Help Happily Natural Day celebrate the brightest and most dynamic people in our community via the first annual Happily Natural Awards! We have fallen into the habit of celebrating greatness after the fact, we have decided to start giving our flowers to the living… Happily Natural Awards AWARD CATEGORIES The Afro Pick Award: Natural Hair Product of the Year The Wadjet Award: Holistic Health & Healing Business of the Year The Duafe Award: Holistic Beauty & Wellness Business of the Year The Akoben Award: Activist of the Year The Asase Ye Duru Award: African-Inspired Woman Entrepreneur...

Ari J is known for her work as a filmmaker and documentarian. With an eight year history as a creative in various genres, Ari has worked as director, director of photography and editor. As the producer of this video of the Dead Prez work, “The Beauty Within,” she worked with director/photographer Shannon Mccollum. Regarding this work, Ari had this to say on her website, “A casting call, produced by Shannon and artistic director, Jamila Crawford of Earthcandy Arts resulted in over 100 women from Atlanta, GA and various parts of the country, coming together to represent women...

I am part of group of Photographers and Models who get together, every now and then, for some casual shooting. And last week we went on a lakeside stroll. I got a few great shots and I will probably post them later but right now I want to focus on the captures of Hafees Byard. Bookmark on Delicious Digg this post Recommend on Facebook share via Reddit Share with Stumblers Tumblr it Tweet about it Subscribe to the comments on this post

This Soundcheck is brought to you by naps, locs, kinks and coils (like everything else on this site!). dead prez released a video for a song this week called “The Beauty Within” that celebrates the beauty of natural hair. With lyrics like, “Real Black girl, I salute your existence,” this is definitely a new favorite in the Garden. Watch the official video below and support these honorary earthBrothas who support us. Some of the lyrics: this Hollywood world so pretentious every other girl got a perm or extensions but you don even rarely wear lipstick still your beauty is...

Every now and again shells clink around my ears and I’m reminded that I have locs. Not in the forgotten sense but more like they’ve become so natural that they’re just “me”. And as strange as that may seem, it wasn’t an easy task when I entered into the natural world. Growing up there weren’t many women around me with natural hair. Of course there were the older women who at some point decided straighting, perming, or curling wasn’t worth the hassle but for the most part I grew up in a straight world. “Nappy rarely meant happy”, after...

There is so much beauty in the world… Going into this week we have a lot look forward. Fashion model Errika, the Earth Angel make an appearance in the Pangea’s Garden Project with images of her own beauty and thoughts on Fashion culture, music and and the struggle to find comfort in her own skin. We finally see the much demanded (believe me, everybody, I heard you!!!) second part of the Photographer’s Cut of Scottie’s AfroerotiK romance, AT Last. Raw and colorful, these final captures that were originally (and wrongfully) left on the cutting room floor make their appearance...

Ah, yes. Spring. Rebirth. As we emerge from a harsh, bitter winter, let’s look back on the birth of earthSista ISIS as she takes a refreshing stroll through one of the Garden’s secret paths. This set is relaxed and easy, with playful sunlight and delicate poses. ISIS declares who she is, and the camera captures her awakening. Bookmark on Delicious Digg this post Recommend on Facebook share via Reddit Share with Stumblers Tumblr it Tweet about it Subscribe to the comments on this post

As I was digging in the archives, I came across this image set featuring Shells, one of the models at Apache. The way she held her head was striking, and as I began to read further, I saw that Vince had noted it as well: My thinking on Shells is that her head is never down. And before I knew who she was and what she was doing, she was beautiful to me in that way. Yep. Her head is most definitely never down, and after reading some more about her, I found out why. Her background is as unique and beautiful as she is. On this night at Apache, she became an inspiration for the Garden. Bookmark on...

Erica at Oh! My Nappy Hair Salon was so supportive. I’d walked into her salon one day and was thoroughly impressed by the eclectic old world artistry and ornate intimate feel that was reminiscent of traditional family home with its dark hard wood floors and antique vanity dressers at each station. Richly colored walls are adorned with a variety of African-American artworks and the shop is decorated with small original hand-carved sculptures of various inspirations of the Oh! My Nappy Hair icon. So, simply entering the shop is an engrossing experience. And then there was Ifasgift. Her lovely...

These are a few of TTColes’ captures. Just click on them to see a larger version. I thought that they were worthy of attention. Don’t you agree? A bit about TTColes… Initially, it was the naked walls of her new condo begging to be clothed that inspired a passion in Ms. Terra “TT” Coles. Almost instantaneously, what began as a hobby with a simple point and shoot camera became a lifestyle that Coles now lives and breathes. TT Coles was blessed with a creative spirit by nature. Coles’ creativity manifested itself in her life in many forms before she honed in and...