Toyin Odutola's Pen

Last week, while on Tumblr, I stumbled across this amazing artist. I don't think I've ever seen anything like this before. There is so much details in her work, from the hues, to the lines, to the intricate hair details. It's not a painting and to me it's not exactly a drawing (It is). I will rather say she INKS. Her materials? Pen ink, marker and paper. Sounds simple right? Well, not really. In her work, the skin is no longer this flat, dull surface. She contours the skin amazingly well, giving you the impression the lines were calculated. She expresses Identity through the human physique.

Toyin Odutola, born in Nigeria, is a graduate of California College of Arts. This 28 year old recently had an exhibition titled, "My Country Has No Name" at the Jack Shainman Gallery in New York, where she currently lives and works. I so wish I was there. Looking forward to her next exhibitions, maybe the west coast will be graced by her work soon. Too much talent for adequate words. Let her work speak for itself. 

             
                    

So, which one is my favorite? None, I love them all. She has more on her Tumblr and on her website.

Tumblr: http://tobia.tumblr.com/ 

website:http://toyinodutola.com/ 

Jack Shainman Gallery images: http://www.jackshainman.com/artist-images79.html

VIBING ON: NTJAM ROSIE

Ntjam Rosie is a Dutch-based singer of Cameroonian descent who sings so eloquently from her soul. Her music intersects various sounds. If I may, it's like listening to Esperenza Spalding and Erykah Badu at the same time. I wanna say her style is Afro-jazzy-soul but no matter how you want to classify it, one certain thing is, it's definitely appealing to the ears and soul. If you love the two artists above, you should check her out.

  She has that calm soothing voice.

                                                       
P.S: I can't help but to love her afro and style! :)

YSWARA. It's tea time!

                                                                   YSWARA

YSWARA, Curator of precious African teas. Made in Africa for the world. Luxury products in Africa? It might sound so antagonistic at first given the image most people have of the continent, but a luxury product is more than a product. It's a dream, an imagination that goes into creating a product and the reflection of an identity through a piece. Because it is an identity and a dream, luxury has a market everywhere, Africa included.

 Swaady Martin-Leke is the Founder and CEO of YSWARA.

 It was Swaady's dream to capture true African luxury, change the world's perception of Africa and produce a luxury brand that is truly African in origin, nature and tradition. A brand that goes beyond the traditional ethnic crafts already available all over the world. A somehow face lift of the continent. The mission statement is so powerful. The creation of those products of very high quality, appealing both the local and global customer,  has a deeper meaning. It's a whole image she is marketing and selling. She is selling a dream, and for that, she deserves praises. It will take more people to reinvent the image of Africa to change, but it's one step at a time. We'll get there. With its 23 teas, all having an African name, either from a kingdom, a queen or a place; Blue Kivu, Makeda, Nandi...just to name a few, she realized her dream. 

It's tea time!

Like they say where am from: "O Bosso!" meaning, Keep Going.

I'll leave you with this quote:  

Tea is instant wisdom- just add water! ~Astrid Alauda

Few links to know more about YSWARA: 

http://www.yswara.com/

http://edition.cnn.com/video/data/2.0/video/business/2013/06/17/marketplace-africa-swaady-martin-leke.cnn.html