Bélya and the Magic of African Print

A few weeks ago we linked to African Prints in Fashion. Have you checked it out? They're about all things African print or pagne as we call it here in Congo.

African print is everywhere. Can you think of anything else we use to hold our babies on our backs that also looks good on a pair of Vans?

Pagne is our curtains, our clothes, and the dozen or so headbands my kids fight over in the mornings. Oh and now it's a line at Target.

So when I saw these designs by Bélya on African Prints in Fashion, I did a double take. I can't remember ever seeing pagne used in such a beautiful way.

This is our tablecloth looking as fine as can be on a leather purse. (See, here it is also serving as a backdrop for a worm.)

And wouldya just look at these boots?

And these shoes.

This bag!

And portes monnaies.

But guess what! You don't have to live in Africa to order. Go to Bélya's Etsy shop and check out all the amazing things Senegalese owner and designer Aïssatou Sene has there.

Because Aïssatou is not only a fabulous designer, but also Mama Congo's newest reader, she has offered 10% off on orders $100 or more. And she'll ship from Senegal if ordering from Africa! Be sure you mention Mama Congo when ordering.

Check back mid-February for even more designs on the Bélya site.

Thank you, Aïssatou! Best of luck on the start-up of beautiful Bélya.

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Weekend List!

Sarah's List:


Name that blue! Can you tell the difference between Facebook blue and Dell blue?

The Princeton class that teaches students how to be less selfish. A study in the most cost-effective giving. Check out where they unanimously chose to give.

Why millennials are so narcissistic. Is 30 really the new 18? 

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We'll never buy books over the internet and no online database will ever replace your daily newspaper. The internet is "baloney!" -Says this expert writing in Newsweek in 1995.

Nothing good will ever come from this crazy machine.

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If for nothing else, the internet is good for this: genius Amazon reviews. 

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A man tweeted his feud with a fellow air-passenger. He's rude and obnoxious and way out of line. But I kind of enjoyed it because I'm pretty sure I've flown with this woman at least a dozen times.

Why did it take me so long to find this website? African Prints in Fashion. Spectacular.

Mandela in DRC, from the ANC archives.

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Jill's List:

Speaking of South Africa (and I hope we all are), can't wait to see this.  I am entranced by the original British series. Everything about these films is interesting.  Especially as my own child is seven.  Makes me wonder who he will be at 14, 21, 56.  These documentaries force you to wonder if it is really possible to truly document without interfering?

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Every time I get on a plane I wonder if I will deliver an in-flight baby.  This is true...and absurd that I think about it every time, I know.  Chiamanda Ngozi Adichie writes about such a situation in this Op-Ed.  She gets me.

Airplane on the side of the road.  Accra, Ghana.

This is an interesting blog post that provides snapshot of some of the normal weirdness of life in Kinshasa. There have been several events to bring awareness to people with disabilities this weekend. Each one filled with huge inspiration...and amusing confusion.  A friend ran an 8K and ended up pushing a stranger in a wheelchair on an unmarked course in a torrential downpour. The guy who wrote this post attended a musical event with this scene:

...and onto the finale of Off Off festival…an open music event – it was fantastic – in the street on a huge stage – with really dangerous steps.  Wheelchair users were carried up onto the stage – so scary to see. Health and Safety is definitely not a priority here! There were people everywhere dancing and connecting, and every band contained disabled or deaf people – the talent here is limitless.  

Sarah wants to forward me this article.  I know she does.

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Best cardboard Christmas tree ever.  Three years and going strong.  Get one for yourself here.

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