All black UK soap

For the first time in 23 years, the BBC is to air an episode of its legendary soap EastEnders with an entirely black cast.  The characters will remember and comment the race riots that took place in London, Notting Hill, in 1958.

There will be no word from a single white member of the cast and the storyline will focus on Patrick Trueman who arrived in England from the Carribeans in the 50s. With his relatives, they will question the fact that there's less racism in the UK today.

One death in Guadeloupe

A man died in Guadeloupe (French carribeans) last night during protests against excessive living costs and an unfair distribution of wealth between black and white communities.

The movement, at first pacifist, is becoming increasingly violent. Alex Lollia, member of the LKP party organising the protests suffered physical and verbal abuse from policemen. He explains the incident to the press. Listen to his interview (in French) here.

President Nicolas Sarkozy who is usually very proactive has so far been worryingly quiet about the case. He is preparing to receive representatives from the French carribeans tomorrow, one month after the first strikes started.

See what happened last night on Euronews.

New toy for trendy geeks

Who said you can’t be a geek and love fashion at the same time? Not fashion designer Vivienne Tam who launched the most glamorous laptops ever with Hewlett Packard. Vivienne Tam’s laptops are colourful, glossy and trendy. They’re covered with the designer’s signature pink and red pattern celebrating Chinese art. If you can't afford the laptop, you can always download a free wallpaper on the web.

Some will think it's superficial but it’s actually a very smart way to spread Chinese culture around the world. We can’t wait for a designer to find such a smart way to get African style in houses around the world.

African style rules

African designs and textiles inspire fashion designers around the globe.

Japanese designer Junya Watanabe was strongly inspired by African draping and motifs for his Spring 2009 collection. The models carried flowers or actual wheat on their head, which is reminiscent of African women's traditional way of transporting food and goods. The colourful fabrics and traditional motifs were also inspired by African designs.

Michelle Obama makes the cover of Vogue

Michelle Obama is on the cover of Vogue magazine in March. She's been photographed by celebrity portrait-maker Annie Leibovitz (whose work has recently been exhibited at the National Portrait Gallery, London).  It's only the second time a First Lady makes the cover of Vogue.

Hapsatou brings multiethnic beauty to Paris

Hapsatou Sy is a 27-year-old entrepreneur who opened Ethnicia, the first multi-ethnic beauty centre in Paris. She recently won a business competition which allowed her to open her third beauty centre in the biggest shopping centre of Paris, Les Quatre Temps. Her story is now well know in France and she is regularly featured in major newspapers, magazines and tv shows. Hapsatou found her inspiration during a trip to the US where professional multiethnic beauty centres were available everywhere. She decided to bring the concept to Paris knowing that there was a gap in the market. She reveals all her business and hair care secrets to kolkolkolblog.

Hapsatou Sy est chef d’entreprise de 27 ans et fondatrice d’Ethnicia, le premier centre de beauté multiethnique parisien. Elle a récemment ouvert un troisième institut de beauté aux Quatre Temps, le plus grand centre commercial parisien et fait régulièrement l’objet d’interviews et de reportages dans les journaux, magazines et émissions télévisées françaises. Hapsatou a eu l’idée de lancer Etnicia suite a un voyage aux États-Unis ou les instituts de beauté multiethniques sont monnaie courante. Consciente du manque sur le marché français, elle a décidé d’importer le concept à Paris. Hapsatou révèle à kolkolkolblog ses secrets professionnels et capillaires.

You’ve launched your first business at 24 without help from banks. Which network helped you finance the project (family, work, friends)? / Vous avez monte votre première entreprise a 24 ans malgré le refus des banques de financer votre projet. Quel réseau vous a aidée à financer votre projet (familial, professionnel, amical…)?

I had 30,000 € from my own savings and from a friend’s loan. / J’avais 30 000 € d’apport, venant de mes propres économies et d’un ami.

Would you say it’s necessary to take courses create a business? Do you think you could have achieved your project without your diploma in Superior Economic Studies in Trade and International Affairs?/ D’après vous, une formation est-elle indispensable pour montre une entreprise ? Auriez-vous pu monter votre projet sans votre Diplôme d’Etudes Supérieures Economiques en Commerce et Affaires Internationales ?

A business course is useful but it’s more important to have a sales flair. It’s all about willpower, having a clear goal and the will to achieve one’s projects. / La formation en commerce est utile, néanmoins, la fibre commerciale est plus importante. Il s’agit avant tout de volonté, d’avoir une idée bien précise, et une réelle envie d’aller au bout de ses projets.

What would you advise to someone who wants to build a business but doesn’t know where to start ? / Quel conseil donneriez-vous à une personne voulant monter son entreprise mais ne sachant où commencer ?

Be confident and believe in your project, get surrounded by the best people to build a strong team and set high goals. Don’t lose faith because the road will be paved with pitfalls and you must be prepared to cope with them. / Avoir confiance en soi et croire en son projet, savoir s’entourer de personnes compétentes pour construire une équipe efficace, se fixer des objectifs élevés et ne jamais se décourager, car le chemin sera semé d’embûches et il faut se préparer à les affronter.



Do you have a professional mentor ? / Avez-vous un mentor (sur le plan professionnel) ?

All the people who are persevering and achieve their dreams. / Tous les gens persévérants qui accomplissent leurs rêves sont mes mentors.

In your opinion, why did afro and multi-ethnic beauty centres first appeared in the US ?/ D’après vous, pourquoi les centres de beauté afros et multiethniques se sont-ils d’abord développés aux Etats-Unis ?

Most probably because a bigger market appeared earlier in the US and there are more mixed race people over there. Today, France is getting more and more mixed and the need is appearing here too. / Car il y avait certainement un marché plus important plus tôt, et plus de métissage aux Etats Unis. Aujourd’hui, la France est de plus en plus métissée, le besoin est donc présent ici aussi.

Is there a difference between afro haircare in France and in the US ? Do customers have the same needs? / Y a-t-il une différence entre le soin du cheveu afro en France et aux Etats-Unis ? Les clientes ont-elles les mêmes demandes ?

French customers are as demanding as the Americans, the difference is that they have a wider offer in the US. Afro customers today have specific and varied needs, which is normal since each of us is unique. That’s what we focus on at Ethnicia, tailored beauty. / Les clientes sont tout aussi exigeantes, la différence c’est qu’aux EU elles ont une offre beaucoup plus large. La clientèle afro a aujourd’hui des demandes plus précises et variées d’une personne à l’autre, et c’est normal, chaque être est unique. C’est ce que nous prenons en compte dans les instituts Ethnicia, la beauté sur mesure.

Is your hair natural or relaxed ? Why ? / Avez-vous les cheveux naturels ou défrisés ? Pourquoi ce choix ?

My mother is from a North African descent and my father is from an African descent so my hair is mixed. I have a fine hair and I don’t relax it very often but I wear extension for a longer style. / Mes cheveux sont métissés car ma mère a des origines maghrébines et mon père des origines africaines. Au final, j’ai des cheveux fins. Je ne les défrise pas toujours, mais je porte des extensions pour les avoir plus longs.



Which black woman is inspiring for you ?/ Quelle femme noire est pour vous une inspiration ?

Oprah Winfrey !



What was your experience of hair salons at Strasbourg Saint-Denis (the afro hair care district of Paris) / Quelle a été votre expérience des salons de coiffure à Strasbourg Saint-Denis ?

I found them very communitarian. In addition, the quality and customer service weren’t always there. This experience reinforced my idea that there was a real gap in the market. That’s why I wanted to create a beauty institute where customers aren’t treated according to their skin colour but to their needs. / C’était très communautaire. De plus, la qualité et la prise en charge efficace du client pas toujours au rendez-vous. Mon expérience m’a confortée dans mon idée : il y avait un réel manque sur le marché. J’ai donc eu l’envie de créer un espace de beauté ou les clients ne sont pas considérés pour leur couleur de peau, mais pour leurs envies de femmes et d’hommes.

Whitney comes back, Rihanna goes down

Whitney Houston is back on top of her game. She made an awesome come back at the pre-Grammys Award before giving the Best RnB album award to Jennifer Hudson on Saturday night. After several years of drug addiction and marital troubles with Bobby Brown, the 46 years old diva looked and sounded fantastic. Watch a video of her performance.

But sadly, a younger black singer is compromising her career because of her relationship, just like Whitney did a few years ago. Rihanna cancelled her appearance at the Grammys after boyfriend Chris Brown attacked her while they were arguing. He handed himself to the police on Sunday morning.

What every black woman should read

Mane and Chic just published a post about Grow It, a book on growing 'textured hair' long.
The author, Chicoro, tells about her humiliating trip to the hairdresser and it felt so familiar! It made me realise that we've all heard once in our lives a stylist say: "I can't do anything with this hair except cutting it."

This book is meant to empower women and give them all the information they need to understand their hair and grow it. You can read a few pages here.