A community-oriented art & graphic design collective. We make graphic apparel, hand-crafted accessories and produce events. And most importantly, spew randomness about important and non-important topics.

Tuesday, December 14, 2010

Onada Small Business Showcase ft. our Chichi

Our Chichi was featured on the blog of Onada - a wedding and lifestyle photographer with a love for all things fashionable.

"It's the last small business feature! I can't believe 2 months has flown by so quickly. For the last feature I'm showcasing Chichi of One3snapshot. Make sure you stop by her website to check out her work (and she has a really fun blog too)."
Read Feature

Like a Star....Like a Star...

This is the video I watch this week to lift up my spirits. Movement...my life

Friday, December 10, 2010

Visual Inspiration: More Earrings



Yes I'm on an earrings kick...don't judge me!
Find more here, email us (info[at]one3snapshot.com) for inquiries or place an order here

Monday, December 6, 2010

"Everybody is a Shining Star" Friday December 17th, 2010

Join us for a FREE family potluck event : bring a dish inspired by the year's theme “Shining Star”.

We will have food, games, raffles & prices, dance activities, live performances and DJs!

We will also have craft tables where you can make holiday gifts to give to friends and family members.

Get information and register for our upcoming classes and events.

Friday December 17, 2010
6:30-8:30pm
Good Samaritan Family Resource Center, 1294 Potrero Ave. (Potrero & 25th St.), San Francisco

See you there!

Why the hell did Janelle Monae Sign to Bad Boy?

Ever since I was in High School. Ever since Faith, Biggie, Mase, & 112 were rocking my MTV Video music screen. I've always thought that no one should be on the Bad Boy label. Yes...even then I thought that. Ever since we got confused about what dadiddypuffitypapadidi was calling himself at the moment. I thought no one should ever sign to the Bad Boy label.

Today, I hope Janelle has a trick card she's gonna be pulling out somewhere or maybe she doesn't really care about a sophomore album or a sustainable music career at all. *shrug* nehoo...

so I read this article the other day "Don't Sign With Diddy: A History of Bad Boy Fails" and I was like WHOA...someone finally wrote basically what I've known and felt strongly about all this time... Asides from missing listing "The Dream" (lol I used to jam to them "he loves me, he loves me not!")...they forgot to mention the real issue:

What bad boy artist actually DID make it and have some respectable career as a Bad Boy artist? That's the question.

Wednesday, December 1, 2010

ReVulvaLution! CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS

ReVulvaLution! recognize. shed. create
Recognizing womyn’s bodies are used as a battle ground,
Shedding oppressive perspectives and practices that currently exist,
Creating a space where womyn define themselves, claim their sexuality and exist freely.

CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS 
International Women's Day Event- MARCH 2011

Seeking performance (2-7minutes) and visual art: dance, music, spoken word, fine art, photography, theater, new media and multimedia. Pieces have to relate specifically to one of the themes listed above. Submissions of complete or works-in-progress will be considered.

For consideration please email Nkei Oruche nkei@locobloco.org with your:
  • Name/Email/Phone Number:
  • Company/Organization:
  • Art Discipline:
  • Length:
  • Detailed Description of Piece (70-200 words) & Work samples (images/audio/video):
Submission Deadline: December 20, 2010
 Sponsored by: The SAFE Place, ASI Women’s Center at SF State, Loco Bloco and Good Samaritan Family Resource Center

See Note on Facebook

Monday, November 29, 2010

Black Women, Hair and The Things we Do!

Lol! Just when I think I'll say no more on a particular topic I  get egged on. Well actually I have nothing to say yet... I'm still in contemplation mode. Maybe you do?

Monday, November 22, 2010

Don't Hate Me 'Cos I'm Beautiful


No I don't think anyone is less for whatever cosmetic & grooming situation they choose. Don't yuck my yum, I won't yuck yours. Some of my best friends are lace front wig wearers & sellers. Some of my best friends love the shit outta some make up. Sometimes I love both too.

On facebook a friend posted Keri Hilson's video for Pretty Girl Rock and I was pretty excited to see it because I think Keri may be pretty interesting. Starting out I thought the general concept of the video was pretty cool: vignettes'/timeline of different popular 'black' women in history rocking pretty. But then something felt off!  And the next thing I thought like my friend T and I say "Damn Beyonce ruined it for everyone"

I say this because although she was doing she was doing impersonations of Josephine Baker, Dorothy Dandridge, Lena Horne, Diana Ross, Donna Summers, Janet Jackson, and TLC: Somehow these days I just see a lot of females artists and I can't shake that they are all re-styled using the same beyonce template. Because beyonce has already copied EVERYTHING and EVERYONE that can be copied. Lol.

And then I thought: Wait most women in there looks like the same kinda woman!

There are SO many iconic women... can I see some others shades & body  & hair types? 

* sad face *

the Janet & TLC were cool!

p.s looks like Keri is pretty good dancer

Wednesday, November 17, 2010

Web Developers vs. Web Designers


Lol. The readership of this blog will forever be a #fail because of it's infinite ability to be actively random therefore not being consistent in interest to any one reader in particular. But alas here I find myself with another blog post. Screw you...it's funny as hell!

I found an infographic. it's funny. i'm blogging it. 3 reasons:

  1. being around an infographic'er and infographic maniac appreciator has made me a little more hip to its interest and be less and less afraid of it
  2. I have friends who are geeks and to whom this topic directly applies
  3. Last night I found myself at an UBER-geek party (don't ask) and I got asked "what i do?" in the sense of "what i geek?" and i was like "ummm okay you got me...I'm fake! I'm just here for the stimulating eye-glazing conversation of things that I generally don't know wtf is about. Can i play tetris on my phone now?" (okay I didn't really say that...and shit-talking aside...I had fun...really I did!)
Moving on: ok
Surrrreeeee here at www.one3snapshot.com we do graphic design and sometimes even dibble and dabble in web design. Sure I know Java is not just coffee, Perl is not my grandma's jewelry, drupal and joomla are not new cuss words, and SONIA is not a girl that he's cheating on me with. But does that make me qualified to hang out and party with a bunch of developers and programmers?

Yes! Why? Because they have free chips & salsa...and odwalla orange juice. And i have the ability to eat & drink, and do what i do best: Talk smack!

...all this to say...this post is dedicated to the 2.5 people in my life that will appreciate this and future geekcentered posts (there are more of these people but they won't read this blog post unless I re-write it in hexadecimal and create an open-source software based on it. And what's the likelihood I'm gonna do that?)
-Source



Monday, November 15, 2010

And the Saga Continues: Black Men + Black Women

 Still on Black Men & Black Women. Lol I found another video highlighting the dilemmas of our dating...still I say this is not just a race thing, but I can see how it would resound more with certain cultures of people. As funny as this video is, it is a serious issue that we have to keep talking about.

Wednesday, November 10, 2010

Visual Inspiration: Costumes & Mirrors



Oh... to have a bedroom with mirrors like that!

Source: Jak & Jill

Tuesday, November 9, 2010

Shop: Earring Explosion


We have earrings for sale starting at $5 a pop for bright, funky uniqueness! Check out our facebook album, and our online store to purchase. Right now we have only a couple in our store, but feel free to contact us if you see something that you like on our facebook album. Some earrings can be customized!

Vending: SF African Drum & Dance Festival


We will be in the house at the SAN FRANCISCO AFRICAN DANCE & DRUM FESTIVAL, with all the live drumming and high energy dancing, sharing the space with community artisans and vendors. This is one of the more exciting vending events we've done. If you are in the Bay Area stop by to get some freshly made goodness, will be kicking it with some friends who make all types of accessories and natural body products. Fun times!!

Veterans Day Weekend
Nov 10th, 11th, 12th, 13th, 14th, 2010
5 wonderful evenings of Dance, Drum, and Celebration
~Exquisite Music From Africa~

Monday, November 8, 2010

Four Colored Women who Love Colored Women

Four Women by Nina Simone is one of my all time favorites songs and sources of performance inspiration.

See my Woe-Man piece from Last March, inspired by my life, Nina Simone's Four Women & the Music of  Lhasa De Sela (My Name) who passed away from breast cancer while I was writing and choreographing this piece.


Now I just saw this youtube clip. Kelly Price, Marsha Ambrosius, Jill Scott & Ledisi -- Four Women - Black Girls Rock! 2010 I got goose bumps, hairs standing on end. I love black women, I love WOMEN of all colors from everywhere forever and ever.


Another goose bump inducing piece from one of my Favorite Choreographers Adia Whitaker, who has a show AMPEY! premiering this week that everyone should go and see if you're in the Bay Area for the next three weekends.


“Ampey!” is a multidisciplinary theater, music and dance piece that explores the spiritual, emotional and physical disconnect between African-Americans and Continental Africans. Choreographed and written by performance artist Adia Tamar Whitaker, “Ampey!” breaks open the paradigms that each culture grasps onto in regards to identity and social construct.

Thursday, November 4, 2010

iPhone vs. Android vs. BlackBerry

This is so hilarious to me. As a non-smart phone user I'm glad someone is in the same wavelength of thinking. *snicker*

This is how smartphone users see each other:
And this is how smartphone users see 2G users...

TRENDS "The Retro Fitted Episode" Saturday, November 13

ERA Art Bar & Lounge Presents TRENDS
Saturday, November 13
Era Art Bar.
19, W.Grand Ave (Uptown)
Oakland, CA

Trends is designed to celebrated Bay Area Fashion innovators in a beautiful atmosphere with dynamic and inspired people, as you partake in a night of fashion, art, and good music.

This episode is titled "The Retro Fitted Episode"
... 
Featuring the fashion of Nneka Clothing. Music by  DJ Hector (Voted best DJ in the East Bay)... Spinning your favorite R&B, Soul, Hiphop, Dancehall Reggae, World music, Soulful House.

We invite all party people, fashionistas, designers, photographer, models, makeup artists, hair stylist, art lovers... Come enjoy art, fashion, cocktails, and fantastic music as we celebrate Bay area fashion TRENDS!!!

Dress Code: Choose your decade/era, be creative, mix and match the old with the new.

$10 at the door Free before 10pm.
For half off, admission, follow this link, use promo code "kola" http://oaklandera.com/era/membernew.php and follow the simple instructions

This is a 21 & over event and is security enforced.

Wednesday, November 3, 2010

Visual Inspiration: Earrings




I used to only wear hoop earrings but now I pay attention to unusual earrings and accessories.
Maybe it's because Nkei makes really gorgeous earrings. Each time I wear any of mine, I always get compliments. Because they are unusual and beautiful!

Source: Free People Rebellion

Monday, November 1, 2010

Why Should I Vote? What Should I Vote for?!!!

Vote Vote Vote Vote Vote Vote?
http://prop23.dirtyenergymoney.com/
How many flyers and door knocks have you received regarding who you should vote for? Wouldn't it be cool if only all the million and billions that were spent on campaigns materials and candidate promotion would be spent on the actual funding of the issues at hand? Like you know actually spent on healthcare and education rather than talking about it?

Californians, what are all these propositions about? I don't understand them because all the flyers I see just use scare tactics and dramatic quotes while yet not telling me exactly what I'm supposed to be deciding on.

Just a few

Prop 23 the BIG ONE: huge and historic battle brewing in California. If passed would suspend the California Global Warming Act of 2006 (AB 32) which requires that greenhouse gas emissions in the state be cut to 1990 levels by 2020.

WTF?


Why are all the dirty gas, oil & companies companies heavily funding this proposition to pass?

Prop 25/26

Proposition 25 would reduce the votes required to pass a budget from a supermajority of two-thirds to a simple majority like most other states.

Proposition 26 would increase the legislative vote requirement from a majority to a two-thirds for new and increased state and local fees and charges. Many of California’s environmental protection programs are funded with such fees.  Opponents of Prop 26 say that it would make it even more difficult to hold polluters accountable, and to raise revenue for basic services.

Why are all the dirty gas, oil & companies companies heavily funding saying no to 25 and yes to 26?




Wtf?


If dirty energy companies are putting so much money into these things, will this make me think twice about how to vote on them? Especially since such companies are infamous for doing things that typically screw over people of color and erase lands and livelihoods...

For more info and graphics on energy companies & prop 23, 25 & 26...check out http://prop23.dirtyenergymoney.com/
       


 more questions to come, after you vote!
-n

Friday, October 22, 2010

Ghostown Motown Halloween Party!!

From the crew that brought you the May Fly Ball

DJ CASANOVA & DJ LASER (Domino Effect DJs) & DJ Playcookie Will be spinning at our Haunted House for Ghostown Motown Halloween Party. They will be playing a diverse range of music from Hip hop-Latin Beats, Dancehall, African & World music.... Also a Motown set =-o.

Check Domino Effect out:
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Domino-Effect-DJs/108599042421

This party is to benefit TIGRA, so we'll have a donation-based bar (wine, beer, some hard A)

Learn More about TIGRA:
http://www.transnationalaction.org/

and a Costume Contest!!

You are not required to stay all night, but it is suggested

Wednesday, October 20, 2010

Damn Black Men WTF!!

Okay first. I can't believe it's been 18 days since my last blog post. Whoa! What does this mean? Yes you got it right, summer is over and I've been sucked into the abyss of too many responsibilities and over-committing myself (more on this in a future post). Okay so the last post I had, I ranted in a crazy manner over an article that I felt was poorly written and bashing black men for reasons that were so stereotypical it didn't make any sense. Original Mgbeke asked me to write a rebuttal. I'm coming ...lol soon. But on this topic tho... STILL I'ma need y'all to leave Black Men alone. Check this video out (which is funny and hilarious to me) smh.

I'm saying it's not just black men....haha. That's MY rebuttal most of the people I know that are perpetuating this behavior currently are white men, that's all I'm saying. And that's why that video is funny to me!

Tuesday, October 5, 2010

Exhibition: Zombie/Fela Thursday October 7th 2010- Jan 2, 2011

Zombie: The Resurrection of Fela Kuti
October 7, 2010 through January 2, 2011
Opening Reception: October 7, 2010, 6-9 PM


...This exhibition will resurrect and celebrate the spirit of a composer, activist, pioneer, revolutionary... Fela Kuti. Born Olu-Fela Anikulapo Kuti on October 15, 1938 in Abeokuta, Nigeria. Fela was one of Africa's most controversial musicians and throughout his life he continued to fight for the rights of the common man (and woman) despite vilification, harassment, and even imprisonment by the government of Nigeria. He formed his first group Koola Lobitos in 1963. The large jazz, funk, and afrobeat collective underwent many changes in the following decades but the style remained the same thanks to Fela's vision and other key members such as drummer Tony Allen. 

EVENT LINK

Saturday, October 2, 2010

Response: 8 Reasons to Date a White Man

Source
So for a while now, I've been having a back and forth with myself with a topic that keeps coming to me: A commentary on how many more wedding pictures I've peeped of Nigerian/African women marrying White men.
So far I have stayed away from it because:

  • one: sometimes it's hard for me to write about controversial issues publicly
  • two: i couldn't figure out how to write about it without it coming off all gossipy and possibly distasteful
  • three: I wasn't sure what my opinion on it per se was and if it was worth writing about
  • four: how to say enough but not be more personal than I feel comfortable being

Some things are better off discussed with people who get your idiosyncrasies, understand your sarcasm, and or get your intent without you trying to explain or defend yourself.

But THEN I messed around and happened on this article and I'm like WHOA WHOA WHOA. *pause for 10 secs*

I'll start off with saying What the Fucckkk??!!!

So let's just pretend you're one of my close friends, and you know me and how I get down. So you would understand my intent and blah blah blah. How would I respond to this if you were in a room with me?

Source
I would say something like "I know this BITCH did not go and write some stupid ass thing like that!!"
And you would be like "N that's not professional, that not classy!"
And I would respond "Fuck that, if i see that ho walking down the street, I'll bitch slap her ass!"

8 REASONS to date a White Man!!! Are you kidding me?? This is the most poorly written, derogatory, attention-seeking-for-no-reason piece of shit I've ever read! Sure I'm not doing such a good job myself of proving her wrong by writing an intellectually sound response, but at this point I'm just not capable of doing so!

The thing that trips me out is not even the fact that I don't agree with her on the general issue: Black Women in this day have the short and splintery end of the dating stick, and probably can 'expand' our dating pool by not exclusively dating black men (not as though that matters, just 'cos you decide that you're gonna date other races, doesn't necessarily mean that you'll get 'dated by other races'). But when she writes things like "My question is what are you waiting for—a baby and no ring?" LMFAO... She's crazy!!! Black,white,orange,red,green... A man, whatever color he is, can baby you and NOT wife you. First off all "who says THAT I WANT A RING  from the particular person who has babied me.

I need to stop 'cos I might just say some more stupid things..

This fool wants to make me type in all caps (FOR THE WHOLE  POST)!

fk outta here,
n

p.s. (on a side note, i do dig the styling and concept of the 1st photo above though... lol)

Tuesday, September 28, 2010

Off The Clock: Restuarant Worker's Appreciation Day

I hadn't been in the Mission Neighborhood in SF in a while and I happened there last Friday and out of a lot of things that were annoying one thing made me smile. Saw this in a store window. I think it's so dope a thing to do! I'm posting it past the fact but I think it's so dope. Gotta give props to MCCLA and Young Workers United... makes me happy to see work like this in the community!

Monday, September 27, from 12-5:00pm FREE EVENT
Calling all servers, cooks, dishwashers, bussers and barbacks: This day’s for you! The Mission Cultural Center for Latino Arts has teamed up with Young Workers United, Latin Dance Grooves, and many local restaurants to offer an afternoon of FREE massage, dance classes, yoga and other activities to relax your body and mind…plus complimentary food and drinks from your favorite local hot spots.

Friday, September 24, 2010

Expression: Homophobes vs. Gays

I gotta say I this is one of the tiny things I appreciate about living in the Bay. Sign at the BART Station

on day #2 1 I thought... well "Duh Captain Obvious thanks for coming to the Rescue!"

on day #2 I thought "lol only in the Bay someone's always gon' try to protest by any medium necessary."

Posted by Picasa

Wednesday, September 22, 2010

Visual Inspiration: Nollywood IT Girls

Umm not inspiring per se...but like I really like this photo...and dislike it in some ways. Ha Ha I'm not saying what I like or don't like. Buutttt it's pretty cool to see these Nigerian Actresses all dressed up, and in a pretty shot... Where's Omotola?

Monday, September 13, 2010

Night Club Map of Harlem Renaissance

"Perhaps exemplary of that renaissance, this map was drawn by Elmer Simms Campbell (1906-1971), the first African-American cartoonist to be published nationally (in Esquire, Cosmopolitan, The New Yorker and Playboy, among others). The map faces southwest, is bounded by 110th Street (in the top left corner), which runs along Central Park’s northern edge, and concentrates on Lenox Avenue and Seventh Avenue (“or heaven”)."



I'm digging this map. It would have been cool to happen upon it, while I was planning the May Fly Ball. Lol I don't know if it would have changed anything, but then I was searching for any and everything Harlem Rennaisance.

So I just recently started to NOT be deathly incapable of reading maps. Because someone has been forcing encouraging me to learn how and to use it. I've always just been a written word/oral learning type of person. I mean I've suspected that I have somewhat of a photographic memory, because when I went to school in Nigeria...I would Ace tests by simply scanning the text/notebooks the night before or minutes before the exam. And if you know anything about Nigerian style examinations...you know they were cumulative, happened at the end of the term, had a hundred plus questions and determined your grade for the semester. So no, not your run of the mill 5 question easy A high school 'pop' quiz. Okay why did I just say all this. Back to my topic...

anyway as I was saying I've just recently started to appreciate info-graphics and I'm slowly learning not to be afraid of them, because someone keeps showing them to me and making me interpret information from them *cough*. Fast Forward....to this map. Now this is a map that I adore, I want it enlarged and framed in my future live/work space.

It would be cool to have something like this for say Oakland or any cultural/community setting. I was actually thinking of it in terms of other concepts...like I would like to see something with Non-Profit organizations in the Bay Area that serve youth, or like Mamaput Joints in Lagos (lmao)... that would be cool. Actually what am waiting for?...I know a bunch of artists, data miners and social worker types. I could commission one!

* don't rob my stolen idea yo!

-N

Wednesday, September 8, 2010

Culture: Do you Need a Vacation?


The last post we had was by a guest blogger and dear friend. Who made me droooool over her recent traveling experience in Greece and Italy. She reminded me that even though it's been claimed that I travel 'alot', I don't travel enough. Haha...I'm done with some inter-continental  traveling yo! I wanna go exclusively international. My goal is to travel to at least one international location (Nigeria doesn't count) per year, and at least two (cities) outside the Bay (not counting So-Cal cities & preferably ones that I haven't been to in the past year). So yeah generally...that would be nice... No international travel for me this year...*bummer* but alas the year is not over!! Grrrrrr there's still hope...lol!

Speaking of taking vacays that don't include Nigeria as a location... I have recently been introduced to a self proclaimed toutish individual who does an interesting video blog. Basically he's just jabbering about whatever it is that he wants to...a lot of times it's funny, sometimes he spits some knowledge and a few times I'm nodding my head 'cos I can hella relate to what he's saying. Sorry for my non-Naijas probably all of it will fly over your head!

In his recent post, he talks about the importance of taking vacays and why going to Nigeria does NOT count...while tempting us with some exotic island cocktails...(he's glad I don't drink, otherwise I woulda had a major problem with his goading). In this episode he also manages to sneak in a slightly blackmailed request for a one3snapshot tee...what a tout!! Lol What's your address fox? I'll send you one k?



Two of my other favorite posts are: 1. Please Graduate Already (where he talks about the length of time it took some of us to graduate: I laughed hard on that one, count it as one that I could relate to; and his beef with people who freeload food at his parties lmao!)  & 2. A Nigerian Senator marrying a 13yr old girl...(this one made me soooo angry I cried).

Check them out!







Piece & Peaces,
N

Wednesday, September 1, 2010

My Life in the Mediterranean Sunshine.

If you were to ask me what I have done thus far on this trip, I would respond without hesitation or pause for thought that I have EATEN! I've eaten like it's going out of style, determined to stuff my groaning belly chock full all the specialties from the places I have visited.
On my first day in Rome I had gelato for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Yes, I am a glutton and of course everything better here. I'm of the opinion that all the calories one eats on vacation do not count as the body is still disjointed and maladjusted to the current time zone and climate so all food ingested just passes right through the body as waste. This is my belief and no can convince me of any alternate truth. Lol!

My journey started off on thursday, August 26th. Left work early and made my way to JFK for my 5 o'clock flight to Athens, Greece. Except I really wasn't going to Athens. I had booked a flight with Alitalia that was to have a stopover in Rome and I only realized belatedly that I wanted to visit Rome for a few days but I wasn't trying to pay Priceline or any damn airline company upwards of $500 to get off the plane early! So I boarded the flight with only two carry on bags and proceeded to walk off the plane in Rome and caught a train into the city. I must confess I was scared shitless! What if they started an airport-wide manhunt for the Nigerian girl who had boarded the plane in New York and was currently nowhere to be found. In my trademark overly dramatic manner I rushed off the plane in a James Bondeseque manner looking over my shoulder for the imaginary government officials who were no doubt trailing my every move. SMH at my damn self.

Through out my whole trip I have wondered how someone could leave a place like Rome, or Rhodes and move to the US of A. What on earth could possess you to do such a thing? Everything is just… better over here. The sun is brighter, the water tastes better, cow dung somehow does not smell as repulsive, life is just beautiful. I am in awe of the European way of life. One of the things that struck me when I first arrived in Rome is how expensive Soda is over here. A small bottle of coke costs 2.5 Euros (about $3-3.5) and a bottle of water of the same size costs 1 Euro. You can get a giant can of Arizona Green Tea in the US for $1 but the corresponding size bottle of water costs at least $1.50. No wonder we are all obese beasts over here. With food, it is also a similar story. Unlike the US, one almost has no reason to go to a place like McDonalds as good, simple food is so much cheaper. For example, I got the most delicious salmon, prosciutto, and tomato sandwich in Rome for 2.80 Euros and it tasted so much better than anything I could have gotten at Micky Dee's for 6 Euro. Everything is made so cleanly and simply that you are forced to eat slowly and savor every bite and flavor of the food you're eating.

I discovered in Rome that I am getting much too old and set in my ways for the hostel experience. Like a person who eats alone for a long period of time and is now thrust suddenly into the most fancy dinner party only to discover that their table manners have absolutely gone to hell, I was not prepared to live in the same space as other people. When I come home to my apartment in New York from a hot, humid day in the city, the first thing I like to do is take all my clothes off and just chill. It has become my habit. But I was cognizant of the fact that there were 5 other people staying in the room with me who could pop in at any moment so I modified my behavior by putting on a robe, but sadly this still was not enough. The shame is just too great, so I will spare you the details of the resulting encounter but needless to say kids, it is imperative to wear something under that robe!!!!
Also, I discovered that I have become a bit of a snob and will not talk to just anyone and I guess this is part of the reason I'm going on this trip on my own. The very few people who I felt I would be fine taking this trip with were unavailable to come with me and frankly, I'd rather travel alone than with someone who's company I do not enjoy. There are very few people I can stand to be with for 10 days nonstop!
The hostel was full of bloody Americans. It was ridiculous. Like dang, I left the country to escape you people for a few days and here you are, just waiting for me with your loud, brassy voices. I swear I saw more Americans in Rome than actual Italians and I belatedly came to find out that most Romans had fled the city in anticipation of the hordes of tourists that descend upon the city at this time of the year.
I was particularly irritated by these three American girls who I had the displeasure of being on the same train with, talking in ridiculously loud voices about how much money their parents had and how they cheated cheated to get by in school. I was mortified, shamed, embarrassed, name any negative emotion, I felt it. Oy vey. Vulgar Americans apart, Rome was quite nice. I did all the usual things: Sistine Chapel, Pantheon, Coliseum (well I actually just walked up to it and left as I was tired and too cheap to pay 12 Euros to get in when I had only 1 hour before closing to look around). The city was quite lovely, but I wish I had taken time to write about the city before I got to Rhodes as the experience I had there has completely been eclipsed by my visit to RODOS!

Rodos (Rhodes in English) is an island in the northern part of Greece, quite close to the border with Turkey. I arrived in Rhodes on a Sunday and was immediately alarmed/filled with dismay at what I saw. I was staying in Old Town which is the world's oldest inhabited medieval town. In other words, I was staying in a legitimate, honest to God castle! Anyway, when I arrived on Sunday I was thoroughly alarmed because there was absolutely nothing going on. All I saw was closed store fronts and old, strange looking Greeks who barely spoke English. I was like what the eff have I gotten myself into? I eventually found my hostel (after being severally misdirected) and still did not feel very encouraged about my stay there. The hostel keeper was a Greek guy with a considerable belly named Dmitri. There was also this strangle-looking English dude with a lazy eye hanging about the bar below the hostel rooms. I felt like I was in the movie 'Dusk Till Dawn' or something. In my mind I immediately began formulating plans for my great escape. I was mad as hell because I'd had doubts about coming to Rhodes at all and felt like I should have listened to what my subconscious had been trying to tell me.
I went up to my room, freshened up, put on some red lipstick and attempted to calm down and get my wits about me.
I got talking to Dmitri and he encouraged me to take a walled about the town as what I'd seen on my way in was the back side of the town but the city center was supposedly popping, so off I went. Nothing could have prepared me for the beauty that is the beauty of Rhodes Town at night. The city center was full of restaurants, tavernas, shops (Cartier included!), and bars. I felt like I was in a completely different universe from the one I had seen on my way into the city. I asked one of the store owners where I should have dinner and I was directed to a little outdoor restaurant presided over by the most impassive looking little old Greek man. I was shown to a table and when I asked for a menu I was instead shown to a display case full of all sorts of fresh seafood. I chose a nice, juicy looking octopus (my first and best!) and it was prepared for me and served with a kick ass Greek salad and a white wine. The meal was not that large but it took me about an hour to eat, good food cannot be rushed. Ladies and gentlemen, I was in heaven! I chewed every morsel about 100 times just to taste every nuance of the food. I don't know what they put in Greek wine, but it was excellent! I had one glass and immediately became tipsy. Now everyone who knows me knows that I am NOT a lightweight, but that shit was good! I finally finished dinner and asked for my bill and the waiter walks up to the impassive looking Greek to ask how much he should charge me and he looked at me, sizing me up from head to toe and said an amount. I seriously feel like the amount was arbitrary and he charges people based on some quality in them I am as yet unaware of. Apparently I was worth 22 Euros and I wish knew if that was a good or bad thing….
Took a walk about the town center and fell even more in love with the city. It is like the perfect mesh of medieval and modern. Even though the town was enclosed within old time castle walls, there were all these ultra modern, luxury shops like Cartier and Swatch. There were tons of people everywhere in restaurants and tavernas or just generally milling around doing touristy things. After a bit I went back to my hostel and had a Triple Orgasm. Thats a drink you naughty people! It had Baileys, Cointreau, and some other kind of liqour in it. Possibly the best drink I've ever had in my entire life!

Beaches in Europe are quite an experience although I don't have much to compare them to as I have not been to very many beaches here in the US. Random topless women roaming around and it wasn't even a nudist beach. I liked it though, as I feel like we Americans are so obsessed with how me look at all times. There were all sorts of people in bikinis: old ladies, young girls, people with guts, bowlegged people, wrinkly people with overhanging arm fat, everyone! I love that they were confident enough to wear whatever they wanted and rock the hell out of that shit! I'm not quite there yet, so I was there chilling in my halter-neck one piece suit which was quite glamorous if you ask me. What I noticed about the Europeans is that their bodies always matched whatever stage they were in life. The young men and women had slim, taut bodies and for the women with children, it was okay if they had a bit of a pot belly or a bit of cellulite. I never, in all my days there saw anyone running about in the streets huffing and puffing all in the name of exercise (how I hate that word!). I felt like everyone was just very content with themselves, like this is my body, this is where its supposed to be and I thoroughly accept it. I hope one day I will reach that point in my life.

The most fun I have had thus far was on my last night in Rhodes. I went out to dinner, had a few drinks, came back to the hostel and chilled a bit then to ready to hit up Bar Street. Bar Street is this long street where all the Greeks go to while away the long, hot nights with friends, alcohol and music. There are actually two bar streets in Rhodes: The one for tourists and the one for the locals and you know me, I live for the locals so mini Bar Street I went to!
As I walked along, I came to hear the sound of Jazz. Now, if you know me in the slightest, you will realize that Jazz is my favorite genre of music in the whole wide world. I live for drums and the sounds of the right saxophone player turn my heart to mush, so can imagine my shock/glee/delight as I came across this band! I tried to play it cool, I wanted to see what else was out there for me before I committed myself to this place for what I was certain would be the rest of the night, so I walked away. But I didn't get very far. I took about 5 steps and after hearing the loud techno beats that represented the majority of all the other clubs that were out there, I did an about turn and came right back where I belong. I went in, sat at the bar and what greeted by this beautiful black lady and the first thing she said to me was 'hey gorgeous' and thus I was welcomed to Besara's place. Besara was the name of the restaurant and also the woman who greeted me. It was her place. The band was pretty good, the drinks tasty, the people friendly. I was home.

Besara came over and sat with me and I immediately felt a connection with her. Maybe it was because of the similarity of our names, or the fact that she was the first black person I had seen in all of Rhodes, or her fiercely independent spirit. Whatever it was, we were sisters (at least for the night). She introduced me to her friends Cristos and Pablos (finest specimens of the Greek male ever!) and some other people. There was drinking, dancing, laughing, hugs, shots, and general good times. Felt kind of like a family, a little sad to have left them now :(. I am however certain that I will see then again someday as Rhodes is the kind of place you go to over and over again.

The only complaint I have had thus far is that all the men here are either married or with long-term girlfriends! WTH! I guess it is the culture here as even the American men I have met have been married with children. I'm talking 28 year old men! I guess if things aren't looking up by my early thirties I will be moving to Europe for love. The only single man I have met thus far is the Fabio, my Italian amor. Only he was in his 40's and I have sworn off men more than 10 years older then me. Real talk. We met at a bus stop in Rome and we ended up hanging out till 3 o'clock in the morning and then he walked me home like a true gentleman.

My trip has been brilliant thus far and tonight, I am embarking on a 17-hour boat ride to Santorini. I hope I survive it. I hope the good times roll on. If I know myself the least bit, I am certain they will.

Arriverderci!

Bisola,
One3 guest blogger.

A few pictures of me, Besara, Fabio, Cristos and Pablos at pla... For some reason its only letting me do 5 at a time but will be back with more. Promise!






Sunday, August 29, 2010

Tuesday, August 24, 2010

Expression: Africa + Me

One3snapshot makes this shirt. It brings about mixed feelings. What is my Mother-tongue? Do I have a choice in being able to speak it? Read on to see how things could get a little mixed up!

I LOVE meeting other Africans. I have this fantasy of visiting other African countries for at least 2weeks to- # months at a time per country, and giving myself up to total submersion of my fetishized appetite for their dance, music, language & food. I'll totally be that Anglo person that I criticize all the time. If you know anything about me, you'll know that I have this ongoing far away obsession relationship with Congolese, Cameroonian, Ivorian dance and music. And i think it's the ultimate shame that I've been to various countries around the world, but not one other African country asides from Nigeria.

And now I'm beginning to have a mild obsession with the Caribbean and Latin America...and South Asia...and...Sigh.

Of course probably I could drop everything and figure out how to back pack all around the world, or I could work my way up the food chain like I'm supposed to, and put myself in positions that make me go around the world. But until then...

I LOVE meeting people and having friends from other ethnic backgrounds in my life. Being culturally 'un-diversified' makes me itch. I miss my first year of college, where I was in a school that drew a nice pool of international students that had a presence and hung out with each other while still navigating the course of American college life. That was a great exposure to other Africans, but also other countries where I was like "you said WHAT?, that's a country? oh cool, I didn't know that. And you name is what? Lol. (*sorry too much flash-backing).

All this to say

The other day I met my new eye doctor for the rest of my life... She's South African. If you ask her. If you were to look at her and say what she 'is' you would call her Indian. At least that's what I thought until she schooled me:
I also learned something new: Indians where brought to South Africa as slaves. So there are a lot of people just like her, whose GRANDparents even don't identify with India as home, and have never even been there. Whoa! I don't know why this tripped me out, I guess typically (from US point of view) when presented with the 'displacement' of people, I think US or Europe, and commonly with Africans/Blacks, but in the context of like that's all I've always known it to be. I've understood that they are African Americans, African Europeans? and Caribbeans. Nobody is tripping out like WHOA Africans who are not really Africans, and have never been to Africa! You just know that's how it is...

But mostly the other thing that stood out to me was her giving me short versions of Apartheid & the life around the time Nelson Mandela was locked up. It was so trippy, 'cos sometimes you don't really understand these issues that happen in far far away lands. You think oh this sucks, oh it happened a 'long' time ago, to those people over there. And it was a trip that my eye doctor had lived during the times of Apartheid and was standing there telling me about it. From that point it was kinda hard to only fantasize anymore. I was simply stunned.

So now what is HER Mother-tongue?  She speaks Afrikaans because that's what they were forced to speak, she doesn't know any Indian languages, neither does her Mother. One African/Black American lady said to me the other day in response to the shirt above, "But I don't know my Mother-tongue, it was stripped from us!"

My answer: if you're fortunate to be in anyway to be exposed to your Mother-tongue, speak it!

-n

Wednesday, August 18, 2010

Ify Aniebo

Winner of the 2010 Future Awards Young Person of the Year

My message to all would be to stop talking and start acting. Enough of the facebook updates, facebook groups wanting change, twittering, BBing etc. I do understand we haven’t had the best leaders but we need to stop dwelling on that and move on. What I’m saying is the future of the country does not just lie in the hands of our leaders, it lies in every individual as well. We all need to look in the mirror and start affecting change where necessary.

We need to be more positive and supportive of each other. We need to be more helpful to our neighbors and communities. We need to stop being selfish. We need to be the change we want to see in the country because we would become leaders one day and if we do not start doing all these things now then we would be no different from our leaders. We might even end up being worse. A vicious cycle really.

Stop waiting for someone or a group of people to change Nigeria. We all can start in our own little way. I’m not saying you cannot pop champagne or fix your hair, all I’m saying is do something positive and impact visible change around you.



[Source]

Saturday, August 14, 2010

Follow the Dirty Oil Money


Friends of mine have spent  a couple or years quite a while working on this: Dirty Energy Money an interactive tool that tracks the flow of oil, gas, and coal money in U.S. Congress. Using the site you can find out which energy companies are pumping their dirty money into politics and which politicians are receiving it.

And I've seen it take a few forms. I'm still trying out this website...since I have a death fear of math/ math-related info-graphics, I'm wondering if this is a site that I can get down with. Mostly I'm interested in the usability of this site by regular folks like me. People who are not so 'smart' and folks who get overwhelmed by the intricate details of numbers. Like can I just get a colorful video and some cool fashion telling me the gist of it?

But on a more serious note; the information is something that is important and people should care about; what with all the drama and craziness energy sources are causing in our lives today (indirectly or not). It's a bit sad because the we  do is complain about how much it takes for us to fill up our gas tanks. I would like for us to about this energy 'crisis' a bit deeper.

How do our lifestyle choices, our political leanings, and our business decisions play a role in the issue?

Wednesday, August 11, 2010

Culture: The Plus & Minus about Nigerian Women

I saw this photo on facebook. My Question is. Why do the Igbo girls have the most minuses? That's messed up mehn! This is hilarious to me and I have to admit I was hella nodding my head on most things. Of course generalized it makes sense, but when I saw the minuses in the Igbo ones I was like okay that AIN'T me!! Haha... well mostly the ones about money though. And then my question is

Where is the one for the Men?


Source

Monday, August 9, 2010

Event: Boa Noite Afro World Dance @ Kitty's Bar

had a fun saturday night dj'ing at Kitty's afro world dance saturdays. from dancehall to coupe decale to cumbia to hip hop to bhangra... the challenge usually is focusing on spinning and not dancing my ass off. just a few shots from my crappy cam.

Event: East Bay Express-Best of the Bay Party


On Friday Aug 6, 2010. The East Bay Express had it's 2010 Best of the Bay Party @ Jack London Square Waterfront. Rolled through, but didn't make it past the dance/dance battle stage. Was pretty much stuck there for hours. Had an amazing time; nice to see street dancing and also get a chance to dance and see folks from all around. Been a while.

The People battle & music set was blazing. After the battle, they had police manning the area and were playing rave music. It was kinda crazy and just a little bit fucked up...but guess what? That didn't stop folks from keeping the dance going and having a blazing time. We danced to rave music...haha it's funny see all these breakers, turfers, housers, african dancers, ballet dancers rocking out to rave music!

Just got a few shots from the evening, but mostly have video clips of people dancing and the dance battle hosted by The People Oakland and yak films. With east bay celebrity guest judges Corey from Newstyle Motherlode, Goapele and Zumbi from Zion-I. Video clips of dancing coming soon our youtube channel!

Saturday, August 7, 2010

Visual Inspiration: The Radiant Child




Tamra Davis, a friend to Jean-Michel Basquiat created a riveting documentary on his talented but short-lived life. Watch the trailer here and look out for screenings in your area or you can wait for when it becomes available via Netflix and On Demand.

[image credit]

Thursday, August 5, 2010

Expression: Prop 8


This photo just made my month I think. LMAO. I think no matter what your views are, if you got even a bit of a sense of humor you gotta admit it's funny. But then again, people and politics. eh!
-N
Source

Sunday, August 1, 2010

Culture: Things Trendy People Like Summer 2010

i have been having a lot of people come up to me asking for advice on different topics, one of the ones that have been occuring a lot, has been this question:

 "It's summer 2010, and I need to look trendy, but I don't know how to be. how do I do it?"


well...
you need:

1. a blackberry (specifically one with a color not that is not black or get a colored cover)
2. host or attend a party that has RED VELVET Cupcakes (if you can't get red velvet, other cupcakes may suffice)
3. soulful house, skank, and or  jungle house music

now keep in mind that you may look at this list as hella random. Because my social sphere is such, I span posh razz Nigerian to bay area Hipster-artisty-ambiguously-ethnic folks to grungy-white-activisty types. Hella random... but somehow in this randomness, some occurring themes have come up at certain levels in all of these social scenes as far as trends go. These results are based on my scientific and thorough research (through facebook photos, blogs and passing convos (electronically & in-person)).

i assume the reason for such random social circles overlapping in trend factors is due to the chronic syndrome known as copy-copy.
copy copy is a situation where 'ethnic' folks wanna be white *ahem* posh by force, and white folks can't help but indulge & appropriate 'ethnic' culture. and well... the greedy capitalists just wanna feck us all in the butt by convincing us that we NEED the newest techie fad...

so there my friends I tell ya, to be deemed up with the times, currently you need to
  1. casually hold your blackberry  in your LEFT hand,  (see loosely but surely so it doesn't get dropped or stolen)
  2. have a prettily decorated mini cupcake in the right (preferably red velvet as it would up your posh status), 
  3. while having house music play in the background (and please for the love of God...don't attempt to dance, it will ruin your look).
until next time!

cheese:
n

Saturday, July 31, 2010

BOA NOITE ~ Afro World Dance Party: Saturday @ Kittys


Béja & One3snapshot Present:

BOA NOITE ~ Afro World Dance Party

EVERY SATURDAY AT KITTY'S

6702 Hollis St., Emeryville
9pm- 2am

SAMBA-ZOUK-REGGAE-SOUKOUSS-SON-DANCEHALL- COUPE DECALE-SAMBA REGGAE-AXE

Rotating Deejays:

Playcookie
Damasceno
Bludragon
Alfie1Bateria

$5 COVER
21 + with ID

Wednesday, July 28, 2010

Visionary

We've written about the importance of giving back to our immediate and extended communities many times before. This lady, Rosanne Haggerty through her non-profit Common Ground restored this 20th century building, the Prince George which was built as a luxury hotel in 1904. It suffered from many years of decline before Common Ground rescued it and turned it into permanent affordable housing for the homeless. The grand Beaux-Arts ballroom was restored and is now part of the Madison Square North Historic District and the National Register of Historic Places.

Friday, July 23, 2010

Visual Inspiration: Africa In Style



I guess designers got tired of Asian-inspired themes lol.

Saturday, July 10, 2010

Art: Kosibah


A Kosibah design can take six months to create.{...} According to the designer, a good finishing is essential to the perfect dress. He believes that a dress's seams should almost feel and look invisible. "Normally, if you turn your dress inside out, you shouldn't really see any seam and any seam you see has to be perfectly finished," he says.

A man after my own heart! Thanks to my teacher Mrs. Gbugu for instilling in me the importance of good finishing.

[Excerpt source]

Wednesday, June 30, 2010

Culture: Can You Shop BLACK?

This article talks about a couple that did an experiment to shop ONLY Black (purchasing exclusively from Black-owned businesses) for a whole year. They thought it would be mildly challenging but doable, but found out that it was extremely challenging and they had to be creative to make it possible. There were also some 'consequences' such as weight gain & having to 'do without' certain things.

I remember in college a friend of mine was telling me about a Bay Area 'Black Pages' listing for Black-owned businesses. I thought the concept was interesting, but at the time in my life wasn't quite able to wrap my head around it. I mean I was a college student, and my purchasing power was limited in both how much I could buy, and how much I needed to buy. Maybe it was an excuse but I think at the time, it would have been a lot of work to try to figure out buying textbooks, daily meals & such from exclusively black-owned.

Now I'm curious about this experiment...It sounds like the couple had a few things, that I may not quite have as much of 1. $$$ 2. Support/Patience of their partnership 3. Err *insert something here* haha.

And it also brings up other questions for me, as someone who is not only a consumer but also a business owner. Since in this case buying exclusively black (purchasing from black-owned establishments) means that you can purchase white-created/owned product as long as they are distributed by black owners

then what happens if: I had a black-created/owned product in a white-owned business?

The concept is something that I'm interested in, on various levels...I've wondered and talked about the creation of local economies & government structures. A friend of mine grew up in a community (in the west coast of the U.S.) where for a few years they had their own currency with incentives attached to using the local currency as opposed to the dollar.

I'm wondering how it could work with the concept of local government or deliberately created communities. What are the pros? Cons? Backlash?

If you had the opportunity to shop 'exclusively' Black or African or Nigerian or (insert cultural or political group leaning) would you do it? Why? Why not?

#LemmeKnow,
N

Monday, June 28, 2010

Thursday, June 17, 2010

Celebrating 5 years with MIMI


MIMI Magazine, my favorite online magazine is celebrating 5 years of being in existence. I can honestly say I have grown up, laughed and learned from the pages of MIMI. One of my proudest moments was reading the One3Snapshot feature. Here is to many more years of MIMI Magazine. The latest issue is a tribute to the Best Of 5 Years Of MIMI Magazine and my little toast in celebrating with MIMI is a twist off their anniversary issue - my best 5 articles from MIMI.





1) A Design to Dream: One3Snapshot! - our feature in MIMI
2) Celebrating Single Women
3) Close Call - my contributing article.
4) The Measure of Other's Opinions - There was a time when what people thought of me bothered me.
5) Cherrie on Top - I first read about the label Stoned Cherrie from this article, and since then I have silently followed her progress through various fashion weeks and season launches. If only her clothes were available stateside, my closet would be full of Stoned Cherrie pieces.

Wednesday, June 9, 2010

Nexus...

Every 2nd & 4th Monday at Air Lounge, Oakland.
Click here for More Info 

Saturday, June 5, 2010

Red means Stop!

What will this post be without some snapshots from around the way? (keep reading)

Yo ma name is Nkei and I'm here to say...some'n some'n some'n errryday!! Wow. Even I'm tired of making the excuse of busy'ness being the reason I haven't said something worth anything on this blog since the winter season. Now it's almost summer and I swear I have the intent of prolonged comments on one issue or non-issue or the other.

Okay since that last time I wrote a blog...let see...what's happened?
Spring Sprung! Performances came and went, and I got less busy but not really. My one-br apt finally was able to live to it's full potential as just that. I got hella sidetracked. Made a life-right-now changing decision...got busy again. Pondered...kicked it with my bestest friends from around the country, threw a party, paraded in sf carnaval, danced my butt off and went to the beach with my friends lovers and country man. Life has been good.

But currently I'm about to go into a solo-bbatical ...a retreat with attendance of one. Lots of things need to change, lots of things need to get a push on, lots of things need to be eliminated. Some of the topics in this me-only retreat will be about things related to career, one3snapshot, food/nutrition and maintenance of lifestyle and just general topics that are for me to know and you to never find out. It will be fun, I'm sorry you can't come along, but trust me it will be good for all involved. 

I'll be prodding Chichi to update the blog more, and by the end of summer we should be out with a one3snapshot next round beta version.

I'm nervous and excited but I know it will be awesome.

Until, the next time when I gostalot to say...see ya!

-N

Wednesday, June 2, 2010

Drumming for Fela



Maybe it's because we make the dopest Fela tshirts, maybe it's because N drums for Loco Bloco but I'm intrigued every time I see an interesting piece on Fela. If you want to own a Fela tee, email info@one3snapshot.com to place an order. We are still working on getting the online shop back up and running.