Blog Contributor:
Chalya Shagaya
Mar 12th, 2010 2:46 PM UTC
By Chalya Shagaya
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ONE is turning to its community of artists, friends, members and staff for their top picks on creative works that have enhanced their knowledge and understanding of the richness of African culture and arts. Today we have a recommendation from Chalya Shagaya:
Nneka Egbuna is a recording music artist was born to a Nigerian father and a German mother. She recently performed on the Letterman Show in the United States. Rolling Stone magazine also reviewed her album that was released in February this year.
Nneka’s music has been influenced by neo-soul artists of the West like Erykah Badu and Lauryn Hill, fused with beats similar to those of the late Afro Jazz legend Fela.
You can hear her album on iTunes here.
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Jan 27th, 2010 2:00 PM UTC
By Chalya Shagaya
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ONE is turning to its community of artists, friends, members and staff for their top picks on creative works that have enhanced their knowledge and understanding of the richness of African culture and arts. Today we have a recommendation from Chalya Shagaya:
Fashion Designer Deola Sagoe will present at Mercedes Benz New York Fashion Week on February 13th 2010 at Bryant Park. The mother of African couture fashion who uses indigenously made Nigerian hand woven fabric for her collections is set to take New York by storm!
Deola Sagoe has given African fashion in the 21st century the most radical expression imaginable, from the deeply rooted African fabrics to perfectly matched accessories.
Sagoe had been described as the African fashion designer who is ‘’best placed to interpret our cultural diversity and artistry, our earthiness and mystery, our colors warmth and passion of the African woman in her simplicity and elegance.’’
Known for constantly fabulous designs, flawless color combination, attention to details, perfect finish and finesse, two-time international award winner Sagoe creates designs that truly celebrate Africa and Nigeria.
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Nov 18th, 2009 10:00 AM UTC
By Chalya Shagaya
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ONE is turning to its community of artists, friends, members and staff for their top picks on creative works that have enhanced their knowledge and understanding of the richness of African culture and arts. Today we have a recommendation from Chalya Shagaya:
Sahr Ngaujah brings high-energy Nigerian pop of Fela Kuti (Nigeria’s late Afrobeat jazz musician) to Broadway. Sahr is from Sierra Leone in West Africa. He is currently Art Director for the Sierra Leone Hip-Hop act Bajah and The Dry Eye Crew. Please find out more about the production and Ngaujah here.
Here’s a review by NYmag.com.
-Chalya Shagaya
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Nov 14th, 2009 5:36 PM UTC
By Chalya Shagaya
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Wow. Since we launched ONE’s Next Top T-shirt challenge three weeks ago, more than 500 ONE members have sent us T-shirt design ideas. Their designs moved us, made us laugh and reminded everyone involved with this project that your creativity is a powerful force in the fight against global poverty.
The other judges and I had a tough time narrowing it down to three, but we’ve done it and now it’s time to vote for your favorite T-shirt.
Check out the top three designs and vote for which one should be printed on ONE’s new 100% organic, fair trade T-shirts made in Uganda.
And to say thanks, after you vote we’ll send you a coupon for 15% off from the ONE Store. Here’s a sneak-peek at the finalists:
The winning T-shirt will be available in black and white, and in both men’s and women’s styles in the ONE Store online. We’ll let you know which design took the top honors in an email next week. Make sure to watch for that announcement, because it’s going to include pictures of Connie Britton of Friday Night Lights and the guys from the multi-platinum band Daughtry modeling ONE’s new T-shirt.
But first, you have to decide which T-shirt they are going to wear. Vote now.
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Oct 21st, 2009 11:32 AM UTC
By Chalya Shagaya
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 Right now, ONE has thousands of fair-trade certified, 100% organic African cotton, African-made T-shirts sitting in a warehouse just waiting for the perfect design to make them not only a symbol of our work to end global poverty and disease, but a must-have item this holiday season.
So we’re turning to you, ONE’s 2 million members, and asking you to submit a great T-shirt design and help us come up with “ONE’s Next Top T-shirt”. Not the creative type? That’s okay, you can still take a moment and forward this email to the people you know whose talents could bring attention to our cause.
As a fashion consultant, former model, native of Nigeria, and passionate ONE member, I’m excited to announce this open challenge to find the design for ONE’s new T-shirt. ONE will accept designs for the next two weeks, until November 3 at 5:00pm EST, at which point I’ll join multi-platinum recording artist Daughtry, noted designer and “Top Design” judge Jonathan Adler, and a distinguished panel of fashion and design experts to pick the top three T-shirts designs. ONE members will then have a week to vote for their favorite of the final three designs, which will be printed and put
on sale in late November.
The person submitting that winning design will have a huge impact on how ONE is seen globally. We look forward to adding their T-shirt to the line of creative ONE merchandise already available in the ONE Store, as well as celebrating her or his contribution as part of the new T-shirt’s launch to ONE members and the general public.
What we wear says a lot about who we are. The 25,000 plain T-shirts sitting in our warehouse already tell a story of commitment to helping countries in Africa and across the developing world trade their way to a better future. The right design has the power to go even further, and spark a global conversation. It starts with “I love your shirt, what does it mean?” and ends with greater awareness of the role we can all play in ending poverty and disease in some of the most vulnerable places on earth.
I hope you’ll help us create ONE’s Next Top T-shirt and prove that great design can make a difference.
Thank you and good luck,
Chalya Shagaya, ONE member
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Jul 15th, 2009 5:39 PM UTC
By Chalya Shagaya
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ONE is turning to its community of artists, friends, members and staff for their top picks on creative works that have enhanced their knowledge and understanding of the richness of African culture and arts. Today we have a recommendation from Chalya Shagaya (bio below):
I met Korto Momolu during the inauguration weekend for President Barack Obama in Washington DC where she created a collection of designs in honor of the new American President.
Korto escaped from the violence and volatility of the Liberian Civil war in the 80′s and left Liberia with absolutely nothing. Today, this fashion designer and stylist is a proud wife, mother, and all around classy woman who can hardly pass by unnoticed as the fan favorite of Bravo’s hit reality show Project Runway Season 5.
After the season finale of Project Runway, Korto received a commission from Liberian President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf to design a gown. Requests from celebrities have been pouring in ever since.
 -Chalya Shagaya
Chalya Shagaya is a former model and currently works as an International Fashion Stylist, Consultant & PR manager. She has held several positions in the fashion industry, producing fashion shows and music videos. She also works with African designers like Deola Sagoe and Korto Momolu of “Project Runway”, as well as a number of African recording artists. She has also worked with renowned photographers Marc Baptiste and Piper Carter (from VH1′s hit show “The Shot”).
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