British High commision, Nairobi; Do you have any respect for our time, efforts and money?

British High commission, Nairobi; Do you know that time is money?

While you disrespect people’s time, can you really afford it?
Who gave you permission to rearrange me? I refuse to let anything put me down; the strong, African, beautiful, whole and complete woman that I am, lacking nothing except that UK visa!

With 195 countries in this world, what makes the UK think that they are so crucial to our livelihoods? Really it is a disgusting way of operating. How is it that I am chasing my UK visa like thousands will attest to almost breaking my damn leg??
Was it really a matter of life and death. And if you are not giving me the visa please let me know upfront! Because when I applied for it, I had no intentions to take this trip to go and enjoy sipping on English tea and biscuits! Did you forget that you are a heavy influence in Kenya; Being the British colony that we still are! And after all these years, we even make the tea with a little extra spice, and now we call it chai! Ooh and for the biscuits, please take a trip to industrial area and you will because I don’t really need that experience in the UK ! I have it here.
So, please while you are still holding onto my passport so long, release it so that I can explore my opportunities within the rest of this big world as you can see it’s not about chilling, it is about business!

As for the ladies sitting at the back sorting out the visas at the high commission, Shame on you!
Shame on you for sitting there to discuss me as I walk into your offices. Discussions about me so loud, I wanted to say let’s take it outside. It was very unprofessional and petty that you could have the nerve to discuss me- a visa applicant, through the glass where you know that I was seeing and hearing you. I am not your friend and whatever personal sentiments you may have about me, I have no interest in knowing or hearing. With all the programmes that are offered by the British Council, I highly recommend that you go in and take the leadership programme which I also went through a few years ago, as it will give you all the added-value you need to hold your job positions professionally enough and leaving a better impact to the people you serve and relate to on a day-to-day basis.

Could it have been my new 5” Christian Loubitin heels? Or my or was it my new red hair? Was it just because I had the nerve to come in and fight for my rights after you had sat on my passport for so long ignoring the fact that you were delaying me and my other travel arrangements on the same passport?

See one thing you may not see is the fact that it is your people who are extremely interested in what I offer both from my creative side of life as well as my business side, so don’t get upset at me for being all of that….and that too! Just sit on that desk and give me my visa or give me my verdict in a timely manner (negative or positive) along with my passport and valid reasons as to why not if no is the verdict, so that no more time is wasted as even I cannot afford my time.
See! All I am saying is that the UK embassy is not the air that we breathe and will never be. I therefore hope that you will realise with time that it is unfortunate having to relate with you and until you can check yourselves before you continue to wreck your reputation across the globe....
TOMPI!

Do the fashion show choreographers make a show or mess a show?

Seriously, I had to ask myself for the tenth time in each month ....Why?????????

Today I had to briefly deal with this again, and then I just realised how hectic these choreographers make the runway, the designers' pieces as well as the models themselves. So then I asked one of the models how long they had been coming in for rehearsals, and funnily enough she said this was the second week!

"Second week ??" Oh my!

Second week of rehearsals as the choreographer filled their minds with something that they would eventually tangle up their ideology of the modeling industry. Worse is that the next time he gets a new group of models, he would do the same thing again, and then it only frustrates the modeling agency thats trying to make things right!
So everytime we have the open call, we have to undo what was done by the choreographers, then redo to what is simple and real!

So yes, I know that this is showbiz, but c'mon! Do we really need 6 female models on line one, then 6 male models on line two, then the line 'oners' have to walk in a straight line with the line 'twoers' and look like they are holding hands in sequence. Then for some strange reason, one of the female models on line one gets distracted because of the one million 'turns' and 'poses' and 'stops' and 'two turns again' and 'handshake' with a line 'oner' ...............
and the show comes to a crumble.

Then within a few minutes, it's the blame game backstage as the eager, yet confused audience lose it..

From a designer point of view the purpose of my clothes showcasing in the show is the bottom line. However, when the models set out to dance and do all that 'extra extra read all about it,' what is the audience supposed to be focusing on?

Can the buyers even see the clothes? or is it the choreographed-backfired-movement?
Can't we just have models strut the runway in a simple normal way so that we can see what we came to see?
And how much is the choreographer making to mess up the show?
And why should the show even take place in the first place?

Do the choreographers make a show or mess a show?
Are they mandatory or a show to run successfully?

What's really up with that the 5 turns that trip them off the runway, if they don't fall on the audience itself? Or if they don't bump into each other as they create a bonding moment of confusion only them can relate to?

Whatchyu coming with this time? ...coz I 'm already liked...

I'm not naive, but it took me a minute to realize that it was not just business! This 'bratha', like the other one and the other one too said he likes me, when I asked him what's up!

What is going on with all these men coming my way and when I finally stop and check, they say "I like you alot!"

Okay! that's very sweet of you, but did I tell you that I am already liked again and again? Liking me is a sweet thing, I must admit, but like I said, what else are you coming with this time boo?
Is it just me? this whole "I like you" vibe is literally wearing me out! I can't believe that some men can go on and on about this for years and still feel like they belong! He liked me since 1998, and now ten years later, I just realized that he still likes me! But what can I do with that?

How about "I miss you!" type of 'brathas?'
I am so tired of that too. I just don't understand why he has been saying that for the last 6 years since he moved and left without saying goodbye! Then he started to show up every time he did; sometimes once in 6 months, sometimes once a year, and on and on. The funny thing is that he never stayed in touch, but when he hit the LAX, it was my phone he blew like a 'Turkana' horn for hours on end. "I miss you boo!" he said, and 1 year ago when he was visiting, he said it, and one week ago when he showed up to my new base, he said it again..... Even though we don't talk!

Evidently, it's time to stop liking me and missing me randomly!
This is just a tip for all those men that still feel obligated to mention that they actually like the women, when it is not necessary for some of us! Actions already spoke so loud, I just did not hear you until you spoke again!
Whatchyu coming with this time since I'm already liked! It's no news!

oooh gmail!!! Why me???

Cannot beleive that I have been thrown out of touch with the world. Not too say that I have no other email accounts, but this one was a special one.
Hooking me up with good email service is what gmail really wanted to do,
when he met me!!... this fine boo, just about 3 miles east of f2,
and when he realized that I was till hooked onto yahoo,
he swore that he wanted to give me everything,
as he was mesmerized over me and my state of being,
and that everything about my email issues made him wanna sing,
sing like Alicia Keys ain't had a thing on him....

but when all was said and done, this damn gmail cheated on me and left me!
.........not knowing or realising that he was replacable, you see!
to the lef, to the left.....I promised I would stick to the line and leave......
but damn, I need my gmail back! and there ain't no fresher brathas in the market yet!

Liz Ogumbo

Help ban size zero Models

I must admit, I am very excited to know that alot of people share the same sentiments with regard to the size zero models, and It has now come a time where they have to go.........
Congratulations Madrid, for being real about this officially......London; make up your mind - feeling one way about it and acting upon those feelings are two different things altogether.......Milan seems to be headed in the right direction too, but when are these size zero's getting banned from the runway so that they can seek immediate medical attention? they need it asap, and it's a high time the modeling industry got the respect it deserves. For how long can we sit and just watch all this? It's truly unfortunate, but designers, agents and models need to start keeping it more real and help the models who have fallen victim, as drugs and anorexia is the order of the day for these victims. Let's say no to size zero models.........That may help them get back on track, and that may help set a better example to all the other girls looking up to the "Models". Our bodies are the temple of the Holy spirit.......we must then nurture and honor them.

Modeling industry in Africa

It just still seems like we are on our own, but I see the modeling industry in Africa growing.....It may be slower, but there is progress, last time I checked......