CHRIS OFILI



I was completely consumed by Chris Olifi’s new exhibition at the Tate Britain. Immediately drawn to vibrant colours and intricately ornamented paintings bringing together over 45 paintings from the mid 1990s to the present. Ofili’s pencil drawings and watercolours left me gazing in a trance. He built up his international reputation through hard work underpinned by his cultural beliefs and drawings from a wide range of influences from Zimbabwean cave paintings and blaxploitation. He moved to Trinidad in 2005 and adopting a simplified palette suggests to me that Ofili’s extraordinary talent for simplicity and emotional depth resonates through his current exhibition.

The highlights for me were Blue Riders 2006 (oli, acrylic and charcoal on lined 278 4 x 200.2). Confronted by this deep blue sensory overload sent shivers all over. Followed by The Upper Room (installation of thirteen paintings) The more you study them the more they leave you wondering what more can he offer us.
A must see exhibition www.tatebritain.co.uk

YABBA AFROBEAST FUNK

For the past four years this culturally diverse group "YABBA FUNK" have been working the London underground club scene creating a huge following from the young to the old no sitting down in your seats. They draw influences from Alhaji K Frimpong, Fela Kuti, Oscar Sulley but to name a few. You may ask what do the group stand? In the words of their commander and chief Richmond Kessie "we want to revive Afrobeat with a twist and get people dancing again" For those of you who are unfamiliar with the term "Afrobeat" its roots lie in Ghanaian and Nigerian sounds from the 60s and 70s as well as funk, broken beat and jazz.

"YABBA AFROBEAST FUNK" is on general release definitely one for your collection!!

ACQUA di PARMA

As I walk through any beauty counter, I am always drawn to the Acqua Di Parma concession, and proceed to do what I "always do" give myself a couple of squirts of any fragrance...usually the closest. I absolutely adore the classic cologne, but can't get myself out of my Jo Malone Fragrance Block to actually purchase any (5 years and counting.) Except for the used bottle of Violet a friend passed on. Ok, so scarf and body adequately doused in Acqua di Parma, I loved it! It was light, fresh tangy lemon with hints of lavender...all my favourite scents and for £46 pounds a steal for such a large 180ml bottle...if only I'd paid attention to the small(ish) print..It was their Room Fragrance! In hindsight, you could see how I got confused it is called COLONIA, same as the classic Eau de Cologne but half the price. So, the verdict, the scent evaporated off me by the time I turned the corner, BUT..my scarf still has a beautiful citrus scent, and I have been asked on 2 occasions what fragrance it is..I'll leave you to guess what I said....

Love = Responsibility

I'm always telling my boys how television rots the brain. Mostly they just ignore me but every once in a while will actually humour me: "Do you mean like your brain stops working, mum?" "EXACTLY!" I tell them.

It’s the age old dilemma of doing as I say rather than as I do because (I admit) I probably watch more TV than I need to. Though there is some real junk out there on the silver screen these days (Eastenders and Total Wipeout not included) every once in a while the networks come up with a real gem.

Welcome to Lagos on BBC Two is, in my opinion, is one such diamond in the rough (with emphasis on the word rough).

This programme focuses on the lives of people of the slums of Lagos and on the face of it, the inhabitants should be pitied. But on the contrary, they are rich in the ways of family, work ethic and get-up-and-go-go-go!

There are many lessons that one may take away from the BBC three-part series. For example, in the lesson on recycling we see how the discarded waste is trawled through and used in enterprising ways such as for creating landfills and profitable industry. Onto 'Determination 101' and we see how our protagonists work long, hard hours in extreme conditions (we're talking waste grounds and sewers here) in order to support their families. This syllabus in this school of life in Lagos including 'Citizenship', 'Home Economics' and my personal favourite, 'Every-Cloud-has-a-Silver-Lining'.

It's the kind of television I'm happy to watch with children as it raises interesting topics for thinking and discussing and learning. It simply reminds us of the basic values of family and the equation relating love and responsibility.

Brother, I'm dying - Edwidge Danticat

Few writers have the ability to make their work seem and sound effortless, like a friend recounting an event or a grandmother telling folktales to her grandchild. Edwidge Danticat is one of these few. Whether its fiction or fact, she is able to speak to her reader like a friend, with no pretences, in a frank and open way that engages the reader and makes them believe and love the stories she tells.
I read the synopsis of this book some time ago and found it so sad that although I wanted to read and find out what exactly happened to this uncle of hers who died in custody of American immigration officials, I couldn't help but put it off until I felt my stomach could take such apparent tragedy.
Yet Brother, I'm dying is so much more than just a tragic tale of a man wrongly accused of entering America illegally, it is in essence Ms Danticat (pronounced Dan-tih-cah)'s memoirs. Beautifully and simply written, it tells of her time in Haiti living with her aunt and uncle recounting the many stories of her fascinating and yet ordinary Haitian family. It also tells the story of Haiti, its beauty, its people and yes its political turmoil and the effects of the natural disasters it has endured over the years.
What makes this book special is the thread of love that runs throughout every page and every chapter. The characters love for each other is so endearing and so heartwarming, it makes you wonder whether your family's story could evoke such admiration and empathy. Far from being flamboyant, larger than life characters, Ms Danticat's family members are simple country folk but with so much wisdom to impart, so much hope and aspirations that we can all relate to their trials and tribulations. Her father and his brother are the subject of the book and its title and their love for each other is incredibly strong inspite of their physical distance throughout much of their adult life.
The content of Brother I'm dying to some extent betrays its title because it is a story about lives and how they intertwine, about the ties that make families strong and also about the circle of life. We go from Edwidge the child of four to Edwidge the mother of one. Ms Danticat shifts from past to present all the while leaving us in awe of her and her family's story.
This is a stunningly written memoir that you will enjoy and cherish and that may even evoke a profound appreciation for your own family or at the very least for life and its simple beauty.

M & S Cocoa-coloured tights

I love wearing skirts which is sometimes not conducive to the weather so out come the tights. In the winter its an easy choice, opaque tights invariably in black but sometimes in dark brown. I'm less keen on the brightly coloured variety as I have yet to see anyone whose legs they flatter. In the Spring however, when the temperatures are not quite right for bare legs, finding tights becomes a battle. Most shops do nearly black tights which for the record do not translate to flesh coloured for dark-skinned people. I imagine this must come as a shock to most retailers who seem to offer it as the only choice for people with darker skin. I confess that before a very kind and very wise friend told me about an alternative, I too used to wear these grey looking tights that were just as obvious looking as me wearing the 'flesh' coloured tights also offer or black tights for that matter.
In come cocoa-coloured tights which I discovered last spring much to my delight. This colour is stocked by Marks and Spencers albeit not in all its ranges, you can find them in their 10 dernier and 7 denier ranges as well as most of the Body Shaper ranges. These are indeed flesh coloured tights for people with darker skin, they look fantastic on and often people have to look closely or in the case of my three year old son, touch your legs to confirm that you are indeed wearing tights. The result is that I can now wear shorter skirt without fear of having unsightly goose pimply legs when the Spring wind starts to rage.
The only downside is that these tights are not available from all branches but they can be bought online with prices ranging from £3.50 for the 7 denier ladder resist range to £5 for the body shapers which also does wonders for your tummy.

The Blind Side

My first reason for wanting to see this film was the lovely Ms Sandra Bullock. In the extremely self-obsessed industry that is Hollywood, she seems to have managed to stay well grounded and most importantly doesn't appear to take herself too seriously. I also wanted to see it because I'd heard that it was a based on a true story about a white wealthy republican woman who took in a homeless black boy. Although I seldom admit it, I'm something of a firm believer in the good of people, regardless of colour or creed, I think that at the core we are decent beings who want to help and support each other. Before you scoff, note I say at the core....for some people there are tons of mean-spirited layers to peel off before you can find their goodness.
The Blind Side is a lovely film, one that warms your heart and makes you question what you would do in such a situation. Sandra Bullock plays Leigh Anne Tuohy brilliantly; although she is a Christian Republican, there is no sanctimonious preaching and hardly any reminders of her family's political views except for when she finally comes across a democrat. She is a reminder of what a good Christian should be like, or rather what a good person should be like...regardless of their religious beliefs and political views.
If I had one criticism of this film it would be that her family seemed unrealistically perfect; perhaps this was intentionally done to provide a stark contrast with Michael's life or perhaps this really is what the Tuohy family is/was like. Whatever the reason, my feeling is that watching a beautiful couple who never argue, and children who don't seem to give their parents any cause for concern make it hard for most of us to relate. However this was a minor point, the film in itself was well done and Sandra Bullock is deserving of her Oscar Award. The key factor that makes The Blind Side special though is that it's based on fact not fiction.
All in all, a great film - even though American football is still a mystery to me, I was left with a warm feeling and a smile on my face.

Tinga Tinga Tales

I just happened upon this new animated children's series on Cbeebies and now my kids and I are in awe and in love! Tinga Tinga Tales is funny, entertaining, colourful, vibrant and full of wonderful wisdom reminding us of the beauty of the African continent. The animal characters are all interesting and engaging - telling stories in the African 'How' and 'Why' interactive tradition. My three year old son usually dances along to the theme tune whilst my six year old daughter sings along with the chorus 'why, why, why, why, why'.
Another reason for my love affair which I hasten to add is rare when it comes to the children's programmes most channels have to offer, is that the production company behind Tinga Tinga tales have done their research which makes for a refreshing change. Usually Africa is lumped together like a country with a Liberian speaking swahili or a Zulu wearing a traditional Nigerian dress. Not so in Tinga tinga tales; the title itself comes from art form which was introduced by a Tanzanian called Edward Tingatinga in 1968. Still popular today especially with tourists visiting Dar-es-Salaam, the animation is based on Tinga Tinga art. We also hear and learn a number of swahili words like 'asante' and 'polepole' in each episode thus cementing our knowledge of and appreciation for the Eastern region of the African continent. It should therefore come as little or no surprise to learn that each short 11 minute episode takes up to nine months to complete. No stone is left unturned - obviously, and all of it done in Kenya no less with a collaboration between Tiger Aspect production (the smart funny people behind the Charlie and Lola series) and the very young and talented and Kenyan, Homeboyz Entertainment.
As if all of that wasn't enough there is also a charitable initiative which aims to give back to education in Africa. Fantastic or what?....so here's an opportunity for us to feel good on the inside and on the outside.

Cbeebies who brought us gems like Charlie & Lola has been the first to snap up Tinga Tinga tales although it is supposed to receive wider distribution later. I really do hope it does, as this is a fantastic series that your children and you 'inner big kids' will adore and want to watch over and over again. Tinga Tinga Tales is on Cbeebies weekdays at 4.10pm http://www.tingatingatales.com/

The Stylist

I love this magazine so much that if it weren't free I'd gladly pay for it. Its a woman's magazine in every sense of the word - positive stories about women, beautiful clothes but not too many....handbags we adore, shoes glorious shoes and interviews that focus on the interviewee's achievement be they famous or not.
Stylist is a breath of fresh air from cover to cover. One of my favourite sections has got to be The Style List - a bit like Oprah's the O list but with things that you can afford. Anything ranging from dainty cake stands to must have bags to sinfully decadent boxes of chocolate. The list is as varied as it is enticing and completely lacking in pretence.
Stylist's first edition featured Angelina Jolie with the title 'Mum's home' - whoever came up with that strapline to go with the stunning Ms Jolie deserves a pay-rise. It caught our attention and made us read and want more. Not wanting to dismiss British magazines but The Stylist reads to me like African-American magazines like Essence and Ebony. It is celebratory, focusing on positive stories about women rather than prying into people's lives in order to feed our insatiable apetite for celeb gossip. Stylist reminds us why we're incredible, why we should be proud of all that we've achieved, and why we should celebrate the things that make us who we are. It doesn't just focus on famous women, we also get to read about ordinary women whose achievements may well mirror our own.
Being a UK based magazine, the listings wont be relevant for everyone but I still think that its worth a read whether you're based in Lome, Rotterdam or Arkansas. If you are in London, then you can pick up a copy in central London on Tuesday evenings or Wednesday mornings. If not then check out www.stylist.co.uk and Happy reading!