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CAMEROON: Wazal Ayissi, “the power and beauty of the lion.”

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Tété fly, Africafutur, WazalRock and Ova Tété. Four wonders of collections that never cease to seduce. We owe it to AYISSI NGA Joseph Marie aka Wazal Ayissi, creator of the brand Wazal and writer in his spare time. This young Cameroonian undeniable genius answers our questions:

How did you come to fashion? Why this choice?
I have always loved fashion since I was young. My father was a fashion designer. I wanted to follow his steps, bringing something different.

Where does the name Wazal come from?
The Wazal name is inspired by the Waza National Park, located in the far north of Cameroon. This park has always inspired me by the beauty of its wildlife. I was looking for a fierce animal that represents my image. So I added the L that represents the lion, which embodies beauty, respect and power.

What is the Wazal brand?
First, I only make unique pieces. My clothes are futuristic and modern, I am inspired by the dress codes of Ghanaians and Nigerians, but also sneakers and other shoes that have marked us in childhood.

What are the big events that have marked your career?
I was invited, among others, to the Fashion Night at the Elysee Palace, the Embassy of Cameroon in Paris by the Ambassador for an exhibition, for the Cameroonian Youth Day, in Switzerland to prepare my Africafutur collection, my last collection Ova Tété which was presented in Paris in the Marais.

Your collections have earned you a BEFFTA AWARDS nomination in London in 2016. What do you do?
This reward was for me a moment of great joy, because I did not follow a particular curriculum in the field of fashion. I am an autodidact, who since his childhood draws from different horizons to create. However, I had to follow a fashion training at the school VANESSA RUIZ in Paris. This allowed me to acquire knowledge of model molding and perfect my methods and techniques of work. Thanks to this training, I was able to improve my creations and better define my universe.

Scissors, you went to the pen …
I wanted to write, to tell a little story. However, I had to do it in an original way. I wanted my story to speak about my brand, what it conveys as an image, its origins. That’s why I made the decision to launch my comic book “The Legend of Wazal”.

What message do you want to convey through “The Legend of Wazal”?
The legend of Wazal is a reflection of the life of a stylist. Our passion always comes from something, from somewhere. Once you recognize that passion, you have to work on it, improve, listen to the advice of others, even if you do not always practice it. That’s how we grow up and gain wisdom. This is also how we fine tune the image and the message we want to convey.

If you were to deliver a message, precisely to African youth, what would it be?
Live your passion despite the constraints. Nothing is simple but it is better to try, succeed or maybe fail, than to live with regrets. Feel free to train to perfect your skills and better master your art. Create your own network, meet people better placed in your field. Grow and stay informed about the trends in your business.

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CULTURE

Aly Moulady, a precursor of Congolese afro-urban, is back

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The Congo is the land of Ndombolo, Bachengué, but especially rumba. Aly Moulady is the one who gave a new twist to Congolese music. With what will become the “Rumba RnB”, Moulady has opened a gap in the soil of Congolese music. Today, thousands of young artists continue to emerge from this melting pot.

Aly Moulady, the master of afro-urban is back
Aly Moulady first entered the Congolese music scene in 1996 and has been making his mark ever since. Still a young student in Ivry-sur-Seine, he arrives with a 10-track album that will shake up the standards of Rumba accepted until then. In this timeless opus combining rumba, RnB, rap and toast from Jamaica, he revolutionizes the music scene by creating the “Rumba RnB” a unique and visionary style.

An immense discography
With iconic titles such as “Pona Yo Mama”, “To all the world’s friends” or “Bilelo”, the album “Sérénade” still remains in bars in Congo-Brazzaville today. This album, a sound sheet, will earn him several awards, including the title of “Musical Revelation of the Year” in 1997, the “Tam Tam d’Or” for best artist in 2009, and an “Honorary Award” in 2012, which recognizes his entire artistic career. With the rich discography of “Sérénade” (1996), “Eldorado (2002)”, “Bouge!” (2005) and “Maxi Bonheur” (2010), Aly Moulady has produced numerous singles such as “Petit Cœur” (2021), “Mama” (2022) and “Motema” (2023). Far from sleeping, he returned with the single “Éphéméride”, prelude to his new album entitled “Sur mesure” scheduled for 2025. As he never does anything in lace, we are sure that this album will be heavy.

Aly Moulady

Moulady, an artist with a big heart
In 2010, Aly Moulady created Villa 203, an art space and label located in Pointe-Noire. In partnership with singer Elsa Fila, he accompanies young talent in various artistic fields such as music, dance, painting and poetry. Thanks to their recording studio, these artists benefit from productions according to international standards. His actions in the music scene contribute to strengthening Congolese artistic excellence around the world. Aly Moulady has travelled around the world. From Poitiers to Gant, through Northampton and Marburg, he captivated the crowds with memorable performances, such as at the festivals Confort Moderne (2004) and Les Expressifs (2005). He shares an extremely strong and deep bond with his audience on each of his tours.

Pioneer of the Congolese Afro-urban
Aly Moulady, returning with “Sur Mesure”, has only one idea: to regain the place he left vacant; to regain his place among his audience. True to its trademark, this new album promises to be on the music scene for several years. Aly Moulady, a pioneer of the afro-urban, is back to make his talent shine on the Congolese scene and beyond.

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CULTURE

DR CONGO – Tatiana Kruz: The Rising Star of Congolese Music

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Tatiana Kruz, born on 10 June 1995 in Kinshasa, is now an iconic figure on the Congolese music scene. From a young age, she has been rocked by music, a passion that accompanies her throughout her youth spent in Lubumbashi. In 2009, she returned to Kinshasa with a clear ambition: to devote herself entirely to music, and more particularly to the Congolese rumba, a genre that is an integral part of the cultural identity of the country.

From the beginning, Tatiana Kruz has been known for her collaborations with renowned artists such as Fally Ipupa, Karmapa and Tshala Muana. These collaborations allow her to quickly make a name for herself on the Congolese music scene and establish herself as an essential artist.

In 2016, Tatiana took a new step in her career by releasing her first album, “Target”. This project, which has been an immediate success, is the starting point for a series of singles that consolidate its reputation and seduce an ever-wider audience.

Tatiana Kruz

The consecration comes in 2018 when she is named Democratic Republic of the Congo’s revelation of the year. His emotional rendition of “Salela Nga Bikamwa”, a tribute to the late gospel singer Marie Misamu, deeply touches the public and critics, reinforcing his status as an artist to follow.

Today, with a unique style that blends tradition and modernity, Tatiana Kruz aspires to expand its audience. His new EP “Piñata”, mainly francophone, testifies to this desire for expansion. With this project, she hopes to conquer new horizons while remaining faithful to her Congolese musical roots.

In short, Tatiana Kruz embodies a new generation of Congolese artists, passionate and daring, who carry the colors of their culture high while opening themselves to international influences. His career is on the rise and he has a promising future on the world music scene.

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CULTURE

SENEGAL – Phenomenon named Mouhamed VJ causes heat to rise in the Cigale

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On Friday, January 10, to close the week in style, we went to la Cigale to attend an exceptional concert. On the screen: the young prodigy code breaker and style inventor, who is a genius in his field: Mouhamed VJ broke the dam at La Cigale.

VJ, a Welsh rap phenomenon
VJ, it’s only 20 years. But don’t trust his young age. As a French writer once said, “The value does not wait for the number of years.” This quote fits him perfectly. On YouTube, his videos have nearly 100 million views. As for the streams, it is better not to talk about them to avoid offending anyone. Friday night in Paris, VJ performed for the first time at the mythical Cigale. And yet, to see him so comfortable on stage, one could think that he is a regular in the big halls. Full-length jogging, backpack, microphone on the lip: VJ took his audience in a galaxy of flows and vibes. Each note, both delicate and powerful, composes a captivating musical fresco. A performance that enchanted not only the ears, but also the hearts. Guest stars were on the stage: Warren, Jungeli or Seydouche.

Mouhamed VJ

An early artist
Mouhamed Abdoulaye Preira, aka VJ, was born in the early 2000s in the Medina district of Dakar. Divided between rap and football during his childhood, he eventually chose rap. At only 13, he is already a small celebrity in the Bopp neighbourhood. His first single, «Dans tes bras», is a hit. At 17, he charmed the public and quickly built up a solid fanbase, thanks in particular to his strong presence on social networks. So much so that he organized his first concert with only a few tracks to his credit.

From Hoside to Warner
VJ made his debut in the music industry by collaborating with Hoside to maintain its growing popularity. In 2022, he released an EP entitled «En Vrai», which his fans consider a real album. This EP gives rise to a series of shows throughout Senegal: the Esplanade du Grand Théâtre de Dakar, the Canal Olympia and the Esplanade du Musée des Civilisations Noires, among others. Eager to broaden his horizons, VJ then signs with the label Rec 118 of Warner Music, in partnership with Hoside and BLZ.

A Friday night incandescent
At 7 pm, the Cigale opens its doors which gives rise to a flood of fans who came to enjoy the performance of this 20 year old prodigy. Recognized for his scenic energy, VJ delivered a masterful performance worthy of an artist with several years of career behind him. This Friday night, he proved that he is much more than a rising star: he is an essential figure on the music scene, an artist on whom we will have to rely from now on.

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