The Love Mantra | Iyadede

Just released is this video of The Love Mantra from Iyadede's EP, The Demo.

Written and performed by Iyadede
Produced by Blessoill
Directed & edited by Sam Kessie

Photography | The late Seydou Keita

Seydou Keita was a self-taught artisan photographer who specialized in portraits. Born in Bamako, Mali where he worked, Seydou Keita attracted the attention of many clients who enjoyed his aesthetic appeal. Seydou often kept accessories like chic clothing, hats, a bicycle, radio, flowers and scooter his studio, which his customers could use in their portraits. Today Seydou Keita's photographs serve as a record of Malian society between late 1940s and 1977. The exuberance of grace and elegance in each of his pictures are characteristic of his style and distinguish his work. 

 Photos via. 

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Where Children Sleep by James Morrison

Photography by Andrew Tshabangu

Typography Inspiration

       

 

From left to right:

Moulin Rouge Paris

Austin Eastciders

Eiron by Andreas Neophytou

My Brushstrokes... by Erik Marinovich

An Oversimplification of Her Beauty | Short Film by Terence Nance

Terence Nance's creative debut feature, documents the relationship between Terence and a lovely young woman (Namik Minter) as it teeters on the divide between platonic and romantic. Utilizing a tapestry of live action and various styles of animation, Terence explores the fantasies, emotions, and memories that race through his mind during a singular moment in time. 

Watch the film trailer here:

The film will premier in the New Frontiers section of the 2012 Sundance Film Festival. 

**Update: The film has been an official selection for numerous film festivals including the 2012 Sundance Film Festival, the Portugal Underground Film Festival, and the 2012 Santa Barbara International Film Festival.

Summer Shakespeare | Drama Workshops for Youth

Summer Shakespeare is a series of free Shakespeare-themed events geared towards young people in Accra. The program is performance-based and consists of an acting workshop and a reading series. This workshop is currently supported by the Nubuke Foundation, and will take place at the Foundation’s premises at East Legon, a suburb of Accra. The reading series will focus on Shakespeare’s nondramatic poetry and excerpts from his minor epic poems. In order to keep this program free and accessible for the general population of youth in Accra, Summer Shakespeare is fundraising to cover costs.

Check them out on Facebook or on the homepage to find out more about how you can help.

Esperanza Spalding ft. Algebra Blessett | Black Gold

Above is the music video to Black Gold, the beautiful result of a brilliant musical collaboration between Algebra Blessett and Esperanza Spalding. As an avid listener of jazz and both artists, I appreciate this song for both its musical creativity and its positive meaningful message. We need more music like this. Hope you've had a great week and have a lovely weekend!

-Auburn Butterfly

Stamp Artwork | Birds

A set of 1959 Czechoslovakian postage stamps designed by Karel Svolinsky 

and engraved by Jirka Ladislav. via Letterology

Norah Jones | Travelin' On

Design Inspiration | Vintage Jazz Album Covers

 

 

 

 

 

A collection of creatively designed vintage jazz album covers by Dynamic Directional Stereo. I'm intrigued by the minimalistic focus on bold shapes and colours because each cover has a simple appearance but really conveys a strong visual message.  Images via Projectthirtythree

Mixtape | The Jungle Book Beat Tape

Ghanaian DJ Juls (@djayjuls) presents the Jungle Book Beat Tape, a concept developed with his brother (@jayenayy) who created the album artwork. I love the boom bap sound mixed with soul, jazzy, and afrobeat themes. The tape also has humorous bits and is great for an evening working or a relaxing time with friends. DJ Juls has worked with Ghanaian artists Mensa, M.anifest, Mutombo, Yaa Pono, and Efya among others. 

Click here for a free download of the mixtape.

Lara Harwood | Rhyme + Reason

Rhyme + Reason: A collection of colourful block-themed artwork by Lara Harwood

Christie Brown | Lookbook 2012

A mesmerizing elegantly designed collection from Christie Brown's current lookbook.

Swaziland | MTN Bushfire Festival

MTN Bushfire presents its annual internationally acclaimed music and arts festival, held at House on Fire. This year's lineup of featured artists include Ayo, Flavia Coelho, Saul Williams, and Bholoja.

Each year, the three-day festival attracts an audience of about 20 000 people who participate in the festivities featuring live music, theatre, poetry, film, dance and visual arts from around the globe. At the core of the festival, is a commitment to inspiring and developing the Swazi arts and cultural scene, while raising awareness and funds to tackle the most pressing social needs in Swaziland.

 The festival will take place from May 25 - 27, 2012. Visit Bushfire online for tickets and more information.

Slate | The Story Behind "Tribal" Prints

The incorporation of African prints into fashion designs has been quite the trend, with appearances in the recent collections of L.A.M.B., H&M, and Burberry Prorsum among others. As explained in a well-written article on Slate, these prints may not be as authentically African as most would think. 

...In the Dutch East Indies (now Indonesia), locals used the technique of wax-resist dying to make batik...Not only were the original industrially produced Dutch wax prints copies of Indonesian designs, they also were influenced by Indian-inspired British designs... 

...Europeans tried to manufacture their own versions of batik, with the intention of flooding the market in Indonesia with cheaper, machine-made versions of the cloths but this was unsuccessful... As Europeans began to sell this cloth, in West Africa—largely to women, both rich and poor, who regarded it as a marker of status—West African tastes shaped the evolving designs...   

...The biggest threat to Vlisco’s hold on the market today comes not from high-fashion designers, but from Chinese copycats, who since the ’90s have been using digital photographs to produce cheap copies of European designs to sell in West Africa... But for those who have been priced out of the Vlisco market, the Chinese offer a welcome alternative...

Read the full article on the story behind "tribal" prints over at Slate.

Also have a look at Yinka Shonibare's artwork, to discover his artistic exploration of the history of these prints which he describes as an artificial construct.

A - Z Archipelago Indonesian Type

Winner of the Indonesian Graphic Design Award in Typography, this font was created after 10 years of research and the labour of more than 5 graphic designers. Each ornament represents a social purpose and consists of carefully selected symbols from the Indonesian heritage and tradition. For more visit dgi.

Yuna

Malaysian singer-songwriter Yuna has a lovely soft, warm style which I really enjoy. To find out more about her story and her upcoming shows, visit her official website.

Tata Naka | Fall 2012

 

  

Tata Naka's African Inspired Collection at London Fashion Week - Fall 2012