Recent Articles From EvanCarmichael.com http://www.evancarmichael.com/ http://www.evancarmichael.com/African-Accounts/1508/Funlayo-Alabi-CoFounder-Shea-Radiance-LadybrilleNigeria-Personality-of-the-Month.html http://www.evancarmichael.com/African-Accounts/1508/Funlayo-Alabi-CoFounder-Shea-Radiance-LadybrilleNigeria-Personality-of-the-Month.html In all facets of various societies, worldwide, you can find Nigerians doing their country proud. One such Nigerian flying the green white green flag ,so prominently and boldly, is Funlayo Alabi. The DC/Maryland based Funlayo is co-founder and owner of AgroBotanicals, a company she founded with her husband Shola Alabi which focuses on obtaining fairly traded raw shea butter from women cooperatives in Nigeria; and shipping these shea butter products to the USA. AgroBotanicals also serves as a wholesale company selling large quantities of shea butter (1000lbs to container loads) to mid size cosmetic manufacturers. http://www.evancarmichael.com/African-Accounts/1508/Tae-Flagship-Store-Lagos-by-Bisola-Edun.html http://www.evancarmichael.com/African-Accounts/1508/Tae-Flagship-Store-Lagos-by-Bisola-Edun.html Designer Bisola Edun has made it explicitly clear to all who will listen her goal to have her fashion label Taé be the first Nigerian fashion label listed on Nigeria's Stock Exchange. The very ambitious Edun also wants to have Taé retail chain stores across the country and also in every major city across the globe. Bisola's recent launch of her label Taéflagship boutique in Nigeria's fashion capital Lagos, brings her a step closer to her goals. http://www.evancarmichael.com/African-Accounts/1508/Palms-Shopping-Mall-Changing-Retail-Distribution-in-Nigeria.html http://www.evancarmichael.com/African-Accounts/1508/Palms-Shopping-Mall-Changing-Retail-Distribution-in-Nigeria.html South Africa owned, Nigerian managed 'The Palms Shopping Mall' launched in 2005 is a major contributor to changing retail distribution and ultimately the retail experience for Nigerians, particularly the growing middle class to affluent. The Mall's opening provided significant channels of distribution to allow manufacturers reach buyers who are ready and able to spend. http://www.evancarmichael.com/African-Accounts/1508/Bola-Atta-EditorinChief-True-Love-West-Africa-Personality-of-the-Month.html http://www.evancarmichael.com/African-Accounts/1508/Bola-Atta-EditorinChief-True-Love-West-Africa-Personality-of-the-Month.html Fashion icon and Editor-in-Chief for Vogue, Anna Wintour, is one personality that helped raise the profile of fashion/lifestyle magazines from mediocre to excellent. In Nigeria, Bola Atta, Editor-in-Chief for TRUE LOVE West Africa Magazine a subsidiary of South Africa's Media24 Publications, has had the same effect. Atta through her management of TRUE LOVE West Africa has succeeded in raising the bar of fashion and lifestyle magazines in Nigeria from mediocre to superior quality, commanding millions of loyal readers. Her hard work, brilliant creative vision and managerial skills earns her Ladybrille®Nigeria Personality of the Month for August. Read on as we delve into media/publishing in Nigeria and of course reveal a lot more in our exclusive about the seemingly mysterious brilliant Ms. Atta! http://www.evancarmichael.com/African-Accounts/1508/MI-aka-HipHop-Messiah-Uncut-a-Ladybrille-Exclusive.html http://www.evancarmichael.com/African-Accounts/1508/MI-aka-HipHop-Messiah-Uncut-a-Ladybrille-Exclusive.html It is past midnight in Nigeria and roughly about 3:00pm in California when I get the call from Jude Abaga aka M.I. [pronounced ‘em eye’]. He has been out and about all day plus he tells me “dealing with Lagos traffic jams” aka “go slows” so he renegotiates our interview time. When his call comes through, he is full of apologies his voice taking on a humble tone, quite contrary to the one I am used to from my sound system i.e. bold, strong and unapologetic for his mad talent, intelligence and refreshing MC skills. http://www.evancarmichael.com/African-Accounts/1508/Access-Granted-Stephanie-Okereke-on-the-Making-of-Through-the-Glass-Film.html http://www.evancarmichael.com/African-Accounts/1508/Access-Granted-Stephanie-Okereke-on-the-Making-of-Through-the-Glass-Film.html Whether in Nollywood or Hollywood, it is rare to find women, especially Black/African women, in executive film roles such as producers and directors. Nollywood A-list Actress Stephanie Okereke bucks the trend with the debut of her first film called "Through the Glass," in which she wrote, produced and directed. "Through the Glass" is about phobias we have in entering committed relationships. It also cuts to the core by addressing some of the reasons we have such phobias, for example, childhood pain. Okereke recently released a trailer of "Through the Glass" and the response has been lots of excitement and buzz! Amidst all the excitement, Ladybrille caught up with the A-list actress for an exclusive all access granted on the making of "Through the Glass." http://www.throughtheglassmovie.com/ http://www.evancarmichael.com/African-Accounts/1508/2nd-Annual-Beyond-the-Tears-Humanitarian-Awards-2008.html http://www.evancarmichael.com/African-Accounts/1508/2nd-Annual-Beyond-the-Tears-Humanitarian-Awards-2008.html Not even the crazy downpour/storm that hit New York on September 6th, 2008 could stop the Second Annual Beyond the Tears Humanitarian Awards. And, while the legendary Apollo theater was not filled to capacity, the show was nothing short of perfection! The second annual event began with the very funny, Nollywood handsome actor and comedian, Francis Duru welcoming the audience. His jokes through out the evening was the icing to a great evening. After his welcome remarks, Duru introduced members of the SACAIDS, the non-profit responsible for producing the event. http://www.evancarmichael.com/African-Accounts/1508/Funke-Adenodi-Akinbuli-Helps-Disabled-in-Africa-Live-With-Dignity--Respect.html http://www.evancarmichael.com/African-Accounts/1508/Funke-Adenodi-Akinbuli-Helps-Disabled-in-Africa-Live-With-Dignity--Respect.html If you didn't already know, most of Africa’s disabled [including the blind, paraplegic etc.] citizens live in deplorable conditions. Most are unemployed and can be found on Africa’s major streets and highways placing themselves in harm’s way as they beg for money to meet their basic needs. Rarely will you find a paraplegic in Africa, for example, with necessary medical equipment i.e. wheelchair. Most navigate the streets and freeways on their hands. Sadly, a lot of Africa’s citizens have become desensitized to the deplorable conditions of the disabled partly because most are frustrated with economic and political conditions in the continent and are barely trying to keep heads above water. Others just have no idea where to begin helping and still most lack awareness of the plight of the disabled. http://www.evancarmichael.com/African-Accounts/1508/Nyakio-Kamoche-Launches-Safi-Fragrance.html http://www.evancarmichael.com/African-Accounts/1508/Nyakio-Kamoche-Launches-Safi-Fragrance.html By now, you are probably familiar with Nyakio Kamoche. The first generation American with Kenyan heritage who launched Nyakio, a sucessful skin care line based on family recipes and ingredients from Kenya. Nyakio's skin care line is sold online and in over a hundred and eighty nine boutiques around the country. Just recently, the fierce entrepreneur diversified her portfolio to launch a fragrance line, Safi Fragrance. Of course Ladybrille had to catch up with the very Ladybrille woman to see how she does it. http://www.evancarmichael.com/African-Accounts/1508/I-Am-Iman-Fashion-Legend.html http://www.evancarmichael.com/African-Accounts/1508/I-Am-Iman-Fashion-Legend.html Supermodel IMAN needs no introduction. There's simply been so much written about her background, model career and marriage to Rock star/Musician David Bowie it would be repeating it heare would be redundant.IMAN has managed to brand her image and name as a fashion icon/legend. It is indeed why we chose to make her our feature during this month of the prestigious New York Fashion Week and to aptly title her feature as “I am Iman, Fashion Legend.” We caught up with the extremely busy Supermodel, albeit briefly, while she was in Canada shooting Project Runway Canada, a show she hosts, to gain a little more insight into her world, especially the Africa side of things.