Hey, did you know?

I am a POP partner? It's really really exciting. I have been a bit quiet but my posts will be a lot more frequent as soon as Pop'Africana is in stores. Please note that POP and POP'AFRICANA has nothing to do with each other , like Shala said, we just like each other. :) we really do. I mean while not keep it all POP. :) looking forward to meeting TAVI and KIWI and hey Shala, I miss you. xx
visit my POP BLOG ( oroma.thepop.com )

:)

By: Oroma

This is the smile of someone took a weekend break to get away from work, who didn't stare at a computer screen for two days, who had a martini for a change and didn't wear any black heels all weekend.

Though work didn't completely leave my mind, I can't complain about getting some me time. And this is the lucky guy who got all my love and kisses - Serengeti, the Tiger. :)

"Bling Bling- Keep Me All Shiny While I Make That Ching Ching"

By: Oroma
Title Credits: A favorite line from a J-dilla track " diamonds"

Hahaha hi guys, I'm back! I took last weekend off to sleep- most people who know me know I don't get much sleep in. The Chandeliers at the Trump Towers , where I stayed had the Prada spring 2010 collections written all over them and I thought to take a photo. [  first photo ] I like it because it's safe bling- you know, the kind you don't feel too guilty wearing.

1, because it isn't real and 2, it’s an easy trend to interpret ( just wear a lot of clear, plastic looking, oversized chandelier inspired earrings or necklaces as the only jewelry or accessory and you will good to go but as for me, my interpretation will be in shoes- this collection is the perfect excuse to wear 6 inch stripper Lucite which by the way are one of the most comfortable slip-ons I own.

Oh my Gosh Dani, this is so right on

By: Oroma
Art: Daniela Yohannes revamps Lara Stone and Freja in this French Vogue Editorial.

How Pop is this? More from this series that on my POP BLOG ( oroma.thepop.com ) check it out. *Dani is currently doing a project in Thailand. I am a big fan of her work so you will see a lot of her here.

By the way, she said this series is inspired by my big new hair, "the california drive wig"  :) TREND: a much Cuter, more feminine Safari trench.

Egyptian Extravaganza by John Galliano

My stomach will remain knotted until one of the MIU MIU Mary Jane Shoes and printed dresses are mine

By: Oroma
Photo: MuiMui.com

There is just something about the softness of the print and design that every princess and editor must have.

It's the fact that this is one of those dresses and shoes and makes you glow from the inside out. It's perfects everything. I'm so in love.

GRACE JONES on VOGUE BLACK

By: Oroma

Photo: Scanned in from Interview Magazine( the 40th anniversary issue)

The Grace Jones clip, on the Vogue Black  is BEYOND.. I die.

She's everything and everything and I'm so turned on by this photo.

The Hair Chronicles #1

By: Oroma

Last night, I wore my new hair  which I have named "California drive" to an interesting party. I also went to Tao to say hello to that super Buddha. I am wearing a Sheer Silk Organza top by Top Shop + Inside, another sheer chemise by Agent provocateur+ a remixed, remade leather skirt by me.

I'm going to go have some much fun with California drive hahahaha but underneath, the kinks of African hair grows slowly but healthy waiting for the sun to kiss it to perfection. in other words,my hair is growing underneath it all. :) I am a wig lover but  I have made a vow never to perm my hair or shave it all off like that again.

She so fucking cool and stuff..

I'm talking about Tolula Adeyemi who suggests that when you are having a bad day or have just argued with your mom or your boyfriend just broke up with you to put on super red lipstick and a pair of your highest heels and go out. That it makes everything ok I agree ( I will add a soft scent like flora by Gucci or something old like black pearls by Elizabeth Taylor)
watch her on the recently launched VOGUE BLACK and while you're there , get some beauty tips from the amazing Pat McGrath's. I love both women.

A visitor I never want to leave.

By: Oroma

Don't go, stay with me forever. Ha-ha, that line is usually reserved for an amazing lover but look at theseeeeeeeee .

They are from the Mui Mui spring 2010 collection by the way and we are using it in tomorrow's shoot.

Thank You and Other Random Thoughts

By: Oroma

Thank you for all the lovely comments, phone calls, Skype chats and fan page wall post about the sneak peak. I’m really excited as well and really anxious to finish up, get it in stores and get the hell out of this cold. On so what now?............. popafricana.com is under construction- information how to pre-order and a list of where to buy will be posted amongst other things as soon as the site is up and running. On so what’s happening right now?........... I’m excited about tomorrow- I’m shooting a really dreamy story with Shala and

my power team Jennifer and Jawara. The mere idea of it alone puts a little smile on my face. On Imitation and copycats I am bound to inspire because I stay inspired- Enjoy the hairstyle sweetie, I’m really flattered.  Besides I saw it coming, you paid to much attention to it, complimented me one too many times…. I mean it- I’m really flattered xoxo Sadly this only leaves you a victim of “catch up with Oroma and follow the leader” On winter….. Omgosh end now.

Baloji explains...

By: Oroma
Words: Baloji
Photo: Nicola Karakatsanis
Thanks: Bart Deweer

A few weeks back, a friend put me on to Baloji an artist from the Congo with a sound, video and vibe nothing short of magnetic. The concept of his video, "Karibu ya Bintou" sparked an interest  and  given that I don’t understand French, I asked Baloji to explain some things particularly, the mask on his album cover, the skeletal outfits in the video and the history of wresting in the Congo. If you have not seen Baloji’s video “KARIBU YA BINTOU” please watch it here to better understand my questions and his explanations. “Baloji means sorcerer in Chiluba and Swahili It’s like a curse, like carrying part of the devil or the bad side of things and you know how sorcery is viewed in Africa. People fear them, fear their powers, fear that they can put bad spirit inothers food and drinks and assumed that they are connected to bad forces. They call this curse the shadow because it follows its host until it gets what it is asking for ! So I struggled with my name for years before asking my mother why she chose this name. She explains it was to pay hommage to an uncle who had the same name and saved the life of my very own father….so in the same sense, sorcerers can also save people to contrary belief and that is what the poet is talking about in the intro of karibu vidéo. The mask in the vidéo is part of this fétish Africans have with sorcery. The album cover is also referenced to the mask. It has a Persian motifs and looks Mexican but it is really inspired by the Congolese art forms.  ( more on this in Pop'Africana )

Congo has a tradition of wrestlers based on the US WWF(WWE) but with an African twist which is so because of the  religious and mystical aspect to it. Think of it as the (dragon ball meets hulk hogan and the street fighters video game characters) So the vidéo is telling my story- of how I am going into Kinshasa, coming out of the lake city center saying we make visible the mask everybody is wearing by hiding. The second aspect of the video is where the wrestlers were preparing in the morning of the fight by using rituals and going in the street at noon with their trucks and fanfares to inform the city that there will have a match at 4 o’clock ! describes the energy and excitement of Kinshasa I wanted this vidéo to describe Kinshasa as I see it « a madmax décor/backdrop » It’s frentic and chaotic! Nothing is predictable or under control, the justice is lost in their own mess but people have such amazing strength that they keep on fighting even if nothing works. It’s like they keep on trying to prétend that nothing happened since the end of the Zaire regime, that the situation is manageable. Kinshasa is wild and on the other end it keeps waiting for help like a motherless child. More of this conversation and Baloji’s explanations in the coming issue of Pop’Africana. Watch video HERE

My fashion week has been a bit dry

By: Oroma

and I haven’t had the slightest interest in leaving my workspace. It’s just so hard and when I do I’m constantly knocking myself like fuck fuck fuck I have work to do. But last night wasn’t so bad, I went to a film screening in Soho –a film called “Paris” by a former member of the Sex Pistols,“ well I’ll fuck her then if you don’t want to” a line from the film pretty much sums it up-total dry British sexist humor but the vibe was nice. I was really there to meet up with an acquaintance

but met a few new friends to be which is always good. St. Germain who sponsored the film screening not only makes amazing postcard style campaigns that I collect but awesome drinks too and Stanton social, where we ended the night is not bad for tapas at all. One of those nights where you come back and say not a bad night at all type thing.

Clogs-R-us

By: oroma
Wearing it with socks makes it look like a bootie.:)