Tag Archives: shila iris cleveland

EvoLved thinking…

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Reply

Take me with you, or Let go. You have been given free wiLL by the power that created you, and, so have I. There’s nothing Like that power.

–shiLa iris

Mother knows. Are you reaLLy my friend?

Sign Your Name Across My Heart,

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I want you to be my baby…

for Rosemary. DaLmira, and Judy.

Clairvoyance through Observation

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The past is gone forever,
the future does not exist.
Our moment,
together,
is Now.
Will you see me?   -Shila Iris

Nkiruka Oparah

The Digital Collage Art of Nkiruka Oparah

The Affirmation:
I pray for the power to LoVe appropriately,
the courage to forgive,
for clairvoyance through observation,
and for the integrity to honor my word,
respecting all who deserve such…
_____________________________________

More on the FEATURED artist:

Nkiruka Oparah

Nkiruka Oparah. Fusing her own photography with film/video stills and images sourced through Tumblr, Oparah fashions striking collages and graphics that mediate upon portrayals of African identity. The Brooklyn-based Nigerian artist weaves socio-cultural narratives into glitchy compositions that acknowledge complex histories with a forward-looking slant; “It’s the flux of the internet- its incompleteness- in combination with an evolving African identity that opened up this graphic way of image making for me”, says Oparah, in conversation with The Guardian earlier this year (online magazine).

How the Art Makes Me Feel. The work of Nkiruka Oparah is quite tasteful and very inspiring. I am prone to support art that represents the Afrikan diaspora, that in which I can see myself, and in this case, I believe that Oparah does an excellent job of identifying with the different elements of the Afrikan journey through civilization. Her art is a call to look within. It reminds me of the importance of “knowing thyself,” which is more than the obvious, it is tapping into the magic of your existence and loving all the elements that make up you, because:

“A people without the knowledge of their past history, origin and culture is like a tree without roots”.  – Marcus Gravey

… in my absence, I am thinking
and learning and creating…

when time passes by,
I can see you clearly.

Shila Iris 

Related: 

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Asiya Migold

Bullet Proof Soul

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Waiting for the verdict to be read, my heart became heavy. I didn’t want to seem negative, but the results seemed obvious. Predictable. Our lives are often devalued. We are treated as less than human, while marksmen point their artillery at our skulls… we have grown BULLET PROOF SOULS, to survive. In this land of the free, home of the brave or home of the [slave]? In times of distress, I have to lift myself. So let’s Get Lifted in the music. Today, I choose, Sade. Her voice soothes me and reminds me of how powerful I am. We are powerful. I am goddess soul, floating in a dimension, above this, this state of chaos. We will wake up. And you will watch us…

… and although the decision made in Cleveland today was not surprising at all, it still hit me like a slow bullet. My mind, my heart, my soul, goes out to my people. We suffer. But. We are the strongest alive. When there was nothing to prove, my ancestors proved it. When there was no way to move, my ancestors created, innovated. And so will we. Dig this poetry…

THE lyrics of SADE…

I was so in love with you
You rarely see a love that’s true
Wasn’t that enough for you
Wasn’t that enough for you
I would climb a mountain
I wouldn’t want to see you fall
Rock climb for you
And give you a reason for it all

You kept on thinking
You were the only one
Too busy thinking
Love is a gun

Hit me like a slow bullet 
Like a slow bullet
It took me some time to realise it

You keep on thinking
You were the only one
Too busy thinking
Love is a gun

I know the end before
The story’s been told
It’s not that complicated
But you’re gonna need a bullet proof soul

You keep on thinking
You were the only one
Too busy thinking
Love is a gun

I know the end before
The story’s been told
It’s not that complicated
But you’re gonna need a bullet proof soul

You were trigger happy baby
You never warned me let me free
It’s not that complicated
But you’re going to need a bullet proof soul
Think you got it but you got all the trouble you need
I came in like a lamb
But I intend to leave like a lion

It hit me like a slow bullet
It hit me like a slow bullet

-I am Shila, thank you for reading.

peace and blessings manifest with every LESSON learned. I’ve been hit with bullets for almost 2 years now. The final shot taken at my heart. I bled. From September to December. My heart sank. My mind blank. It took a lot for me to come alive, again. I have been so determined not to find my happiness and worth in the smile of another. The foundation of my worth is ME. I am always happy to be alone. In those moments, my soul is well fed. We all have to learn. I have. Peace.

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The Last Day in February: The Tears that Formed Lake Victoria

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… my heart stopped
for a minute it skipped beats
I held on to the side of the well
head lowered, looking down into darkness
tears flowed freely
I had given so much
my space
my support
my time
he asked for more
he asked for things that he, himself could not give
he required much,
but gave so little
how could I allow this?

unfriendly palpitations
took the breath of me
unkind words
took the rest
leaving me speechless
our conversations dwindled
confusion
control
confinement
avoidance
I forgot who I was
and so did he |

but

i need to hear you praise me
I am Queen
i need you to reciprocate
I am esteemed
i need you to rise to my occasion
for I am the one who brought you light
i need you to ask me,
be a Pisces
if you think that you must have more
then please, dismiss me
i am worth every drop of blood
I am warrior royalty
so, if you’re not willing to fight
goodbye

retrospective:
i think that you are beautiful,
to someone you belong
you are just not tuned to play my song

the spring is coming
making revolutions around far off sunsets
triggering early sunrise
you will find what you are looking for

she is the haram of your harem
could your sin be pretend?

photo from jackielaryea blog

Photo from the Jackie Laryea blog

 

from The Last Day in February: The Story of Kitara and the Tears that Formed Lake Victoria (unclassified poetry in motion by Shila Iris)

The Nile River Flows Through Me

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He is the River Nile
The soil around him is fer tile
he is steady planting seeds
and watering them with my juices
his trees bear the fruit of me
on the branches I rest majestically
I call out to Pharaoh,
my divine King
when he’s in between
things are Exactly what they seem
His greatness creates streams,
that run through me
becoming rivers
flowing around my canals
and ravines
his Ebony mysteries,
prophetic history
prepares me for storms,
and extremes
When the floods come,
I am safe
surrounded by the aura of his grace
Protected by his Strength
I am goddess queen to this god
he studies the sun, the moon
and the stars
making calculated moves
he lives the truth and
bequeaths it to me
I live in his pyramid
Kushite to Meroë
temple to tomb
downriver to Timbuktu
across the Sahara
honorably,
we stand in our own reflections
wanting less, needing nothing
but the presence of the person in the moment
respect
Long Live the King in Me!

Queen OSiRis
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Outfit of the Day…

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This is such a beautiful outfit, befitting of a Queen. I can definitely see myself in it.

Outfit of the Day
Picture of the Day

The pose to the right is just so, … what can I say other than, yes! It reminds me so much of my journey, searching for balance, inside of me. Ma’at.

Peace and love. – Shila Iris

Book of the Day…

EBOD

Style Ideas for Queens – Transitioning from 80 Degree to 60 Degree Weather

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It is September 11 in Cleveland, Ohio. That means it could snow any minute! Joking, but it was one of those days that reminded us that Autumn is a few weeks away. Yesterday, the weather was in the 80s. Last night there was a very soothing storm, and when we woke up, it was 63 degrees! It is cool… cool as in cold! I wasn’t quite ready to give up my sandals, so I wore some today. However, that may not be the case tomorrow! I am thinking, boots or sneakers for sure.

The sandals are one of my favorite pairs by Lucky Brand. They were about $25 at TJMaxx.

I made the ring from wire from Pat Catan’s or JoAnn’s.
I love basic black headwraps!
The shawl was on sale at Dillard’d for $10.
These earrings are from a store called Earthbound (in the mall). They were on sale for $4. Nice.
The dress is one of my thrift store finds- from the Goodwill for $5
Hello, I am Shila.

With style, you must possess the knowledge, right? Reading anything lately? I had a dream last night about my future, and when I woke up, I asked for a sign. A sign that I was doing the right thing in life. That detaching from people who hurt me was the thing to do. Then today, a friend of mine called and suggested that I read this book, so I rushed to the library and got it. It is just what I needed. It is an amazing story. I can’t put it down. I introduce to you:  Wounded in the House of a Friend by Sonia Sanchez…

wounded

It starts like this…

the unspoken word is born, i see it in our eyes dancing.

She hadn’t found anything. i had been careful. No lipstick, No matches from a well-known bar. No letters. Cards. Confessing an undying love. Nothing tangible for her to hold onto. But i knew she knew. It had been on her face, in her eyes for the last nine days. It was the way she looked at me sideways from across the restaurant table as she picked at her brown rice sushi. It was the way she paused in profile while inspecting my wolfdreams. It was the way her mouth took a detour from talk. And then as we exited the restaurant she said it casually: i know there is another woman. You must tell me about her when we get home.

Yeah. There was another woman. In fact there were three women. In Florida, California, and North Carolina. Places to replace her cool detachment of these last years. No sex for months. Always tired or sick or off to some conference designed to save the world from racism or extinction. If i had jerked off one more time in bed while lying next to her it woulda dropped off. Still i wondered how she knew.

… I love Sonia Sanchez’s writing and I am glad that I got to see her in November of last year. She was cool as can be. She had style, she had grace. I made eye contact with her, and she smiled at me. Just for a moment. I spoke to her. She spoke to me. I walked away.

Queen

P.S. One more thing, a song for you…

This my baby. I want to be great as you. Analog girl in a digital world.

Reasons Why I Want to Go to AfroPunk Fest 2014

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I love the wonderful, artistic, and eccentric expressions from the tribe we call African Americans, Afrikans, or the colorful people of the Diaspora!  The beautiful and poetic faces. The funky and stylish kindred spirits.

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AfroPunk tends to attract the fearless ONES. Those who travel on that untouchable frequency. They levitate. The vibe is heavy. Who wants to go and check out “the other” Black experience? Here’s the website. Dates: August 23-24, 2014. BK, NY.

The type of music that you could hear at an AfroPunk Fest.

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Peace and love,

Shila Iris aka Queen, July 28, 2014, 12:53 a.m.

NATIONAL POETRY MONTH – A Poem 4U

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I wrote this poem weeks ago, but I just got the opportunity to share it.

“Busy as a bee, I be, in constant rotation. Smiling out loud to the people in my face, I race, I learn to win. I keep going and going, drifting in the wind. Feeling the breeze as the branches on my trees, shake. Leaves fall to the ground. Children race to collect to the gifts from my pinata, my arms open wide. I embrace. I cry today, for the poet inside of them that wants to be free…”

In honor of National Poetry Month, I write. This is called… Poem Tectonics 2 copy

Click the image of the poem to enlarge.

POEM Tectonics copy

Test

Peace 4 Love,

Queen Duafe aka Shila Iris aka Kush Queen

Anytime, anyplace… the journey

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Love can feel so good when it is in season… and not forced.

1. This is how it starts..

“I want to dance tonight, I want to toast tonight, I’ll spend my money tonight, I want to get freaky tonight…” lol.

THE POINT IS: SOMETIMES WE NEED TO BE WILD!

2. After a few conversations…

“I needed sunshine in my day, something to wash away the pain. I saw a very gentle side of him, that took my heart and made it sane. I wish he’d run away and hide with me, love meant so much more than it seems, there is one thing I didn’t show, I love him and he doesn’t know…”

MY POINT: FINDING THE NERVE AND THE BOLDNESS TO LOVE SOMEONE AGAINST THE ODDS…

3. After the date…

“There’s a quiet storm, and I never felt like this before. There’s a quiet storm, that is you. There’s a quiet storm, and I never felt this hot before…”

THE POINT: IT IS GOOD TO EXPERIENCE PURE FEELINGS OF ADORATION.

4. …and you’ll want to say, “yes.” But you really need to carefully evaluate if you are ready to say it.

“There is only one for me. You have made that possibility. We can take that step to see. If this is really going to be, all you gotta do is say yes… don’t deny what you feel, let me undress you baby, open up your mind and just rest. I’m about to let you know, you make me so, so so so so so so so so…”

THE POINT IS: SOMETIMES, IT’S OK TO JUST SAY YES. SOMETIMES. DON’T LET EXPERIENCES OF A LIFETIME JUST PASS YOU BY.

5. Perhaps this may happen…

“…skirt around my waist, wall against my face, I can feel your lips… I don’t want to stop just because, people walking by watching us, I don’t give a damn what they think, I want you now…all I want to say is, any time, any place…”

THE POINT IS, LOVE IS REBELLIOUS!

This is Queen Shila for African Essence

Love, life, with wisdom!

P.S. Still searching for life in cracks… reading Seat of the Soul

The Warm Embrace of Mud Cloth…

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Soon, the seasons will change to a warmer climate which may prevent us from wearing our beautiful mud cloths. Although created in a place where the weather is typically warm, it can be difficult to indulge in the beauty of this Malian textile once the sun starts blazing. So, you may want to start taking your heavier pieces out for their final spins. In many states, you should be able to get through the Spring wearing bogolanfini and if so, go for it! Here are some of my favorite styles…

CLOTH… Yes!
CLOTH… Would love to have this.
I THINK THIS IS A PRINT… Beautiful dress!
CLOTH… I’ll take this!
CLOTH… I Love This!
This IS VERY NICE.
CLOTH… Gorgeous dress
CLOTH
CLOTH
CLOTH
Beautiful accessorie
CLOTHS available at africaimports.com
Yes!
CLOTH… 1st lady in mud cloth…
PRINT- shirt from urbanoutfitters
PRINT
PRINT
i BELIEVE THAT THIS IS A PRINT
cloth…
Cool.
Pillows! Yes!
Seating…
I would love to have this!
Awesome!
How to use Mud Cloth around the home
Swatches
Wow!
Mud Cloth Print phone… very nice
The most commonly used mud cloth design.

The artistry and aesthetic sophistication of African textiles and dress has been admired and appreciated by foreign observers since the time of the Pharaohs of ancient Egypt. Navigators would travel to Zaire, Mali, the Kuba Kingdom, Kasai region, and the Kongo from overseas, returning home with cherished prizes of embroidered cloths and mud-dyed fabrics. Fast forward to 2014, what is the importance of these cloths today?

At the risk of greatly oversimplifying the extremely elaborate symbolism in African textiles, we have come to accept them as “ethnic” prints, sold to the masses strictly for profit. However, to the trained eye, a print is not good enough. I myself desire raffia cloths from Zaire. I dream of owning just a piece of a royal Ashanti kente cloth. I would travel far to acquire an aso oke, the ceremonial cloth of the Yoruba or any of the wax-printed cloths that adorned my ancestors. However, my most beloved choice of fabric is the bogolanfini, mud-dyed cloth of Mali; which translates from the Bamana as “mud cloth.”

I like the look of bogolanfini. I like its stiffness. I like how it compliments my tinted skin and I like its warm embrace. Mud cloth was originally decorated by women in the Bamana-speaking region of Mali, using a unique process that utilized dyes made from mud and leaves to produce light designs outlined with a dark background. In its local context, it remains to be a crucial garment worn to mark important lifecycle stages including birth, marriage, and death.

Today, numerous Malian’s as well as the Fulani and Dogon, have taken up the craft to produce simplified versions for tourists and the international market. But let us not forget, the genuine beauty and history of these fabrics. I am not an anthropologists or African art enthusiast looking to profit from this cultural artifact. I am simply a person who is aware of the greatness of my ancestors. I feel their royalty in everything that I do. I am empowered through them!

Read more about the bogolanfini, mud-dyed cloth of Mali…

The Kush Queen, 2/5/2014

Why We African Headdress

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Often referred to as headwraps or turbans, African and African-like head coverings have become quite the accessory in various dress codes. I believe that it is a beautiful addition to the wardrobe and in my closet, it is my most beloved adornment. I wear headwraps at least twice a week and have been doing so for quite some time. It is part of the many cultures that I celebrate, all indigenous to the continent we know as Africa. I encourage ladies to explore the headwrap, not just as a fashion statement, but as part of African-American identity. Like other headgear such as the niqab, hijab, kufi, kofia, kippah, non la, patka, shpitzel, tam, taqiya, or sombrero it has its purpose and is highly valued by those who wear it.

Why wear a headwrap?

#1 REASON – It’s simply beautiful.

#2 REASON – To represent the African Diaspora: it’s part of the culture we lost during the Middle Passage. We are redefining and regaining our physical identity via attire/garb.

#3 REASON – It’s protective of our crowns.

#4 REASON – In compliance with codes of modesty.

#5 REASON – It represents regality.

#6 REASON – To absorb perspiration when working and keep the hair off the face.

#6 REASON – Social and spiritual significance; articulation of piousness.

#7 REASON – It’s quite stylish.

Most of the time you can determine the use of a headwrap based on the type of fabric used. I listed a few reasons, but I know there is so much information out there surrounding the headwrap. Explore.

Related Materials                                                                                       

Headwraps

The African American Woman’s Headwrap: Unwinding the Symbols

HarvestGirlLove Etsy Store

Jafya Royalworks Etsy Store

Tambo Collection

Purchase African Headdress

Thank you for visiting,

The Kush Queen for African Essence

P.S. I found this video to be very enlightening. It’s always good to know the truth and decide what you want to do with it.

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FaLL LOoK BoOk PaGe 1 … wear what you got

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In the Midwest weather used to be simple. We would have cold Winters, warm Springs, hot Summers, and moderate Falls. Times have changed and sometimes the seasons blend. I have no complaints! I actually love the complexities of weather. Everyday is an exploration. I no longer pack away my winter or summer clothes for storage. Everything stays in the closet year round. Sunday I wore shorts and today I had on heavy socks and insulated shoes. That’s how it is these days!

Just go with the flow of the sun. Since, the seasons can no longer dictate the dress code, wear what is befitting of the day. This is a wardrobe check to help you transition into “autumn-like” weather…

Don’t forget to share, comment, and follow African Essence!

One of my favorite pairs of earrings.
I really love mustard colored clothing.
I normally wear wine colored lipsticks. The only color I really like.
I adore wooden and feathered jewelry.

WHAT I AM WEARING FROM HEAD TO TOE

  • My natural hair is permanently dyed using Silk Elements Santa Fe Bronze. I normally only dye my crown once every 4-6 months. Recently I decided that I wanted to grow the color out and focus on my original hair color of black. The dye is $4.
  • The shirt is made by a brand called Angie from Dillard’s. It was originally $32 but I bought it for $10.
  • The denim skirt is originally made by Mossimo for Target. I got it brand new from a thrift store for $3.
  • The stockings are from Target..maybe $4?
  • The fringe boots are from Sears/Kmart online. I caught them on sale last season for $10. The quality is fine. No visible wear or tear. They were originally $30. I noticed that these stores offer cheaper items online. What’s the catch? I don’t know! You can get fringe boots from Kohl’s, Nordstrom’s, Macy’s, etc. I am not sure if they are the trend this year… but of course on African Essence we don’t follow trends, we set them!
  • Earrings: Icing by Claire’s for $2
  • Left arm bracelets from Glitter 3 for $3. Right arm leather bracelet from City Buddha for $4. The wooden necklace might also be from City Buddha for maybe $3?

CONSUMERISM. I went to Forever21 a few months back and was amazed to see that the clothing store had expanded to twice its size. It was ridiculously overwhelming so much that I vowed not to return! It was just entirely too much clothing. It looked like a sweat shop had thrown up in that place! I decided then that I would wear what I have and try not to spend any money on clothes. People think that I buy buy buy, but I have had most of my wardrobe for years. I was the same clothing size for about 10 years. Recently this changed and I had to buy a few items. Before this, my clothes lasted… 🙂 Honestly, I admit that my closet is stretched so I am not going to be doing much shopping until at least Summer 2014. I am saving for some trips/vacations so I will see how this balances out.

Peace and so much love!

The Kush Queen for African Essence

P.S. As much as I am drawn to some decorative clothing, we have to be careful not to become wasteful, penniless consumers. Check out Lauryn Hill’s new song called CONSUMERISM. I love her. If you don’t see the track below refresh the page. 🙂

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