Tag Archives: CULTURE

VIDEO: 10 AMAZING FACTS WHY AFRICAN WOMEN WEAR WAIST BEADS

Posted on Categories CULTURE, LIFESTYLE & ARTSLeave a comment

Beads are usually small round pieces of pierced glass, wood or metal strung together to serve as adornment for the waist, neck or ankle beads. Besides beautification, beads are worn for many other reasons. Back in the days, a type of bead worn by someone tells you who or where the person is coming from or the position of the person in the family or society.

Today we are going to talk about waist-beads. Waist-beads are very attractive and come with a lot of advantages and also there are many mysteries surrounding wearing of beads. Lets take a look at some reasons why African women invest in them.

Watch video below.

Video credit: 2nacheki

Did You Know Kenyan communities bury chiefs and elders in a sitting position?

Posted on Categories CULTURE, LIFESTYLE & ARTSLeave a comment

While in many communities, the dead are buried lying down and usually with their arms bent and hands folded across the chest, a number of Luhya sub-tribes in western Kenya opt to bury their dead in a sitting position.

The custom of burying people seated is believed to have originated from the precolonial King of the Wanga community, Nabongo Mumia.

      The Wanga kings are wrapped in animal skin; and a stool, the symbol of power, placed on their head.

The Wanga are not the only ones with such a tradition. The Bukusu, Idakho, Tachoni and Kabras also conduct the burial of their elders this way.

Not only do they believe that burying the dead the ‘proper’ way will ward off evil spirits but also show respect to the elders as they go to the other world. It is also a way of connecting the community with the king, who they believe is watching over his family even in death.

Even in modern days, the tradition is still observed but with various modifications. When King Nabongo Japheth Wambani Rapando died in 2012, his coffin was constructed to look like a reclining chair.  It was designed and built before the king passed on.

The first Wanga king, Nabongo Shiundu was buried in one of his wives’ house. Wamanya was the mother of King Mumia. His bones were later removed and buried at Matungu, the traditional site for the Nabongos.

Before the burial, the next king must be selected. Unlike in “Wakanda”, where mortal combat was the way to determine the ruler, in the Wanga community, the elders anoint a successor from the late king’s sons. The chosen son will then spear an animal, which must fall next to the king’s body to indicate the king’s approval of the elders’ choice. Anything less, the process has to be repeated.

The skin from the bull is usually wrapped around the dead king.

The climax of the funeral ceremony is the coronation of the next king. The elders give him the omukasa (copper bracelet symbolising the Nabongoship) and dress him in a colobus monkey skin.

 

ORIGINALLY APPEARED ON: FACE2FACEAFRICA

 

EXCLUSIVE: MEET CELEBRITY STYLIST AND THE MASTER MIND BEHIND ‘FEAR NO MAN’ CLOTHING

Posted on Categories PEOPLE & PLACES3 Comments on EXCLUSIVE: MEET CELEBRITY STYLIST AND THE MASTER MIND BEHIND ‘FEAR NO MAN’ CLOTHING

Ever genuinely wondered how, where or when to kick start a career in fashion styling? For you, maybe, you are just looking to satisfy your curiosity about the people behind some of the biggest brands in the fashion industry. Either ways, you’re in luck with one.

Hold my beer…..

Team Lyfe republic hooked up with top fashion stylist Prince Boamah Kuleape, and talked about how he got into styling, the workflow, his ambitions, and much more. For the past 5 years, Mr. Boamah has been running the KULAPERRYOUTLOOK (boutique) and for him, working in fashion doesn’t seem like a career choice, but a fate that he just couldn’t resist. With years of professional styling experience, Kula Perry has styled some of our favorite music videos and celebrities. He tells us that his career has been a journey with many lessons learned, attesting to the fact that nothing comes easily.

After enduring Accra’s annoying traffic, the team is finally settling in for a great interview with Kulaperry, the celebrity stylist. He is in high spirits, and we already start throwing questions at him. However, like a typical Ghanaian host, he suspends his answers and offers some good wine.

We accept and take sips, still dying to hear him give us answers already!

Grinning with finesse, he answers the first question.

Q: Tell us a bit about the person or team behind your brand

A: Kulaperry is the person behind FEAR NO MAN. A brand developer, stylist and the lead creator for FEAR NO MAN. Once driven by enthusiasm for the FEAR NO MAN brand and has eagle eye for fashion.

Q: Tell us about your brand (FEAR NO MAN)

A: The FEAR NO MAN clothing line is one of the composites of Kula Perry clothing. Kula Perry clothing is however comprised of three lines, which are fear no man, Royalty and Loyalty.
The FEAR NO MAN clothing line logo portrays a white human face with a red strip across the eyes of the face. The logo represents the African heritage. The color white was chosen for the face because it stands for cleanliness and purity while the red color for the strip represents the toil, hustle and struggle of Africans endured in achieving their dreams. The entirety of the logo simply seeks to highlight on the practice of seeing and speaking no evil. FEAR NO MAN is a line that stands as a symbol for people who fear nobody except God.

Q: How was the start up of (fearnoman)

A: The brand was officially launched in 2017 but has been under feasibility study and research for the past 5 years. The brand has a 15 years development plan. The whole idea was carefully planned. Starting with a few tee-shirt which I wore around and that got the attention of the people. Gradually, they wanted it. We had to focus on that and design different merch.

Q: Can u describe briefly how your outfits are made? Are they all made here in Ghana?

A: The designs are based on my personal life experiences with the idea of evicting Fear and inspiring Hope and no they are made outside Ghana, depending on the type of merch.

Q: Why are you in this particular business?

A: Because fashion is a lifestyle and there’s more to it than making money. It changes life

Q: Is it profitable?

A: Yes, so far as it pays me and enables me to help others

Q: How long were you running the business before you started paying yourself?

A: Started paying myself after the first year, because a lot went into marketing and brand positioning.

Q: Where do you see your brand in the nearest future?

A: It will be the biggest household brand worldwide. Rubbing shoulders with Adidas, Supreme, Gucci etc.

Q: What are the three hard to spot pitfalls that are critical to avoid in your field?

A: Avoid loans. Avoid negative energy and avoid imitating other people’s work.

Q: What’s that thing you’ve told yourself that kept you going during your darkest hour?

A: God is able.

Q: What advice do you have for those out there who want to set up their own businesses too

A: First of all ,every young individual hoping to be successful, should believe in God. Do a lot of research into what they want to do

Q: Any special story u want to share?

A: No,but what I would like to share is that, every talented individual should believe in God and keep pushing with passion

Q: How do people reach you if interested in your brand?

A: Anyone can reach me through the following….
Social Media:IG;(@fearnomanclothing/ @kulaperry)
Facebook:KulaperryGh
Snapchat:Kulaperry

Locate his outlook(s) at Madina Ritz Junction Office, North Kaneshie, adjacent Charter House, Manghin road or contact him on +233244102888/ +233576837911