The American cliche of African music is exploding, as a new wave of artists exposes its diversity of sound.

Amadou & Mariam helped define the current African shift. Their new album, "Welcome to Mali" (Nonesuch), partly produced by Brit-pop elder Damon Albarn, takes their "Afro-blues" sound into unexpected corners.

The married pair met as students at Mali's Institute for the Young Blind. They made several traditional albums before pairing with Basque-Galician producer Manu Chao for "Dimanche a Bamako" ("Sunday in Bamako"), a career-changing album released in 2005.

"The way we are doing this music is a positive side of globalization," said Amadou Bagayoko from London. "To collaborate with people from different cultures is good. We're still doing our own music, but we are open to others."

Afropop.org senior editor Banning Eyre, an American authority on African music, says new fans are discovering African music. Vampire Weekend, a band with Afro-pop influences, is leading indie rockers back to Congolese and Senegalese styles. And in hip-hop, Akon and M.I.A. primed ears for K'Naan.

Amadou & Mariam exhibit a similar ability to erase musical boundaries. "Welcome to Mali" was recorded in Paris and London — centers of African immigration — and in Dakar, capital of Senegal. K'Naan guests on one cut. Toumani Diabate, a Malian kora master, appears on another. (A kora is made from a calabash cut in half and covered with skin.) Its sound is boisterous — fans will dance their sneakers off.

"We don't want people to see Africa as only one picture," said Mariam Doumbia. "There are plenty of good things in Africa — the human relationships, the solidarity, the tradition, the stories."

— Ann Powers, Los Angeles Times

ETHNIC EATS, WITH A BOOST

The new Lemongrass Cafe is a budding option in the Chinatown community. A project of the Pacific Gateway Center and entrepreneur Myang Thein, the retail and restaurant space is an incubator for small businesses, with plate lunches, locally made products and a resource center. "We want to make sure people who need help with their small business get help," says Thein.

The retail and kitchen incubator includes local arts and crafts vendors, and highlights made-in-Hawai'i food products such as locally grown coffee, homemade syrups and freshly baked breads. "The Uncle Smokey & Giraffe bread is so delicious. It's made by a pilot who was laid off from Aloha Airlines," Thein points out, adding, "I love food. I get to help people who also love food."

Daily combination plates feature different ethnic food daily — Indonesian, Laotian, Burmese, Singaporean and more, generously portioned at $6. Lemongrass Cafe, 83 N. King St., Chinatown, 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Mondays-Fridays; 851-7010.

— L.M.

DOMESTIC DIVA

No one likes dirty dishes, taking out the trash, or mopping the floor — but with Gloveables, at least you can get the task done while looking cute. The latex gloves have waterproof plastic detail and come in pink, purple, light blue and pastel green. The girly designs include paisley, polka dots and florals. The durable gloves are the perfect gift for your mother who works so hard, or that happy homemaker friend that you know. You can find them for $18 at The Wedding Café, Ward Centre; 591-1005, www.theweddingcafe.net.

— L.M.

SALES & BARGAINS

• Spring will inevitably show up sometime — it has to, right? And with that, we welcome bright pops of color — not just for clothes, but makeup too. At a recent trend show, visiting Nars makeup artist R.C. showed us a fresh daytime look for spring, created with a bright poppy-tangerine shade of red lipstick (Nars' version is appropriately named "Manhunt") layered over a sheer gloss. At the demo, "hula hula" (gold shadow with flecks) was smeared across the eyelid, followed by use of black mascara, and the model was good to go. Vamp your look for night by applying "Manhunt" directly to your lips for full intensity. Give your eyes more drama with a thin application of black eyeliner, adding a wingtip for a signature Marilyn look. At $24 a tube, Nars lipstick is an investment. But if it's good enough for Cate Blanchett, left, it'll certainly do for us. Find Nars at Sephora, department stores or at www.narscosmetics.com.

• It could happen: Our U.S. mail could be coming just five days a week. Forget the seriousness of not having your NetFlix DVD being delivered on the day you want it (Saturday), and vote with stamps — make use of the snail mail system. Get back in touch with one long-lost buddy every week (it really only takes 15 minutes — but wait, do you have a street address?), and soon you'll single-handedly be saving the system. And why not send pretty letters to 'ohana across the Pacific? We're hip to Fisher Hawaii's secret stash of brightly colored vellum envelopes, at only 26 to 31 cents apiece. Start writing, girl; penmanship never looked so hot. Fisher Hawaii, 450 Cooke St.; 524-8770.

• It's a never-ending problem: We have too much stuff — clothes being just one of the culprits smothering us. Shine some light in your closet. Whether you're on spring break or not, dedicate a day to spring clean. If you're not ready to ditch that hideous bridesmaid dress, that tiered hippie skirt or your snow boots, at least pack them away out of sight. Get a friend you trust to be the voice of reason. Tip we love: Pretend you are taking a spring vacation and select all the clothes you'd wear on this one-month journey. Whatever you don't choose should be packed away, or put in the guest room closet. When you revisit the stash this fall, it'll either be like finding forgotten treasures, or you'll want to chuck most of it. Go with sealable, stackable plastic bins, available at places like Wal-Mart, Home Depot, Office Max and Office Depot. Just make sure to label your goods properly to avoid the accidental toss.

• Feeling a little anxious with the relentless bad news about the economy? Puffing away won't make your worries disappear. Keep your hands busy: start a hobby. With a little instruction and a pair of knitting needles, a crochet hook or sewing machine can become your long-lost companion. We know you can buy a dress at places like Old Navy and American Apparel for cheaper than you can make it yourself, but what's the fun in that? Sign up for a class, or learn from a book or Web sites such as www.instructables.com, www.craftbits.com or www.expertvillage.com. In need of assistance or inspiration? Check out cool sites like www.etsy.com. The possibilities are limited only by your imagination.

— Pualana Lemelle