Wednesday, April 29, 2009

ART: SELF-PORTRAITURE

Samuel Fosso was born in 1962 in Kumba to a Cameroonian Father and a Nigerian Mother.
He started taking self-portraits using up exposures on his films - to send to his mother in Nigeria, whom he had left behind as a refugee fleeing the Biafran war in the late 1960s. Although his initial aim was to show he was alive and well, his interest in exploring the genre grew steadily, and he experimented with new techniques and poses.

He is one of Africa's most renowned and prodigious photographers and his photographs are shown all over Europe and America, from the Guggenheim in New York to galleries in Barcelona, Paris and Amsterdam. His art is self-portraiture - appearing as a Martial - Arts Maestro, an African chief and a Japanese Marine etc

In 1994, a chance discovery by a French talent scout brought Fosso's work to a wider audience and into the limelight of international critical attention. His local community though remains unaware of his success, a situation he is keen to maintain. He is happy to keep his costumes out of sight and continue his passport and portrait photography business. His neighbours assume he travels to Europe to take wedding photos.
He continues to live in Bangui, Central African Republic with his wife and children and exhibits internationally.
For more on his work, go here: http://www.samuelfosso.com/

Some of his work...ENJOY!




















Stay sweet
Dulce
xxx

Tuesday, April 28, 2009

WIN WIN WIN!!

Yes, it is competition time again on DC. This time I have 2 cd's with a Cameroonian connection to give away to 2 lucky readers! They are entitled "Baka beyond the forest" & "Baka in the forest" produced by Martin Cradick and out on the 4th & 18th of May respectively.

The haunting, mystical vocals on the CD were recorded on a solar-powered 8-track machine in the middle of the Cameroon rainforest which has been inhabited by the Baka Pygmies, an ethnic group of hunter-gatherers, for thousands of years. At night time the Baka Pygmy women perform powerful ritual singing ("yelli") to ensure a successful hunt. Back in the UK, Baka Beyond leader Martin Cradick deconstructed the original interwoven vocal lines and replaced some voices with bass and acoustic guitar.

As well as offering a rare glimpse into an exquisite disappearing musical culture, buying this album also directly supports the Baka who face various problems such as being disenfranchised from the forest. For people who want to hear the original singing unadorned the companion album "Baka In The Forest" is the one to get.
Also check out http://www.youtube.com/user/bakabeyond for footage from the rainforest.

Right...a bit of history lesson on DC today on the Baka Pygmies & also a bit of information on what Martin Cradick has done / is doing for these people.

THE BAKA FOREST PEOPLE are hunter-gatherers from the central African rainforest. They mainly live in South-Eastern Cameroon, but a few also live in Congo and Gabon. Sometimes referred to as Pygmies, they are generally shorter than their Bantu neighbours, but are experts in forest life. They are reknowned throughout Africa for their hunting, musical and dancing skills.

Music is central to their lives. As soon as a baby is able to clap it is encouraged to participate in all the communal music-making. There is music for ritualistic purposes, music for passing on knowledge, stories and the history of the Baka people, and music for pure enjoyment.
Martin Cradick & Su Hart of Baka Beyond have been regularly visiting and working with a group of Baka near the Congo-Cameroon border where their lives are changing rapidly. In the time since 1992 that they started working with the Baka from a small village called Banana, they have seen many changes. In 1998 electricity arrived in Moloundu, the nearest town, bringing music and television (mainly French chat shows) to the bars.

In 2000 Banana was a tiny village with a few mud huts and Baka mongolus. Now there are several shops, and an influx of Congolese refugees has put extra pressure on the forest.Although the Baka have the right to hunt for food enshrined in both Cameroonian and international law, on the ground they are told that they are not allowed to hunt larger animals and are often intimidated into giving up even small game.

Global Music Exchange the charity which collects royalties from these cd's are actively working to raise the status and self esteem of these people, as well as educating them and those around them about their human rights.
For more info, go here: http://www.baka.co.uk/

BAKA BEYOND UK TOUR DATES: catch them if you can!
7 May - The Junction, Cambridge
8 May - Bush Hall, London (album launch party)
9 May - Folk on the Pier, Cromer, Norfolk
15 May - JuJu Club, The Red Room, Sheffield
16 May - Bongo Club, Edinburgh
20 May - Thekla, Bristol
21 May - Mind Body Spirit Festival, London (trio gig 2pm, Baka singing workshop 4-8pm)
22 May - Wombwell Festival, Barnsley
23 May - Princess Pavillion, Falmouth
24 May - Acoustic Festival of Britain, Catton Hall Park, Derbyshire
27 May - The Spiegel Tent, Bath Fringe Festival
28 May - The Globe, Hay-on-Wye
29 May - Queen’s Hall, Narberth
31 May - Sunrise Celebration Festival, South Somerset
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So...here is the competition info:-
QUESTION: Based on the information provided on this post, APART from Cameroon, in which other countries do the Baka Pygmies live?
ANSWER: Send the name of the countries to brownschuga@googlemail.com
The 2 lucky winners will be contacted when the competition ends on May 18th.
Goodluck all!
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Stay sweet
Dulce
xxx

Monday, April 27, 2009

FROM BELGIUM...WITH LOVE

Louise Assomo is a fashion designer who is causing waves in Belgium. Her designs are fluid, sensual and very feminine. According to her, she uses "real" women as her creative inspiration rather than fantasy figures and she makes nothing smaller than a European size 36 or UK8 so as not to be part of the cause of anorexia in young girls.

For someone who left Cameroon at the tender age of 16, she has done tremendously well for herself and even now has 3 boutiques worldwide, in Brussels, Antwerp and Tel Aviv accordingly!
She reveals that her African origins does play a part in her creations and it also shows in her designs.


Louise Assomo herself

Her winter 2008 collection





My fav!











I am still digging for more information on this lady and will revert asap.
This is her website but it seems to be down http://www.louiseassomo.com/
Cameroon's light is shining and ever so bright ;-))
Go CAMER!
Watch out for my interview with the lady KiRettettes!
Stay sweet
Dulce
xxx

Thursday, April 23, 2009

KIRETTE COUTURE, THE NEW COLLECTION!

Dulce Camer is at it again, getting first scoop of all the stories that matters...
Feast your eyes on these, the newest designs by KiRette Couture, a fashion forward label fronted by two pals Kibonen Nfi & Anrette Ngafor.







This is just a taster...call it an entree, the main course & dessert will be served in the manner of an exclusive interview with these two very shortly on DC...
In the meantime, to read a little bit more about this label, check out my previous post here: http://dulcecamer.blogspot.com/2009/01/here-with-bang-kirette-couture.html














Loving the pieces so far....and I know which I have my eyes on!
Watch out for the interview with the lady "KiRettettes"!
Stay sweet
Dulce
xxx






WHAT TO DO THIS FRIDAY!

How best to unwind from the stressful week than to spend tomorrow evening chilling and being serenaded by this sultry afro jazz / bossa nova singer with Douala influences!
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To see him do his thang, come to the Green Note, 106 Parkway, Camden, London NW1 7AN.
Time: from 8pm
Price: £ 10 on the door
Nearest tube: Camden Town
Tel: 0207 485 9899
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Catch you there!
Dulce
xxx

EDUCATION EDUCATION EDUCATION

Hello peeps, some links and info on available scholarships around the globe.
Check it out and see which best suits you.
Please remember the deadline dates!
Good luck!

http://www.nottingham.ac.uk/international/_media/pdf/2009-scholarships-pdf/dev-sol-commwealth-shared-scholarships.pdf

http://igrad-pre.uni-duesseldorf.de/

http://www.henley.reading.ac.uk/management/mba/mgmt-mba.asp

http://www.su.se/english/about/vacancies/phd_studies/phd_student_position_in_theoretical_physics_condensed_matter_theory?page=1

http://www.mpg.de/english/careerOpportunities/jobOffers/extern/molekulare_physiologie/stellenangebot62/index.html

http://www.academictransfer.org/org/

http://www.london.edu/assets/documents/programmes/scholarshipsln2009intructions.pdf

University of Swaziland
SENIOR RESEARCH FELLOW/RESEARCH FELLOW IN PHYTOCHEMISTRYSwaziland Institute for Research in Traditional Medicine, Medicinal and Indigenous Food Plants
Closing Date: 15 May 2009
The Vision of the University is “Leadership through Excellence in Education”
Applications are invited from suitably qualified candidates to fill the following vacant position:SENIOR RESEARCH FELLOW/RESEARCH FELLOW IN PHYTOCHEMISTRY
Swaziland Institute for Research in Traditional Medicine, Medicinal and Indigenous Food Plants
Qualifications:A PhD in Phytochemistry, Natural Product Chemistry, Medicinal Chemistry or Pharmacognosy. The right candidate should be a versatile researcher with substantial output and who can source funds for the institute.
Duties:• Phytochemical screening of medicinal and food plants• Ethnobotanical surveys of medicinal and indigenous food plants• Design and evaluation of research proposals• To perform any other duties as assigned by the Director of the Institute
APPLICATIONS AND CLOSING DATEApplications with detailed CV, certified copies of original certificates and names of three referees should be sent to:The RegistrarUniversity of SwazilandPrivate Bag 4KwaluseniSwaziland
Email: sar-hr@uniswacc. uniswa.sz

Uppsala University
Hereby declares the following position to be open for application:
PhD position in organic chemistry
at the Department of Biochemistry and Organic Chemistry.
Starting date June 2009.
The project is aimed at the design, synthesis, and characterization of peptidomimetics incorporating a photoisomerizable moiety (”switch”). It is aimed at exploiting possibilities of photomodulation of peptide or protein secondary and/or tertiary structure and function. The successful applicant will be working with synthetic organic chemistry, peptide chemistry, photochemistry, and a variety of spectroscopic methods for structural characterization of organic compounds.
The applicant must have a Bachelors degree (or equivalent) in chemistry, and an additional full year of studies at an advanced level, including a masters thesis (or equivalent).
In addition, the applicant should provide proof of theoretical and practical knowledge in:
a) Synthetic organic chemistry, including practical experience with routine laboratory procedures
b) Analytical methods in organic chemistry: Separation and purification (HPLC, flash chromatography, macroscale and microscale synthesis, mass spectrometry, IR spectroscopy, gas chromatography)
c) Use of modern NMR techniques for structural characterization of organic compounds (interpretation of routine 1D and 2D spectra, practical experience with state of the art NMR equipment, documentation of spectral data)
d) Practical experience with peptide chemistry will be regarded as a strong merit
e) Basic knowledge in computational chemistry and physical organic chemistry will be regarded as a merit
f) teaching experience (undergraduate level) will be regarded as a merit.
The PhD position is for four years, extendable to a maximum of five years by including department duties at a level of at most 20% (typically teaching). Since first year undergraduate courses are taught in Swedish, proficiency in Swedish may be considered an advantage.
For more information on this position, please contact: Prof. Adolf Gogoll, Adolf.Gogoll@ biorg.uu. se . Union representatives are Anders Grundström, SACO-rådet, tel: +46 18-471 5380, Carin Söderhäll, TCO/ST, tel: +46 18-471 1996 and Stefan Djurström, SEKO, tel: +46 18-471 3315.
The application should contain a letter where the applicant describes him/herself, merits and research interests, CV, copies of academic grades, exam work or related documents, other relevant publications and letters of recommendation.
Please submit your application no later than May 4, 2009 to: Registrator, UFV-PA 2009/801, Uppsala University , Box 256 , 751 05 Uppsala , Sweden , fax:+46 18 471 2000 or e-mail: registrator@ uu.se.
If the application is submitted by fax or e-mail, the originals should follow within one week after the application deadline.

Stay sweet
Dulce
xxx

FASHIZBLACK.COM

Hey peeps, there' s a new online magazine ran by some young Cameroonians in France called Fashizblack.
It is in French and it is so sleek, very professional and very informative on the what's hot in African and Western Fashion.
You will definitely love...
Check it out here: www.fashizblack.com




















Watch for my interview soon on DC.
Stay sweet
Dulce
xxx


Wednesday, April 22, 2009

CAMEROON'S INDOMITABLE LIONESS!

Chantal Biya last night became new BFF 's with Paris Hilton and no, this time she did not have to participate in a reality show nor win it either!









The first lady of Cameroon along with 16 other wives of African heads of states met in LA for the African First Ladies' Health Summit for the first time to discuss health, education, women’s issues and Aids in Africa.
They teamed up with U.S. health experts, non-profit groups and a clutch of celebrities such as Paris Hilton, Naomi Campbell, Diane Lane, Maria Shriver the wife of the Californian Governor and Sarah Brown, the UK's Prime Minister's wife, to promote their work.






Chantal Biya also known as "Chantou" amongst the Cameroonian public made more of an impression for the wrong reasons in my opinion with her "80's gravity defying bouffant", her long red nails, colourful attires and her theatrical make-up she even managed to upstage Paris Hilton...now that's something!
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She so needs a make-over and she also so needs to sack the stylist.
If you are reading this post and you happen to know Chantou, please tell her that I am available as a stylist...I will even do it for FREE!
Call it doing my bit for the advancement of the country ;-))
We need to see more elegance and glamour and less hair and colour on her.
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Now over to you dear readers, what do you think?
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Stay sweet
Dulce
xxx

Tuesday, April 21, 2009

COMPETITION NOW CLOSED!

Hey peeps, after 1 day of running the competition I can confirm that we now have 3 winners who have bagged themselves a signed copy of Léman by Blick Bassy!

Lucky sods! I hope they enjoy listening to his sweet sultry voice....

So the competition is therefore now CLOSED.

Watch out for another competition with a Cameroonian connection next week....more information to follow.

Stay sweet
Dulce
xxx

Monday, April 20, 2009

WIN WIN WIN

As you know by now, Blick Bassy's new album "Léman" is out in stores today in the UK.

As promotion, DC (Dulce Camer) is giving away 3 signed copies to 3 lucky readers of the interview below: yes take note when reading ;-))

THE QUESTION: In what city / country was Léman recorded in?
THE ANSWER: Send the name of the CITY & COUNTRY to: brownschuga@googlemail.com

The first 3 correct answers will win this good stuff!

However, you can also grab your copy here, I just bought mine ;-)):
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Leman-Blick-Bassy/dp/B001PU6U7G/ref=sr_1_2/278-1665134-5232702?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1240060707&sr=1-2

PLEASE NOTE: This competition is not open to the DC team nor their friends & family, sorry!!

Stay sweet
Dulce
xxx