Category Archives: Interesting Facts

New Music Video Alert – African Nostalgia

Hello Tribe and Friends,

Hope this meets you well.

Here’s presenting the latest video to one of my favorite songs from my Organically Singing Debut Album – ‘African Nostalgia‘ . I have always had an affinity for anything nostalgic, classic or vintage.. I know there are many songs out there that talk about ‘Home’ from ‘homesick’ artists and musicians based in the diaspora, this proves that it’s a general feeling that is easily  relatable for those who live abroad and not just only them, but everyone in general, within or outside the continent, with memories of throwbacks. It is our job as music healers to make this feeling manageable (or incite-able) through our art. There have always been songs on this subject and there will always be in the future. As a diasporan artist,  I particularly have a strong default passion and deep emotion towards the concept of our “roots” and inclination towards “home longing songs”  and I have a lot of memories that guide me on this creative path, this is what also led to my songwriting and storytelling of the ‘African Nostalgia’ song. Click video below —:::

The African Nostalgia music visual is basically a musical imagery and storytelling of some experiences of my childhood and activities I observed growing up in my Grandma’s house in Abeokuta city, Ogun State, Nigeria ; from the sounds I heard, to the people I saw and my environment in general. You’ll have to listen to grasp it and maybe you can recognize a thing or two if you are from a similar background. This video was shot on a hot sunny day, while hiking miles up the Kennesaw mountain in Georgia. I wanted that picturesque green scenic scene that reminded me of the lushness of the African continent, I was not glamorously dressed or anything like that, typical of a music video; it was just simple, an everyday capture and I was comfy (apart from the bugs and sweat :)) ) within my environmental element.

I love Nature. I love Africa. I love Music. I love Art. I love Nature. Oh I think I said that already :). I am definitely a nature’s girl and I believe it’s a God given therapeutic environment which we should use more of, and also conserve and treat kindly.  You should try having nature walks when you are stressed. I (and Lloyd the videographer) were sweating like Christmas goats, climbing up the mountain, huffing and puffing, I had a couple of wardrobe malfunctions but we still tried to pull it off 😀 so just like the album title, this is as raw and organic as it comes 🙂 and I hope you enjoy it.

I want to particularly thank two musical powerhouses who collaborated with me on this song, who I’ve not met but we connected across borders to bring this to life. The talented Ivorien bassist Arnaud N’Gaza  based in Morroco and Daniel N’Guessan, percussionist/drummer also from Cote D’Ivoire. My gratitude goes to Zambian Photographer and budding Filmmaker, Lloyd Mackayi, who I met at TERRA COTTA ATL, who shot the video. Despite being independent and on a shoestring budget, I’ve been blessed to attract, albeit virtually, and connect with fellow talented and beautifully spirited, understanding creatives and  individuals who come across my creative path and space. For this I am grateful. And I hope to come across more in my lifetime.

I hope you appreciate and enjoy the video, or in one way or the other, in some way, relate to it. Please feel free to like, share and comment and subscribe to my new TosingerVEVO channel where I intend to release bit by bit, concept videos of my musical body of work.

Stay purposeful, healthy and relevant.

Love, Peace and Beautiful Music,

Organically Yours, Tosinger

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Exclusive Interview with the Eclectic Woman of Art, Musician, Writer and Storyteller, TOSINGER!

funtaqa

She is the  definition of true beauty, deep in thought and delivery. All you need is an opportunity to engage her. She’s got the warmest, sweetest personality that rejuvenates your belief in humanity once more.

This lady relates her own way and we make bold to say “it’s the ideal way for humans to engage one another”.

Ladies and gentlemen, please meet the eclectic woman of art, musician, writer and storyteller, TOSINGER!tosinger_organic_digital_cd_cover

funTAQA caught up with her when she visited Nigeria recently and she’s got quite some gist for her fans.

Excerpts below: 

How long have you been into the music business?

Professionally? Since 2003, so about 13 years now. Before then, as a little girl growing up, I’ve always sang in church and any platform of opportunity I find to use my voice.

What are you listening to lately?

Depends on my mood per time, but currently it’s a…

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Spotlight: Beauty and Brains -The @AfroTechGirls


Across the globe, women remain underrepresented in the fields of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM). This is especially true in many African countries including Nigeria. In June 2014, three young women came together with a vision; a vision of a world where the number of women in the Science and Technology industry would rise and women would feel welcomed, accomplished and appreciated for their efforts and achievements. They realised that the best way to do this was by encouraging more young girls to take up STEM at secondary school and university levels and stick with it even after learning. As a result, Afro-Tech Girls was born.

Image result for afrotech girls
Afro-Tech Girls is an NGO set up by three female engineers to promote STEM enthusiasm in young African girls through creativity, art and innovation.

At Afro-Tech Girls, they are really passionate about encouraging more girls to embrace the STEM industries and are making it a point to do this in fun and innovative ways. Watch the founders speak in the video below:

Mission – to encourage, educate and empower African girls of secondary and university levels in the STEM fields to follow through and acheive whatever goals they set for themselves through mentorship, teamwork, creativity and innovation.

Image result for afrotech girls
Who runs the world? Girls!! 😀

For more info, connect with Afro-Tech Girls at  www.afrotechgirls.org and on instagram at @afrotechgirls

Image result for afrotech girls
Afro-Tech Girls Promoting STEM enthusiasm in young African girls

Beautifully Dreaming, Positively Doing….

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The New Miss USA 2016 is Deshauna Barber @RealMissDCUSA

Deshauna Barber from the District Of Columbia has won the Miss USA title for 2016!

The annual pageant was held  on June 5, 2016  in Las Vegas with 52 contestants. Deshauna Barber was presented her crown by the Miss USA 2015, Olivia Jordan of Oklahoma.  Miss Georgia – Emanii Davis,  and Miss Hawaii, Chelsea Hardin were named the runners up.

Miss District of Columbia Deshauna Barber is the commander of her unit in the U.S. Army and she uses the pageant as a platform to promote gender equality in the military. She is very proud of her achievements and being able to serve our country – heavy

 Photos via Miss USA

Congratulations Miss USA!!
Tosinger
 P.S — Queen of Africa Dolls are available for pre-order here

#Ghana’s @ROCKYDAWUNI Nominated for Grammy for Best Reggae Album!

GHANA’S ROCKY DAWUNI GOES FOR GRAMMY GOLD

 Cumbancha artist Rocky Dawunis latest album, Branches of the Same Tree has just been nominated for a GRAMMY in the Best Reggae Album category. Dawuni, the only non-Jamaican artist in the running this year and the first Ghanaian to be nominated, is up against some of the heavyweights of modern reggae with his Billboard Top 10 album. 


Reflecting on the prestigious nomination, Dawuni says that he feels, “truly honored and at the same time humbled. I’ve always focused on giving my best in my work and it’s a good feeling to know that it is being appreciated. I am grateful for the recognition. Branches of the Same Tree is about stressing the common roots that we all share in this human family. It inspires the listener to aspire to a place of hope. It’s about having faith in the power of compassion and oneness.”


The final ballots to determine the GRAMMY winners are due by January 15th, 2016. If you are a voting member, we encourage you to include Rocky Dawuni on your ballot. The 58th Annual GRAMMY Awards will broadcast live on CBS on Monday, Feb. 15, 2016, at 8 p.m. ET/PT.

Wishing Rocky Dawuni all the best.

Beautifully Dreaming, Positively Doing..

Tosinger

P.S. He will be in Ghana for a home coming concert

As Featured On – Thirty Beautiful Photographs of Black Girls Slaying on National Headwrap Day

CurlHairStyles selected their favorite Instagram photos from #NationalHeadWrapDay and I am honored and humbled to be one of them.  That’s why it’s good to subscribe to a service like ‘Mention’ if you are a brand (*hint hint), I wouldn’t have known  about or come across this. Thanks CurlHairStyles.com

View the beautiful selections below, all credits to instagram handles beneath the photos:

Quoting  CurlHairStyles.com:

November 20 was National Headwrap Day. A lot of people took to social media to share their flawlessly wrapped crowns. Although, how the acknowledged day came about is not quickly recognized, individuals have been celebrating the day on the web as far back as 2013.

Catch some of our favorite looks from the day beneath: 10 of 30 

Instagram: saagaleeyaa

Instagram: sagaleeyaa

Instagram: soleysentials

Instagram: soleysentials

Instagram: biancalashawn

Instagram: biancalashawn

Instagram: __lipstickncurlss__

Instagram: __lipstickncurlss__

Instagram: bleu_majik

Instagram: bleu_majik

Instagram: moe_dadiva

Instagram: moe_dadiva

Instagram: jd_winters

Instagram: jd_winters

Instagram: tosinger

Instagram: tosinger

Instagram: niaknows

Instagram: niaknows

rinnyheadwrapday

Instagram: rinnyriot

Beautifully Dreaming.. Positively Doing.

Tosinger

 

Nigeria at 55!

Today marks 55 years of when Nigeria broke free from colonial rule. We may not be there yet but we are on our way. Even Google cannot resist celebrating Africa’s most populous nation and has this to say:

Via Google —A country of enormous diversity where over 500 languages are spoken, Nigeria is home to Africa’s largest population and a dizzying array of ancient cultural traditions. Drawing inspiration from the Nigerian coat of arms, today’s Doodle features the mighty Niger and Benue rivers that wind across the country’s fertile plains before merging and flowing into the Atlantic. Symbolic of resoluteness and strength, an eagle cuts across a vast Nigerian sky at the center of today’s logo, which Doodler Robinson Wood has washed in the colors of the Nigerian flag.

Nigeria National Day 2015
@googleafrica, tweeted: “Here’s wishing Africa’s most populous nation a happy 55th Independence day. Keep soaring Nigeria!

 

Nigeria Independence Day 2014

Further celebrating the giant of Africa, Google Africa Team, changed the header photo on its Twitter handle to showcase Nigeria’s Africanness with six young women adorned in colourful Nigerian traditional headgear ‘gele.’

And here is my rendition of loyalty to my home country, Nigeria’s National Anthem as performed on Periscope

 

As a diasporan, I echo the words of Yetunde Shorters, the Afropolitan Chef:
“Happy Nigerian Independence. 55 years ago Nigeria got her liberation from the British Empire. I commend our journey, let’s remember that we still have a long way to go. Take pride in our culture as we evolve to a new generation. As a second generation Nigerian American, my perspective is influenced by nations, our collective history: including, Nigerian slaves brought to the world, their successes and challenges and my experience. This much I know, whether I like it or not, every time I step out of my personal space, I am clear that I represent a people and I hold that representation to high esteem. I look forward to doing my part to inspire and empower my people Nigerian and American. Let’s remember that freedom has to be taken. It is never given. Cheers”

Nigeria Independence Day 2013

Beautifully Dreaming, Positively Doing

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Organically Singing the Album — Now Out here!

Nigerians Flying High and Taking the Space – @freeman_osonuga & @Kimbersfly

Introducing to some and presenting to others two Nigerians that are reaching for the heights, literally.

fReeMaN OsoNugA

Freeman Osonuga is one of Africa’s leading voices on poverty alleviation, advocacy and care for people with disabilities, orphans and the less privileged. Freeman is a One Young World Ambassador, one of the 2013 Ten Outstanding Young Persons In Nigeria, and Founder and Executive Director of Heal The World Foundation Nigeria. In  2014, at the Peak of the Ebola epidemic in West Africa, he worked as a volunteer and worked with the African Union team of Ebola responders for 6 months in Sierra Leone.

Freeman Osonuga @freeman_osonuga On My Way To Space| @WiredUK Innovation Fellow | Associate Fellow, Royal Commonwealth Society @theRCSlondon | Ambassador @OneYoungWorld | Founder @htwfnigeria |

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Freeman, a Medicine and Surgery graduate from Olabisi Onabanjo University, has been selected (through the Rising Star programme, which launched at the One Young World Summit 2014 in Dublin) to embark on a once in a lifetime flight to space and also offered a three year management contract. The programme invites both One Young World Ambassadors and outstanding members of the public aged 18-35 to be nominated to take on the trip of a lifetime.
If selected for the program, he will be the first Nigerian and First
black African to fly to space!
Osonuga is a 2015 WIRED Innovation Fellow. He will be speaking live on the London stage at the WIRED 2015 conference in October.
View Freeman’s profile here on the Kruger Cowne website and watch video below.

kIMberLy AnyaDike

Kimberly Anyadike is a young pilot who learned to fly from an after school program focused on helping at-risk youth realize dreams — Tomorrow’s Aeronautical Museum in Compton, CA.

Kimberly photo via Getty Images

Inspired by the Tuskeegee Airmen, then 15-year-old (now 21) US based Kimberly Anyadike of Nigerian descent flew a single-engine Cessna cross-country from her hometown of Compton, Calif., to Newport News, Va. Anyadike is said to be the youngest female pilot to complete the journey, which took 13 days.

“I set a record flying the plane in honor of the Tuskegee Airmen! The plane is named after Tuskegee Airman, Levi Thornhill, and I was accompanied by Major Thornhill during the trip. I am now the youngest African American female to pilot a flight across the country. After the flight, I was ready for my close-up. It took a lot of courage for me to speak in front of an audience!” – Seventeen.com

Born in Los Angeles in 1994, Kimberly Anyadike never remembers a time in her fifteen years she wasn’t interested in flying. Her passion for aviation began with a 20-minute demo flight at Tomorrow’s Aeronautical Museum, a flight school and youth mentoring center in Compton, CA. Kimberly washed airplanes and did other tasks to earn “museum dollars” that she traded in for flight lessons. Among the mentors available to kids in the program are several Tuskegee Airmen, who Kimberly has been immensely inspired by.

Exposed to a wide range of activities, Kim was a junior lifeguard at Venice Beach for five years, where she also learned how to surf. She attended the Lula Washington Dance Academy, taking ballet, hip-hop and tap dance classes. Kimberly is a youth member at her church where she learned how to read music, and is now learning how to play piano, violin and guitar.

Most recently she has completed college courses at Los Angeles Trade Technical College, the Saturday Science Academy at Charles Drew University and is taking a range of art courses at the Plaza De La Raza. She volunteers to feed the homeless in downtown Los Angeles and is very active in her church, while maintaining her G.P.A Kimberly’s career goal is to become a cardio-vascular surgeon with a pilot’s license. Like her FB page here

Kimberly Anyadike (born c. 1994) is known as the first Nigerian American teen to fly across the United States. Her Dad is from Nigeria, and Anyadike means (Eye of a Warrior). She flew from Compton, California to Newport News, Virginia in 2009. It took her 13 days to complete the flight The miles flown were 2,342. The plane used was a Cessna C-172. She was accompanied by safety pilot Ronnell Norman, a certified commercial pilot and Major Levi H. Thornhill, a retired U.S. Air Force pilot who at age 87, is a member of the elite Tuskegee Airmen who served during World War II.

Anyadike is from Compton, California. She paid for her flight lesson by working many regular jobs around the compton airport — via wiki

 

Wishing these two “reach for the skies” trailblazers all the best!

Beautifully Dreaming, Positively Doing

Tosinger

Organically Singing the album is not out, get yours here

Mrs. Funmilayo Ransome Kuti: The Mother of Afrobeat and Spokesperson for Women in Africa’s Movement for Independence

afrocipha

© James G. Spady and Akinyemi Bajulaiye 2015

Nobel Prize Winner, Wole Soyinka of Nigeria, makes the role of women like Funmilayo clear when he states, “I have always insisted that American or European feminism has little to teach most other societies —- here is proof [For Women and The Nation: Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti] in this portrait of a remarkable woman in remarkable times, brought vividly to life in a work that explores the often neglected crevices of history.”

Fela Remembers Being Introduced To His Excellency Kwame Nkrumah By His Mother

There are many who see Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti as not only the mother of Fela Ransome-Kuti and the Afrobeat Musical Movement but also as the mother of the modern African women’s resistance movements in the 20th century. Scholarship on the crucial roles played by women in their independence movements and in anti-colonial movements in Africa is still underexplored. What do we know about the relationship of a Nigerian leader like Mme. Ransome-Kuti…

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Spotlight: Afro Artists performing @ SXSW 2015

SXSW Interactive: March 13–17 • Film: March 13–21 • Music: March 17–22

South by Southwest (SXSW) Music and Media Conference, the world’s leading music industry event, offers attendees the opportunity to explore the future of the music industry during the day at panels, talks, the Trade Show, Music Gear Expo and other conference activities at the Austin Convention Center. At night, the absolute best mix of musical performances from over 2,200 regional, national and international acts take place at the SXSW Music Festival. Altogether, SXSW presents unmatched networking opportunities, career-building conference programming and over 100 stages of music for showcasing bands and conference attendees. SXSW Music is now in its 29th year.

Here’s spotlighting a few of the African artists performing this year

Rocky Dawuni

Afro-Roots Star Rocky Dawuni Performing at SXSW!!

Cumbancha artist Rocky Dawuniwhose upcoming album Branches of the Same Tree releases worldwide on March 31st, is bringing his unique “Afro-Roots” sound to Austin at the following South By Southwest events:

Monday, March 16th

An acoustic performance and panel discussion at the “Social Good Hub” at SXSW (inside Trinity Hall) organized by the United Nations Foundation and the Global Alliance for Clean Cookstoves  at 4pm. Open to all badge holders.

Wednesday, March 18th

An acoustic performance at Flamingo Cantina also featuring Kabaka Pyramid and more from 10:50pm to 11:20pm. Open to all badge holders.

Saturday, March 21st

A full band performance at Quantum Collective Showcase from 4:20pm to 5:05pm on the rooftop of Whole Foods Market in downtown Austin. Must RSVP Here.

Saturday, March 21st

A full band performance at Rock Paper Scissors showcase from 9pm to 9:40pm with WOMEX and GlobalFest at the Russian House. Open to all badge holders.

**Rocky Dawuni Band Performances Sponsored by Whole Planet FoundationMarley Coffee and Marley Beverage 

Rocky Dawuni is an international music star and humanitarian activist who transcends the musical boundaries between Africa, the Caribbean and the U.S. to create an irresistible sound. His music unites generations and cultures with infectious grooves and uplifting messages. You may have already heard the album’s first single “African Thriller” and seen its electrifying music video. If not, watch the video here.

Filled with uplifting and irresistible songs, Rocky’s sixth album, and first on Cumbancha, blends inspirations from his diverse experiences while expanding on his identity as an artist, a proud son of Africa and as a true world citizen.

Laolu Senbanjo

Laolu Senbanjo

Laolu is about to head from New York City with his band, the Afromysterics to Austin, TX to South by Southwest, alongside fellow Afro Artists Ayo and Rafiya. Only a year old, this is the band’s first SXSW performance.
Laolu will be performing at Speakeasy Kabaret (412 N Congress Ave, Austin, TX 78701) at 10:30 pm Thursday March 19, 2015. The showcase is presented by Digiwaxx and powered by OkayAfrica.Laolu & the Afromysterics / SXSW DATES
03/19 – Austin, TX @ Speakeasy Kabaret
xxx

Laolu & the Afromysterics is the brain child of Laolu Senbanjo, a self-taught musician, visual artist and a human rights lawyer. He’s the lead singer, composer, and the acoustic guitarist. Born and raised in Nigeria to Yoruba parents, he left his legal career behind to chase his dream of being a musician and artist full time in New York City. His band, the Afromysterics are made up of an eclectic group of musical geniuses from all over the globe. With influences from the likes of Fela Kuti, King Sunny Ade, and Sade, the music definitely has its roots in the typical Yoruba traditions, yet Laolu blends in reggae, afrosoul, and hip hop into the songs. You have to witness this band live to feel the African groove for yourself.

Contact informationPlease get in touch with Kate at afromysterics@gmail.com or 646.239.6170 for guest list or interviews

http://www.LaoluSenbanjo.com
http://www.facebook.com/laolusenbanjo
https://soundcloud.com/laolu-the-afromysterics/
http://www.twitter.com/afromysterics
http://www.instagram.com/laolusenbanjo

Showcase
World
Thursday, March 19
Photos (l-r): Nyla, Ice Prince, and Victoria Kimani
Photos (l-r): Nyla, Ice Prince, Victoria Kimani All photos courtesy of the artists via sxsw
Sounds from Africa and Sounds from the Caribbean will take over Palm Door on Sixth (508 E. 6th Street) for a crazy double-stage show at the 2015 SXSW Music Festival on Friday, March 20.With Afrobeat rapidly crossing over to U.S. audiences, a lot of attention is being paid to Africa’s vast and diverse cultures. As part of that, SXSW will be hosting the continent’s biggest artists at the first Sounds from Africa showcase, a cultural celebration of African music presented by Rickie Davies PR, Winnie K Management and Coyah Production. The lineup includes D’banj, Wiz Kid, Ice Prince, Samini, Sarkodie, Serge Beynaud, Victoria Kimani and R2Bees. Sounds from Africa will take place at the Palm Door on Sixth indoor stage.Meanwhile, SXSW music fans will also enjoy a one night explosion of the unique, diverse sounds from the Caribbean at the Palm Door on Sixth Patio. From Soca to Dancehall, Sounds from the Caribbean will celebrate music, culture and lifestyle enabling the audience to experience fun and energetic performances from such A-list artists as Morgan Heritage, Gyptian, Machel Montano, Laza Morgan and Nyla.Wishing all the artists all the best. For a full list of all the world music artists featuring – click here 

Another upcoming event to note, coming up in New York. Click graphic below for more info
Beautifully Dreaming… Positively Doing..
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