African Vibes Magazine brings Contemporary Africa to Hollywood at its 4th Anniversary Event
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African Vibes magazine rolled out the red carpet in style to celebrate its fourth anniversary of shining a positive spotlight on Africa and Africans, by presenting anย โ#I Wear Africanโ fashion show on Saturday, April 24, 2010, at the Avalon in Hollywood. The event kicked off at the Glam Lounge where VIP guests were offered complimentary champagne, hors dโoeuvres, and gift bags with items from Tourneau, Milani Cosmetics, Tarte Cosmetics, Clear Essence.
The Glam Lounge was followed by the โI Wear Africanโ Runway and Award show which brought new and fresh aesthetics to contemporary #African style through the interpretive work of some of Africaโs hottest and talented designers.ย And if that wasnโt enough, award-winning and international superstar and singer Awilo Longomba โย known as the โKing of Techno-Soukous Musicโ in international music circlesย โ rocked the runway by shaking his hips and gyrating across the runway as the eveningโs special musical guest.ย The magazine honored Awilo and celebrity fashion designer and โProject Runwayโ alum Korto Momolu with the African Vibes Magazine African Diamond Award for uplifting their African heritage through music and fashion.
In the โI Wear Africanโ fashion show, one #afronista after another trotted down the catwalk in a colorful kaleidoscope of designs and jewelry, representing designers from various parts of Africa. The designers who participated in the โI Wear Africanโ fashion show includedย #Sheila Denanyohย ย (Ghana) ofย Ill-la-la Designs; #Arthlene Legair (Dominica, West Indies)ย ย of the #Legair Brand; #Kahindo Mateene (Democratic Republic of Congo-DRC) of #Modahnik; Maryanne E. Mokoko and Stephanie T. Mouapiย ย (Cameroon) of Cรดtรฉย Minou; #Mekdes Tefera Taye (Ethiopia); jewelry designer Monalisaย Okojie (Nigeria) ofย ย #NEHITA and #Christiane King (Ivory Coast), who is a contestant on this seasonโs โProject Runway.โ Makeup for the โI Wear Africanโ Runway was provided by Official Beauty Partner, Milani Cosmetics.
A special highlight of the evening was the presentation by Liberian-born Korto Momolu, who showed pieces from her fall 2010 Collection โ the Korto Momolu Collection.ย ย Viewers will remember the Liberian-born Momolu as a finalist and fan favorite on season five of โProject Runway.โย ย In February, she debut her first post-show collection during New York Fashion Week. Highlighted as โone to watch,โ Momolu has been featured in various national newspapers and publications includingย LA Times, InStyle,ย Essence, andย African Vibes magazines.ย ย Currently, she has a signature handbag and jewelry line exclusively designed forย Dillardโs Department Stores and Dillards.com. And sheโs set to produce a poolside fashion show at the Tom Joyner 2010 Fantistic Voyageโข Cruise.
Blond and blinged out, Awilo gave a stirring performance, singing in both French and English, and showing why he is the most wanted Congolese artist on the African continent and Europe.
Awiloโs album, โSuper-Manโ won theย Best Soukous Entertainer Award in 2009 at the International Reggae and World Music Awards (IRAWMA)ย and was nominated forย Best African Act at theย #African Music Awards. He is this yearโs recipient of the 2010ย Humanitarian Award at the upcomingย Beyond the Tears Awards.ย ย And heโs nominated again for theย Best Soukous Entertainer award at this yearโs IRAWMA awards to be held on May 2 in Queens, New York.
The opening acts were Avin-U C, consisting of three artists โ EddyB, #Naomi Achu, and H.Bolo โ all hailing from Cameroon. Other performances included Liberian hip hop artists #Romeo Mulbah aka #2C. Mulbah just snagged theย HIPCO Artist of the Year at the 2010 Liberian Entertainment Awards.
The event was co-hosted by actress/filmmaker #Tangi Miller and African Vibes Magazine Editor In Chief, #Amabel Niba.ย ย Miller is best known for the role of the smart, spirited, and stylish Elena Tyler on the J.J. Abrams hit show, โFelicity.โย ย She also recognized the winner of the $1,000ย Ideas Contest created byย African Vibes magazine in partnership with its Gold sponsor, Keller Graduate School of Management.
After the show, VIP guests, designers, models, and artists were ushered to the VIP Lounge After Party where they were served more champagne and hors dโoeuvres while dancing the evening a way to contemporary African tunes by #DJ Fly who has been a constant at all African Vibes Magazine anniversary celebrations.
I liked youโre out fits & thanks for you work i wish i could join youโre designing company good job.