Ms. Afrika Abney - Consultant Branding Blog

  Beauty Lies in Colors that I see and human character. I do not define fashion and beauty based on style and outer appearance. Beauty lies in colors of the universe. Each color represents a different meaning whether spiritual, emotional, physical or mental. For example, brown represents my skin color.  Why judge me because I am a black middle aged woman? Is that all that you see? If so, then, you have not bothered to examine things like kindness, compassion, nurturing, and understanding. My style does not define who I am. My character does. Thus, when I wear the colors of my heritage, race and culture, I display strength, pride and elegance.                                Beauty Lies in Colors. Digital art created on canvas. Afrika Abney

For many years, I have celebrated Black History Month in many ways. Some of them include acknowledging black people that I know and reading Black History Month quotes. I have posted several blog posts where I mention something about various black people and some quotes. I do not celebrate Black History Month in February; I celebrate it everyday.                                                 Blackness. Digital art piece created on canvas. Afrika Abney “Every great dream begins with a dreamer. Always remember, you have within you the strength, the patience, and the passion to reach for the stars to change the world.” – Harriet Tubman “My humanity is bound up in yours, for we can only be human together.” – Desmond Tutu “Whatever we believe about ourselves and our ability comes true for us.” – Susan L. Taylor  "I get way down in the music / Down inside the music." - Eloise Greenfield

There are so many Black women dancers that I know. Some of them include Nana Malaya, Wakili McNeil and Kima Hawk. Nana Malaya Nana Malaya at Dance Africa 2009. Dance Place, Washington, DC.Photograph by Ms. Afrika Abney Nana Malaya has been performing since early childhood.  Her versatility and expertise in the arts has lead to many diverse opportunities.  Her first major choreographic work was, “The Hallelujah Chorus,” a liturgical dance (an innovation at the time) for the prestigious Carnegie Mellon Institute in Pittsburg when she was only 16 years old! Nana Malaya was also selected to be one of the youngest members of August Wilson’s first professional theatre company: The Black Horizon Theatre.  This friendship and collaboration continued, and she also served as an actress and choreographer for the Pulitzer Prize winning playwright.  Her company, The Nubian Theatre Dance & Music Company, has provided her the opportunity to portray many characters and to be a featured