Tag Archives: warriors pulse

Day 4 – KWANZAA AFTER DARK: Reciprocity

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I am one of those people who truly enjoy supporting my fellow brothers and sisters. If you have a business of any sort, that I can use, I will come. Storefront, or online, in your house, or if you’re a vendor at festivals, I’ll be there. Musically inclined, I’ll be there. Seriously, I wrote a chant called, I’ll Be There! I will continue to come and offer suggestions when necessary, because it’s important to me. More so than the money that I spend, I believe that my time is most valuable, so even, when I come, believe me, I want to support you. study groups, community gatherings, book clubs, bonfires, cookouts- it’s all relevant to who I am, to who we are.

Furthermore, I’ll live amongst my people, and talk to them, and build them up in any way that I can. The peace of a suburb is too easy for me. I don’t desire it, because anywhere I go, my partner and I, and maybe you, we’ll make it work for us. WE MAKE IT WORK!

Ujamaa

In 2016 I’ll need that same support, and although I haven’t asked for it before, I’ll ask for it now because I authentically need to feel the love of my people. The reciprocity, the balance is necessary.
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Ujamaa (oo-JAH-mah) Cooperative economics emphasizes our collective economic strength and encourages us to meet common needs through mutual support.

Day 4- Instructions for Kwanzaa:  You should greet your friends and family by asking: Habari gani? (Translation: What’s the news?); and today, they can respond: Ujamaa! (Translation: Cooperative Economics) Learn more about Kwanzaa here.

SOME KNOWLEDGE
DR BOYCE

https://www.youtube.com/user/w4wproductions

SOME MUSIC to SET the MOOD
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aIjLBK_n-74

KWANZAA DAY 1 
Kwanzaa Day 1

KWANZAA DAY 2
Kwanzaa Day 2

KWANZAA DAY 3
Ujima

Day 1- KWANZAA AFTER DARK: Afrikan Aesthetics May Lead You There

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Kwanzaa Day 1

READ BELOW

So, you’re here to join me for my 9 p.m. Sunrise? Happy Kwanzaa! I hope you enjoyed your day. I just loved mine! -i am Shila Iris

Day 1- Instructions for Kwanzaa:

You should greet your friends and family by asking: Habari gani? (Translation: What’s the news?); and today, they can respond: Umoja! (Translation: Unity) Learn more about Kwanzaa here.

Tonight, let’s talk about the 1st Principle of Kwanzaa: Umoja, which means Unity. 

Allow it.
The mind opens
as the heart prepares itself for the full
embrace of the Season.
The climate has changed in my favor
The Sun kisses me as if I were near the Equator
She asks about my glow,
inquiring of the fullness of my belly
I say to her,
Umoja! 
I am at peace with the One inside of me,
he and I are unified eternally
He shall be the one I see when I look into the mirror
my reflection,
is adorned with the promise
of my maturity,
baby,
speak to me.  -i am poet, Shila 
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What if you fully embraced images of you? Your hair, your heritage (find it), your family? It’s a melanin thing, more like a blood stream, more like the River Nile, pulsating, inside of me, it incites me, excites me…

TIMBUKTU, SEPTEMBER 2009: Caligrapher and Copyist Buboubacar Sadeck teaches students the art of ancient caligraphy on a Timbuktu rooftop, September 8, 2009. Timbuktu is a historical Malian city, a long established centre of learning for Africa, Islam is at the heart of that learning as is medicine, science, law and technology. All of that knowledge has been preserved in manuscripts written out by men like Buboubacar since the 11th century. Since the resurgence of interest in the manuscripts of Timbuktu, students are learning the art of caligraphy as both an artistic and economic excercise. (Photo by Brent Stirton/National Geographic.)
Les Desandann chorus from camagüey, performing in a sugarcane field. The chorus has haitian roots.
Guadeloupe winter carnival, Pointe-à-Pitre parade. A young woman, performer wearing traditional carnival outfit (waist up outdoor portrait).

I cannot be anyone other than me.

This is the Spirituality of Our Ancestors: Afrikan Aesthetics, I give you the first gift of Kwanzaa, us Unifying, is Oshun. Enjoy them, and let me know what you think. 

Read about them:


CONTRADICTING TRADITIONS

Kwanzaa: Obama Approved!
Music for tonight.

P.S. If you’re in Cleveland, you should check this out tonight (keep in mind, the start time can be misleading. Honestly, I think if you make it there by 11:30 pm, you’ll be good.

This Moment in Black History at Mahall’s. Click on the image for more information.
This Moment in Black History

Peace & blessings manifest with every lesson learned,

Shila Iris

Ode to Camouflage aka Army Fat

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THIS IS THE ULTIMATE “HOW TO WEAR CAMOUFLAGE GUIDE” SO GET READY! Stay TUNED FOR next week’s guide on “HOW TO WEAR MUD CLOTH.”

CLICK ON THE IMAGES TO ENLARGE. USE THE ARROWS TO BROWSE. 

THE MEN’S STYLES ARE AT THE BOTTOM.

If I have to love anything about trends this year, it is definitely army fatigue and camouflage attire. Although it has been around for decades, it is one of Autumn’s biggest fashion highlights. When you go to stores such as H&M, Forever21, DEB, Rainbow, Wet Seal, Macy’s, Dillards, Rue 21, Body Central, Urban Outfitters, Target or anywhere, you will see it plastered on every mannequin from pants and leggings to jackets, hats, backpacks, scarves, shoes, and even cell phone accessories, coffee mugs, watches, purses and dog clothes. I’ve always liked the camouflage design. Browsing the web, I saw some ladies who looked really fly in their army fat:

Note: This is sort of a long entry because I wanted to show you that there are so many ways to be creative with army fatigue. So scroll all the way through to get the full experience. If you click on an image, use the arrows to go to the next image and as always please do not be afraid to FOLLOW African Essence using your email address. Look for the follow buttons on the page. I love you too! Peace.

chictopia.com
Army fat with short skirts…
I like the baggy look.
So lovely.
I like this jacket. I would wear jeans.
This is my favorite camo print- it’s dark with no added studs or anything like that.
I like the distressed jacket… no flag, though!
Red is such a great color to pair with army fat.
I like the contrasting pink.
I like the jumpsuit.
I like the contrasting yellow.
Nice.
I like…
Sort of cute.
Mary J. Blige… love this!
I dig.
I really dig the vest.
You may like.
Old school high waist jeans…
I love skirts that are this length.
Very nice look!
Found this online. I am sad that I cannot remember the website, but she sales vintage and slightly used clothes. It’s awesome.
Great look.
New York Army Store
I would try these with a wedge shoe.
I like the army fat shirt around the waist with the knee high boots.
This is probably the pair I would buy. However, I would wear them with military/combat boots or flat shoes.
This is OK.
Love the vest!
Cool.
Army Fat and Leather
Military look…
Queen Badu.
I like this look.
One of my favorite looks.
I like the camo up against the yellow.
This is aight…
aight…
Worth trying?
Like the shirts.
Nice.
Rihanna’s crazy a$$ loves camo.
I like this.
I love the baggy look.
Both styles are nice.
Cute.
Love it.
Lol. Nice.
I love black tops with camo.
I like these skinny cropped pants with heels.
Love it!

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In order for me to rock the jackets they definitely have to be cut a certain way. I like them cropped, military cut, and I even like the suit jackets. I DO NOT like rhinestones or any funny patches attached. Some of the jackets above have added studs, but I do not like that part of the design. Maybe you do? I actually dig awkward zippers and pockets, but that is it as far as I go.

Love this design.
Ok.
Just a simple t-shirt.
Love this color. The light and fades camos are nice. Even the grays.
I like the light camo. But I prefer the dark.
I like the cut, but no added stones or studs for me!
Like the collar here, but not those rhinestones!
This would be better if it was a boyfriend cut jacket. This one may be too short.
This is the design I like most. No weird colors like red, blue, or yellow camo! Yuck! Just the basic greens, browns, and blacks is all I can handle.
Minus the flag on the sleeve, I love this!
Love the jewelry layering…
This is kind of cool.
Nice.
Nice.

Men look great with this look. Do you agree? 

Nice look… Love it.
The weekend look…
The neat look…
The professional look…
The everyday look… I love this hood! This is my favorite style for men.
Simple…
The everyday look…
Look at those shoes!…
Sweet.
I actually like this color.
I really like hoods on jackets!
…like this.
Great military style looks.
Kenyatta Crisp: http://warriorspulse.com/lifestyle-by-k-crisp.html
This is OK.
I like the red against the camo.
Is this too much?
Camo on baby boy.
This print is decent.
I actually dig all these prints as well.
Love the cut of this pant.
This is cool. The sleeves could be a bit longer.
I like the vest.
I like this cut.
This is OK, but not my fav.
I like this, but I prefer a more “rugged” look.
This camo coat may be a bit too bright for my liking…
Love the tan shoes with camo…
I like the pants, but not those sporty shoes.
Very nice print.
Cuffed with mustard-colored shoes
Pocket Camo Shirt
Camo shorts… very popular
Camo vest…. Ok, but not my fav.
Camo shirt with khaki shorts.I really like that look.
I see this combination a lot on the younger guys.

Overall, I will continue to buy camouflage attire because it just sits well with me. However, paying super high prices for it is not an option. Often times you can get it at a Thrift Store. Again, I do not like the studs on Army Fat/Camo and I do not like the actual word “ARMY” being on the clothing. However, to each their own.

The Kush Queen for African Essence

I found out that I like them best with tunics.
Playing around in all the camo I own…
My cheap collection…
Funny…
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The Shoe That Would Change My Life!

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Honestly, I have been obsessed with lace up the front cognac/brown tall leather boots for some time now. However, I have yet to get some because I cannot afford them. … but mark my words, I will one day, really soon! I shouldn’t say “obsessed,” but I have done tons of Google searches trying to find a cheaper pair and when I am thrift-ing, I always have my eye open, hoping to find a vintage pair!

WAIT! WAIT!

B4 YOU CLICK ON THE PIC, ANSWER THE QUESTION  IN THE POLL ABOVE. Thanks!

77733_33224-womens-melissa-tall-lace-boot-brown_list

This is that one shoe in life, I would splurge on and I would wear these boots year round! If I got these, there would be NO need for me to ever buy another shoe in life (just kidding)! Lol!

What do you think?

Peace and Love,

Queen Duafe for African Essence

P.S. Check out Warriors’ Pulse by Ali.