex, home of the Namibia Craft Centre . By now, in this year of our lord 2013, every living and breathing Windhoeker should know of and where the 'craft centre' is located. And what is available at the 'craft centre'. I mean, it's our duty as to visit the craft centre as often as possible and support Namibian crafters. We love the Namibia Craft Centre; it's a landmark, almost an institution and Windhoek wouldn't be the same without it. If ever a place deserved a regular visit and your extra dollars of disposable income, the craft centre is one such place. Pity the current construction projects around the craft centre and shortage of parking makes for a difficult visit. If you're fortunate enough to get parking inside the complex, go up the stairs to the Ekipa stall and have a look at handmade accessories guaranteed to brighten your day. Why I love shopping at...

Kelly Osbourne, as a public persona, was an awkward teenager, painfully self-conscious, as we all were at her age, and uncomfortable with her body. She wasn't skinny when we got to know her, starved herself at one point, and had her fair share of personal issues. One thing Kelly has done right, all the time and consistently, is embrace and respect her personal style. Kelly bloomed into a beautiful, smiling flower and in keeping with her personal style, is currently sporting a LILAC hair colour and guess what, she's 'killing' it. She really looks great! Traditional synthetic hair colours are closer to the normal range of colours found on human heads. Blue black, black, a huge variety of browns, reds and another variety of blondes. Blue black and acrylic reds appeared on Namibian shelves approximately 7 years ago (loved by Goths and so-called Goths) but to date, no lilacs, pinks or greens. I remember accidentally leaving a colour in for longer than the stipulated ti...

Barbados-born, American singer, Rihanna shocked shoppers in a Monte Carlo mall recently when she appeared dressed in what appears to be a swimming costume and a lacy shirt...with thongs! The paparazzi had a field day. Curious shoppers pulled out their smartphones and captured her image as she visited shops. Rihanna always pushed at the boundaries of society and her latest stint proves no different. She appeared casual and relaxed, enjoying the attention and went about her trip to the mall as any normal woman would...with her bag in hand. I think Rihanna deliberately wanted to show off her toned body ergo the trip to the mall, a very public and crowded place. She could have chosen to remain on the yacht where her costume wouldn't have raised any eyebrows or caused an outcry. She looks great and certainly has loads of self-confidence. I can imagine Inspector General of the Namibian Police, Sebastian Ndeitunga , becoming epileptic with rage should it be reported Rihan...

When ancient Mesopotamian women crushed gemstones to decorate their lips, they started a cosmetic fashion trend we follow to this very day: applying lipstick . In medieval Europe, lipstick was banned by the Church and basically, applying cosmetics was reserved for 'prostitutes'. Today, the use of cosmetics and lipstick in particular, is still frowned upon in certain sections of social groupings in Namibia, especially by those who support the values of a (unequal) patriarchal society. In general, Namibian women have embraced lipstick and love using it! Isn't it just the perfect finishing touch? Fast-forward to 2013 and every decent, working woman has her favourite brand or colour of lipstick...somewhere, in her bag, or on the dressing table...somewhere. Lipstick is a safe and beneficial product today, unlike that of the ancient Egyptians who became ill after applying their particular teint. Today, we're fortunate and spoilt for choice when it comes to choosing which ...

A hot snippet of GOSSIP just floated into my ear and it has to do with bathroom slippers, of all things! There's apparently a slew of women in our public service, commonly know as 'Government' offices (GRN), or female public servants, who think it's fine to wear their bathroom slippers in THE OFFICE! My source indicates that some supervisors are at their wits' end to find ways to address the matter. The women apparently arrive at work dressed properly, wearing formal shoes with pantihose, and not a little while later, remove their shoes and slip into bathroom SLIPPERS! The latter are then worn throughout the day in the office. The female public servants also appear unfazed by a stipulated dress code, in other words, dress professionally at all times. This is scandalous! You may look fabulous in a pair of flip flops, plakkies, tekkies and bathroom slippers at home but these are definitely not suitable for the workplace. Any ambitious woman knows that wearin...

In the lower gallery of the NAGN (National Art Gallery of Namibia), genuinely my favourite part of NAGN because it looks and feels like a modern art gallery (great lighting included), artworks are currently on display as part of the AVAMP Graphic Art exhibition. The AVAMP exhibition (July 2013 - February 2014) in association with the Arts Association Heritage Trust, is truly a great collection of carefully selected fine works of art. Below are two images of an artwork on display by artist Jo Rogge, and it caught my eye immediately, from across the room. Each artwork is properly labeled with a short bio of the artist. The AVAMP exhibition opened on the evening of the 18th of July in the lower gallery and the enthusiasm  of NAGN director, Hercules Viljoen, was infectious. As usual, Hercules was impeccably dressed in a cotton shirt, tailored jacket, formal trousers and shoes. Standing in the centre of the lower gallery, surrounded by arresting pieces of great art, Viljoen ...