#representsheila

SOUSA DOMINGOS

Sousa Domingos Jr is a ’95 photographer: a storyteller, artist and visionary, postgraduate in Information Systems at ITC and an undergrad in Computer Engineering.

“I had this wonderful mom that passed away ... and now I live to remember her paths ; her memories are the thing that keeps me motivated,” he fondly introduced himself to REPRESENT. He proceeded, “I also have four older brothers that I love and support myself with whatever I need.”

Sousa when young had nothing to worry about because his mother worked arduously so it would remain that way. At the ease of that freedom, as any other of his age, he loved to play around with his friends. Programming, designing, playing games was his ideal of fun back in his childhood thus the second degree in Computer Engineering – passion.

Toknowmymind is one of Sousa’s hidden chest of stories based on his thoughts due to his shyness. It’s a fruit of his frustration with everything, attempting and failing to conclude. The idea was to understand himself and get to the bottom of his issue visually and through writing to then read through and figure out.

Sousa: I look back today and I didn't even start off to finish understanding myself *laughs* in the end it didn't go that well

Mid-2010, his sister brought home a camera and memories state that that was when his journey switched lanes. Two years had gone by from when he started without knowing the essence of the art of photography. It was by the grace of the people who joined him along his journey, the new vision of life and comprehension of the world that his perception of it became objectively refined.

He shares with REP of the difficulty that it is to acquire photography equipment as these tend to be expensive and scarce round Mozambique. As his mother had the urge to help his passion not live forgotten the struggle was real until wedding photography came around. The pebbles on the path started flourishing and the income from capturing the joy of couples’ vows allowed him to overcome the then financial barriers and furthermore.

Sousa met his dear mentors, root of support and inspiration a couple dedicated to wedding photography, mid 2014. Thereafter, storytelling the course of a wedding visually became his passion and identity.

I love arts, I love to look to things on a different way and with photography I can simple do that!  That is the reason he put his head onto the creation of a community, a movement. A movement to allow an unusual vision, entitling ourselves as the storytellers of our own, stories of our quotidianne, happiness, strength and ability. So together with his friends he started behindyourvision which intends to portray the world as they see it. Although it isn’t easy at all, inevitably mountain-high and ocean-floor, he feels that he joggles with both situations optimally. He describes the experience as sleeping at home on his bed, dreaming.

In 2021, Sousa sees himself as an explorer of the world, capturing his vision of the truely happy manner. Beyond the 2020s he envisions himself surrounded by those who are inspired through and enjoy his creation .

I want to be remembered, one day. I want to be remembered as someone that brought change or at least helped. I want to be remembered as someone that made a difference. That’s why I struggle so much, because beyond that, I want to be myself.

Note: The last piece has undergone a translation and formatting of text to accommodate the primary language of the blog and allow better understanding to our readers.

Catch Sousa cruising on the following social media:

TÉGUI

Silke Teresa Guilamba commonly addressed as Tégui is young ‘93 RnB and soul singer and composer from Mozambique. Tégui is a junction of her name and surname: Teresa & Guilamba.

Her taste for music goes way back to her childhood under the first musical influences in her own home. She tells REPRESENT that she recalls listening to Christina Aguilera, Mary and Mary, Destiny’s Child, Marcy Gray but all reverted back to RnB, a bit of Brazilian and Portuguese music. She expresses gratitude for this exposure to her father and fellow family members.

Thereafter, she would sing around the house out of pure leisure and nothing else. Her musical repertoire submerged at the age of 12, back in Grade 6. She enjoyed transcribing lyrics of songs in order to learn them. One day Tégui sang one of those, which had been Alicia Keys – Fallin’ to her best friend at the time. “You have a voice,” the best friend complimented her. That comment left her surprised because she was unperceptive, she just enjoyed singing. School breaks, classmates, playfully singing, same conclusion – a noticeable talent. All those pleasurable experiences lead her to believe in herself and investigate more about music.

Tégui became Tégui in 2008 when she sang in a music contest at the school she attended. In 2010, she recorded her first song in collaboration with her cousin entitled Sincerity then a solo, Say Yeah after having sung in her prom that same year.

In blink of an eye in 2011 Tégui joined a trio composed by Doubleme (singer), Wp (rapper) and King (producer) who formed label ‘Love and Music’ dedicated in love songs in the genre of RnB. In 2012 she left to proceed her solo only after having released, Devolva-me and Obcessivo whilst in the label.

Walking her path alone she worked on some music but did not release for a while until 2013 in which she broke her silence with Foi no verão, followed by Só Tu and Vai e Vem in 2014. Along the way she joined another label but not for long. She proceeded to refuse a few other offers in 2015 because she thought to herself that continuing as an independent singer was best.

Where the oblivious to her history actually met Tégui was in the release of Namasté. It is an infusion of RnB, NeoSoul and Jazz – the vertex she has chosen to follow. This project had the input of producers such as Key Beats, James Monarc and J.McEdwins, who is also the executive director. Namasté as explained by her is Tégui’s affectionate greeting to the public with this craft at which she felt the freest artistically.

Someone tweeted: “não percebo pessoas que vão viver fora mas mentalidade não muda nem um bocado.” Which translated means ‘I do not understand  people that go live abroad but their mentality does not change even a bit. Then this girl I admire since I was young because she was genuinely kind, sweet and ready to share a smile called Karyn Tonela replied. She quoted and proceeded to say: “Não é o sítio que vai mudar a tua mentalidade mas sim a nossa vontade de evoluir.”

00:10 - 6 de jan de 2017 de República de Moçambique 

It’s not the place that will change your mentality but yes our volition to evolve

Conhece Style Você? Commonly referred to as CSV is a group of young beings that are dedicated in event organization that is currently formed by 11 members with an average age off 22.

This group was initially formed by 4 people who dedicated themselves in the sale of t-shirts of their brand.  Gladly, the group became popular amongst youth and proceeded to seeking an adventure in the area of events in 2013 then with 11 members. The first event took place in July, 2013. At the pace of baby steps it was decided that a small event hosting around 200 people in a house at Coop neighbourhood would fit the initiative just fine. For the inexperience as disadvantage they had a pleasant surprise when it not only satisfied the public but exceeded all expectations. Thereafter a state of mind of seriousness took place and drove them to execute yet another event that same year, September at Casa Velha. Unfortunately, not having forecast the improbable event of climate change down took the expected successful expansion of participants. In 2014 blew the dust off their shoulders and again invested into an event allusive to the first anniversary in July. The candles lit a public of 450 people and opened a vision of the potential of that market. Enlightened minds gazed over new marketing strategies and even built a department for it. The average number of people attending their events is 1000 and they intend to reach further in a short while.

WALTER NGULELA

Walter J. Rofino Ngulela is a ’97 Maputo, Mozambique borne. He is a graphics designer since 2012 and is currently studying Civil Engineering. 

It all started as little curiosity cease when his friend and himself decided to attempt doing Vector Cartoon illustration style in Photoshop as Youtube apprentices. As any skillful undergoes so did they, day by day the improvement made itself visible.

“One day, someone approached me and asked how much I charged for my craft, but I did not do it for money,” Walter tells REPRESENT. In what he saw a hobby time taught him that a hobby can make a metical. Bewildered by his own discovered he took the first step of entitling himself for all his worth – graphics designer. He put upon himself the responsibility of honouring his choice by learning more and more. 

Today he believes that he stands at a position of dominance over the basic necessities of a great graphic designer. Walter has basic knowledge in functioning with over 5 software applications but above it all, that that lies within him which is the spirit of a graphics designer.

Today, he works as a freelancer in branding and collaborates with Community Twaan,  Mbalelembalele and other Mozambican brands.

Amongst it all he does illustrations during his free time after all that’s how it all started, with illustrations.

The beast of Graphics Design always lived in me. The discovery of this/it, made me seek to set it free. Today we live side by side, showing love and divinity in all our craft.

 Note: The last piece has undergone a translation and formatting of text to accommodate the primary language of the blog and allow better understanding to our readers.

Before taking on the artistry he is known for now, Revorev was DJ from all the watching of his friend, DJ RASH who, according to Revorev, was talented for a fifteen-year-old. At the attempt of imitating his friend and then having the application, Virtual DJ, installed he then discovered his love for music. It was fun for a while until the idea of creating his own sound got to him. Apart from that, being a DJ required playing at late night parties which at the time was impossible as the mother would not permit late outings then. So with that he searched for applications producers used and found Fruity Loops. Starting off the progress was relatively slow and he was eluded at the thought that his creations were dope. Gracias to loyal friends who burst his bubble that got him working seriously and bound to learn from the Internet. With time he evolved, ‘I gained experience and with my talented young cousin [King Cizzy] freestyling like no one else’.

They started working together and the release of ‘MAGIC’ was outstanding.

Before being Revorev he was DJ Revolluttion and Revolluttion as a musical producer. His PC was attacked by a virus that destroyed all his projects and willpower was crashed with that too. He was motivated by a friend of his to do it all over again with a chance of improving too. Taking on the challenge, he changed his name to ‘REVOREV’ which is the ‘Revolution of the Revolluttion’.

He is inspired by the following artists: Hit-Boy, Travis Scott, EllP and Jahlil Beats.

When asked why he chooses not to return to disco joking, he replied ‘Because creating my music is already mixing Sounds. And that's my passion.’

Find him on the following social networks:

REPRESENT: What's Silicon Valley about? The African Cowboy: It has a loose concept. #8 texted me in depth  about billionaires in North Cali, how he's going to live in Palo Alto and envisions building his network from there. As an African, that kind of sparked it but musically: I'd say this project is a Dystopian Love Story, in a Plastic World. REPRESENT: Why the designated name for the EP? The African Cowboy: We are both linked to it in different ways: He sees himself embodying the ideals of The Valley; the minds and companies there that ensure infinite potential: all from Silicon. REPRESENT: Is the 'he' you refer to 8? The African Cowboy: Living here, I felt his vision really lent it's hand with my isolated, emotionally detached lifestyle (everything feeling like "plastic") The African Cowboy: Yes. REPRESENT: What feeling or message are you trying to convey to the listeners? The African Cowboy: The feeling of disconnect from the one you love and how life doesn't really stop because of that. REPRESENT: Is it a chronologically ordered story or just a compilation of songs from the same nature? The African Cowboy: Yes, it is ordered. REPRESENT: Is Silicon Valley based on real experiences of your own or just fiction? The  African Cowboy: A lot of it is real, specific thing I lyrically spread out. This EP is a look into my head-space right now, while I do make sure to be thematic. The African Cowboy: I don't wish to be overbearing. REPRESENT: If you were to describe it in one colour, which one would it be? The African Cowboy: Orange. REPRESENT: Why? The African Cowboy: Orange is more abrasive, unnatural. REPRESENT: What made you satisfied to release this EP this day in May? The The African Cowboy: I finished mastering it the day before REPRESENT: Day before what? The African Cowboy: Before it was released, as in, yesterday. I stayed up two days straight, from the 10th to the 12th, treating the sound. REPRESENT: Why the dedication to even stay up all night? Were you in a hurry ? The African Cowboy: I was in a pessimistic mood.I frequently go on downers where I'm feeling insecure about my music career. Feeling unloved, that type of thing, so doing this was kind of a pressure release. REPRESENT: Are the listeners meant to learn with this or just feel and enjoy? The African Cowboy: I feel as if there is no closure to get from it. I feel like I'm still in the middle of it, it's an infinite loop. REPRESENT: We are ready to receive and excited. Any last words? The African Cowboy: Well ... To all those who listen to it: I hope you take your time; To digest; The themes; And that they hold judgment till the end. REPRESENT: Thank you Yannick for this insight! The African Cowboy: AYEEE! It was a pleasure and an honor.

Catch Nicko Journey on the following social networks:

Twitter: @YaNicko_J0URN3Y, https://twitter.com/YaNicko_J0URN3Y Instagram: @rapkurt , https://www.instagram.com/rapkurt/ Soundcloud:@nickojourney, https://soundcloud.com/nickojourney