'take care of yourself first'

Beautifully said by Jada Pinkett-Smith:

Make sure that at the end of the day you did those things 
that would make yourself feel happy and those around you will be happy. 

And one of the biggest challenges for women now a days I believe.

Because it means that we have to confront ourselves with the questions: 

what do we want ourselves?

what are the things that are good for ourselves?

what are the things with which we would take care ourselves and make ourselves happy? 

With our relationship

with our children

but also and very important so - with our work.

To live the work modes that make ourselves happy and with which we take care of ourselves 
every single day.

Da war es nicht der Business Plan, sondern die Leidenschaft, die Geschäfte macht

screen shot: Bilanz

Ein Online Magazin. Ein Berliner Online Magazin. Das sich vornehmlich an Frauen richtet. Edition F. Darüber bin ich heute gestolpert.

living incompatible worlds

Making the possible possible with Urban cultures as bridges between Africa And Europe (ANSA e.V. Conference 2014)

'living incompatible worlds'

is a most beautiful concept 

as I believe most of us say merging incompatible worlds to be impossible

while living this merger possible at the same time.

Living it possible?

Yes, in our everyday actions and encounters

each and everyone practices unconsciously what our rational mind would consider 

impossible - incompatible.

And this I saw to be the case especially regarding the subject of 

Modern Science and Spirituality: 

Implications for development in Africa and in Europe

As behind this rather academically sounding title 

lays a universe 

origin to many of the current challenges we are facing both - 

in Africa and in Europe.

What would happen if we would consciously embrace that ...

>> modern and traditional healthcare go together?

>> traditional and modern political systems go hand in hand?

>> traditional and modern religions live with each other?

>> etc. ...

And the more:

what would be, if we would embrace, that this is something, 

which is already happening? 

Questions and considerations I am looking forward to have discussed during the upcoming ANSA e.V. conference in Bayreuth with my most favourite speaker:

LOOK behind the scene

My personal faves of the behind the scenes O. Look shootings. 

What I learned from it - 

with the good vibes around you can excel your camera looks to the max. 

Cause the fun and relaxation you feel is what you give to the camera. 

Much love to the master of beautiful atmospheres Ernest O. Look 

and the entire team 

and to the successful launching 

of the O. Look look to Berlin's streets!

tell your beautiful story

when she says:

'Forget about likeability.

Likability is an essential part of the space you occupy in the world. 

That you are supposed to twist yourself into shapes to make yourself likeable.

That you are supposed to hold back, pull back, don't quite say, don't be too pushy

because you have to be likeable.

And I say that is bullshit.

You will be so concerned about not offending

and that is going to ruin your story.'

Deep, encouraging, challenging words

that help me a lot in pursuing my 

dreams, potentials, business ventures.

Visions

Some wise words there from my dear colleague Elisabeth Kaneza ...

on modern science, spirituality and what holds communities together

opening the ANSA e.V. Conference 2014 in Lingen

Modern Science and Spirituality: Implications for development in Africa and Europe

is what the October 2015 ANSA e.V. conference is supposed to be about.

It is funny how the titles of these conferences are rather easy at hand - and then there is this vast intangible space of possibilities on what it actually means. And what it does not mean. And what it does not mean at all. Mostly leading to dismissing any thought before it could even find its way to the paper.

I like to fill these spaces with experiences of my own. 

It makes it easier for me to grasp. 

It makes it more concrete.

It allows me to adopt my thoughts and put them down on paper.

So here they come ...

Modern Science and Spirituality: Implications for development in Africa and Europe 

- sounds like dichotomies, right? 

I like to mess with dichotomies and stereotypes. In the two days of the conference we will hear many great academic works and will have high-level academic debates. 

So why not start this conference with a little story.

With my story.

I grew up in a village. A small village - 20 houses, 100 people. All farmers, in a farming region. Wealthy people in one of the riches regions in Germany - the SüdOldenburger Land. 

Benefiting from the advancements of modern science and technology for farming, processing, packaging - the entire production chain basically. 

So I grew up seeing when Mercedes-Benz would have a new model as surely one of the people in that village would get it. Unlike today where I live in Berlin, Germany's capital city and I look at poor but sexy people (as the former berlin major coined it) in public transport systems. 

Conservative to the bone were these quite wealthy farmers. Christian catholic. Black through and through, like the entire region - as my green party electing mother who had migrated to the village used to explain to me, with black being the color of the conservative Christian Democratic Party (I think Angela Merkel is trying to change it as she always wears red, right?). 

And yet, what held these people together - and this is curious as each and everyone of them would shun you off when you would mention the world spirituality what held them together - what held these people together, what holds us together up to date and what created community, was not church, christianity or debates around modern science. 

It was the celebration of Karneval, of Schützenfest in full traditional gears, the celebration of easter fires, of setting first may trees, of celebrating new years, the darkest night of the year. 

Pagen festivals, traditional festivities, cultural practices. Which despite the looting and burning of the pagan practices remain. Alive. In everyday life. As unquestionable/self evident practices. Of course also granting beautiful excuses to enjoy alcohol in rauen Mengen so I was trained early, don’t dare me on that one ;-) No I am kidding, I don’t drink alcohol again.

There are some points I derived from this. 

In practical everyday life, spirituality and modern since are not that far apart. Are not mutually exclusive. Rather go hand in hand as it serves to the people. In the practical life of the people they can each find their space and place. They can be accommodated and do not in every case have to be mutually exclusive. 

Sure they change over time and some things are given up for new things to come. But they are accommodated and do not exclude one other. And secondly - Spirituality is certainly not something inherent to the African continent. Just that the African continent had the opportunity to exercise it some centuries longer before the looting and burning of christianity would come ;-)  

Wow, I love these thoughts.

Having thought all this tough, I am realising that both, pagan and christian believes are probably understood as traditional and that the dichotomy is about those two to the modern science. But I shall look into that as my next step.

über die Kreativität von Stipendiaten

ANSA Insights - wie diese deutschen und afrikanischen (Ex-)Stipendiaten die Welt verstehen

Hinter den Kulissen passiert so viele gemeinsames.

Die Insights des Alumni Netzwerks Subsahara Afrika e.V. bringen auf die Bühne, was die (ehemaligen) Stipendiaten des Deutschen Akademischen Austauschdienstes kreieren.

Aber lest selbst :-)

back door entrepreneurship

It is fascinating to me, the dedication and creativity on how to bring products to a market.

How Mr. Gasmilla was able to think and rethink on spotting and addressing his customers. Would he have ever been this successful, if the front door had been open? I guess that sometimes the tough way, the unconventional way, the extra miles those have to walk that do not enjoy the privilege, is what makes them more than a one hit stand.

Aside of this,

a totally interesting inside to the dynamics of the Ghanaian markets.

Thanks there, nice lesson!

"According to him “The back door was using the streets.” 

He said he sometimes had to impersonate a manager to get people to listen to his tracks. 

“I started with street promotion. Abodan tui was a song that made it huge on the street. 

Radio didn’t play it, TV didn’t show it and I mean I pushed it so hard on the street that radio and TV didn’t have a choice. It was me going from one joint or the other promoting my song. 

“I sit in the trotro and I ask the one seated by me, do you have a Bluetooth? I’m a manager and there is this artiste I’m trying to promote and I would like you to listen cos chaley, that’s the only way you know…I knew I won’t have it easy so I worked….I don’t look at the obstacles. I look at getting to my destination and it worked for me” he told Dey. "

what solidarity means ... Tumenta Kennedy on the Greek crisis

I love this inside to the Greek crisis ...

"Even in Simbabwe, in Iran, in North Korea

we have not had this happening, that a country was collapsing. 

And all these are countries under heavy sanctions. But Greece is a country under any embargo.

But it can not survive - this is shocking!"

"Trust will be a fundamental element during the coming negotiations between the governments."

"He has to explain to his people, that solidarity means, investing into the conditions that will make us be sustainable in the long run."

... but watch it for yourself.

by 

Tumenta Kennedy 

who I am proud to call

my mentor

one of the brightest minds I know

as he is never tiered to challenge the mind beyond what seems possible

drawing out the best in you - in me :-)

Aside that he is

political analyst and advisor on Europe-African matters / also to the former German president

chief

man of the medicines and herbs

academic 

and 

entrepreneur with African BIB.

to catch a buyer

with my dear friend and colleague at the Green Showroom Berlin Fashion Week 2015

04:05 pm

No parking space in sight at the Alte Postbahnhof at Ostbahnhof, Berlin. No Accreditation as well.

Show start of the Green Showroom runway show 4 pm sharp. Meaning we never gonna make it. You know how these fashion people in Germany are like. I thought. 

But then again, I was with Ernest. Ernest O. Look. And as it usually is, when we are moving together, everything works out just the way it is supposed to work out. Our colleague Andreas Suhr from G & A Underwear is right at the entrance to get us into the showroom, be it coincidentally or destiny, and the accreditation people at the runway show seem to know our notorious lateness from the past years, can not withstand Ernest's charming vigorous charm in any ways - the result of his years of networking work - and put us to sit in the first row, since we are coming too late. 

It is the exiting times, the show, the glamor, which got me interested in fashion week. I still love it today. Especially with the Green Showroom's and Ethical Fashion Week's relaxed atmosphere. Nevertheless, what makes me dedicate the energy of an entire week - up to now I was not able to figure why Fashion Week consumes this crazy amount of energy - is the business behind it. The how and why behind the design - buyer - press - store - trend - chain. 

What is it, that moves buyers to show interest in a designer, in a collection, to come to the showrooms and purchase the next seasons's collections. What does it take for a press to dedicate time to cover a show, a designer, a collection, to draw buyer's attention, to draw trend setter's attention, to draw blogger's attention. 

In times where everyone talks about the demise of Berlin Fashion Week.

About the bankruptcy of Fashion in Berlin.

Arm aber Sexy.

with Prakash Chandra Jha from Cocccon - Creativity Can Care

Cocccon built up their buyer relations at the Green Showroom over some years. With orders from buyers peaking every year and again. Fashion Can Care - Creativity Can Care, is what Prakash, the Hagen based designer standing behind the brand, found at a point in his career. And it excites - him, press, politicians, buyers. It definitely excites me, this idea, to wear organic vegan fair trade silk and cotton on my skin. Produced in the village of his origin in India, handmade, local.

And then there is underwear, this year it is everywhere. With Ernest O. Look working on his new underwear collection - Men's styles - with his unmatched ability to surprise people, to amaze people with his style, making his style be the one they want. A genius, on top of that, when it comes to production, press and retail relations.

With George Andreas Suhr - G&A ORG&ANIC Underwear - and his own unique take on haunting simple designs for the man of style, comfort and conciseness. For him who wants to feel all organic cotton only on his preciousness. It convinced the fashion press. 

And it convinced me, that there definitely should be something like this for my preciousness - for women. Maybe even by myself, so I can put in action all the impressions, ideas, inspirations, strategies I gathered over the past years on what it is, that moves buyers to show interest in a designer, in a collection, to come to the showrooms and purchase the next seasons's collections, on what it takes for a press to dedicate time to cover a show, a designer, a collection, to draw buyer's attention, to draw trend setter's attention, to draw blogger's attention ;-).

the video girl

"Are you going to be the video girl?" 

It was Wanlov, chilling next to me on the hill,

glancing at the entirety of  Glastonbury Festival craziness in the beneath valley.

I didn't even know that the word exists.

But sure, why not.

So I got to be the video girl,

Wanlov the Kubolor 's and Silvastone Beats 's "Never go leave you" video girl. 

It gave me the most beautiful inside to this side of the music industry. 

What it is that it takes for a music video.

Not much.
To my surprise.

A mobile phone with the song. 

And a Go Pro.

And yet so much. 

A crew creating the good vibes - the atmosphere of the song. Determining spaces to set the story of the song. Creating the space to tell the story of the song. Creating the space for everyone in the video to feel the song, the tunes, the story and perform the story.  Opening spaces of the unknown, to create the right moments of laughter, fun, to do the right thing at the right time. Catching the right moment with the camera. Cutting the right moment from the camera. Creating a video that will take along the people that listen to the song, to hear the story, to see the story, to feel the story, to emerge with the story, to make it their song - their story.

Unique skills Wanlov and Silvastone put out there.

Just my type of a challenge - I enjoyed.