Style {in}Sight: culture. family

M.I.A. is the cover girl and feature for next month's Complex magazine and as always, she has quite a bit to say. The following is the first paragraph to the interview, which is extremely eye-opening, to say the least. Click the link to read the full article.

"Mathangi "Maya" Arulpragasam doesn't trust Google. Sure, the company's motto is "Don't be evil," but she's not fooled. He who controls information controls power, and she's never been one to relinquish control easily. After a childhood spent missing an activist father who was on the lam from the Sri Lankan government, she came to music after touring with a band as a videographer—and then created a global fanbase before she'd ever done a live show..."

Click here to read the full article in June's issue of Complex

M.I.A.'s third album drops July 13, 2010 and is called /\/\/\Y/\, which spells out her name. She's keeping with the title tradition she started with 2005's LP titled Arular (named after her father), and 2007's Kala, which is named for her mother. Here's a link to the website.

Below is my new favorite song XXXO! Check it out.

Click here for the link to the video, Born Free. I have to warn you (even though the video contains a warning) this video is extremely graphic. If you're not familiar with M.I.A., now is the time to become familiar. She is a VERY politically-driven force and will not be tamed or censored when it comes to her views on war, genocide, and freedom. The video is very symbolic; interpret as you will. I do recommend skimming through the viewer comments under the video for more input. I felt extreme discomfort while watching, but it made me realize how good I have life in America. Religions, Races, and Cultures are being killed off everyday like this around the world, you have the luxury of not having to watch it on television.

Think about it.

The Himba African tribal group live in a barrin area of North-western Namibia known as Kunene. The characteristic look of the Himba comes from intricate hairstyles, traditional clothing, the use of personal adornments in the form of jewelry, as well as the use of a mixture of red ochre, butter fat and resin from the Omuzumba shrub. This paste is known as otjize used as protection against the weather and as a skin lotion. It is rubbed on the skin, into hair and onto traditional clothing.