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African Visuals Art Exhibition

Calling all art lovers to this compelling African Visuals Art Exhibition by the Life and Hope Uganda Charity for which I am International Ambassador. The exhibition is in benefit of the charity's school fraternities in Central and Northern Uganda. We look forward to welcoming you all!

Venue: Alfredo’s Bukoto
Date: 21- 23rd March, 2014
Time: 3:00 - 7:30 pm 

Entry is free and refreshments will be served.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY SUE OCHOLA

We wish the Fab Clan IT girl a happy birthday and many more to come.

CONVERSATION WITH JOZY: SANDRA KIRENGA - GIVING BACK DOESN'T HAVE TO BE MONETARY

Championing and supporting good causes in the community is at the forefront of what I do so I was honored to chat to Sandra Kirenga a married NGO worker from Kampala, Uganda about her decision to donate her long hair to the charity Locks of Love. This charity provides hairpieces to financially disadvantaged children in the United States and Canada suffering from long-term medical hair loss.

Sandra learnt about this charity by accident while doing some research on the internet and she was touched by the stories of people suffering from hair loss including children. She learnt that in some cases these people relied on hair donations to make wigs as a solution. The more Sandra researched about hair loss charities the more she was adamant that she wanted to help and so decided to cut off her own 14 inches long hair to donate.

 

“The decision wasn’t taken lightly. It was really something I wanted to do and I believe that it was God guiding me”. A little voice in my head kept telling me to donate it so I knew it was God. “It feels fantastic though and I cannot stress enough how much this means me. There are not many girls that would get all their hair cut off but it’s for a good cause".

 

"I spoke to my regular hairdresser and stylist and made the all-important appointment. She thought I was mad". 

On Monday, January 13 at the Kamikazi Salon in the Kamwokya area of Kampala, with no friends to talk her out of it, panic set in as she was about to undergo her transformation.  Sandra said: “I got  a little bit nervous in that chair at the salon but I kept reminding myself why I was doing it. I asked the stylist to get on with it".

 

After the cut Sandra promptly sent off her locks to the Locks of Love charity in the US and has never been happier. " Doing this has brought me tremendous joy especially from knowing that I have helped someone in need. Giving back doesn’t have to be monetary because it’s the little things some times that make a huge difference in people’s lives, she said.

Sandra’s Tips on How You Too Can Donate Your Tresses

 

If you have long hair, you can help such charities by donating your hair to make a wig. It's a wonderful deed with the potential to change someone's life for the better.

 

Research: Look up Charities that make wigs for people with cancer, Alopecia, etc. Find one that you like and know the requirements for a hair donation. Most Charities accept donations of 8 inches or more. 

 

Preparation: Make sure your hair is not chemically damaged i.e dyed repeatedly, dead or split ends, dirty, and is at least 8-12 inches long (depending on the Charity). Check if they will accept  coloured and Grey hair.

Paper Work: Request a form from your chosen Charity or get the form online. Fill out the form to accompany your donation can do so anonymously if you wish.

 

Getting it Cut: Tell the hair salon is going to be donated so they first measure your hair to make sure it's the required length, put your dry hair in a loose ponytail or two braids. Cut hair right above the ponytail making sure it does not touch the floor. Finally, place it in an air-tight plastic bag ready for shipping.
 

 

Send Hair: Mail to your chosen Charity via the post office or DHL using a padded envelope adding correct address and postage stamp. 

 

Spread the word. The charities rely on hair donations to help hair loss victims. Tell your friends about it and let them know how easy the process was and how good it feels to help. You will be happy that you helped a cause.

Who knows, maybe I will regrow it to help again next year”.

 

Sandra is enjoying her new hair and isn't she beautiful? 

To learn more about the Locks of Love charity go to http://locksoflove.org/

 

CONVERSATION WITH JOZY: ZIPPER ATAFO

I caught up with Kampala’s Make-up artist Zipper Atafo the very talented man with the Midas touch who is responsible for the many flawless faces that we see on Kampala's social scene. You will find him backstage and behind the scenes transforming many faces that we know and love into screen ready, show stopping confident personalities.  How does he do it and what makes him tick? Jozy would like to know.

Zipper Atafo - Celebrity Make-Up Artist

Jozy: What inspired you to be a Make-up artist?

ZA: My mother is my earliest inspiration. She taught me about the power of lipstick and glamour from an early age. She’s always been an encouraging and inspiring force in my life. Within the industry Ronnie Mulindwa was the first person to hire me work with his girl band the “Obsessions” I ended up working with them on a regular basis. He taught me all about this industry, both the creative and business perspectives.

Jozy: Have you got any formal training?

ZA: I have not been trained formally trained as a Make-up artist but i seek all that I need to know about my chosen craft and Make-up every day. I educate and empower myself all the time. I learn on the job, it’s endless.

 Jozy: Name a few of your celebrity clients?

ZA: I’ve worked with a number of Kampala’s starlets in the Entertainment and Fashion industries including Irene Namubiru, Judith Heard, Jackie Chandiru, Sharon Salmon, Desire Luzinda, the list is endless but i embrace everyone they don’t have to be celebrities.

Celebrity Judith Heard

 Jozy: Any perks of the job? 

ZA: I mainly enjoy the following perks;

Experimenting: I get to experiment with different products. I like seeing what happens when i mix this colour with that.  What happens if I move my contour line up just a pinch? Does this setting powder work best with the foundation? Part of perfecting my craft includes experimenting with various products, skin types and tones. The classic winged eyeliner and red lip didn’t happen by accident, after all. It took a lot of testing before they eventually gained huge popularity and took their places as classic Make-up looks. Who knows what one could discover next?

Bridal make-up by Zipper

 Meeting New People: I get to meet a lot of amazing people every day be it  Brides, Theatre Producers, Socialites, Actors, Musicians, Celebrities, Politicians or those not in the Public eye.  Sure, you’ll have the odd grumpy client whom you’d rather forget but you also make long lasting friendships. I have built up a list of loyal and repeat clientele this way. Many of my strongest friendships were formed on the job.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Zipper on TV set

Travel: I am often asked to travel to different parts of the country for photo shoots such as
advertising campaigns, beauty  and fashion shows, weddings and private ceremonies or

parties. Travel throughout the country and to foreign countries is common since many projects use sets located in various places. I don’t mind it as long as my travel costs are met. I have been to places and cities I would otherwise not have visited which I find rewarding.

 

 Celebrity Akankwasa Esther
 

 Flexibility: As a Make-up artist, I decide what hours I work and what jobs I take on. This is very handy and can fit nicely with someone with other commitments i.e family life or other jobs. This way of working is perfect for me as sometimes am busy with other things but always I am able to make it all work. Most of my Make-up gigs are booked for weekends which allow me time to pursue other interests. Make-up artistry is a fairly easy career to make a smooth transition from another career.

 Bridal make-up by Zipper

 Jozy: Favourite brand of Make-up?

ZA: I do not have a favourite brand simply because different brands do different things. For example, I find that Sleek makes the best pencils and Mac has the best eyeshades.  It’s all about mixing brands to achieve a perfect look.

 Jozy: What are your top tips for creating a day and night look?

ZA: The basic tip for a day or night look is the eyebrow. If you have a well filled in neat eyebrow you are ready to rock both looks. For a little spicy, spanky and sexy look I recommend a matte, dark eyeshade.

 Jozy: Any advice for those wishing to become Make-up artists?

ZA: For those hoping to enter the industry, I’d say… be creative, be patient, you must maintain an artistic flair at all times. Also, get an Education/Training because I’ve heard some Make-up artists say you don’t need an education but I disagree. Sure you can learn the skills over time by trial & error but why take 20 years to learn what you could in a week from an industry professional?  Education is very important. I’m not saying you have to go to a Make-up school but you need to take classes on a regular basis. Look for classes that give you a business insight and perspective too. You can be a talented artist but without the business know how it’s difficult to make this a career. The right classes can take you to the next level and help you earn a decent income.

Musician Dezire Luzinda

Jozy: Any future plans?

ZA: I’d like to continue to work on a freelance basis taking my services to clients’ doorstep. I’d possibly work with major clients including television, film and members of the public for instance, individuals who need special looks for weddings or other special occasions. I dream of heading my Make-up crew covering backstage at some International Fashion Week like New York.

Zipper's Bridal Client

Zipper's Bridal Client

 

 Jozy: Who's you dream client? 

ZA: Anyone who feels they can trust me with their face is welcome for a “face beating”. The beautiful looks which result from all the hard work make it all worthwhile. I would love to work on you Jozy though...LOL.

 Jozy: Aw! What a charmer. I would gladly get my “face beat” by the Master Zipper Atafo any day and I’ll hold you to that.

Contact for appointments:
Facebook: facebook.com/zipper.atafo
Twitter: @ZAtafo 
Instagram: @star_atafo.

INTERVIEW WITH LIFE AND HOPE UGANDA CHARITY CONCERT ORGANISERS

Jozyz life & Style caught up with Ssekalio Julius Ssekajja the organiser of Life and Hope Concert to be held on the 29th November 2013 at Sheraton Hotel, Kampala. The annual charity concert uses fundraising to aid youth empowerment and skills development through various projects in Uganda.

 

Tell us about your original idea for Life and Hope Concert?
Life and hope concert is a product of Life and Hope Uganda a charity initiative registered in Uganda to serve Ugandans with an objective to empower youths to take a more active role in their own lives through life skills education and empowerment programs. I founded life and hope Uganda in 2011 and started operating 2012 with our city cleaning activities. Our first concert was at Theatre La Bonita on 7^th December (can view pictures at our Life and Hope Uganda facebook page).

Other than being the director for Life and Hope Charity, what other responsibilities do you have?

In addition to Life and hope, I manage the Ssekalio arts company where work as a painter and a contemporary musician. Here we nature young talents interested in art. You can see more at www.ssekalioarts.com.

 

What are your aims for Friday’s concert?

This year’s life and Hope concert is aimed at raising funds to support the project’s community programs starting with the Life and Hope fraternity which was established this year in Gulu district after the Life and Hope Clothing Drive.

 

Who are you looking forward to watching at the concert?

Isaiah Katumwa is the main performer accompanied other artists. Our chief guest is  King Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru of Tooro Kingdom. I am excited about the entire line up. All great talents you won’t be disappointed.

 

Is it hard to get artists and performers to participate?

It’s very hard sometimes because they have many high expectations. However, for this year’s concert its a partnership. We have partnered with Isaiah Katumwa Foundation on various projects. Its great because this means that Katumwa’s performance is a donation to the project.

 

What’s the biggest success you’ve seen at Life and Hope Charity Concert?

Since we started in February 2012, the project has grown bigger and bigger and we keep on getting companies and people joining the movement.

 

What’s been your biggest success story with the Life and Hope Charity Concerts?

I can’t forget this year’s Clothing Drive which was held at the National theatre in May. We called on  Ugandans to donate house hold items for Northern Uganda. It was a great success because we got 2 tracks of donations. I felt so happy seeing Ugandans donating to people they don’t know Because most people only want to give to those they know and maybe who are not necessarily in need. To me that was a massive success and breakthrough.

 

How important is social media to your online communities?

Social media is so important because in this dotcom generation, most of us can access internet with variety of gadgets, so it becomes easier to reach a wide range of people via facebook and such.

What are the biggest challenges you face as an organiser?
The biggest challenge i face is mobilising people to such events. Not many Ugandans believe in charity.  Its hard to get them to give back to their own community so we try to give them what they want like best musicians to get them involved.

What is the one piece of advice you can give to a first time fundraiser?

Be prepared. Do your planning because anything can happen so always expect the worst but hope for the best. You are dealing with a lot of personalities. It’s not easy. 

How do you bring a sense of community to these events?

We try and do activities that involve those that we are trying to reach. For example at last year’s event, we started a goat breeding project for an organization of Save Street Children Uganda. Our project is unique in a way that we don’t give money to an organization but we set up a project to sustain them for a while. For details on this please visit Life and Hope Uganda facebook page.

 

What’s the biggest challenge when planning a fundraising or charity event? The biggest challenge is funding the event, organizing an event is very expensive and media is the most expensive part of it. Pulling all strings to get everyone involved is also a challenge because you are calling on a lot of favours and without pay many people don’t want to know.

How have your efforts impacted donations?

Since the project started last year I have worked so hard to have other people and companies on board to make work easier. I believe in teamwork and it’s what I keep preaching to my team and other youth I meet. I am glad to see people like you Jozyz Life & Style coming on board. We hope to keep this partnership with you over the years.

What has been your proudest achievement?

Many companies have signed on to support this Year’s concert.  Also having the King of Toro accepting to be the chief guest is a proud moment. I feel like all this hard work people are taking note and just maybe will join us, its exciting.

Have you got any more Fundraising ambitions?

Yes, i always want to use my art to reach out to people so the art will be part of the fundraising. Am hoping to extend this initiative to the western world and connect on a wider scale.

Life and Hope Charity Concert

29 November 2013 at Sheraton Hotel, Kampala, Uganda
For tickets call + 256 788135755
www.ssekalioarts.com

Life and Hope Concert, 29th November 2013 at Sheraton Hotel, Kampala.

Around The World View Of Rare 'Hybrid' Solar Eclipse

A 'rare hybrid eclipse' made a spectacular captivating appearance last night across the globe leaving Africa, Europe and America in darkness. Skywatchers saw the Sun either totally or partially blocked by the Moon depending on location. However central Africa had the best view with a complete eclipse lasting for up to one minute.

Wow! Check out the Ugandan President and how the rest of the took in the spectacular views.

 

Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni was joined dozens of children at Owiny Primary School in Pakwach to view a total version of the eclipse

 Kampala, Uganda

Canary Islands

 

 Amman

Amman

Tunisia

Across the Atlantic Ocean and Africa

Gabon

Kenya

 

Lebanon

Nairobi