ROUNDUP--ISSUE 10

Features on SL Shoe Fair, Michael Jackson and other non-African African chiefs, Nigerian musician Lagbaja, and columns on Saminaka happenings!

Stepping Out to the SL Shoe Fair

I’ve been mulling over events, since this weekend I went to the SL shoe fair. Shoe Fair, you say? Never heard of it! And I nearly didn’t as well. I happened to be on when two group members of Vain were asking for an LM, and joined the clamor for one, despite one Vainer’s remark that she had heard it was “pretty lame”—a foot, but not shoe-related pun, let me point out. I bristled with indignation—well, I don’t have an animation for that, but did so internally—why put something down if you haven’t seen it yourself?—and hopped right over when the LM arrived (because Vainers have EVERYTHING in their capacious inventories and memories).

Well, she was right. Having visited the Hair Fair for an earlier issue, one difference was clear—there were only a handful of avis there Saturday evening. I stopped by again the next morning—I was alone. No buzz was being generated, that was clear—or, as one friend suggested, they may have crowded the place on Thursday and Friday.

Also missing was a sense of theme or fun. The event took place on a sim that acts like a virtual convention center, and everyone’s booth was a uniform size and type, elegant as booths go, but much of a muchness. A sharp contrast to Hair Fair’s Candyland theme, which was both a navigation system (with its path), a chuckle-inducer (I still have my low-lag meringue wig), and a way to let the vendors express a sense of personality.

Most heavy hitters weren’t there. No Moody, no Minx. Relatively few of the new prim toe models I’m eager to make without sufficient HUD knowledge. And not a single men’s shoe that I could see, except unisex sneakers—that just seems wrong! (I was in male form, having just shot some vendor signs for Cacao, and did a rare sneak-out without changing back into myself, so that may have magnified my indignation). It did introduce me to a few unknown stores whose products interested me, like Enkythings, Diva's and Bax.

There were more boots than shoes, and several fetish shoes that made me think SL’s large dom/sub population might find a trip worthwhile. Some of the vinyl and gleaming leather textures throughout the booths were really quite impressive, as if some virtual shoeshine booth had been hard at work.

Shoe Fair was actually very small, with only 18 booths acting as shoe boxes. Many empty booths remained in the convention center, suggesting the entrance fee was either high, the merchant contact rate was low, or some other factor mitigated against participation—again, a far cry from the full sim of Hair Fair. Perhaps it had to do with prim count? Displays were ads, rather than actual footwear—though that has never stopped me from buying.

Perhaps charitable endeavors helped boost Hair Fair? One or more or all of most vendors’ booths had a “Locks for Life” item, with profits donated to the charity. Or perhaps it was simply too short, being an extended weekend affair, rather than Hair Fair’s full week and a little extension due to some SL glitches.

I’m thinking of having two kinds of events in the early fall, and though I have no illusions that it will draw thousands, I’d like to reach respectable numbers. Groups are a great way to reach people, depending on the kind of event, but I haven’t heard much good about SL publicists—and I have no idea how to interest the Lindens into posting an event at sign-in time, though I imagine big-time charity involvement or intriguing CSI-like publicity are key. There’s an SL forum for discussion of promotion, so I’d better start reading.

But I’m feeling for Shoe Fair and its worn-down sole. What happened? Somebody did some hard work trying to organize and their efforts were kicked to the curb. That shoes—one of SL’s biggest sellers!—couldn’t draw visitors is a thought to sober the most enthusiastic event promoter. Write and tell me about your event triumphs and horrors, please!

******Advertisement********

Professional Tarot Readings by FereSight

Real Life cards, real life answers.

Ask a question; be prepared for unexpected insight!

Full professional reading (500L) at a fraction of the RL cost.

IM to Feretian String

***Testimonial from Tamsin Barzane*** I was game for a reading, and I knew Miss Tian would give value, BUT...I never expected the degree of accuracy supplied in answer to my question. Selecting the right question was critical--not only for the Tarot but my own consideration of the issue I had asked about. The thoughtful, sometimes poetic responses of the cards helped me to clarify things in my own mind, too--and they included several uncannily on-the-mark personality analyses of some of the people involved, providing all kinds of insights. I'll be back!

******Advertisement********

New MAKEUP! 20 new makeups released, with five basic options: black and brown eyebrows, with and without hairbase, and a neutral makeup. YES, FIVE skin options in every makeup pack! Add new cleavage and what you get is one delicious AV!

http://slurl.com/secondlife/Kiko%20Life/124/122/1505

UNDER THE MANGO TREE--Tamsin Barzane

When Michael Jackson died, Americans (and people all over the world) recalled different Michaels, from the adorable 5 year old professional to the acned, self-conscious teenager, the pale transformed Michael to the masked man heading to court or dancing across a stage. I remembered some of these, too, but my thoughts turned to a slightly different Michael: Chief Michael.

Yes, on a visit to West Africa on tour in 1992(Michael's first trip to Africa occured when he was 14), several community rulers in Ghana and the Ivory Coast awarded him chieftaincy titles. The Agni people of Ivory Coast's Lagoon Akan region enstooled him in the town of Krinjabo. I remember the continental criticisms that he held his nose when he stepped off the plane at Abidjan, as if smelling something bad, and ignored the VIPs--but he was nonetheless lauded.

He sat on the gold-foiled stool of leadership in Krinjabo, and the black velvet crown-band ornamented with gold was placed on his head, his body wrapped in kente cloth. He became, formally at least, a chief of the king of Sanwi, Nana Amon Ndoufou, who later visited him in Los Angeles while he was married to Lisa Marie Presley. Two days of funeral ceremonies were recently held at Sanwi in his honor.

In 2006, Jay-Z was made a chief in Ilorin, the northernmost Yoruba kingdom in Nigeria. Ilorin's monarchy was taken over by the Fulani in the 19th century, and its Muslim rulers "turban" chiefs rather than crowning them. Jay-Z looked rather resplendent and right at home.

The Jigga, the Hova was there not as a performer, but as the special UN envoy for the Water for Life project--but Kwara State citizens certainly know his music! The Emir of Ilorin gave him the title "Sarkin Waka" and he was dressed not as a chief, but as an emir himself--velvet embroidered cloak, gauze headgear and all. Like other Northern Nigerian rulers and chiefs, he mounted a decorated horse and, elevated, rode through town. Ilorin named a street in his honor.

The meaning of the title "chief" varies from one part of Africa to another. To groups that have kings, like the Edo, the Yoruba, the Nupe or the Ashanti, a chief is a titled man who aids the king. In small-scale societies, like many of those in Sierra Leone, the chief may be the community leader.

Egalitarian societies like the Igbo use the title to signify someone whose has made significant contributions and is recognized as having high society, but has no political role.

Honorary chieftaincies are common is some societies, rare in others. Usually an honorary chief is a high-profile foreigner (which means outside the community, not just outside the country), who is honored by being lauded and brought into the "family." Some are famous figures like Akon, whose family is Senegalese, but was made a chief in Liberia last year. Not all are as well-known, and not all have such strong genetic ties to Africa.

Lynne Symonds of Britain's Norfolk, is the chief of the Mampreusi of the Wulugu community in northern Ghana, a title awarded because of her help to the region. She started by organizing a book project to be sent to this region, one with lesser educational development. A library was established, as was a girls' educational center; health and farm information was distributed. Lynne's fellow Norfolkers have raised over 100,000 pounds (as well as in-kind items) for Wulugu since the project began a decade ago.

The Kalabari Ijo gave long-time resident Robin Horton, an internationally-renowned anthropologist, a chieftaincy that is not just honorary. He has belonged to the community for many decades, married into it and participated as fully as someone born there.

And our very own Oliha Yiwama, who has a Saminaka title, has a Northern Edo title as well. Exploring traditional African medicine and divination in Nigeria for over twelve years, he became a chief in an Ishan/Esan village, an honor and responsibility he takes seriously. His emblems of chieftaincy--the ada and eben ceremonial swords, the coral beads, and protective materials--are with him in Nigeria and in his home state of Ohio, a proud symbol of his African American heritage and his accomplishments across the seas.

Bringing fame, assistance, and other services to one's community are honored in Africa, no matter one's birthplace. And if honor comes with obligation, well--it usually does!

******Advertisement********

OCHL ENTERPRISES

Read the blog at http://www.fatimaochl.net/, get an introductory copy of OCHL's GUIDE TO MUSIC AND DANCE IN SL at http://slurl.com/secondlife/Deminis/133/206/30

******Advertisement********

Ads! We have an initial special offer for you, whether you are shopkeepers or classified customers! Remember you can advertise your shop, feature an item, or try to sell a transferable item. If your ad has a photo, it costs more. There are discounts for extended runs of the same ad, and lesser discounts if you have constant ads, but they vary from week to week. YOU CAN ALSO USE THIS VENUE TO ADVERTISE RL OBJECTS AND SERVICES; LIST YOUR EBAY OR OTHER SITE AND REACH OUR CUSTOMERS (Tamsin Barzane will never reveal your rl identity to readers). All ad payments are in-world and in lindens. Ads for the coming week should be submitted by noon SLT Sunday.

Single ad, no photo, one week. maximum 5 Blogger lines: 50L
Single ad, photo, one week. Text maximum 5 Blogger lines: 100L
Single ad recurring, no photo, one month (4 issues). Text maximum 5 Blogger lines: 175L
Single ad recurring, photo, one month (4 issues). Text maximum 5 Blogger lines: 325L
Single ad changing week-to-week, no photo, one month (4 issues). Text maximum 5 Blogger lines. 180L
Single ad changing week-to-week, photo, one month (4 issues). Text maximum 5 Blogger lines. 425L

If you want longer text, more than one photo, or a longer ad run, prices will be adjusted. Contact Tamsin Barzane through inworld notecard or at tbarzane@gmail.com

These are introductory prices--no telling if they'll last more than a month! Get em while you can! This is our TENTH ISSUE, and we're up to 758 readers! That's nearly a hundred more than last week-- and our readers come from all over the world. WE GROW DAILY!!

FROM THE SUITCASE--Oliha Yiwama

Once again, Oliha couldn't get to the cybercafe! I am ruthlessly putting him to work when he returns next week so that I have some writing relief!

So it's me on Nigeria again...hmmm. What shall it be? I think a little musical interlude, because at cacao's preview last week and Grand Opening last night we had two great dj's playing African music, but neither played my favorite Nigerian musician, Lagbaja.

I first heard him when I woke up one morning in Lagos, still assessing the temperature, the Mosquito Index, and whether I wanted to get up just yet to hit my broken-seated toilet, which often gave me a wicked pinch. An infectious song was on the radio, its pidgin a hilarious give-and-take between an older man and the young object of his affection. "I no be your uncle, your uncle dey for your village," he said indignantly. "I might be 40-something, I might be 50-something, but in my heart, I'll 2o-something" (or was it 20-something?). Anyway, I got up laughing, a good way to start any day.

And Lagbaja was the toast of Lagos! When I returned to Benin that week, he wasn't yet as well-known, but it didn't take long for him to catch on there, too, and everywhere. I bought all his CDs, but when I came back to the US, they weren't yet on iTunes--but many are now! Many of his videos are also on YouTube, and I love showing them on the big screen to Saminaka visitors, who universally love him.

Lagbaja doesn't have a great voice. What he has is tremendous verve, talent in lyrics and songwriting, a genius in assembling talent, and highly skilled saxophone playing. His physicality makes him perfect for video, and his personality beats as brightly as the sun in the Bright Continent, radiating humor, intelligence, wry observational skills, and a will to make you the listener happy. He's tall and lanky, a kind of Dave Chapelle build, but his face and body are all but hidden by an invented masquerade costume of Yoruba cloth. "Lagbaja" means somebody/anybody/everybody in the Yoruba language, its multivalent interpretations appropriate to this embracer of all.

Why does this Everyman wear a costume? He was an accountant when he broke into show business, and didn't want his employers to punish him for moonlighting or think he was an accounting lightweight. When his career exploded, he kept it as his trademark--it also was a handy way to allow him to lead a normal life, because none but him intimates know what he looks like.

He tours both Europe and the U.S. now, along with other Nigerian greats. Like the lat great Fela, his songs often include sharp criticisms of social or political foibles, but they also include paeons to God or hilarious explorations of unusual song themes--Feyin e asks listeners to "show us your 32"--that is, smile and show your teeth. The infectious beat of Yoruba drums and his hooks force you to your feet, and if you can resist showing the 32....well, perhaps you just need dental help!

Try these YouTube videos and try not to chair dance!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tnBBm6XQWCU&feature=channel

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X5IYzdn9jf0&feature=channel

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bG0Pb8OtCnA&feature=channel

--Tamsin Barzane

HAWKING IN THE MARKET--SAMINAKA COMMERCIAL NEWS

***cacao...couture from the chocolate lands, has released its men's line, chock full of prim details and African elements, but in contemporary styles. Come see at http://slurl.com/secondlife/Kiko%20Life/234/114/1506

***On Thursday, some clothing goes on sale at Cinnamon Brigade AND Tropicality! Some current items will be reworked, and new traditional attire will be introduced, all taking place over the next two weeks.

***A small delay, but keep an eye open--soon a new publication at at Slate, Scroll & Stick--Olaudah Equiano's brief history. This remarkable Igbo man traveled much of the globe after being enslaved as a child and buying his own freedom--and his life as writer, speaker and abolitionist was a runaway success in the late 18th c.

******Advertisement********

cacao...couture from the chocolate lands brings you three dress shirts with prim collars and cuffs, as well as three mix-and-match prim ties. The ties are decorated with patterns from Zulu telephone wire baskets.

This--as well as all cacao products--is mod/trans.

cacao is at http://slurl.com/secondlife/Kiko%20Life/234/114/1506

WETIN BE DAT? Pidgin English phrase of the week

This is not original to me; I saw it in a Yahoo group message by Bunmi Olasanmi and you can now read pidgin! ; )

VERSION OF PSALM 23 IN ORIGINAL NIGERIAN PIDGIN ENGLISH

1. The Lord na my shephard, i dey kampe.

2. E make me sidon for where betta dey flow and come put me next to stream make mai bodi thermacool.

3. E panel beat mai soul come spray am white, come dey lead me dey go through express road of righteousness sake of Hin name.

4. Walahi !, if I waka pass where arm robber, 419 and juju people boku, come even join okada reach valley of the shadow of death sef, mai bodi dey inside cloth. Your rod and staff nko ? Na so dem dey like back bone dey comfort me.

5. You don prepare Egusi and Pounded yam make I chop. All mai enemies dey look waa waa. You rub me for head wit vaseline intensive lotion. mai cup na River Niger wey overflow hin bank.

6. True true, betta life and mercy go gum mai back till I quench. And man pikin go tanda for God house from lai lai to lai lai.

MY PEOPLE SAY--NIGERIAN PROVERB OF THE WEEK

"The bride we meet at the party always wants to party--and sooner or later requests a divorce." -- Yoruba proverb

THIS WEEK IN SAMINAKA--August 10 to 16

Tues., Aug. 4, 6 pm SLT. Weekly meeting of Egbe Akowe Writers Group at the new Slates, Scrolls & Sticks, Saminaka's library cum bookstore. Join the group and receive its missives by hitting the Subscribe-o-Matic (it doesn't add to group count) at the meeting location. http://slurl.com/secondlife/Saminaka/174/194/30 or the Manatee Lookout Palm Wine Joint on Tarkwa Beach. Critique/sharing the first hour, then writing fun afterwards for the lingerers--if we get that far! The discussions have been preoccupying us. We have great meetings--come even if you haven't written this week and join the discussion and in-place exercises!

Sunday, August 15, 3-5 pm SLT. Well, cacao had its preview and its Grand Opening, but we're having ONE MORE Grand Opening--because the vendor ads for the men's clothes were tardy (tsk, tsk, Tamsin). So join us in the store as DJ HarleyMC Homewood plays terrific African tunes! I promise to do something else special for all! http://slurl.com/secondlife/Kiko%20Life/234/114/1506