Oriki: we can only try

I have been kinda bummed by all the things going on n NIG but as always I guess I am trying to see the hope at the end of a dead tunnel. I made a sort of promise to myself yesterday. I promised to do my best to bring some part of the naija culture into things I do. So the next couple of designs coming out of the TP tee line will be naija related maybe by name or concept. There is a new tee out now called Akanke Faceless Beauty and I’m sure you already know about Taba Soko Soja, the Yoruba Proverb Tee. Well I found Taba Soko Soja on this website and that did put a smile on my face.. you see that it says YORUBA STONE PROVERB, the key word being Yoruba on something they considered HOT!!!. That’s how stuff starts people.. first Its a website, next is press, next is curiosity, next appreciation for the mening. I can bet you, people who don’t understand or speak Yoruba that have bought the Yoruba proverb tee get questions regarding their tee, like what does it mean and I’m sure it will maybe lead them to dig deeper into the meaning.

Anyhoo on to my gist, so Akanke Faceless Beauty, is actually a very special tee. A while back a design was made for me that I had kinda been sitting on, I obviously knew what the basic design was but I decided to take the design and recreate it with a different twist… If you don’t know what Akanke is, Akanke is what Yoruba’s would call an Oriki, Ill try to explain it as best as I can, an Oriki is like a way of praising someone by name. Your oriki is meant to represent how the person prasing you sees you. Akanke is a semi-common oriki for women. Every time my darling or my granny calls me Akanke, I know it makes my head swell specially when they join it with other head swelling words. hehehe.. anyhoo this is the breakdown of Akanke from the Toni Payne Website.
Akanke Faceless beauty is drawn from the idea of a special lady/girl. Akanke translates to a female that is to be adored, this person is someone that is to be cherished and treated like a rare gem. The design remaining faceless represents you, me, and everyone else that considers themselves special. It could be your mother, sister, friend, or girlfriend. If you consider a female in your life special, Akanke faceless beauty is a great way of telling them”
and here is a picture of Akanke Faceless Beauty.. looks like a superstar huh.? I cant wait for the blinged out version. I plan to blind a few people with it. lol not literally sha!Anyhoo, Akanke Faceless beauty tee will be pictured in the boutique section of OK WEEKLY, the issue hits stands AUGUST 23RD so do pick up a copy.. Lets see how many folks wonder what Akanke means huh.

I cannot stress it enough when I say these tees are not being created just to have another tee shirt line on the market, else Ill just stick with makeup. lol. they are created to exude a feeling, a sense of pride, a sense of self, to jerk your curiosity. The haute tee has casted a few people, hehehe.. Im sitting there thinking they are hip and come find out they do not know what Haute Couture is.. LMAO! Like look buddy, I could be HOT!! but I am a frigging Fashionistah so I am Haute.. lol….Anyhoo, back to my rambling, If the tees don’t do that then hell, maybe I need to revisit my sense of reasoning. So far the response has just been wonderful with people interpreting their tees etc, I am soo proud of this project, I’m bursting with ideas, I mean taking it back, waaaaaay back, I see the bigger picture and that to me is very hot. What I want personally for the line is, when you rock it, you feel it and are proud to wear it.
Anyhoo its 11:40 pm and my fav show “married with children” is on so I gotta go. I have seen all the episodes of that show at least 6 times and never get tired of the Bundy’s.. lol. Love, love, love em.
Ps: Those in NIG, get ready to get your hands on your own TP tees before the year runs out. Linda and I are going to be having talks about collaborating on a fashion project possibly with her Style night or something similar, she is very fab and reminds me of me plus she cracks me up so I’m definitely looking forward to that. oh BTW, the shirts can be customized so yeah when I am in town, I will be doing a bit of that like the one below..

Its going to be on a first come first serve basis. Once all material is gone, there is nothing I can do but make you wait till my next visit or have it shipped to you which is muchos expensiveros. lol.. BTW i updated my facebook with a I rock my TP Tees album so feel free to check it out.. celebs etc..

12 Comments

  1. naijacutie

    i luv d whole oriki concept and the tops are tres fabulous. BTW you luk good rocking ur toni top. Keep up d good work.

    Reply
  2. Shaywun

    You have done it again o TP! I have to get this shirt ASAP, and I need to think about getting it personalized too. I haven’t forgotten the contest either, just need to get to it.

    You know who this is (hehehe).

    Reply
  3. Anonymous

    So im very much interested in buying the akake faceless beauty shirt but want to know f your shirts run small or are actuall sizes. A medium should be my size, but i like my shirts comfy and not too tight,wont mind getting a large but dont want it to look like a night shirt…Pls let me know!!!

    Reply
  4. Shaywun

    Hey anon I can answer that for you easily. The shirts run as their actual size and they fit comfortably too!

    Reply
  5. Toni Payne

    @ naijacutie Thnx luv.. we are trying small small.

    @shaywun.. men it took me a hot second to figure it out then it clicked.. my name sake duuhh!!! . dint no you had a blog..Yeah dude! you should totally get it personalized, cos its you ill have it done for u free. Just make sure you either remind me before you buy so I can drop a msg. Ahh the contest, dont worry you have time, the contest is being moved till around the holidays so we can get sponsors on board.

    @anon.. shaywun pretty much said it, yes they do run true to size, especially the soft tees.

    Reply
  6. wienna

    TP, is dat your boo? 😉

    Reply
  7. Cheetarah

    Good on u,ur getting great pr,wlll look out for OK weekly if it comes out hea coz I fig there one in yankee now shebi?
    I want a personalized tee o? How will that happen?

    Reply
  8. Naija Vixen

    The Akanke Tee looks hawt…with the blazing hair and all!!! Love the pink tee you are rawking…keep it on fire mami!!!

    Reply
  9. Toni Payne

    @wienna.. lol. nope! thats my friend

    @cheetarah, yah ok brought it to the US and I they are doing ok, about a 850k circulation and 6 mil readership.. the figures make my mouth water.. teeehee. per the personalized tee, if u purchase a tee, u can comment to have it personalized, there is no option on the site for that now cos the only personalized style option is the one I had on, so im thinking i wanna offer a whole lot more b4 adding it to the site..anyhoo sha we are working on it..

    @vixxy.. thnx mama..

    Reply
  10. wienna

    Hmmm….na wa for u and your beauty o. Your boo must be really tolerant o, with all these your male friends around u. Pls can he be my friend too cos i’m lonely? laaaaawlu

    Reply
  11. Bella Naija

    I really really luv the whole idea and I would def rock the tee!
    Great work Toni!
    Girl u r like an energizer bunnie….u keep going and going and going…..luv it…keep t up

    Reply
  12. Toni Payne

    @wienna, I think the ratio of male to female friends I have is like 5:1, lol. I kinda grew up a tom boy and men are less complicated to be friends with.

    @hey bella, thats how you did not pack me in your bag and take me along to egypt. 🙁

    Reply

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