Third Mainland Bridge- One3snapshot.com

One3snapshot Hand Painted Bags Now Available for Purchase

2012-02-02T15:50:00.000-08:00

We Can Tell The Future

2012-01-16T08:20:00.000-08:00

This design was launched last year, before the Occupy Movement in the U.S and now in Nigeria which depending on who you ask was successful. Written on the shirt:
Sin Justicia. No Hay Paz
No Justice. No Peace

Holiday Ideas - Greeting Cards

2011-12-08T08:57:00.000-08:00

If you love sending out greeting cards over the holidays and even better sending out unique and creative greeting cards, Anneli has some of her art available as greeting cards for $4.95 each. You can include a customized message and all cards ship within 48 hours.

Sat. Nov 19 Catch Us If You Can

2011-11-19T09:19:00.000-08:00

We will be at this awesome event TODAY. Stop by and say hello, and get some awesome gifts.

It’s here! The Harvey Milk Civil Rights Academy Holiday Design Bazaar is SATURDAY, November 19, 2011, noon-6pm.

Join us at Harvey Milk for some excellent and unique gift ideas by local artisans and designers. You’ll find something for every budget and in a wide range of styles, AND you’ll be benefiting the arts programs at our school while you shop!

WHAT IT IS: Local artists and designers sell their wares and donate 25% of their sales for the day. (We will also have a ‘Harvey Milk’s Own’ table, with Spike’s Coffee, HMCRA t-shirts, and more)
PLUS: a booth on the value of arts education, DJs throughout the day, silent art auction, live drawing/sketch artists, activities for the kids (face painting, art projects, etc.), childcare, and yummy food!

WHY: The proceeds of the bazaar will go towards our developing visual and performing arts program. This event was created last year to provide Arts Education in every classroom. This year, a Visual Artist will provide 10 art classes to all 11 classrooms through SFArtsEd Artist in Residence program starting in January (http://sfartsed.squarespace.com/artists-in-residence/). Our dream is to raise enough money to not only fund our artist in residence, but also to bring back Performing Arts Workshop for creative movement and capoiera classes in the Spring.

Get 15% Off Fela Items In Our Store

2011-11-14T11:54:00.000-08:00

Fela! will be in San Francisco tomorrow!! We are so excited we are having a sale on our Fela T-shirts Get 15% of all FELA T-shirts by using code FELAINSF. Also stop by Harvey Milk Civil Rights Academy, Holiday Bazaar on Saturday to get more exclusive colors and styles of Fela shirts; makes a perfect holiday gift! http://one3snapshot.bigcartel.com/category/fela-products

The Jaguda.com Tee Pre-Sale

2011-11-10T12:46:00.000-08:00

One3snapshot + Jaguda.com = some really Cool Shirts. Where my Naijas & Africans at? You know there's a little Jaguda in all of us...so rep it! And for the non-Africans...you too can REP this...because the phenomemon is global. Ask what it means...and I'm sure you'll agree! PRE-SALE on these shirts is happening right now... you can purchase at a lower price and have customized tee options before they go on sale for everyone!

Get your presale Jaguda.com tee NOW! Offer ends Thursday 11/17

Marissa Arterberry: Superhero Style Goddess

2011-11-07T06:41:00.000-08:00

This is major cool! My friend Marissa Arterbery who really lives up to her name got featured in nymag's look book. She's one of few people whom my first time meeting them is very memorable. I remember she came up to ask me if I'd be interested in doing something for a zine she was working on at the time and I was thrilled. She also one of few people who really inspire me as a black woman to stay strong pursuing my various artistic endeavors. It's a bummer that she's in NY now (again!) but I guess that just means I have to go visit. :) Check out her tumblr.

Peace!

The Afro-Urban Dance Experience: First Class Down: Nov 1: Track List & Video Post

2011-11-02T08:29:00.000-07:00

For folks who don't know. I started teaching a workshop for Adults & Teens in San Francisco. I will be documenting and writing about some aspects of it. Join the fun!

The Afro-Urban Dance Experience: First Class Down: Nov 1: Track List & Video Post: I had the best time of my life teaching and dancing at the first class of the Afro-Urban Street & Club Dance workshop . I couldn't have ask...

How to MOVE your Money To a Local Credit Union & Not Die Trying

2011-10-27T08:39:00.000-07:00

By now everyone in the world knows that Oakland law enforcement went crazy with the tear gas, sand bags and baton smashing on non-violent citizens who were expressing their right to assemble and speak freely. Two posts ago, I wrote about some action items that the regular average joe like me can take to make some change (or at least be part of making some change). If you know anything about me, I'm an action bunny. I can do my own share of talking any day but a lot of times, I feel helpless if there aren't any action items. I'm still working on my ten things we can do to make change in the 99% #Occupy Movement. But I wanted to focus on one that folks are talking about and that is coming up pretty soon:

Change from a reg corporate Bank to a Credit Union and TWEET about it...

Now most folks (me included) have been trying to figure out how, where, when, can I make this happen. The facebook page BANK TRANSFER DAY has some resources and talking points around this. FYI Bank Transfer Day is coming up Saturday November 5th.

Here's the message from the Event page for November 5th with some steps you can take.

Together we can ensure that these banking institutions will ALWAYS remember the 5th of November!! If the 99% removes our funds from the major banking institutions to non-profit credit unions on or by this date, we will send a clear message to the 1% that conscious consumers won't support companies with unethical business practices.

• Research your local credit union options
• Open an account with the one that best suits your needs
• Cancel all automatic withdrawals & deposits
• Transfer your funds to the new account
• Follow your bank's procedures to close your account before 11/05

FIND A CREDIT UNION
USA: http://www.findacreditunion.com/
CANADA: http://locator.cucentral.com/
UK: http://www.findyourcreditunion.co.uk/

Peace!!

Crawling the Art of the Twin Cities

2011-10-22T09:22:00.000-07:00

I've been playing this game of: if not one in the Bay Area ...in what other cities could I see myself possibly living? I may have just added the Twin Cities (Minneapolis/St. Paul), Minnesota to my short but growing list. I've had hints of an interesting arts/culture scene coming from this area but never was quite convinced and since I hadn't visited and explored it as an adult it was never really on my map. Hmm...

From the homey streets, nostalgia-inducing buildings to the menu boards at Golden's Deli, an eatery that boasts fresh, local and tasty all wrapped in pretty. I was mildly smitten.
(I have been intrigued with the mysterious-to-me art of Menu signage and this place has one of the best I have seen in the country/world?)

After my delicious garden omelet and fresh squeezed lemonade I was able to get a sneak peak of the St. Paul art crawl which I unfortunately didn't get to check out in all its glory because I had other engagements elsewhere, but the little I did see made my heart pitter patter, and maybe my love for this place became full blown.

I met two artists/artisans who had items that I adored and I'm sure you will too.

The first was Storm

I think Storm is my Mid-west Jewelry concept counterpart...I always wish that I had the patience or diligence to make necklaces but I may have just been inspired to actually do it. love the found pieces put together to create something new and fresh. I started making earrings from using old/broken jewelry and random found object things so this is really cool to me. From a little e-birdie I've found out she's a May baby. Lightbulb! Of course she is... her work is fabulous (not that I'm biased or anything). She is definitely a May Fly!

The second was "Deli Girl"

I love the bright colors of her pieces, and her unique style. She had originals, prints and sketchbook and journals. I meant to purchase a journal book (addict that I am) but had a brain fart and planned to go back but ended up not having time.

Still as much as I crushed on Twin Cities..Cali trumps... Weather, Racial & Cultural diversity, unlimited fresh healthy food options at low prices. So I won't be moving to the Twin Cities any time soon. I'll be back to visit though!

How Can the 99% Occupation Movement Actually Change Things?

2011-10-13T10:03:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I was at an amazing action. The Foreclose on Wall Street West/ Shutdown of Wells Fargo Headquarters in SF (business at that site was paralyzed by protesters for the day). This was organized by a coalition of organizations in the Bay Area including but not limited to Causa Justa Just Cause, Chinese Progressive Association and East Bay Alliance for a Sustainable Economy,
Groups and personalities like Naomi Klein, SF Supervisor and Mayoral Candidate John Avalos, Brass Liberation Orchestra and Homoeconomixx were around to help fire up the movement with speeches, live music and remixed renditions of Shaggy's 'It wasn't me' with lyrics like "(the) Federal Reserve... were all buck naked banging on the trading room floor".

I went to this action filled with an arm-load of criticism that I will not go into in this post, and a feeling of 'here we go again'.. oh I also had my good ol' camera with me

I left with tears in my eyes, butterflies in my stomach and a bounce in my feet.

Check out the photos I took and please keep reading, because I have a question I need answered

So maybe I'm not as plugged in as I could, and haven't done my research. Although I think what is going on right now in the US is powerful I've been also having this feeling that is typical for me... that of being overwhelmed. stuck. hopeless. What next?

These days I shy away from waxing politics/activism that much and frankly my rhetoric is not sophisticated when it comes to political and social discourse, so I typically save my thoughts to conversations with close friends and my various alter-egos.

What I do mildly well though is try to walk part of the walk. So that's what I'm asking for.

What do we do? How can we play a part in making ACTUAL change. What are the action items? What are the small and big things we can do? Short & Long term goals. The occupy movement as it stands is not sustainable (in my opinion) so I would like to see some sort of 10 commandment list.... what the 99% can do now to walk the walk.

I've started the list...I need help

Take it to the streets and pose for pictures while looking and acting rad. Make sure the News talks about it. Check!
Change from a reg corporate Bank to a Credit Union and TWEET about it... getting ready to do that
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I'm calling all all my organizers, youth, parents, teachers, writers, workers. Let's get this going!

the 99% ignored in Arts Funding #Occupy

2011-10-11T07:16:00.000-07:00

REUTERS/Mike Segar

Even if you were living under a rock. You know about the occupations happening around various cities in the US. What we're also talking about is the various ways this crazy 1% plays out. This Washington Post article talk about how Foundations basically pretty much fund more wealthy-white serving institutions than it does diverse communities. This funding trend does not match up with the growing population of said diverse communities.

“It is a problem because it means that — in the arts — philanthropy is using its tax-exempt status primarily to benefit wealthier, more privileged institutions and populations,” wrote the report’s author, Holly Sidford.

Talk about keeping it in the family.

Of course it's not telling me anything that I don't know. The money just circles around and 'philanthropy' is just a guise that rich people use to keep the things that entertain them alive.

Even though seemed like an ad for the Ford Foundation (which hopefully may encourage them and others to continue diverse funding) at the end, the point of the article is still something to that can be paid attention.

Visual Inspiration: Nobel Ladies

2011-10-07T11:23:00.000-07:00

2011 Nobel Peace Prize winners: Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf; Liberian activist Leymah Gbowee; and Tawakkul Karman, a Yemeni opposition leader and mother of three.

This time for Africa!

Gollywood Takeover?

2011-10-05T19:58:00.000-07:00

I'm a big fan of Nollywood movies. I haven't watched them in a while because these days, I can't sit still to watch anything that lasts two hours or more. Before I got to my 2-hour breaking point, I slowly got tired of trying to sort through good Nollywood movies to watch. For every good one it seemed like there were six bad ones I had to weed through. I don't really mind production quality, it's the storyline that gets me going. Enter Gollywood (Ghanian Hollywood), specifically producer Shirley Frimpong-Manso whose work is putting majority of our movies to shame.

Exhibit A: Adam's Apple (Ghana)

Exhibit B: Blackberry Babes (Nigeria)

I think Emem Isong may be Nollywood's only hope, looking forward to watching her latest effort. I really do wish the good movies will be made more accessible. There is great PR for awesome Nollywood movies but they can only be watched in Silverbird Cinemas. haba!
Update: Just learned that a new movie, Damage, starring Uche Jombo is being screened in select U.K, U.S. and Canadian cities. I hope more will follow suit. Indian movies have been doing this for a long time.

BouGhettaDiaries: N'Kale's Slawlad

2011-09-30T08:56:00.000-07:00

For years I've been gently (and life-threateningly) coerced to post recipes of food and drinks that I make. This is hard because I'm a little bit of a careless mad scientist; I generally just go with my intuition, use whatever is available and most times things come out delicious, other times an acquired taste and the a few time just downright meehhh. But usually I generally find it hard to document and then subsequently share my recipes because I make them up as I go along.

This post is dedicated to my cousin who recently requested a recipe. I have some recipes that I've managed to somewhat document but I have only shared with close friends who ask. And now I'm sharing with the world!! mauahahaha. By the way these recipes are written in a not very precise manner...you have to guess some things and do it your own way. No rigid cups or teaspoons or western-culinary-correct terms of measurement or food preparation (okay maybe a few).

No promises or anything but maybe I'll do this regularly. We'll call it the Chef BouGhetta Diaries:
Recipes from a struggling health-conscious African with a hint of Hippie and broke. Never purist. My mantra: eat more veggies, some fruit, lean proteins and whole grains and never compromise on flavor.

And here we go

nKale's Slawlad
Ingredients

1 big bunch of fresh Greens (Kale or Chards work better than Mustard or Collard because these have strong tastes)
1-3 fresh carrots
Raisins
almonds (or any nuts you like)
1-2 each Plums, Apricots, Nectarines (firm)
Apples if you want or have (can be used in place of stone fruits or in addition)

Dressing
Fresh lemon juice (1 lemon)
Olive Oil (about 1-2 tablespoons)
apple cider (or any fruit based) vinegar (about same amount as lemon) (you can substitute vinegar for a fruit juice that is sweet but a bit acidic i.e. pineapple/orange)
honey (about a table spoon to sweeten)
Black pepper (pinch)
Salt (pinch)

How to prepare
Julienne/Shred all the vegetables and fruits and mix in bowl
Chop nuts and add in; add in raisins
Douse with the dressing and let it sit for at least 30mins to 'cook' (longer is fine...)
It is ready when all the ingredients seem mixed in and relaxed...or the flavor of the greens is way strong

Send me a photo of you enjoying it!

-n

Thelonius Monk’s advice to saxophonist Steve Lacy (1960)

2011-09-23T09:35:00.000-07:00

This is old (duh) but the music and design hag in me has a doublemint appreciation for it. My pleasure is definitely doubled. It's on the list of Top things that can make my day.

Visual Inspiration: Art by Anneli Akinde

2011-09-16T10:05:00.000-07:00

I'm constantly amazed by the artwork our resident artist, Anneli Akinde creates. I don't care if she ever tires of me saying: Anneli, your work is amazing! I will still say so anyway because it really is. Check out some of her print work available for sale at anneli.one3snapshot.com

Chinua Achebe forces 50 Cent to rename movie

2011-09-15T07:26:00.000-07:00

"You know, sometimes it's not the actual story/publication but the comment box that tells you what's really going on in the world"-N

Things fall apart for rapper as Nigerian writer makes him change forthcoming film title to avoid conflict with 1958 novel

50 Cent has been undone by one of Africa's greatest novelists, Chinua Achebe. The rapper's latest movie has been renamed ahead of its release, due to a conflict with Achebe's most famous work.
Things Fall Apart, published by Achebe in 1958, is Nigeria's most famous English-language novel. It has sold more than 8m copies worldwide. Unfortunately, 50 Cent was not aware of this. He spent much of 2010 shooting a film of the same name, the story of an American football player diagnosed with cancer. "It's a project that I wrote, produced and financed myself," he explained last year. Directed by Mario Van Peebles, it premiered at the Miami film festival in March and is expected to be released soon.
Read More..

-p.s. I stole the title of the blog post

How Facebook Ruined My Life

2011-09-09T09:31:00.000-07:00

If I didn't suspect that my mom, family members and possibly impressionable youth that I work with read this blog, this post might have been titled 'Fuck Facebook!'. But as they probably all do it has the above title.

Side note: Between griping about Facebook and Beyonce I can't possibly think of what else to write about. I need to reel it in. Or else by the time I die that's all I'll have to my name.

"Our beloved N, she spent her life hating Facebook and Beyonce."

But in the spirit of my originally intended title I shall now I proceed.

Many or (one) of you may remember my TGFF (Thank God for Facebook) post. Where I described the conflict between members of the TGFF and FGRM Facebook ga a raputa mmadu (Igbo for Facebook will destroy a person). Well I'm pleased to announce to you that the FGRM has now split and a 2^nd generationer: the 'Fuck Facebook Fam' (very hip) has now formed.

Another thing you may need to know is that I'm considering joining this group, although I was one of the original founding members of the TGFF group and aslo the FGRM group as well (don't ask me how, I just got it like that).

You want to know why I am thinking of joining the FFF?

Okay sure I don't have to be on Facebook. I know. I don't know why I still am. I don't really want to go into any of the reasons personally, professionally or otherwise that I am but that's just the case. Using Facebook is like doing every sin. You feel dirty, nasty, you swear never to do it again. The next day, hour okay minute you find yourself doing it again. Wash. Rinse. Repeat.

EVERYTIME Facebook introduces a new 'Privacy' setting method, all they are saying is that they have 'removed' some privacy features that you possibly took comfort in by fooling yourself that you were keeping things private. Yes. There are two ways I could go with this I could go the STIMW (semi-techno-intellectual modern woman) route and actually write down concrete things about what I mean, or I could go the ABG (Angry, not Awkward, Black Girl) route and just ramble about how wack Facebook is.

Basically here's the deal according to an FFF representative that I interviewed the other day.

"Facebook is wack. It will steal your money. Get you fired. Cheat on you. Dump you. Get you arrested. And take all your friends. Everyone will know your business, some business that you don't know they know and some that you didn't even know yourself.

Before you could just hide your page and only add friends if you wanted and only the people you wanted could see things (not really but let's just say). Now as they 'update' their privacy options they take each of those things out one at a time.

So yes what I'm trying to say is, the only way to not have your business out is to leave Facebook Actually that's a lie. It's too late sucker, your business is already out there. It knows where you live and it will come and sleep with your wife and then post the pictures on Facebook and then tag you but hide it from you so that all your friends will see and tumblr tweet it and then you will finally find out and get depressed and then call in sick. But because you checked into 'places' it will know what you're not really sick so it will call your boss and tell your boss that you were not sick but that you were at the mall, so you get fired. And then you can't pay your rent so you get evicted and now you have to crash on your friends couch, you're hungry and broke so you 'borrow' your friends EBT card and get some popeyes and the police finds out and they arrest you. On Friday. And now everyone has tweeted that you're a thief so your friends won't talk to you anymore.

See? I told you Facebook will ruin your life.

So yeah FF!!"

Wow. Well that was a mouthful!

Until next time

(Founder TGFF & TGRM and newest inductee of FFF)

The Murmur of Oakland...A Place to Be

2011-09-04T09:37:00.000-07:00

First Friday of the month just went by and I can't believe it has been a month since I went on my first First Friday Red Bike & Green ride. This post could be very long but I'm not able to do that these days, but I just want to say that some of my thoughts and feelings that color this post are very well written by Chinaka Hodge in this blog post. Where she talks about Red Bike and Green and some of the things it opens up for her.

Well last night I went out on my first Oakland Art Murmur stroll (*collective gasp* from the people). I love living in Oakland and for the past few years have been internally passionate about creating a social connection here mostly in the form of trying to get my SF friends to come out this side of town to party, and hosting parties and other events in Oakland. I still am not up to par as far as really being immersed in the political, youth development, and art world that is unique to Oakland. I wish I was...but as a lot of my work and connections are in SF right now...well that's the way it is.

Artwork by Scott La Rockwell from the Smashbox Contemporary 1st Year Anniversary

ANYWAY so I went to Art Murmur because ms Tossie called and made me aware that it's possible to actually get dressed and go out and be involved, and see, and talk. Gosh. Sometimes I forget that. I am really such a homebody it's ridiculous.

Oakland is changing y'all...or trying at least. And I'm still in the 'I don't know how I feel about it' phase. I'm not a native, nor have I lived here long enough to say 'I am Oakland'. But for the past four going on five years I've paid rent here, partied, thrown parties, have a lot of friends and 'community members' that also live here, and more recently ride my bike to the BART station. The look and feel of it has radically changed even in just the past 2 years.

Can't wait to get my Los Rakas Cd!

Art Murmur was awesome, the persuasion being the inclusion or increase in display of Art from Black people and other people of color, hence increase of color in the stroll.

I went late (haha), and I'm still so shy with taking pics so there are not a lot of photos but I connected with some old and newly acquainted folks doing 'things'.
Anyka of www.bettiono.com celebrated the one year anniversary of Smashbox

Tossie and I ran into Alanna of www.uptownrunway.com who is hosting an event at Mosswood Park on Monday Sep 5.

All in all it was a lovely time out. I didn't do the First Friday ride but I did bike to the Art Murmur...
Check out the rest of the photos on good ol' fb

Put this on your Tongue... Okay how about this?

2011-08-30T12:09:00.000-07:00

It's summer time (okay the end of it) and my newest obsession is mixing some shites.

I always have one of these...phases. God help me. The problem with me is that I lack patience, dilligence and time to pursue it.

Well so yeah if I wasn't lacking those things I would be one of those people with a fancy blog and I would put up a recipe a day, take pictures of the products and write interesting narratives describing my process. But as I'm well-versed on the fact that I don't follow through, here's all you will get.

I'll just let you know, for this transient phase I'm into using my food processor to create homemade salad dressing using fresh herbs, oils and fresh produce, and using my measuring spoon to come up with seasonings from current spices on my rack and dried & fresh herbs from the garden out here.

I always have ideas and fixations going on in my head but also wary that I need to try to not do and be EVERYTHING!

Anyhoo, my friend Tossie was over the other day and requested (coerced me into making) some seasonings, so I was motivated and whipped her up some stuff. The names and mixes are inspired by different types of 'sensibilities' and cultures of cooking food... from the Oregon coast hippies to Mama Iyabo on the streets of Lagos. I also listed what kinds of 'proteins' they will be good on. A lot of them are generally good for cooked vegetables & salad dressings as well.

We did some raw finger dip taste test and seems like it will be good. But I'll wait for more meals and experiments from her so we'll see. Here are a few of photos she took, after my custom seasoning mixing session for her (I took the one above)

Pouts

2011-08-27T09:08:00.000-07:00

I feel so sad...the whole world is clearly and completely falling apart around us and we're just going on as if. Makes me want run around screaming at the top of my lungs: "Everybody shut the fk up, and stop anything you're doing, because nothing we are doing right now matters!!!" But then I decided I'd just update by Facebook instead before going shopping...

Red, Bike & Green First Friday (August 2011)

2011-08-24T11:15:00.000-07:00

I adore my bike. I do I do.

Oh gosh. I can't believe I'm writing a freaking blog post about my bike. This may be worse than posting pictures of food (lol I'll need to check with my sister).

Anyway back to my bike. One thing I love more than my bike.
Oakland.
One thing I love more than Oakland
Black folks.
One thing I love more than Black folks
My friends.

So...
My Bike + Oakland + Black Folks + My Friends = Hella Love!

So I just want to give a shout out to Red Bike & Green and myself and my friends for finally doing our first ride with that crew!

Red, Bike and Green is a community-building collective of Black urban cyclists seeking to improve the physical and mental health, economy and local environment of African Americans by creating a relevant and sustainable Black bike culture. (Learn more)

Almost 11miles in Oakland. It was so delicious. Took some photos throughout the ride (look ma no hands). There were a few hiccups in my ride...i.e. my gears being messed up so that 1st gear the easy gear is as hard as my 3rd gear, and my bike is the heaviest bike on the planet, so when I tried to go up that steep uphill freeway overpass...it was a wrap. But thanks to the guy who was sweet enough to trade bikes so I could make it over...lol even though that was a disaster because then I was so used to riding on this hard gear that his easy gear was like flipping me out...

all in all it was the best time ever. check out the rest of the photos on good ol' facebook.

Speaking of Bikes

2011-08-24T10:50:00.000-07:00

This is FREAKIN Hilarious. Because it's SOOOOO True. This may be only funny to people really familiar with SF or from the Bay Area...but I'm dying laughing here.

Lol @ the Haight and the Castro. Financial District is sooo on point because I always see them fools with their fold up bikes getting on the Bart, and I curse the fact that Bart hasn't somehow considered bikes and commuting... *sigh*

And damn why did they have to play Tenderloin like that?

Ana Goes to School

2011-08-20T16:23:00.000-07:00

Panic on the streets of London.

2011-08-09T11:34:00.000-07:00

If I could write; I would write this. Basically what I'm trying to say is...

Penny Red: Panic on the streets of London.: "I’m huddled in the front room with some shell-shocked friends, watching my city burn. The BBC is interchanging footage of blazing cars and..."

Rioting in London: Police vs. Black Man

2011-08-09T10:16:00.000-07:00

This is basically a bit of a stream of consciousness surrounding the recent London riot after police shot a Black man (London riot you say? What pray tell is it?) Colorlines has a "short and sweet" report about it.

Photo from Colorlines

I'm way past sick of this police vs. black man; colonist vs. black lands phenomenon. It makes me want to throw up and I feel I'm simply so over this human 'race'. And the news around the after-effects drives me crazy, aren't people tired of sick of just narrowing it down to something done by those savage-black-gang-involved-tennis-shoe-stealing youth? We're such a lazy group of people who never will actually fight for change because our lives are really just great, so we pass the blame. And so the media goes ahead and puts up their template news and we go deeper into our discrimination. But sometimes I wonder maybe that's just what we need, for everything to really go to complete shit, and for people to become REALLY uncomfortable so they can pay attention.

Here's one article that begins some exploration of the causes and effect of blaming the youth, it's not that deep (neither is this blog post) but a lot of this is very emotional for me, the comments to the article make me angry and illustrate what is messed up about our societies and how far we have to go in terms of regard for humanity.

This article is particularly interesting to me. I've been intrigued out how much the blackberry is a huge thing especially from the point of Nigerians in Nigeria and the Diaspora. If you know the half of it, you know that blackberries are now getting something akin to a human right.

Because these days twitter and facebook can get you in big shit, and BBMs are less traceable by the authorities (for now), Blackberry is saying that they would give information to the police about people's BBM messages to help aid the arrest of folks who are passing on info about the London riots. So these hackers threaten Blackberry... i.e.

"You Will _NOT_ assist the UK Police because if u do innocent members of the public who were at the wrong place at the wrong time and owned a blackberry will get charged for no reason at all,"

"If you make the wrong choice your database will be made public, save yourself the embarrassment and make the right choice. Don't be a puppet,"

(read the article for more)

Like I said most or all even of the people I know who have Blackberries are Nigerian/African/Caribbean. We support Blackberry, one (too many) of us gets killed, we up-rise, the company that we fish over our moola to fecks us in the ass.

dog eat dog sucka.

the Pencil vs. the Gun

2011-08-03T09:29:00.000-07:00

On this past weekend the SOS Rally/March happened in Washington D.C. Lots of things were said. Lots of things happened. Below are two videos I've selected to highlight.

Okay see now the problem is. Goodness! Okay I'm glad that the people in this video are the ones who are doing it, because if that was me, there would have been some weave pulling and butt kicking. I know I know, not a good example for the kids. sigh. woosah. meditate. visualize.
If you know half of anything about me, you know that I don't joke with providing the best and equal opportunities for all! But I'll just let you watch the video.

Jose Vilson (click to visit his blog) who is one of my favorite educators and activist that keep me going from afar had this to say:

p.s. Jose you need a "Teacher Don't Teach Me Nonsense" tee

I Hella Heart Las Gidi (Video Post)

2011-08-02T10:41:00.000-07:00

I always said that if I even move back to live in Nigeria, I CAN'T live in Lagos again. But this video & song "Ijo" by SIJI makes me want to move back with the caveat that I create a utopia where most days are like this. I'm a proud Igbo but I rep Lag, and this video makes me lightweight wanna jock my inner Yoruba hard! Lol

SIJI - 'Ijo'(Official Video) from SIJI on Vimeo.

P.S. There are 12 dance signs in this vid...I can do 7 of them...I need to get to work on the 5 and a few that are a bit rusty. Until then...back to my summer romance...

novel.

and framing art work

and watching Instant Star on netflix

and drinking my 32oz

of water

and planning

world domination.

yes i'm all that awesome. multi-tasking queen

-n

Art + Social Change: Turf Feinz for Oscar Grant

2011-07-27T10:30:00.000-07:00

When people ask me what we (one3snapshot.com) are about; I can show them this video. Sometimes I get crippled with feeling like I can't do anything about the fkd up state of the world we live in. This is the kind of thing that keeps me going...

What Would the Heroine of my Summer Romance do?

2011-07-25T12:00:00.000-07:00

I was just reading this harlequin romance novel of a woman who is as an exec of an ad/design agency that her father owns. She falls asleep on a late night at the office and dreams (time travels) herself back into the sixties to an ad agency where the women where 'horse corralled' in the typing pool; their only purpose to type and serve coffee to the men while dealing with taunts, jabs and lewd comments (being that they are subordinates) from the men. I'm not sure... because I don't watch it but I imagine it looked something like Mad Men? Anyway...the dream follows her as a love interest of the main boss of the ad agency while she 'fights' to increase the significance and relevance of the women in the ad agency.

I wonder what she would think about this ad...

I got Freshlyground (Video Post)

2011-07-18T09:20:00.000-07:00

Okay I have to officially say that I LOVE summer! And this love has been growing slowly over the past couple of years as I get older. Sure when I was younger I loved school being out and having summer off to travel, but now as an adult I really APPRECIATE it. I feel so free and fearless and welcome the change in life that summer typically brings for me.

I'm not a fan of hot hot weather; so being in the Bay (although it's seemingly gloomy at the time) is perfect for me haha! One thing really exciting in the Bay in the summer is MUSIC. My appreciation for live music is becoming akin to an obsession (okay maybe not yet). I really don't like big mainstream artist concerts where I-watch-a-screen-projector-and-imagine-that-the-artist/- is/are-actually-on-stage.

I love smaller venues: i.e. Brick & Mortar in SF especially when coupled with bands like the South African group Freshlyground. Thanks to my friend Eboni Senai for alerting me to this show. It was awesome! I remember them from 2003/2004 and was into them, then kinda just fell off the tracks, but seeing them got me juiced again. I knew they would be the kind of group I would love seeing live and they did not disappoint.
The sound at B&M was kinda shit that night, but FG pulled through and still rocked out! That combined with the fact that I went with some pretty cool people I adore...ah!

So sadly no pictures...like a dumb butt I didn't charge my camera battery and lost my spare so even though I ran into Zolani the lead vocalist and Kyla Rose, violinist in the bathroom...all I could do was be like 8yqygf98haaivbeuabvefrack!! I was so heated over how stupid I was not being prepared for a night out of music...

But on the flip side, sometimes it's better to just live the moment and not document it all the time. Hehe...

Exhibit A: @ 3:45

Summer Time!

2011-07-05T20:21:00.000-07:00

We've been so busy enjoying the sunny sunny days of summer, this blog has been neglected. Check out some pictures from events we've participated in this summer. It isn't nearly half of what we've gotten into this summer because even though taking pictures are great, it's so easy to forget to enjoy living in the moment. Have a great summer...promise not to let the dust settle much longer around these parts!

Watch: A Tribe Called Quest Documentary

2011-06-10T06:50:00.000-07:00

I was a latecomer to the awesomeness of ATCQ, I found out about them after they went their separate ways. 10+ years later they released a new documentary (thank goodness it's not a reality show) which from the trailer and reviews is going to be amazing.

It's in limited theatrical release but look for it on DVD and Netflix in the near future.

Urban Arts and Design Youth Competition

2011-06-02T18:54:00.000-07:00

My friend Christina sent me this link, and I'm loving it. Definitely want to let as many visual and graphic artists as possible know about it.

UN-HABITAT is inviting youth worldwide to submit original artworks, digital designs and imagery envisioning their future cities. The artistic artworks will be under the theme “My Vision of an Ideal City”. The competition will showcase the diversity of future cities as envisioned by young people.

Aspects of Sustainable cities include Employment, Safety, sports, culture and public places, Social Services such as health and education, Housing, Infrastructure (water, sanitation & transportation and Environment.

The Competition is open to youth from around the world under two categories:

Category 1 is open to individuals aged 15-24
Category 2 is open to individuals aged 25-34

Four winners, two from the global north and two from the global south, will be awarded a cash prize of USD 500 each Eight runners-up will be presented with a USD250 cash prize each
June 28 2011 is the closing date for submissions

MAY FLY BALL house party 4 Report Back

2011-05-23T11:35:00.000-07:00

Wow. Can't believe it's been over a week since this quote epic unquote event went down. That was one of the most common words used to define it. I say it was great kicking it with fam and some of my closest friends from out of town. I ran around crazy but had a few good solid neighbors and family who held it down and made it happen. Front painting wood panels to constructing disco ball twirling apparatuses, to sioux chef duty'ing. It was a lot of work before and after but a lot of fun. I think it will take us a year to recover. Happy May Fly suckas!!

Also here's a blog feature of the party on The2econdFloor.com

Visual Inspiration: Africa Reloaded

2011-05-20T13:48:00.000-07:00

Check out beautiful imagery from Ghubar Magazine's May issue: Africa Reloaded. The first was equally amazing.

Oakland # Water Writes Mural Unveiling!!!!

2011-05-18T10:09:00.000-07:00

In the spirit of color, culture & community. I have to say something about this event
Although I wasn't involved as much as I'd like, lots of folks in my community picked up a paint brush as least once, and Nancy Pili is one of my community organizing artist super heroes.

Obviously this is a one3snapshot certified project. Art. Health. Social Justice all boo'd and sturvs!

If you're in the area check it out, if you ever come to the area make sure you look for it!

Check out the Video

DJ Agana. DJ Baby Tiger. DJ Mixtek.
BRWN BFLO.
HOPIE.
Arts and Crafts with Recycled Materials.
Photo Booth with finished Mural.
Performers and lots of Love.

Free Event! All Ages!

If you post on Twitter, please use #WaterWrites

Feel free to add your photos to our Flickr #WaterWrites group:
http://www.flickr.com/groups/1621370@N20/

New Items In Store

2011-05-09T13:37:00.000-07:00

Spring is here! and we finally have those new goodies we've been hinting about on twitter and we know that you'll love!!


Her Town Oversize Tank	Her Town t-shirt

Revulvalution Tank Dress	Lady Justice t-shirt

All available in men's and women's with varying sizes, so there's something for everyone!

Go to our store to read the story and message behind each design....you know how we do! always staying true to our "culture, art & expression" mission.

As always, thank you ever so kindly for your support!

Featuring our very own Nkei

2011-04-25T13:16:00.000-07:00

NK Focus 7.7 from 77tele.tv on Vimeo.

MAY FLY BALL house party 4

2011-04-25T08:04:00.000-07:00

RSVP to the MAY FLY BALL

MAY FLY BALL house party 4
From studio 54 to the Kalakuta Republic

What is this?
It's the Glamorous Underground when Disco and Afrobeat ruled.
...
Where am I going?
1970s New York & Lagos, Nigeria. You have VIP all access-pass to the greatest parties on earth: at Studio 54 and the Kalakuta Republic.

No Visa required.

What am I wearing?
You're Studio 54 or Kalakuta Republic or you're both? The bottom-line is you're ready to dance the night away. Glamorous themed Dress Code strongly suggested. Please look at these costume ideas or research yourself.
Hippie vests, go-go, and flower power clothes/accessories will be confiscated!! (seriously)

When & How will it happen?
Saturday May 14, 2011
9:16pm-11:06pm | ALL AGES
11:07pm- till you drop | 21 & Over
Styrotopia Oakland, CA (R.S.VP to this party is required; address will be emailed to those attending)

2 Floors of DJ music & dance party + performances + photobooth + era-themed cuisine
Featuring DJs BLUDRAGON, K LO K, PLAYCOOKIE, DOM THE ENGLISH GENTLEMAN & More
spinning Disco, Afrobeat, Dancehall, Sokouss, Naija, Coupe Decale, Hip Hop, Salsa, Brazilian, Dancehall, Hip hop & More

**For questions/info call (510) 854-6784 or email one3people@gmail.com

Just in case you need a reminder about what last year was like Click Here
See photos from last year's May Fly Here and Here

disco and afrobeat kisses,
N

Visual Inspiration: Magic

2011-04-17T17:47:00.000-07:00

PROFESSOR PELLER AND LADY PELLER (1969)
Folorusho Abiola a.k.a. Professor Peller (1941-1997) was a popular professional magician. His children, Kayode and Nike, have followed his footsteps into the entertainment business in the years since his murder on 2nd August 1997 (the same day Fela Anikulapo-Kuti died).
via The Nigerian Nostalgia 1960 -1980 Project

Ladies love...

2011-04-11T07:53:00.000-07:00

Most ladies love these tees that we carry.
Left: You wish I'd never made it this far. Available here
Right: Be beautiful without permission. Available here

How the revolution started

2011-04-07T10:24:00.000-07:00

I heard and read about it in all the news reports about how Facebook started the revolution in Egypt. It's interesting to see the visual representation.
Viva la revolution!

If You Ask Me...

2011-03-30T10:09:00.000-07:00

Sometimes I find it challenging or hopeless finding the way to bridge that gap: art & social change. A lot of times it gets all fuzzy. What does it mean? Is it possible to have one with the other? Without compromising the other? But then I watch videos like these...and I get rejuiced.

One3snapshot approved. Culture. Art. Expression elopes and gets married to Social Change.

Omawumi is so One3snapshot!

Here's what I said:

" VIDEO OF THE YEAR. I got goosebumps watching this... I used to be light weight not quite feel Omawumi but this song is pretty dope...I love the approach to the issues she brought up, and this video is pretty freaking cool. I wish we would have more naija vids like these as opposed to those useless pop champagne and girls in the club."

Art is Health. Health is Social Justice.
Culture. Art. Expression.

Visual Inspiration: This One's For Queens

2011-03-29T08:32:00.000-07:00

Listen to this Les Nubians interview on NPR by one of my favorite hosts Farai Chideya, glad to hear her voice again on NPR. I love the regal pose in this picture.
-via Fly Girls

Visual Inspiration: Hand Painted Shirt Dress

2011-03-14T23:38:00.000-07:00

I was looking through albums of some of our older work and came across this image. The story of how it was sold always brings a smile to my face mainly because it embodies the essence of One3snapshot. We were vending at SF Carnaval, and this beautiful lady who reminds me of Lalah Hathaway walks by our booth then she stops dead in her tracks when she saw this shirt-dress which Anneli hand painted hanging in our booth.

We tell her the history behind it and she totally had to have it. After bargaining down the price, she shook out every last dollar she had in her purse to get this dress. Come to find out she is an artiste! In my head I imagine she wore it to a performance and rocked the crowd because she felt super confident and sexy wearing this one of a kind dress that she alone owns to this day.

Whymsical Warriors Collection

2011-03-07T08:35:00.000-08:00

Womyn should be celebrated every day. Without us there is nothing. This month is Womyn's History month, where we pay special attention to the contribution of womyn that is a lot of times taken for granted. March 8 is International Women's Day. Inspired by this one3snapshot is releasing it's Whymsical Warriors Collection (see pics below) this month to celebrate! Coming soon to an event & website near you!

Art is Health. Health is Social Justice. That's what drives us to create, express and live.

one3snapshot
culture. art. expression

WHYMSICAL WARRIORS

The Town. HerStory.

Lady Justice

ReVulvaLution

Beyonce is a Damn Fool

2011-02-22T08:01:00.000-08:00

In Honor of Black History Month, I'd like to dedicate my post to hating on Beyonce.

Beyonce I hate you.

It's funny 'cos now she keeps claiming that she draws inspiration from Fela...and I'm like since when? Lol now Fela is on Broadway and everybody wanna claim him... it's all good. Haha.

Umm Beyonce, since you love Fela so much, please be reminded that you're EXACTLY the kinda things he talked about that were wack about the system. You embody it all! Sell out oshi...

Our Fela "Teacher Don't Teach me Nonsense" was one of the first shirts we did here at one3snapshot way back before anyone thought of such a strange (but pretty cool) concept of a stage show, because art & social awareness is what we're about. I wanna be like Beyonce here! can you read this? Can you please wear this? Can you please understand this? (lol don't knock my hustle).

I feel like a hypocrite because I'm working on this show ReVulvaLution which is all about exploring some of the issues that women have, one which is women hating on each other. I can't even believe that I'm writing this post. Because I try to have the if-something-is-rubbish-and-you-give-it-energy-by-saying-how-rubbish-it-is, then you're giving it attention and validating it's existence. But this one is so rubbish that it almost makes me laugh. I have this, I don't know if I'll call it a, love-hate relationship with Beyonce... it's more like a umm. Well here's the thing I appreciate some of her songs, I think single ladies & get me bodied are so cleverly arranged, and she's a hard worker and a pretty awesome entertainer.

As a black woman myself who's trying to do her thing, I admire some aspects of her, but in the same vein she irritates the fuck outta me. Sometimes I just wanna see her and spit in her face just a little bit like "You damn fool!!"

To me she's such a copier and a faker. She's irritated me since she said she was doing 'African dance' in the Baby Boy video with Sean Paul. I just can't explain what it is about how she does things that rubs me the wrong way. Maybe it's how she claims that she 'reinvents' herself and makes different characters when really all the time she's just a sexy blonde girl wanna be. Or how even though she's this 'strong black' woman she does not look like one and more and more is removed from that and messes everything up for the rest of us. Or the fact that she has the stereotypical American persona of capitalism and doing whatever it takes to make it to the top even if it's stiletto'ing your friends in the eyeball.

Chichi even blogged about this in 09 in response to this article

Why is a light skinned middle class Black woman from the suburbs of Houston perpetually singing about needing a baller when she made $87M in 07-08 and what role does this play in normalizing transactional relationships (money for sex) between young Black people? read more

I don't know how I can feel as angry at a 'black' woman as I do some white/other knucklehead who appropriates our culture.

I just wanna be like BEYONCE SHUT THE FUCK UP and spit in her face. Lol. Gosh! Now she went and did these photos for the French Magazine, and the Blackface thing may not be the most irritating thing about the shoot... Like I can't decide if I'm more offended by that than by the stupidity and absolute wackness of the execution of the concept.

Now Get me bodied that. Idiot! *rolls eyes*

N

Busy Bee

2011-02-08T14:27:00.000-08:00

Damn. It's been a minute. *insert busy rant* Basically working and trying to live a sane life. Lots of fun and exciting new and old things going on.

Working on the production of ReVulvaLution a performing and visual art event that celebrates the power of women and girls
Creating new work for my dance projects D-Fuse & Whoa!
Working on some new designs for One3snapshot ...the Whimsical Warriors collection in honor of Women's History Month in March & International Women's Day...Coming Soon

Trying to stay healthy, could be better. Will be.

MIMI Magazine: Africa + Me

2011-01-25T22:02:00.000-08:00

The latest issue of MIMI Magazine features an article by our very own Nkei.
Read Africa + Me

Sale. Clearance. Sale!

2011-01-25T13:03:00.000-08:00

Hi There,

At One3snapshot we would like to clear out our inventory so that we can make space for new creations. We are having a mega-huge clearance sale! If you've ever wanted to purchase something but thought it was out of your price range, if you've wanted to buy a gift for someone who you think may like it, if you've purchased way too many things from us and worry that we will drain your wallet if you bought one more thing.

Here's our opportunity to say THANK YOU and your chance to help us get rid of all this stuff, so we can get some more things (and then all the previous issues arise again :)

Visit http://one3snapshot.bigcartel.com/
Help us spread the word. We're on Facebook. Please share the link on your page, tell your friends, mama, sister and cousin too!

Happy Lolliday MEGA-HUGE Sale!!

2011-01-11T09:30:00.000-08:00

Dear one3snapshot friend, family & supporter.

We recently created a new reason to celebrate. Lolliday. What? Well basically Lolliday is a mega combination of everything that you ever liked to celebrate, wanted to but never had a chance and wished other people celebrated. So there Happy Lolliday!

To make room for the biggest Lolliday party ever we are putting EVERYTHING we have in stock on SALE!!

Yes EVERYTHING!

Happy Lolliday!! Help us clean out our closet. So we have space to create new things!

T-shirts for $10 & $5
Earrings as low as $1

Are we crazy? Possibly. But you would be also to not take advantage of this Lolliday celebration.

As if that weren't enough Take an additional 10% off all purchases with check out code LOLLIDAYSALE
Free shipping on orders $100 or more

Celebrate on www.one3snapshot.com
Culture. Art. Expression

I feel so f**king un-LUVED

2011-01-06T08:08:00.000-08:00

Probably this is not relevant to the rest of you out there who haven't for the past 7+ years called yourself "Southwest's Bitch" as proudly as you can. But basically my day today has been ruined by this stupid article that better be an early April Fool's joke!

The short gist of it, for years I have been crazy loyal to Southwest Airlines and if you are half my friend you've probably called me an SWA agent because I've ~~forced~~ suggested to you that you opt to fly Southwest. Part of the reason is their Frequent flier program, where you just got points based on amount of flights flown and not based on miles. So it was easy to track and a student, short hop business traveler or regular 'common' person could still feel 'LUVd' and be encouraged to fly more. Now SWA announced that they spent $100million dollars in the last 5 years to come up with a new program that is shit! WTF? a 100million in 5 years to come up with something that a 5-year old will tell you is a bad idea.

So because I'm so attached emotionally and such to my relationship with Southwest...what started from an angry comment of sorts on their facebook page developed to this letter. I'm so mad!
---------------------------------------------------------------------

Dear Southwest,

I have flown Southwest since I was able to make decisions about what airline I pick and since I became more financially independent from my parents. Since then I have flown southwest as much as I can based on SWA's destination availability.

It is clear that I am not your biggest income generator, and therefore not a target customer to be catered to: I typically buy the cheapest flight option, most of my 'frequent ' trips are 1-hr flights between Oakland and Burbank, and these trips don't occur as frequent as you would like. But still I consider myself a very loyal customer to SWA; even if SWA costs more than another airline I will buy the ticket on Southwest. Not only do I fly SWA as much as I can, I strongly encourage (and sometime threaten) friends and family to do the same. Sometimes I even make decisions about where to or not go based on if Southwest flies there. “I'm sorry I can't come to your wedding, southwest does not fly there.”

My friends and family even call me a Southwest Agent. And they're serious when they say it.

Why was I such an advocate for SWA? Because I felt SWA was different and their business model showed that they 'cared' about 'people' even though they are not the most priviledged or the richest.

Over the years the RR program has been slowly climbed to cater less and less to the 'people', and now it has finally arrived to the top of the mountain.

SWA decides to say 'fuck-off' to their loyal customers and instead cater to the priviledged. I would like to say that this is a case of “biting the hands that feeds you.” But probably we less priviledged and commom people are not the hand that fed southwest, but we were the ones that did as much as we could to support a seemingly alternative and positive business model.

Yes I use the f-word in my letter to SWA because that's how I feel. Like they are really saying that to me.

These days SWA flight attendants & customer service are rude, less helpful and engaging; SWA is creating a more 'class-based' flight reservation option, and now they have a frequent flier program that is just as sucky (for lack of a better word) as any other airline.

I'm sure you don't care that you lost my loyalty. Because now you will 'exchange' me for a rich business man. I understand: It's just business!

Way to go Southwest!

Un-LUV,

Your neigbhor-hood bleeding heart radical!

Onada Small Business Showcase ft. our Chichi

2010-12-14T10:50:00.000-08:00

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...

2010-12-14T10:43:00.001-08:00

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

Visual Inspiration: More Earrings

2010-12-10T08:10:00.000-08:00

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

Why the hell did Janelle Monae Sign to Bad Boy?

2010-12-06T10:56:00.000-08:00

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.

ReVulvaLution! CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS

2010-12-01T11:35:00.001-08:00

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

Black Women, Hair and The Things we Do!

2010-11-29T10:59:00.000-08:00

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?

Don't Hate Me 'Cos I'm Beautiful

2010-11-22T11:25:00.000-08:00

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

Web Developers vs. Web Designers

2010-11-17T14:07:00.000-08:00

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:

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
I have friends who are geeks and to whom this topic directly applies
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

And the Saga Continues: Black Men + Black Women

2010-11-15T13:08:00.000-08:00

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.

Visual Inspiration: Costumes & Mirrors

2010-11-10T09:27:00.000-08:00

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

Source: Jak & Jill

Shop: Earring Explosion

2010-11-09T11:01:00.000-08:00

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

2010-11-09T07:21:00.000-08:00

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~

Four Colored Women who Love Colored Women

2010-11-08T10:51:00.000-08:00

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.

iPhone vs. Android vs. BlackBerry

2010-11-04T10:16:00.000-07:00

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...

Visual Inspiration: Earrings

2010-11-03T10:08:00.000-07:00

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

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

2010-11-01T14:24:00.000-07:00

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

Damn Black Men WTF!!

2010-10-20T08:36:00.000-07:00

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!

Response: 8 Reasons to Date a White Man

2010-10-02T10:30:00.000-07:00

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)

Off The Clock: Restuarant Worker's Appreciation Day

2010-09-28T11:35:00.000-07:00

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.

Expression: Homophobes vs. Gays

2010-09-24T21:34:00.000-07:00

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."

Visual Inspiration: Nollywood IT Girls

2010-09-22T09:10:00.000-07:00

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?

Visual Inspiration: The September Issue

2010-09-18T13:18:00.000-07:00

Ghubar Magazine

Night Club Map of Harlem Renaissance

2010-09-13T10:43:00.000-07:00

"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”)."

Source

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

Culture: Do you Need a Vacation?

2010-09-08T10:41:00.001-07:00

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,

My Life in the Mediterranean Sunshine.

2010-09-01T21:41:00.000-07:00

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!

Around d'Way Earrings

2010-08-29T18:19:00.000-07:00

New item listed on our online shop

Buy this Earring here

SF Arts Market + One3snapshot

2010-08-29T08:59:00.000-07:00

We will be hawking tees and some fresh off the pliers earrings! BayAliens come by!

Expression: Africa + Me

2010-08-24T14:13:00.000-07:00

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

Ify Aniebo

2010-08-18T06:18:00.000-07:00

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]

Follow the Dirty Oil Money

2010-08-14T12:45:00.000-07:00

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?

Culture: The Plus & Minus about Nigerian Women

2010-08-11T13:00:00.000-07:00

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

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

2010-08-09T15:51:00.000-07:00

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

2010-08-09T15:25:00.000-07:00

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!

Visual Inspiration: The Radiant Child

2010-08-07T11:43:00.000-07:00

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]

Expression: Prop 8

2010-08-05T08:54:00.000-07:00

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

Culture: Things Trendy People Like Summer 2010

2010-08-01T16:30:00.000-07:00

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

casually hold your blackberry in your LEFT hand, (see loosely but surely so it doesn't get dropped or stolen)
have a prettily decorated mini cupcake in the right (preferably red velvet as it would up your posh status),
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

Visionary

2010-07-28T13:02:00.000-07:00

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.

Visual Inspiration: Africa In Style

2010-07-23T06:44:00.000-07:00

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

Art: Kosibah

2010-07-10T17:41:00.000-07:00

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]

Culture: Can You Shop BLACK?

2010-06-30T12:52:00.000-07:00

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

Visual Inspiration: May Fly Ball

2010-06-28T08:06:00.000-07:00

This does not look like a photograph taken at a house party in 2010!

Celebrating 5 years with MIMI

2010-06-17T06:22:00.000-07:00

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.

World Cup

2010-06-11T06:01:00.001-07:00

Let's do this!

Red means Stop!

2010-06-05T12:17:00.000-07:00

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

Drumming for Fela

2010-06-02T10:06:00.000-07:00

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.

Dresses for the Ball

2010-05-10T06:20:00.000-07:00

Continuing from the previous post, here are some more ideas to inspire looks for
MAY FLY BALL house party #3 ...when the Prohibition went to Harlem

From the movie Idlewild:

Won't it be awesome to come dressed in this? You can drop $350 for a close look-alike by Sue Wong, shop vintage stores in your area or Forever21. Alternatively, you can mix & match a DIY feather skirt with a bustier top to recreate this look. The hairstyles are a great source of inspirations as well... chignons and buns accented with hair ornaments

From the movie Dreamgirls:

You can find Flapper dresses at Forever21. The look will not be complete without a short bob and a feather to the side to recreate the signature flapper look.

From Amerie's Essence Magazine Photo-shoot Nov '09

Third Mainland Bridge- One3snapshot.com

One3snapshot Hand Painted Bags Now Available for Purchase

We Can Tell The Future

Holiday Ideas - Greeting Cards

Sat. Nov 19 Catch Us If You Can

Get 15% Off Fela Items In Our Store

The Jaguda.com Tee Pre-Sale

Marissa Arterberry: Superhero Style Goddess

The Afro-Urban Dance Experience: First Class Down: Nov 1: Track List & Video Post

How to MOVE your Money To a Local Credit Union & Not Die Trying

Crawling the Art of the Twin Cities

How Can the 99% Occupation Movement Actually Change Things?

the 99% ignored in Arts Funding #Occupy

Visual Inspiration: Nobel Ladies

Gollywood Takeover?

BouGhettaDiaries: N'Kale's Slawlad

Thelonius Monk’s advice to saxophonist Steve Lacy (1960)

Visual Inspiration: Art by Anneli Akinde

Chinua Achebe forces 50 Cent to rename movie

How Facebook Ruined My Life

The Murmur of Oakland...A Place to Be

Put this on your Tongue... Okay how about this?

*Pouts*

Red, Bike & Green First Friday (August 2011)

Speaking of Bikes

Ana Goes to School

Panic on the streets of London.

Rioting in London: Police vs. Black Man

the Pencil vs. the Gun

I Hella Heart Las Gidi (Video Post)

Art + Social Change: Turf Feinz for Oscar Grant

What Would the Heroine of my Summer Romance do?

I got Freshlyground (Video Post)

Summer Time!

Watch: A Tribe Called Quest Documentary

Urban Arts and Design Youth Competition

MAY FLY BALL house party 4 Report Back

Visual Inspiration: Africa Reloaded

Oakland # Water Writes Mural Unveiling!!!!

New Items In Store

Featuring our very own Nkei

MAY FLY BALL house party 4

Visual Inspiration: Magic

Ladies love...

How the revolution started

If You Ask Me...

Visual Inspiration: This One's For Queens

Visual Inspiration: Hand Painted Shirt Dress

Whymsical Warriors Collection

Art is Health. Health is Social Justice. That's what drives us to create, express and live.

one3snapshotculture. art. expression

WHYMSICAL WARRIORS

Beyonce is a Damn Fool

Busy Bee

MIMI Magazine: Africa + Me

Sale. Clearance. Sale!

Happy Lolliday MEGA-HUGE Sale!!

I feel so f**king un-LUVED

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.

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

Visual Inspiration: More Earrings

Why the hell did Janelle Monae Sign to Bad Boy?

ReVulvaLution! CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS

Black Women, Hair and The Things we Do!

Don't Hate Me 'Cos I'm Beautiful

Web Developers vs. Web Designers

And the Saga Continues: Black Men + Black Women

Visual Inspiration: Costumes & Mirrors

Shop: Earring Explosion

Vending: SF African Drum & Dance Festival

Four Colored Women who Love Colored Women

iPhone vs. Android vs. BlackBerry

Visual Inspiration: Earrings

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

Damn Black Men WTF!!

Response: 8 Reasons to Date a White Man

Off The Clock: Restuarant Worker's Appreciation Day

Expression: Homophobes vs. Gays

Visual Inspiration: Nollywood IT Girls

Pouts

one3snapshot
culture. art. expression