Category: Culture

H.i.k.i. By Ebreezy

Released on February 8, 2023, the album H.I.K.I marks a significant creative step for the artist Ebreezy.  The title itself — H.I.K.I — stands for High Inspired Kept Kingdom Instincts, giving us a glimpse into the conceptual framework behind the project. 

Context & Artist Background

Ebreezy is an artist whose work spans multiple facets of modern musical expression, blending influences and personal narrative. While detailed biographical material isn’t copious, his discography shows a continuing evolution in both sound and ambition. The release of H.I.K.I comes after previous works such as “Girls Ain’t Innocent” (2022) and the EP Wat’s In The Vault Pt. 2. 

By choosing the subtitle “High Inspired Kept Kingdom Instincts,” Ebreezy hints at a commitment to authenticity (“Kept”), sovereignty of self (“Kingdom”), and tapping into innate creativity (“Instincts”). The “High Inspired” portion suggests striving toward elevated vision or purpose.

Tracklist & Musical Flow

The album consists of eight tracks, totaling approximately 30 minutes.  Here is the tracklist:

Intro (hapa)— 2:47  Twende — 4:00  Mpishi — 4:26  Kwanini We — 4:12  This Town — 3:50  Ukweli wa Amani — 4:19  Mawazo — 3:37  Outro (Paa/Ngangara)— 3:31 

Musically, the album weaves through reflections on place (“This Town”), internal dialogue (“Mawazo” which means “thoughts” in Swahili), and a broader peace-seeking (“Ukweli wa Amani” translates roughly to “Truth of Peace”). The use of Swahili titles suggests cultural layering and invites listeners to interpret identity and experience through a diasporic or multilingual lens.

Themes & Highlights

Identity & Place: With songs like “This Town,” Ebreezy explores a sense of belonging or dislocation, perhaps both the literal and metaphorical town one inhabits and the internal town of self. Reflection & Instinct: Tracks such as “Mawazo” and “Kwanini We” (which could be interpreted as “Why Us?” or “Why You?”) delve into self-reasoning, questioning, and introspection. Peace & Truth: “Ukweli wa Amani” stands out for its thematic weight: truth and peace are presented as intertwined, suggesting a spiritual or philosophical core to the project. Cultural Language Play: The mixture of English with Swahili (and potentially other languages or influences) gives the album a textured feel, and invites listeners from varied backgrounds to engage with its layered meanings.

Production & Sound

The sound of H.I.K.I reflects precision, intention, and balance — eight tracks and thirty minutes of pure cohesion. Rather than reaching for commercial appeal, Ebreezy curates an experience that feels deliberate and tightly woven. Every beat, vocal layer, and instrumental texture speaks to a deeper vision: one rooted in instinct, collaboration, and authenticity.

Behind the scenes, a powerful creative collective helped bring that vision to life. Hardworknation Marketing Company provided unwavering support and direction, ensuring that every detail aligned with the project’s essence. The sonic craftsmanship unfolded across borders, with contributions from Soundking, Little Africa, Asili Sound, 6 Records, and E.F.N — connecting studios in Switzerland, Tanzania, and the United States.

The production energy of GQ, Kichwa Touch, Eric Wilson, Domi Beats, Black Culture, Sajo, and Rage Infinite Producer infused H.I.K.I with its dynamic texture and emotional resonance. Visually, Ezra Brown and Mr. Filly translated the album’s depth into a striking design that mirrors its spiritual and creative tone.

The project’s poetic and vocal layers were further elevated by Mac Leisian, Asteria Official (TZ Poets), MC Koba TZ, Britney Marie, and Torrence Bristaw, guided the coordination between process with precision each adding rhythm, reflection, and soul. Charissa Stephens harmonies added warmth and textedture to the soundscape , Abbas Max brother

Together, this collective transformed H.I.K.I into more than just an album — it became a movement. A manifestation of Highly Inspired Kept Kingdom Instincts, where intuition meets discipline and collaboration breathes life into art.

Listeners will notice a seamless blend of mid-tempo rhythms, introspective lyricism, and cultural inflections that set this project apart from mainstream releases. The album leans toward artful exploration rather than formulaic radio singles — though tracks like “This Town” show strong crossover potential. Songs such as “Mpishi” (“cook” in Swahili) reveal Ebreezy’s layered storytelling, using metaphor to speak about creativity, process, and self-evolution.

Why It Matters

It showcases an artist choosing intention over mass volume: shorter tracklist, maintained theme. It marries cultural roots (via language and titles) with universally relatable themes (identity, place, peace). It positions Ebreezy as someone to watch: creative, reflective, and unafraid of nuance. In a music landscape often driven by singles and streaming fluff, H.I.K.I stands out as a cohesive body of work.

Final Thoughts

H.I.K.I is more than an album—it is a statement. Through the lens of “High Inspired Kept Kingdom Instincts,” Ebreezy invites listeners into his world: one shaped by thought, culture, place, and purpose. Whether you’re drawn to rich lyricism, cross-cultural texture, or just good music that has something to say, this project is worth exploring.

By the Tanzanian

Maria Clementina: A Beauty Journey Rooted in Identity, Culture, and Inclusivity

n a world where beauty standards are constantly evolving, MariaClementina Beauty stands out as more than just a cosmetics brand—it’s a movement. Founded in 2019 in the heart of Maryland, this brand began humbly in a home studio but has grown into a beacon of empowerment, cultural pride, and authentic representation.

From the Runway to Radiance

MariaClementina’s path to entrepreneurship began on the runway. For a decade, from 2009 to 2019, she worked as a model—an experience that illuminated the glaring gaps in the beauty industry. Time and again, she found herself in makeup chairs where the artists weren’t equipped to work with deeper skin tones. The lack of inclusivity extended beyond foundation shades—it was a systemic issue of invisibility.

Rather than settle for a seat at someone else’s table, MariaClementina set out to build her own. Her modeling journey, marked by both glamour and frustration, inspired her to create a brand where diversity isn’t a trend—it’s the foundation.

A Name with Meaning

The name “MariaClementina” carries a powerful story of healing and self-affirmation. For much of her life, she was known simply as “Maria.” But in 2017, following a deeply traumatic experience, a stranger reminded her of the strength and identity embedded in her full name. That encounter transformed her perspective. Reclaiming her full name became an act of empowerment—and a promise to never diminish herself again. Today, that promise lives on through her brand.

Redefining Beauty Standards

Since its inception, MariaClementina Beauty has embraced a mission that goes beyond products. The brand entered a market that was beginning to stir with calls for inclusion—fueled, in part, by the success of Fenty Beauty’s wide range of foundation shades. While progress has been made, MariaClementina knows the journey is far from over.

“There’s still so much work to do,” she says. “Underrepresentation is real. My goal is to create products for all skin tones and types—not just what’s popular.”

Culture in Every Touch

What truly sets MariaClementina Beauty apart is the personal experience it offers. As a first-generation Tanzanian, MariaClementina brings her rich cultural heritage into every booking. From her chair, clients don’t just walk away with flawless makeup—they leave with a sense of affirmation. Her mantra? “Be-YOU-t-FULL.”

Each product tells a story, with names inspired by Swahili and Luhaya languages—a tribute to her Tanzanian roots. Through this, she’s not just celebrating beauty, but also sharing culture, language, and identity in a space that often overlooks them.

A Future Fueled by Vision

The beauty industry has evolved in recent years, embracing cleaner, more ethical products and widening the lens of inclusion. MariaClementina Beauty is pushing those boundaries further by offering vegan cosmetics and skincare solutions that prioritize both people and the planet.

From a home studio in Maryland to a growing voice in the beauty world, MariaClementina’s journey is a reminder that beauty is more than skin deep—it’s about belonging, identity, and the courage to create space where there was none.

Coffee In Tanzania: From Bean To Cup

Coffee in Tanzania: From Bean to Cup

By Anne Tendwa

Tanzania is situated in the eastern region of Africa and is famous for its beautiful geographical features, endangered species, and rich tradition. In addition to Mount Kilimanjaro, the Serengeti, and the beautiful Spice Islands of Zanzibar, Tanzania has also another thing that makes it a special country in the world; its coffee. For the people of Tanzania, coffee is much more than a beverage; it is practically a culture, it is – economically – very important and it is a process of teamwork before one can actually enjoy sipping it. From the fertile beans growing highlands to the freshly brewed coffee in your cup, every ounce of Tanzanian coffee tells a tale of love and dedication to preserving tradition and never compromising on quality.

The journey of coffee begins right from the highlands of Tanzania where the soils are fertile for coffee growth. There are various regions in Tanzania that are very good for coffee growing, especially those surrounding the Mount Kilimanjaro, the southern highlands around Mbeya and the Victoria area. The country can be categorized in terms of two major coffee bean types such as the Arabica and Robusta.

Mount Kilimanjaro: Mount Kilimanjaro is probably the most popular region for growing coffees in Tanzania as coffees are grown on the slopes of Africa’s tallest mountain. In this region, cooled volcanic soils, high altitude, and moderate temperatures as well favor the growth of Arabica coffee. Most farms in this area yield very high quality coffee with some sweetness, with bright acidity, floral, with fruit overtones.

Mbeya and the Southern Highlands: The southern highlands should be considered and referred to along with Arabica beans Subzi. The coffee here is cultivated at altitudes of one thousand up to two thousand meters and americanos and the coffee here is very smooth and balanced with slight measures of chocolate and nut flavors.

Lake Victoria and Kagera: In the northwest, the area called Vic Portrait about the Lake Victoria, Robusta beans are cultivated. These beans have a tendency of being more potent, having a stronger and more rustic flare to it, and are commonly included in espresso blend or instant coffee.

Every region has a different taste resulting from its soil, height, and microclimates. Such differences have made Tanzanian coffee a sought after drink by coffee lovers around the globe.

The history of Tanzanian coffee starts with a tiny seed that is put in the ground by local farmers, who mostly cultivate small-scale family-owned farms. The majority of coffee growing in Tanzania is done by hand using rudimentary farming techniques that have been passed from one generation to another. It takes several years for coffee plants to grow and produce berries and during the period of cultivation, the hands of farmers need to be vigorous to the plants as they should develop well.

This involves growing trees used as shade for the coffee plants so that the plants do not get dry. These trees do not only let the coffee leaves flourish but also promote environmental conservation in the area by affording the forest cover.

A CREATOR ABODE: PULCHRA MEDIA

There are not many platforms that are available for micro and nano influencers, creators or artists in general. Platforms that encourage, support and celebrate creativity in Africa. Our artists aspire and work tirelessly to be acknowledged and celebrated in foreign lands, which should not be the case, not when we have the resources in our backyard. Pulchra Media is a small scale website and movement that was created to remedy just that. A problem that the Pulchra team realized exists, and quite frankly, could be easily solved.

 Introducing Pulchra Media…A Creator’s Abode

 PULCHRA is a black owned media company and platform that intends to produce content celebrating young, innovative artists and visionaries on a digital platform. This media company fully utilizes this generations favourite tool; social media, to show case brilliance that has been captured and is yet to be captured on a global scale. More than anything, the aim is to invoke healthy and meaningful conversations surrounding the beauty and uniqueness of art that is created by niche and micro creators who are not celebrated enough. 

 The Pulchra team is spearheaded by 4 individuals from all around the continent. 

 All the way from Zambia, Bupe Mwange is the Co-Founder and Creative Director of the Pulchra platform. Bupe has proven to be passionate about fashion, which plays an enormous role for the  Pulchra entity.

 Tanzanian photographer , Filly, plays the role of Graphics Consultant. Filly has a very successful photography portfolio having shot festivals, events and cultural embodiments of art. Having such a diverse portfolio is crucial for Pulchra.

 Also Tanzanian , is Ibrahim, the entity’s PR Consultant, based all the way in Maryland, USA. With a vast amount of connections, Ibrahim is solely in charge of client networking and brand growth for the platform.

 Also part of the team, is Co-Founder and Editor, Neenah Molapo, all the way from Lesotho. Over the years, she developed a passion for art and digital media and saw to it that a project that embodies all these aspects must be established.

With a clear vision behind Pulchra , they say they hope to take every single one of the members of their audience on a journey of giving every creator their flowers while they can still receive them. “It is more than a promotional activity, but more of a convenient resource and platform that users can turn to for information, education and familiarization of any kind.”

The name PULCHRA has been derived from the word pulchritudinous, which directly means beautiful. Every piece of art, every creation, every item that will be shared on the platform represents just that-beauty. Beauty with substance, beauty that educates, beauty that encourages interactions and beauty that merges and brings us together.

Written By Diile Neenah Molapo