#ifetayo

[thewolfcatcher]

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=nzDgxh0ZdQE

Ifetayo Ali-Landing, From the top

A prodigy child since she is a child, and now my most respected cello artist, along with Jacqueline du Pré and Misha Maisky

She has style, her own cello all-playing style

Some people play music. Other people are born making music

[mamayashi]

#Ifetayo cultural group doing a presentation for #Kwaanza celebration at Brooklyn Waldorf School! Come thru and support the cultural community at 11 Jefferson ave in Bedstuy until 5pm

[khafraco]

Ifetayo Abdus-Salam is stealing our hearts and wallets. And that’s fine.

Unless you missed Part 1 of her interview, then you already know Ifé, owner of Hecho en Harlem Jewelry is my current entrepreneur crush. 

Guys, I’m in so deep.

For days now, I’ve been trying to decide how to authentically represent just how much Ifé’s work moves me. And still my current language feels inadequate. It’s just ... so good. It gives me the feels as cool and overly emo kids say.

I could continue to go on about how Ifé’s work is a rich blend of strong lines, delicate details, and what feels like an intimate secret. But I won’t try to make you deal with all that. As I said, the words: they sometimes fail me.

What hasn’t failed me yet is my intuition. It’s the part of me that recognizes spirits (whether they want me to or not), telling me most of what I need to know about them before we even develop a relationship. With Ifé, my intuition said I still had something to learn.

And I was fine with that, too.

So I just asked whatever came to mind.

I figured, we had connected because I wanted to promote Hecho en Harlem in our #khafrachristmas15 promotion, why not do the thing anyone would? So, I asked her about family and the holidays.

As expected, Ifé was immediately open with me. She discussed her complicated history with American holiday traditions as well being raised by a “militant, Afrocentric mother [who] ‘did’ holidays” differently.

For Halloween, I was only allowed to dress up as famous figures from Black history. In the 5th grade I went to school dressed as Bessie Coleman. I even had an index card with a written blurb for the many inevitable blank questioning stares I would receive. 

We celebrated Kwanzaa, not Christmas, which, during the 80’s and early 90’s meant I had to explain what that was, to my peers every year. I didn’t have my first Christmas tree until I was 24 yrs old, and dating someone who “went super hard” on the holidays.

As an adult, I have come to love the holidays. I recognize the complicated and often problematic history that is tied up with so many of the holidays we celebrate, but at the same time, I love the togetherness it brings, the opportunity to build traditions and spend time connecting with family, be they biological or self-created.

That was an answer I could get with. Transparent, thoughtful - one that was willing to look for and value the good. I didn’t really need much else to be convinced that Ifé was constantly thinking about a construction of herself in community with those around her. I was super inspired in what she had to say next.

My business is a representation of me in every sense, and so I try to act accordingly in the way I interact with my audience. I am really very focused on the idea of building community, and so I organize a series of markets and pop up shops where I curate a selection of Harlem based merchants for an exciting and unique retail experience. That means that this winter I largely have been focusing on my Holiday Market, which [took] place on December 13th at Maysles Cinema, and [brought] attention, not only to local and African Diasporan artists and merchants, but also to this amazing art institution (Maysles Documentary Center) that offers documentary film screenings, Director Q+A’s and cinematic educational programming to the community, every single week.

I’m not entirely sure what direction I was going in with my questions for Ifé. All I knew is I believed this to be a rare moment in which I might access the brain of someone I respected both creatively and professionally, if those two can even be separated. I decided to let her educate me on what her customers have taught her:

As a newbie to the retail game, and to running a small business, one of the most important things I have gained from this process is the priceless benefit of observing and listening to your market. I find myself constantly striking a balance between considering my own voice as designer and the desires of my customers. I have gotten SO many great ideas from customers, a simple request can lead to a best selling item.

I did that whole “I like you, do you like me” thing:

I was honored to be asked [to be a part of #khafrachristmas15]! Running your own business is an effort of endurance, and it is a beautiful thing when others notice your hard work and want to support it.  Additionally, I view opportunities like this as community building. I appreciate the opportunity to expose my work to the Khafra audience, and vice versa. As my militant, Afrocentric, Kwanzaa celebrating mama would say, it’s all about that Ujamaa (cooperative economics)!

And then we got down to business. I imagine that we as entrepreneurs are building, presently, the future we hope to endure. I needed to know: if she had to pick a celebrity to help her build a revolution, who would it be? 

Guys, I was worried. This could have been a friendship deal breaker, the end of a love affair yet to officially begin.

But Ifé won. As I should have known she would.

Me + Meshell Ndegeocello

The woman is brilliant! I have every album and I am most intrigued by the constant evolution of her artistry -- no two albums sound the same! It is a beautiful reminder and symbol of the artistic process. We would have the mathematics for the revolution and the music to keep the movement motivated!

I’m actually going to just let you take that in ... a revolution, a world, made of mathematics and music, serendipity of sound, an army of pure aesthetic.

In the meantime, if you haven’t already, do yourself ( and my heart) a favor and check out Hecho en Harlem immediately.

with <3,

khoLi.

khafra co.

[adriwynofkryta]

✿

A thought about them that they’d never share:I wish I had her confidence - or at least her ability to seem confident. If I ever said that, I'd just get another lecture, though.

First impression of them:(( It was in Fort Salma, so.... ))For someone that beat up and missing a leg, she's sure not complaining as much as the other wounded - and she seems really nice.

Favorite thing about them:Her loving nature, and how helpful and kind she is.

Least favorite thing about them:Even when we're around each other, she won't let me in enough to help - trying too hard to protect me, despite what I know I can take, and what risks I'm willing to chance.Hopes for their future relationship:For us to keep on being friends, and not drift apart. Better if we deepen our friendship, of course, but I really don't want to lose what we have.

[ancynalexander]

✿

A thought about them that they’d never share: "I don’t mind the hugging, really. And the threats to sue the Roses for sexual harassment are empty. …for the most part."First impression of them: "So damn bold. Don’t think she memorized my name before she dragged me on the dance floor of that Wintersday ball some years ago.”Favorite thing about them: "That is my favorite thing about her.”Least favorite thing about them: "She disappears. Shouldn’t keep disappearing."Hopes for their future relationship: "Stop fucking disappearing."

[ancynalexander]

Now. This bitch.

Known her a while, yeah? dyestainedhands. Little sliver of a thing: pretty as a bird with enough talent t'fill a Priory paperback. ...likes t'put her hands where they don't have any business, but hell. She's my friend.

...probably gonna give me gray hair before m'kids know th'color, but she's my friend.

[mouna-kazmi]

"Don't leave me here, please!"

Mouna turned in her path to regard Ifetayo after her assertion and she scanned the woman over. She had passed her unawares, but the woman was on the ground writhing and her outstretched arms, fingers crooked toward Mouna, had the begging need of a child reaching for his mother. Mouna turned in her path and rather than taking the time to hobble to the woman, she closed her eyes to blink forth, dissipating in a flurry of butterflies and returning to Ifetayo’s side.

She crouched, albeit slowly, as she reached down to stroke the girl’s hair and guide tendrils of black away from her face. “My dear, what is the matter? What can I do to fix it?”

dyestainedhands

[adriwynofkryta]

"If you were given a chance at gaining a noble title from the Queen for doing something, how excited would you be? Would you even care for such a title, Adri?"

'If'n by “excited” y' means “terrified”….' The small blonde sighed heavily.  'As thin's be now, I's a … retainer, a 'irelin', even betimes called a “pet”, but I ain' th' same sort o' target in noble politics as a noble be.'  Her nervousness at the implications of the question showed in the fact that she started pacing.  'There be a lot o' similarity 'tween th' gangs an' th' nobles - not tha' mos' nobles'd 'preciate 'earin' tha' - but there some big differences, too.  An' I understands th' world o' street gangs, but I don’ understand th’ world o’ nobles.  Makin’ me a noble… ‘less’n I ‘ad a … mentor f’ bein’ one, an’ one powerful ‘nough t’ look out f’ me while I learned… well.  Jus’ makin’ me a noble wouldn’ be much better’n throwin’ me in th’ sea wi’ th’ Risen sharks.  ’Ceptin’ wi’ them, I’d ‘ave a chance.’