6th of October 2012 was a date that brought Africa’s crafts, foods, clothes and jewellery art and Accesories to Bethnal Green’s Rich Mix. The event was free and ran from 12-7. Perfect for all walks of life…from professionals who had work next day (you know that dreaded Sunday evening feeling)…to young families looking for a fun filled entertaining day for their kids.
Alas we have Open the Gate's African Market! Zoop!
My friend Huda Ismail, owner of Xalwo Crafts had a stall for the day so I knew I had to go! She exhibits somali crafts and clothing from Somalia. Check her out:
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/Xalwo.Crafts1
Twitter: @xalwocrafts
Xalwo crafts had a colorful stall exhibiting precious items of history and culture. This was merely an exhibition and a great way to spark interest about Somali culture and I guess provide a lesson for those who know little about it.
So... when I first entered the African Market, the first thing I honestly thought was where’s the food! HAHA I was hungry and read that there would be homemade food…you will be glad to know my hunger disappeared after I became aware of the many activities going on around me.
A caricature artist was cleverly positioned near the entrance. His drawing board had an impressive caricature of Usain Bolt, I knew I wanted one too.. I’ll come back to him later.
There were kids running around with interesting colours and patterns on their faces but the thing that stood out to me was the African drumming on stage. I LOVE drumming. I want them at my wedding when I walk down the aisle and I want to learn how to play them too. The drum is universal in many African countries and has been for generations…
Anyway! So apart from the noise, art and kids there was a stalls with various things being sold. I've taken lots of pics and spoken to many of the stall owners. So I want to share it all with you.
 |
| Xalwo Crafts |
I’ll start with my friend Huda owner of Xalwo crafts. She exhibited beautiful Somali crafts and had a collection of Diracs (Somali clothing worn at home or out and about). Like I said click on the links above if you are interested. As it happens its Somali Week Festival from the 19th October 2012 - 28th October 2012
After sitting with Huda’s Xalwo crew I decided to take a walk round to see what else was happening.
The first stall that caught my eye was a stall called Calabash Hub and they were selling Shea Butter products, jewellery, cremes and even bags! My friend Yemzi bought a thick block of shea butter to aid the moisturisation of her afro. I’m sure it will do wonders for her hair. My sisters bought a massive wad of Shea butter from Ghana when we were there last year. Seriously it is too nice. It melts into your hair and makes it shine. Natural products producing the best.
 |
| The Calabash Hub |
Adjacent to the calabash hub was House of Loulee. Now this stall was what I would describe as Afro cuteness. She specialized in baby clothing, shoes, toys even! I loved this stall. My future babies will most definitely be wearing these clothes :) My fave items had to be the baby dresses. They even came with a panty type item to cover the nappy of the child. How cute! I also loved the afro prints teddies.
 |
| Afrodisia |
Afrodisia shop was the next stall selling a variety of African clothing, crafts, jewellery. Seye the lady who owns the stall I believe lives in Italy. The Afro vibe is in Europe and probably has been for a while. She has some beautiful gold earnings from Mali! I tried on a few of her beautiful necklaces. Keep on spreading the word in Italy Seye ;-)
 |
| Afrodisia by Seye Yaram |
Next to Seye was
Anna Agyekum who I took an immediate interest to. She sold children’s clothes too but also adult dresses and hair accessories.
Her story was interesting. I asked her if she was married to a Ghanaian as she has a Ghanaian surname. She told me her boyfriends mother taught her how to sew and the reason she gained the interest in African prints and clothing was because of her. She decided to adopt her surname too. How nice. She’s been to Ghana before and I think she has mastered the art of sewing using African Print so well. After looking at her website I can see she even does hat making classes! Good on you Anna.
 |
Meen
Meen was a Afro accessories clothing stall that I can say I proudly purchased some Africa Shaped earrings from. Their jewellery was gorgeous! My fave items had to be the collars. Seeing people such as Meen make me wish I had the talent to something like this. All fingers are not the same as my pops would say. We all have different things we are good at and Meen you guys are definitely good at this. |
 |
| The second of my purchases was a black flowy skirt with a pretty strip of afro print from a lovely lady called Sheilla Mandeya, creative director of Afrocentric 805. Sheilla is originally from Zimbabwe and she sells pillows, aprons and even afro oven mits. I’ll be rocking those in the kitchen mehn! Sheila was a such a nice person and I even got a picture with her. I found her stall homely and welcoming. |
 |
| Myself with Sheilla Mandeya |
 |
| Afrocentric 805 |
Synergy Soul Designs was next. They had serious African swagger and sold unique African Accessories. Check them out on Facebook and their website too. Wish I had bought something from them! I don't have a picture of their stall but check them out on facebook:
 |
| Azwala |
The last stall was owned by my fellow Ghanaian brothers Azawala who sell ‘Unique Contemporary African Art”. They had some great stuff and great personalities. Very friendly and humble like we Ghanaians are. Their art comes from artists in Ghana and they exhibit and sell their work here. Here are a few of the pieces they have. Beauty and Talent.
 |
| Azawala - Unique Contemporary Art |
So after seeing all the stalls I had to go back and get a caricature of myself. Morris Thompson is a talented, humble and friendly artist. I was lucky to get my picture done by him as he had been inundated with customers, both young and old all day. Throughout his sketching he managed to keep composed which for me would be difficult as there were many people watching as he drew. Check out his picture of me. I love it, it’s on my wall and its signed :)
 |
| The finished product |
 |
| Morris Thompson |
 |
| Morris Thompson |
Following the stalls, the artists, the drumming was Africa’s Cow Foot. Yes Africa’s Cow Foot. A story telling event. I hate cow foot by the way. Apparently as a child I used to like it but I refuse to believe that.
Story telling is in our blood! I remember my grandparents, parents telling me stories in my childhood so when I heard this was after the African market I had to go! It was £8 for the event and worth it.
The show opened with Ayo Dele a singing songs with a mixture of Yoruba and English. She was accompanied by a cute white guy called Mika on guitar :)
The following act was Usifu Jalloh also known as the cowfoot prince haha!
 |
| Usifu Jalloh |
 |
| Mike Dunn on guitar |
 |
| Ayo Dele |
He seemed to live up to his price name…His name was called however he made a delayed entrance. I guess he really is a prince.
I LOVED him! He was energetic and engaging, colorful, funny and vibrant. I won't spoil all his stories but here is one:
There was a man addicted to Aubergine. He was married to the most beautiful woman in the country. Every day when he was walking home he would sing a song to her and she would hear and know that her husband was coming home…this was sign to begin preparing the aubergine.
Now there was one character called chameleon who was never happy in his own skin. He always wanted what other people had and always changed to fit in.
Now one day he saw the beautiful wife of …shall we call him Mr Aubergine. He decided he wanted her. He found out that the husband of the girl loved aubergine so one day decided to harvest an aubergine farm.
Mr Aubergine walks home a few days later and sings so his wife knows to prepare the aubergine. She hears and goes to pick some aubergine to cook but sees that they are all finished.
She is in panic but remembers Chameleon has an aubergine farm.
Now she goes to him to ask if he can give her some aubergine to which he replies yes but you have to get to the aubergine through my bedroom. She protests but in the end goes to the bed room. Mr Aubergine carries on singing and she sings back as if she is giving him a sign that she is trapped. Now in the mean time chameleon could not believe his luck. He goes to the other room and gets nervous. He is busy sweating and changing colour. All this time Mr Aubergine and his beautiful wife are singing to eachother. By the time Chameleon comes out Mr Aubergine is there ready and waiting with a few slaps. HAHAHAHAH!
I loved it and that is just a taster of his Usifu Jalloh’s stories.
He engaged the audience well making us respond to some of his phrases and also used music, drums and his voice to make the story come alive.
 |
| Take a bow ladies and gents |
Saida Kanda was next a musician hailing from Tanzania. This guy made his own instruments dude! And they had beautiful sounds woooosh! Overall! One great day I must say!
 |
| Myself and my model beauty Yemzi |
