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st64 Mar 2014
you are so beautiful

such grace
in your words, power spills forth
with magnitude


you are so beautiful

may your light shine
beyond
all boundaries


YOU are so beautiful





st - 5 mar
so inspiring.. humanity at work.
such finesse.. wow!

http://www.upworthy.com/oscar-winner-lupita-nyongos-speech-on-beauty-that-left-an-entire-audience-speechless?c=reccon1



sub-entry: beauty in / / beauty out

what is it?
is it upon the rags of your face.. ?
or is it the ***** you flaunt?

where is beauty?
perhaps.. in the things
we do not see.
Jonny Angel May 2014
I blew in from the camino
like a wild tumbleweed,
the smell of iquana
hung around me
like a dark cloud
as I slumped onto
the barstool &
ordered a tequila
with the worm.

The mariachi was as loud
as thirty babies screaming,
I knew it wasn't me dreaming.
In the darkness & haze,
I used my dynamite-eyes
to scan the spinning room
& I caught Lupita looking.

We ended up
on the wilder side of town
that night,
I fought three banditos
and a chupacabra,
beat the snot out of all
of them.

If it wasn't for
this Betty Boop tattoo
on my ***,
that classy senorita
would have married me,
lucky me.
Jonny Angel Feb 2014
Saguaros stood
like spiny-sentinels
as I sped along the Camino,
alone,
top down.
Warm winds &
tequila-breath
burned my shot-eyes
when I first spotted
the thumbing Lupita,
way south of Ensenada
on good 'ole 1.
Her graceful
toothy-smile
under her full lips
seemed gracious
as I pulled up
alongside her,
kicked the door open.

She hopped in
& we catapulted
with her hair streaming &
brown-skin shining
in the falling sun.
We hit high speeds
smiling
as we continued
south, driving
into the coming night.

Twinkling-stars
& static-filled
La Bamba-tunes
kept us company.
We discussed
sacred-mysteries
in broken languages,
later, counted
each others toes,
rubbed noses
in my bedroll.

In the morning,
she was gone
left me a note
& the ruffled rose
she had pinned
in her raven-black hair.

As I drove off
in a dreamy-state,
somewhat disappointed,
a spiraling one,
a lone black bird
trailed behind me,
I'm sure it was her.

Soon, she disappeared
from my rear view memory,
but never out of my mind.
Alexander K Opicho
(Eldoret, Kenya;aopicho@yahoo.com)



I have been reading the old copy of Saturday Nation, a week end edition of the daily nation in Kenya. It was published some weeks ago. It has some enticing feature stories that have made me to reflect on a certain family value in Africa. The three feature stories I have been reading are ; Lupita Nyong’o stellar performance in the movie, 12 years a slave, in which she emerged a top American actor, attracting in the same course the most coveted Oscar prize, I have also read in the same paper the shooting literature star of Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, an American based Nigerian writress, who had had her last book Americana win the American Booker Prize, and lastly , I have also ready  a very captivating account of Wanjiku wa Ngugi’s spellbinding debutante in her book, the fall of saints. Wanjiku account was written by Proffessor Evans Mwangi a Thiong’o literary scholar based in Newyork. Mwangi being a Ngugi wa Thiongi’o, scholar wrote this article because Wanjiku wa Ngugi is also a daughter to the world famous Kenyan novelist, Ngugi Njogu wa Thiongi’o.
In each of the three above cases, emanates a significant observation that the fathers to the respective ladies are great men in their respective capacity, and that the ladies mentioned are now obvious heirs to the family names, family intellectual domain and family selling point respectively.
Lupita is heir to proffessor Peter Anyang Nyong’o, Adichie is an heir to the African literary heritage of proffessor Chinua Achebe, and While Wanjiku is a promising successor to Proffessor Thiongi’o.
These are actually a crystallization of strange unfolding that time has now challenged old mindset among African societies. The mindset in which Africans have not been counting girls as children .This family value has been there up to today. If an African man tells you that I don’t have a family it means that he is expressing three connotations; he is not married, he is married but he does not have a children, or he is married but his wife have only been bearing him girls, because if anything; an African man is only responsible for siring sons, daughters are a mistake of the wife.
This typology of family civilization got to its peak in the mid of  last year, when the Luo council of elders, hailing from Siaya County of Kenya, where Baraka Obama is rooted, expressed their open puzzle over Baraka Obama as per why he can’t take his time to have sons. They are now organizing a delegation that will go to America to counsel President Obama over the matter that he needs to re-organize his posterity strategy other than thinking in terms of Sasha and Malia.
What I mean is that Africans don’t believe if at all family interests can be carried forward through a daughter. They don’t believe if a girl can be an intellectual or command any wisdom that can go places. But realities from a historical experience that great African men don’t sire great sons but instead they sire great daughters must make this society of male chauvinists to have a mental paradigm shift in relation to child valuation and recognition. To accept a social déjàvu that daughters have a big capacity to carry forward the family name than the previously mistaken notion that they are only sons who can do this.
Facts on the ground range from the case of Julius Nyerere,Kwameh Nkrumah, Malcolm X, Frantz Fanon, Richard Wright, Tom Mboya, Masinde Muliro, Nelson Mandela, Mutula Kilonzo, and Francis Imbuga just to mention a few African heroes. Justification of this list showing Africa’s reversal of Prospero complex abodes in the facts that; Susan Nyerere is currently the most outspoken in the Nyerere family. Similarly, Nkrumah’s daughter is currently a politician in Ghanaian parliament and very promising politically. Betty Shabazz X was recently reported to have put Louis Farrakhan on the spot over the ****** plot of her father the late Malcolm X.Mireille Fanon Mendes is the director of human rights activist organization known as Frantz Fanon foundation. This is the organization which recently recognized Mumia Abu-Jamal with a prestigious prize. Mumia Abu-Jamal is an African-American writer and journalist, author of six human rights focussed books and hundreds of similar spirited columns and articles. He has spent the last three decades on racially biased Pennsylvania’s death row. And now general population in America and in the world knows that Mumia Abu-Jamal was wrongfully convicted and sentenced for the ****** of Philadelphia Police man, Daniel Faulkner. His demand for a neutral trial and unconditional freedom is enmassely supported by heads of state, Nobel laureates, human rights organizations, scholars, religious leaders, artists and bioethical scientists. All this is nothing other than universal singing of the tune in the poetic writings of Frantz Omar Fanon entitled Facts of blackness, through his daughter Mireille.
And equally enough, those of you who have delved into posthumous family conditions of Richard Wright must have appreciated stellar performance of proffessor Julia Wright in respect to the genetic legacy of her father. Dr. Susan Mboya is currently living in South Africa and she is serving the society in the same tandem her late father Tom Mboya discharged anti-colonial service to the people of Kenya, Africa and world in general.Masinde Muliro has Mrs. Namwalie Muliro and Mutula Kilonzo has Kethi Kilonzo. The point is that, just like all of other heroes in Africa, these two great politicians have their daughters; Namwalie and Kethi as the heirs to their political legacy.
This phenomenon is not unique to Africa. But it is a universal genetic condition. The study of genetics has a concept that inferior genes of the mother are passed through an X chromosomes in XY to the sons, while superior genes of the father are passed through an X chromosome of the ** to the daughters.
Just but to wind up my story I want also to counsel The Luo council of elders that president Obama, their son who lives in America does not have misplaced values in projecting his posterity through Sasia and Malia. Personally I am aware that as per now there is no any African boy at age of Sasha Obama that has ever read Yann Martel’s Life of Mr. Pi. But in stark contrast the international media reported Sasha Obama to have vividly read this book until she commented to Baraka Obama that, ‘daddy, this is a very good book’.  And of course this is how an intellectual is made.
judy smith Dec 2016
She has dressed Oscar-winning actress Lupita Nyong'o and Uganda's chess Woman Candidate Master Phiona Mutesi for the premiere of 'Queen of Katwe'. She has also designed several Miss Uganda and Miss Tourism contestants among others.

Yet Brenda Niwagaba Maraka, who is undoubtedly among Uganda's top fashion designers, describes herself as "just a simple person who loves work and fashion". She is also quick to recognise people who have inspired her, including renowned fashion designer and artist Stella Atal and Xenson Samson Ssenkaaba

In January 2007, Maraka officially launched 'Brendamaraka' as a fashion label.

"I work to represent Uganda as a tropical country through fashion and also extend Kampala's position as a fashion hub," said Maraka.

For the love of developing and inspiring others through her fashion skills, Maraka grooms two talented and interested students in fashion and design every year.

Come next year January, Maraka is set to showcase at her own fashion show marking ten years in the industry.

It will be the highest point for a woman who from way back, as a young girl, has loved being artistic. It was no surprise that she concentrated on art in school and one of her fondest memories as a student is designing costumes for school plays and beauty pageants.

"That confirmed my goal in life of creating designs through my own fashion label," she says, "I love to create new things."

At 13 years old, after completing primary education, Maraka proceeded to Namasagali College in Kamuli for O-level and these to her were years of fun and building character. She then left to a new environment of only girls at Trinity College Nabbingo for A-level and by the time she left she had forged a career path.

"It was a totally different and harder experience. However, by the time I completed Form six, I knew what I was meant to be a fashion designer courtesy of the school's arrangement on career guidance," says Maraka.

She was offered several opportunities including one on government sponsorship at Makerere University all of which were meant to grow her fashion career but Maraka settled for a fashion design program at the London Academy of Design and dress making where she completed in 2005.

Maraka chose exposure to international fashion trends at the London school at a cost rather than free education in Uganda. She rates it as a priceless decision that has paid off.

In 2014 as part of her internship program, Maraka made a maiden runaway showcase during the Uganda International Fashion Week and since then she has not looked back. She has participated in a number of fashion events both in Uganda and UK.

In comparing London's fashion industry to Uganda, Maraka says London has already established big brands and it is close to impossible for anyone starting out.

"The industry is faster, bigger and people produce too many new collections every year as the market demands," she says.

By contrast, she says, Uganda offers limitless opportunities are limitless or, in her words, "There is room to define who you are".

Maraka was born in Soroti-Teso, Eastern Uganda in 1981. She was raised by a single mother Elizabeth Maraka who worked long at the Soroti Flying School and she says is her great inspiration. She used to make dresses for her and remains her stylist to date. Maraka grew up as an only child because her twin siblings died. It is the reason she is also called Akello, meaning 'follower of twins'.

Liteside

Any three things we don't know about you?

I am an only child of my mother. I really love sports to the extent that I train for kickboxing. I had a dream of representing Uganda for RIO 2016 though it didn't come to pass. When I am confident enough to have my face punched, I will get to the ring.

I love to travel and for this year, I chose to visit every part of Uganda that I had never visited. One of them was Kidepo and it was a breathtaking experience where I realised I had made it. I also visited the pyramids in Cairo.

What is your idea of perfect happiness?

Doing what you love. If you think you can regret doing it, then it's not worth doing. Even when you fail to achieve at something you loved doing, you gain satisfaction.

What is your greatest fear?

I have a phobia for rodents. I can face anything in life but not them.

What is the trait you most deplore in yourself?

I am not a confrontational person yet sometimes I wish I could be one to give my all. It makes people walk all over me.

What is the trait you most deplore in others?

I just don't like dishonest people. I appreciate honesty.

Which living person do you most admire?

My Mother, Elizabeth Maraka; she taught me to be a strong person, believe in myself and to see good in people. I am privileged to live with her even as an adult.

What is your greatest extravagance?

Everything about improving my fashion and design career.

What is the greatest thing you have ever done?

I still have to do it and I am planning on how to achieve it.

What is your current state of mind?

I am at peace and love my life.

What do you consider the most overrated virtue?

That whole saying of 'Government should help us' or 'government has not done much' just breaks my heart. How I wish the same people would ask themselves what they have done for government as well. Anyone can start small and grow big.

What does being powerful mean to you?

Being able to make a difference in someone's life or inspire someone. It can also mean being well connected in society.

On what occasion do you lie?

I like to be real.

What do you most dislike about your appearance?

When I was young I was chubby and I didn't like it but I have since found peace in myself.

Which living person do you most despise?

Even when I see the worst in a person, I don't destroy bridges because I might need them tomorrow.

What is the quality you most like in a man?

Having a plan or purpose in life.

What is the quality you most like in a woman?

Having a purpose in life.

Which words or phrases do you most overuse?

I like saying 'you know' and 'yeah'.

What or who is the greatest love of your life?

I guess it is my Mum but there are so many other people I love.

When and where were you happiest?

There is no one single moment because there are so many things I do that bring happiness to me. Finishing School in 2006 was a happy moment but also each time I remember when I had my first fashion show during my internship in 2004, I am fulfilled.

Which talent would you most like to have?

I love music and may be one day I hope I will drop an album. I used to play a violin and hope that one day I will do it once more.

If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?

I am just in love with myself.

What do you consider your greatest achievement?

I am still a work in progress; I haven't yet reached there.

If you were to die and come back as a person or a thing, what would it be?

As me and fix everything I didn't do from as far as a child.

Where would you most like to live?

Uganda but particularly in Karamoja and Kidepo; the landscape and weather are amazing. It can rain so heavily and dry up so fast.

What is your most treasured possession?

I never got to see my grandfather but I was given a crucifix from his things. It has that sentimental value and makes me relate with him. But even when everything is taken away from me, I can start afresh and build-up.

What do you regard as the lowest depth of misery?

Suffering from cancer; I visited Mulago Cancer ward and witnessed people suffer in too much pain. Things like broken heart can be amended but not cancer.

What is your favorite occupation?

I always wanted to be a fashion designer.

What do you most value in your friends?

Honesty

Who are your favorite writers?

I am not a fan of any particular person but I love to read inspirational pieces.

Who is your hero of fiction?

I like Superman and how he comes in to rescue at the right time. I wish there were true supermen.

Which historical figure do you most identify with?

I may model myself to Mother Theresa but I can't come even an inch to who she was and what she did.

What is your greatest regret?

I don't regret anything.

How would you like to die?

I want to die of old age on my bed with my grand children all looking and smiling at me.

What is your motto?

Always make sure you are climbing the right hill.Read more at:www.marieaustralia.com/backless-formal-dresses | http://www.marieaustralia.com/long-formal-dresses
Jonny Angel Dec 2013
Man, my head hurts,
it feels like
I've been hit by a freight train!

What's that you say?
It was raining
*****-women
everywhere.
I'm a super freak,
I lost complete control,
got out of hand,
did a striptease
in Tijuana last night!?

****, that sunlight's bright,
please close those blinds!

What's that you say?
I got in a little fight
in Tijuana last night!?
No wonder
I've got this swelling,
a huge black-eye!

Hey, has anybody
seen my wallet
or my skivvies!?

Jesus, who's matchbook is this!?
"Pepe's Donkey Shack"!
Who the hell's Lupita!?

And you say I'm a freak!?
It looks like you're the one
who tweaked
in Tijuana last night!!!
A character poem about frolicking South of the Border!
Lupita,
Teach me that the black girl
Is more than just, that –

More than just,
A **** provoking short-skirt
Tight-thick-thighs temptation

More than just,
A slim waist, supple flesh
And ‘shuga’

Stare into my ignorant eye,
And teach me
Lupita.
Dedicated to Lupita Ny'ongo
From PICNICS WITH THE PAIN (Unpublished) by Yours Truly
Chelsea Sumner Feb 2017
A Queen like me is
Stronger and Wiser
Than who I use to
Be.
The pain I endured
Made me
WHO I AM.
I Am a
Brown skinned
Black is beautiful
Queen.
With short naturally
Curly hair
Like my sister
Miss Lupita.
  I have the
Golden touch
But my intelligence
Is even
Greater.
A Queen like me isn’t
Perfect.
But my values are
Worth It.
And my potentials are
Endless.
A Queen like me learned
How to love myself
Unconditionally.
Because I am a
QUEEN.
                                                                       -Chelsea Sumner
http://sumnerchelsea.blogspot.com/
Jonny Angel Mar 2014
Stormtroopers
descended on Baja,
rolled over
the disrepaired highways
under the crescent moon,
both crazier than loons.

Dressed in full battle gear,
our billfolds
were stuffed to the hilt
with pesos,
mouths watered
for some aged tequila
& worms.

We met Rosa & Lupita
outside the cantina,
the drinking place
guarded by ten-year olds
carrying machine guns
covered with duct tape.

In the morning,
we were penniless
with hurt heads
& sore feet,
the amigas were gone.
Jonny Angel Dec 2013
Anejo shots started
a tempest swirling,
locomotive-steps winding
under the spinning-lights,
faces poked in and out
of the crowd of crazed-pagans,
undulating in sweat,
nicotine-breath & tequila,
dreams of freedom.

Lupita hollered her name
like all the rest with
the same name,
phantom-dancers
squeezing each other
for romance,
before the stars settled,
the sun rose on the zona
of broken-roses.
Jonny Angel Apr 2015
It's truly a happy place,
scores of turistas
sitting
under the relentless
sun,
freedom club warriors
inhaling fifty-year-old anejo,
gulping those mezcal stingers
& imbibing golden
beverages
believing every girl
named Lupita
professes
true love.
Today was okay,
I mean I got an A.
My tickets are confirmed.
My friends said they love me.
A guy said I was hot.
Some strangers said I look like Lupita.
I laughed with some people.
I got all my homework done.
But he called me a *****.
Today wasn't okay.
Nothing says lezzy black-history month like a charbroiled-sent *****
a swat on the ***, a boot to the groin & a ticket to Obama's tent city
I pay for nothing as I am kept by a beauty queen who cries rent pity
My kitten strides sideways as she's not straight the poorly-bent kitty
Be not a borrower nor a lender when your old woman is a lent bitty
1 scratch 'cross the back suffices in lieu of a chromatical dent ******
Lupita Rosales Mar 2018
The tears run down and fall off my nose
I hide in my attic where nobody goes
I clench my fists
And gasp for air
My head is pounding
But i don’t care
No matter what i do
Depression always pulls me back
‘No you can’t be happy’ it says
‘The only way you’ll ever be happy is if you’re dead’
I shake my head and pull my hair
I dig my nails into my skin
And watch my arms bleed
Trying to fight these demons
I’m not gonna let them ******* win..
Because of all of this I don’t feel alive it doesn’t make sense
I just wanna be alright I ******* hate this
Please let me go, let me be happy it’s been
8 ******* years please let me live my life in peace,
I’ve been chained up like a ******* dog
By depression and anxiety
They’re both slowly killing me they don’t let anyone or even myself try to save me
Please...all of this needs to stop..
Depression makes me feel like a *******
I feel like a burden to my friends..even to my own ******* family
When I was younger, before my cousin killed himself he said: “Depression is like a big fur coat
It's made of dead things but it still keeps me warm.”
I didn’t know what he meant..
But just as depression and anxiety started to consume I finally got it..
I’ll admit..one of these days, I don’t know when
I’m gonna eventually give up,
Put a gun against my head and pull the ******* trigger..


~Lupita Society
[There's hope @ 26 because Lupita Tovar died @ 106 on 12 November 2016] My uncle was gay in a festive way. We trusted him with the fuses & the gun powder in our pyro-technical business. He's dead now. He exploded. I think it was from gay rage. I'm as strong as a goat, muscularity-wise, not by scent. Everything's not up to you as fate & chance will intercede to alter your course. Merry Christmas to everybody a lot! I hate you so much that I want to see you die over & over like a reincarnated house fly. I dream about you for nothin' trying to steal my virginal muffin. One day, after homosex, you'll know what's gay because you're a ******. You are a stupid person...If someone asked for 2 tens for a five you'd give them your car keys. You're so stupidd (I spelled it with 2 d's 'cause you're really, really stupid!!!) Give a man a fish & he'll eat for a day. Teach a man to fish & he'll **** you.
.
As a child they never called me Guadalupe nor did they call me Lupe.
They called me Lupita and Pita.
Sometimes my parents still call Pita.

I hug my legs
apanasana pose
and I whisper to myself
“hang in there Pita”
heal under the trees
no harm to anything
calm
like all things under the sun
I am a temporary thing
smooth my being
lull me with your singing
...
She would sing to me
all the time
she loved to chirp like the little birds
that would land on her pomegranate trees

even on her wheelchair she’d find a song with my name in it and sing “mi Lupita”

— The End —