Aprilstagram

Africa Trousers · Brick Lane · Ryan Reynolds is rocking some serious hairstyle in this
Top notch tune · Revision remedy · Nandos and Sangria
Reunited · I MADE SALAD · Yoouuu got a friend in me
STRASBOURG 2013 · Just gimme the beat and we be burning yawww · Chicken dippers, curly fries and a Disney film is standard for the morning after

New feature! I've been using instagram a lot more lately so I thought I'd do a monthly post that kind of explains what I've been up to.
So this month was filled with Tanzania reunions...well two. I got to go down to London to see two amigos who live there and we spent the two days shopping in Brick Lane and Oxford Street and eating yummy food (more here). The second reunion involved one of our fellow expeditioneers coming down to Leicester. Me, Sally and James started our three person date in Nandos, catching up over a jug of Sangria and our various plates of chicken, and then went on to a party at a cafe bar down the road where they tried to broaden my drinking horizons. I often just opt for the cheapest and easiest thing going.
Also, this month brought about some good news for us French students at school: a trip to the European Parliament in Strasbourg for three days AND a possible connection to French students in Burkina Faso! Obviously, it is a francophone country; the combination of Africa and Francais is literally my dream so this is perfect. Plus, we gon' get some French boyfs in Strasbourg.

So that's my month in photos...if you would like to then follow me here!

Distant Relatives

This has quickly become one of my favourite albums. Released in 2010, Distant Relatives sees the fusion of hip hop and reggae by the genre's leading artists, Nas and Damien Marley. The above video gives their view on the album in which Damien states that he hopes that the record will "inspire interest in Africa". It also features little schnippets of the songs, so you can get a feel for the (awesome) music. I could listen to Damien's accent all freaking day.

I think one of the main reasons why I adore this album so much is because it takes me back to Tanzania. African elements are at the forefront of the musicality as well as the lyrics, with the ancestry and poverty of the continent having an influence over each song. There is even the line "Habari ghani, Mzuri sana" which is spoken in the African language of Kiswahili, a phrase we were greeted with everyday.

I strongly urge you to purchase Distant Relatives if you're a fan of the heavy beats of hip hop and the feel-good rhythm of reggae. Even if you don't, the album's proceeds go to a project in Africa so it is a worthwhile cause.

Coachella, I Want To Be Where You Are

images via latimes and some other place on the internet that I forgot to note down

I don't think you realise just how determined I am to travel across the Atlantic to Indio, California and spend a weekend at Coachella. Be it by plane, boat or even a lilo with a paddle, I'm going to get there one day. With sunshine in the day, sunsets at night and a selection of the best music artists around to carry you through both what is there not to love? You can let out your inner hippie and wear feathers and crochet all day long. This years line up sees the likes of Passion Pit, Jamie XX, Local Natives, Sigur Ros and James Blake take the stage...but alas there is no iconic ferris wheel where I am and it is raining. These are just are some images from weekend one (I know, we'll all have to help each other get through the pain of not being at the second weekend too) just to make you pine for palm trees and live music.

Are you wishing you went to Coachella as much as me right now?
Of course you are what a silly question.

Last years Coachella fangirling post.

IFHY

I like this video. A lot. Directed himself, or rather by 'Wolf Haley', IFHY shows the creative direction from Tyler the Creator is far superior to many of his peers who seem to solely focus on flashy cars, wads of cash and big booty bitches in their videos. Taking the romanticism and innocence that lies within the bubble of a doll house, the Odd Future rapper twists the fairytale connotations with his creepily accurate plasticised face and stiff movements to produce a disturbingly endearing video. One thing is for sure, it's a technical marvel for those of us who can only just about fathom the zoom on a video camera.