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      Nairobi Music Society and Nairobi Orchestra Love; Liberty…

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      A Kenyan Opera: Nyanga The Runaway Grandmother

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      Pilani Bubu: Jazz Breaks Me Open. Songs from…

      April 29, 2020

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      CoronaVirus: Kenyan Artists in a time of a…

      March 19, 2020

      Jazz Spotlight

      How to work with producers in Kenya by…

      February 26, 2020

      Jazz Spotlight

      Shamsi Music Sophmore Album: Afrosynthesis

      February 6, 2020

      Jazz Opinions

      CoronaVirus: Kenyan Artists in a time of a…

      March 19, 2020

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      Experience Nairobi Horns Project Debut Album – Black…

      July 18, 2019

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      Artists from the coast revolutionizing Nairobi’s Jazz scene

      April 9, 2019

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      Jazz in Kenya: A beginner’s guide to artists…

      February 26, 2019

      Jazz Spotlight

      Pilani Bubu: Jazz Breaks Me Open. Songs from…

      April 29, 2020

      Jazz Spotlight

      How to work with producers in Kenya by…

      February 26, 2020

      Jazz Spotlight

      Shamsi Music Sophmore Album: Afrosynthesis

      February 6, 2020

      Jazz Spotlight

      ALBUM REVIEW: MAIA AND THE BIG SKY

      September 26, 2019

      My Afro Jazz

      Dan Aceda, Juma Tutu to Grace Ricky na…

      November 17, 2015

      My Afro Jazz

      Eric Wainaina Thrills fans at An Evening of…

      August 31, 2015

      My Afro Jazz

      You can’t Miss An Evening Of Afro Jazz…

      August 20, 2015

Jazz Symphonic

  • Home
  • About
  • Review
    • Review

      Jack Muguna: Journey of the Soul

      April 20, 2021

      Review

      Geco Café: Slithering with good vibes in Nairobi

      February 18, 2021

      Review

      How to work with producers in Kenya by…

      February 26, 2020

      Review

      The Love Zone Thrills fans on Valentine’s Day

      February 21, 2020

      Review

      Shamsi Music Sophmore Album: Afrosynthesis

      February 6, 2020

  • Events
    • Events

      Nairobi Music Society and Nairobi Orchestra Love; Liberty…

      May 4, 2022

      Events

      Beneath the Baobabs Live: A Kenyan live music…

      April 5, 2022

      Events

      Down memory lane: An Evening Remembering Whitney Houston

      December 2, 2021

      Events

      Nairobi Orchestra Returns! at Kenya National Theatre

      July 2, 2021

      Events

      An Evening Celebrating Stevie Wonder in Nairobi

      June 10, 2021

  • Artist Spotlight
    • Artist Spotlight

      Ngewa: Kasiva Mutua rhythmical tales on percussion

      April 26, 2022

      Artist Spotlight

      Herbie Tsoaeli Spiritual Dialogues: At This Point in…

      December 10, 2021

      Artist Spotlight

      Sage Chemutai: Love is all we need

      April 26, 2021

      Artist Spotlight

      Jack Muguna: Journey of the Soul

      April 20, 2021

      Artist Spotlight

      WYNTON MARSALIS interactive session with Kenyan artists: Mythology…

      November 26, 2020

  • Classical Music
    • Classical Music

      Nairobi Music Society and Nairobi Orchestra Love; Liberty…

      May 4, 2022

      Classical Music

      Nairobi Orchestra Returns! at Kenya National Theatre

      July 2, 2021

      Classical Music

      A Kenyan Opera: Nyanga The Runaway Grandmother

      November 17, 2020

      Classical Music

      Beethoven 250 Years on, A Spirited awakening in…

      September 25, 2020

      Classical Music

      David Ralak: A visionary pioneering figure with great…

      June 16, 2020

  • Jazz
    • All Jazz Opinions Jazz Spotlight My Afro Jazz
      Artist Spotlight

      Pilani Bubu: Jazz Breaks Me Open. Songs from…

      April 29, 2020

      Jazz Opinions

      CoronaVirus: Kenyan Artists in a time of a…

      March 19, 2020

      Jazz Spotlight

      How to work with producers in Kenya by…

      February 26, 2020

      Jazz Spotlight

      Shamsi Music Sophmore Album: Afrosynthesis

      February 6, 2020

      Jazz Opinions

      CoronaVirus: Kenyan Artists in a time of a…

      March 19, 2020

      Jazz Opinions

      Experience Nairobi Horns Project Debut Album – Black…

      July 18, 2019

      Jazz Opinions

      Artists from the coast revolutionizing Nairobi’s Jazz scene

      April 9, 2019

      Jazz Opinions

      Jazz in Kenya: A beginner’s guide to artists…

      February 26, 2019

      Jazz Spotlight

      Pilani Bubu: Jazz Breaks Me Open. Songs from…

      April 29, 2020

      Jazz Spotlight

      How to work with producers in Kenya by…

      February 26, 2020

      Jazz Spotlight

      Shamsi Music Sophmore Album: Afrosynthesis

      February 6, 2020

      Jazz Spotlight

      ALBUM REVIEW: MAIA AND THE BIG SKY

      September 26, 2019

      My Afro Jazz

      Dan Aceda, Juma Tutu to Grace Ricky na…

      November 17, 2015

      My Afro Jazz

      Eric Wainaina Thrills fans at An Evening of…

      August 31, 2015

      My Afro Jazz

      You can’t Miss An Evening Of Afro Jazz…

      August 20, 2015

Jazz Opinions

Chempkemboi Mang’ira: Let’s own our culture people!

by Maureen Shelmith September 13, 2018
written by Maureen Shelmith September 13, 2018

Miss Vavavum & Maureen Shelmith

I had the distinct honor of chatting with one of my close friends, Chepkemboi Mang’ira, popularly known as Miss Vavavum. She is the founder of Own Your Culture Africa; an incredible fashion brand whose tagline is decolonizing fashion one traditional necklace at a time.

“OwnYourCulture, it is a style inspired by who we were and are as a people, a style influenced by our rich design history and culture.”

For Chep, working in fashion doesn’t seem like a career choice, but a fate that she could not resist. Growing up in her parents’ house, she was always fascinated and intrigued by how models would adorn themselves in the magazines. Her curiosity in understanding how well to match accessories and outfit into fine fashionable masterpiece drove her to launch her fashion house, OwnYourCultureAfrica.

With years of professional styling experience, Chep has styled some of our favorite music celebrities, notably Muthoni The Drummer Queen. She notes that her career has been a journey with many lessons learned, attesting that nothing comes easy.

She started out as a model straight out of high school. She got to see how aspiring models are duped by various fashion agencies; promising them they will be featured in magazine cover pages or media ads. Despite all that, she still held her head up high and continued to pursuit her dreams.
Chep, went on to be a content producer for Blankets & Wine, she had lots of sleepless nights and crazy demands from her superiors. It is from such experiences she is forever grateful. She got to know how best to handle clients, how to run a business with employees, how to best to relate with models and not discriminate (on the color of their skin – she aspires to have more dark skinned girls grace the cover of fashion magazine and media ads), mostly she learned how important it is to collaborate as creatives.

On this second episode, Chep helps us explore all about the various Kenyan cultural fashion statements. Chep hopes she inspires many of us as Africans to embrace our colorful and flamboyant way of accessorizing. She hopes people get imbued when they hear about her story and appreciate the power of collaboration especially in the arts. Most of all we get to listen to her taste in Jazz.

Happy Listening!

Featured Music

  • Good Day – June Gachui
  • Sirathii – James Gogo and the Gogosimo Band
  • Nione Raha – Mzee Ngala & Bango Sounds.
  • Mambo na Ma’ – Dayme Arocena
  • Vamanos Pal Monte – Eddie Palmeri
  • Lets Call this whole thing off – Louis Armstong & Ella Fitzgerald.

 

Chepkemboi MangiraJazz MusicMiss Vavavumown your culture
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About Me

About Me

Maureen Shelmith

My mission here is to take you on a Kenyan musical journey that is exceptional.

Featured Posts

  • Herbie Tsoaeli Spiritual Dialogues: At This Point in Time

    December 10, 2021
  • Sage Chemutai: Love is all we need

    April 26, 2021
  • Geco Café: Slithering with good vibes in Nairobi

    February 18, 2021
  • WYNTON MARSALIS interactive session with Kenyan artists: Mythology of Jazz, improvisation and creativity

    November 26, 2020
  • A Kenyan Opera: Nyanga The Runaway Grandmother

    November 17, 2020

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