African Fashion

Victory Amah published in Africa, African Beauty, African Countries and Places, African Countries and Places, African Fashion,

AGOA Has Created Job Opportunities in Lesotho___ Lesotho Trade Minister.

Lesotho trade minister Mokhethi Shelile said the African Growth and Opportunity Act (Agoa) had helped Lesotho to create job opportunities and lift thousands out of poverty and based on his interaction with American buyers at the Agoa Forum in Johannesburg, there is scope for many, many more.

“I spoke to a major South African buyer and they buy 17 million clothes annually, but then I spoke to an American buyer and they were looking to source 100 million, so as much as Agoa has helped Lesotho over the past two decades, there is the potential for much more,” Shelile said.

A major constraint on the further expansion of Lesotho’s clothing exports to the US is that it sources a fair amount of its textiles from China and the US has banned the import of textiles that contain cotton allegedly grown using forced labor.

Three Chinese textile manufacturers have been banned from exporting their goods to the US as international human rights watchdogs have accused the Chinese government of setting up internment camps in the north-western city of Xinjiang to use forced labor from Uyghurs and other Turkic minorities, including Kazakhs and Kyrgyz in growing cotton. These companies were sanctioned under the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act (UFLPA).

The Chinese government has for years denied the accusations of minority persecution and the use of forced labor.

“As Lesotho, we now have to certify that the textiles we use in our clothing do not use cotton grown using forced labor, so that adds to our costs,” Shelile said.

Lesotho exports of articles of apparel, knit or crocheted to America was $222.33 million in 2021, according to the United Nations COMTRADE database on international trade.

In 2020, global exports of textiles and clothing products were valued at $147.6 billion (R2.8 trillion) and $573.5bn representing about 0.9% and 3.3% of the world merchandise trade, respectively, but China dominates this trade with a share of around a third as it is the largest exporter of textiles and clothing products globally.

“We are aiming to diversify our export offering and expand our share of the supply chain. So although we export leather seats to four motor manufacturers in South Africa, we want to do more. That is why we are excited about American investment interest in aquaculture, as Lesotho’s water is amongst the purest in the world,” he said.

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Victory Amah published in Africa, African Beauty, African Countries and Places, African Countries and Places, African Culture and Traditions,

Double Celebration as Oba’s Birthday Coincides with Seventh Coronation Anniversary.

The Oba of Benin, Oba Ewuare II recently celebrated the 7th anniversary of the throne of his forebears in Benin. This royal celebration also doubled as his birthday celebration as his birthday was coincidentally on the same day. 

Every available space at the palace was filled by the friends and well-wishers of the Oba from all walks of life.

 

The celebration started with two days of free healthcare and ended with Thanksgiving on Saturday at the National Church in Benin.

 

Omo N’Oba Ewuare on Saturday rose from the inner chambers amidst drumming and praise singing by Iweguae society, waving to the seated audience who responded with a thunderous ovation.

 

The Friday event ended in the early hours of Saturday before the Thanksgiving service.

The royal father sat on the ancient throne of his ancestors at the Aruo- Ozolua axis of the palace where he received homages.

 

The traditional homages were paid for by different traditional rulers, dignitaries, palace chiefs and functionaries, native doctors of various classifications, priests, and priestesses of different deities, traditional worshipers, and a host of others.

 

The Inne Theatre Troupe, Efesoghoba Palace Troupe, Epko-Avbiama, Igbabonelimi from Esan land, and others from different states took turns to perform to the delight of the audience.

 

Oba Ewuare, who was full of praises to almighty God and ancestors, thanked everyone for celebrating with him. Traditional Chiefs, including Osaro Idah, the Obazelu of Benin Ozigbo Esere, and the Osuma Of Benin, hailed the Benin king for his achievements since ascending the throne of his ancestors.

 

However, the Benin ruler urged members of the Edo State House of Assembly to consider some important cultural bills that would promote and strengthen cultural norms and value systems in the land.

According to Oba Ewuare, such bills would in no small measure curtail the surging social crimes amongst youths in the country. The royal father made the call when the speaker of Edo House of Assembly Mr Blessing Agbebaku led principal officials of the house to celebrate with Oba at his palace.

 

He admonished Edo lawmakers to be focused on their legislative business rather than being tied to the apron string of the executive arm of government. Omo N’Oba posited that the independence of the legislature was key to robust democracy, insisting that the lawmakers must live up to the expectations of the people who voted them into power.

Oba Ewuare hailed the assembly’s leadership, just as he pledged palace support for the lawmakers.

 

The speaker, Agbebaku had told the monarch that they were at his palace to congratulate him on the occasion of his birthday and the 7th coronation anniversary on the throne.

 

Agbebaku also pledged the Edo assembly’s loyalty and promised to work with the palace for the overall development of the state. 

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Rosemary published in Africa, African Countries and Places, African Facts, African Fashion, African News,

Uganda Leader Proposes Ban on Used Clothes.

Amidst the hustle, pedestrians fill the bustling pathways intersecting a sprawling market in Uganda’s capital. Many are searching for secondhand apparel, sifting through undergarments for nearly new pairs, or attempting to try on shoes despite the persistent jostling in the crowd. 

For both affluent individuals and those with more modest means, Owino Market in downtown Kampala has served as a popular destination, offering reasonably priced yet well-crafted secondhand garments. This highlights the prevalent notion that Western fashion is considered superior to locally produced clothing.

 

A significant portion of these garments, once cast aside by Europeans and Americans, are subsequently transported to African nations through intermediaries. This thriving enterprise amounts to a multimillion-dollar industry, with approximately two-thirds of individuals in seven East African countries reported to have acquired at least some of their apparel from the secondhand clothing sector, as indicated by a 2017 study conducted by the U.S. Agency for International Development, the most recent examination providing such comprehensive insights.

Secondhand clothing is encountering growing resistance despite its popularity. President Yoweri Museveni, the semi-authoritarian leader of Uganda in power since 1986, announced in August the ban on imports of used clothing, citing concerns that the items are sourced “from the deceased.” Museveni commented, “When a white person dies, they gather their clothes and send them to Africa.

The president’s directive, which requires legal reinforcement such as an executive order, has yet to be implemented by trade authorities.

African governments are making efforts to halt shipments, arguing that the trade practice amounts to dumping and poses a threat to the expansion of local textile industries. The East African Community trade bloc, encompassing Burundi, Congo, Kenya, Rwanda, South Sudan, Tanzania, and Uganda, proposed the prohibition of used apparel imports back in 2016. However, member states have not implemented this suggestion uniformly, facing external pressure from Washington.

Ugandan traders are in a state of panic following the president’s directive, as the potential implementation of such a ban would have disastrous consequences. These traders sell secondhand clothes in numerous expansive open-air markets throughout the country, which boasts a population of 45 million. Additionally, these garments are sold at roadside stalls and even within malls, where they are sometimes presented as new despite being used.

The clothing is affordable and experiences further price reductions as traders create space for new deliveries: a pair of denim jeans can be purchased for 20 cents, while a cashmere scarf may cost even less.

At a popular Ugandan Green Shop, clothing vendor Glen Kalungi carefully curated a selection of products tailored to his clientele, browsing through vintage men’s trousers and women’s soft cotton tops.

“I’m an avid thrift shopper,” he explained. “I frequent these Green Shops to browse through their clothing selection, primarily due to their unbeatable prices in town.” Kalungi prefers visiting on clearance days, enabling him to purchase clothing for a fraction of a dollar, which he then resells at a profit.

According to retail manager Allan Zavuga, the chain, which has European stakeholders, introduces fresh clothing every fortnight across its three stores. Zavuga mentioned that certain products are procured from various suppliers in countries such as China and Germany.

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Admin published in Africa, African Countries and Places, African Fashion, African Models, African News,

Congo Fashion Show Hopes To Inspire Peace and Creativity

A fashion show was held in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo aimed at inspiring peace and creativity in conflict-ridden region.

 

Longing for peace, Goma workshop owner, Flore Mfuanani Nsukula, put the finishing touches on her newest collection to recognize the conflict-ridden Democratic Republic of Congo. In her words, “We want peace to be restored in our country, especially in North Kivu.” 

 

 “Through art, all colors that we will express, through our clothes, it will be full of emotions, trying to explain what we are going through in our country.”

 

For decades, more than 100 armed groups in eastern Congo have been fighting for control of important natural resources. There are frequent mass killings, and the bloodshed has caused a refugee exodus.

 

In lieu of violence, the Liputa fashion show on Saturday night promoted peace and creativity within the region. 

 

According to organizers, it is an opportunity to send a message of peace and peaceful cooperation during a time of heightened tensions.

 

Creative stylists, models and designers from Cameroon, Senegal, Burundi, France and the U.S. took to the catwalk in hopes of spreading joy and beauty in the wake of a tumultuous chapter in the Congo’s history.

 

Cameroonian fashion designer Délia Ndougou stated, “Africans must be one, be united. It is true we  have a very wide cultural diversity, but this diversity must bring us together.” She presented a collection inspired by her national flag.

 

“We really wanted to convey joy in the clothes, peace in the clothes, very cheerful styles, a question of making the world smile,” Chadrac Lumumba, a creative stylist from Kinshasa added. 

 

Flore’s collection sought to recommit to the quest for peace in the area, while also showcasing the fashion industry’s continuous potential in the Congo. 

 

Organizer David Ngulu knew the show was, not only to sell these images of creators, but to show that in Africa and in the DRC, peace is possible.

 

“We presented these collections, not only to sell the images of these creators, but to show that in Africa, in the DRC, the areas that are considered ‘red,’ we can do things there that we see in other countries that have peace,” says David Ngulu.

 

“I think that each creator contributed to love, peace and living together.”

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Admin published in Africa, African Beauty, African Countries and Places, African Fashion, African News,

Egypt: Artisans Carve Path to World Luxury Market.

Egyptian luxury brands are harnessing traditional craftsmanship from jewelry design to carpet weaving to bring the country’s ancient cultural riches to the world.

According to experts in the sector, the global appeal of Arab and Islamic designs from other countries shows Egypt could do more to promote its rich, millennia-old artistic heritage.

One pioneer has been master jeweler Azza Fahmy, whose signature Islamic art-inspired pieces have graced the world’s rich and famous including US pop star Rihanna and Jordan’s Queen Rania.

Fahmy, who started in an Old Cairo workshop about 50 years ago, said her focus has been designs that “resonate with Egyptian identity.”

Artists and artisans in Egypt, the Arab world’s most populous country, draw from a history that spans ancient Pharaonic times, the Mamluk, Ottoman, and modern eras.

“We are lucky to be able to draw on 6,000 years of history,” said textile designer Goya Gallagher, founder of Cairo-based Malaika Linens, which makes high-end household pieces.

“The main challenge is making sure our pieces are timeless, that they’re very well made and always hand-made,” she said at the company workshop on the western outskirts of Cairo.

But while Egypt boasts some business success stories, many more luxury goods makers say they labor against myriad odds to eke out a market both locally and internationally.

In the era of global mass production, Egypt’s once expansive pool of skilled artisans has shrunk, with many young people turning their backs on family skills passed down through the ages.

As businesses struggle to fill the talent gap, they also face the headwinds of a painful economic crisis that has tanked the local currency and restricted raw material imports.

The state’s efforts to support the handicrafts sector, meanwhile, have been “limited and sporadic”, says the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation.

Culture consultant Dina Hafez agreed that Egypt offers little in the way of formalized arts and crafts training.

“The training of artisans is still essentially based on informal education and networks of apprenticeship,” said Hafez of Blue Beyond Consulting.

“The sector lacks any structure. We need a real ecosystem. But for the moment, it’s all based on personal initiatives.”

She said Egypt could learn from Turkey and Morocco, “where the opportunities and obstacles look a lot like Egypt”, but which had managed to launch “their designs onto the international scene.”

Still, change is afoot.

Fahmy, the jewelry designer, said there is always space in the market for works made by skilled artisans and “good designers with creative minds and quality education”.

Many designers hope to benefit from government initiatives to draw in investment and tourism revenue from its ancient wonders.

At the Grand Egyptian Museum at the foot of the Giza pyramids, Egyptian luxury stores enjoy pride of place.

Although its official opening has been long delayed, the museum offers limited tours and events, and the shops already “showcase the best of Egyptian crafts”, said the owner of one, Mohamed al-Kahhal.

In Cairo’s historic center, linen company Malaika trains women from marginalized backgrounds in embroidery and sells the wares to its customers and other fashion and textile brands.

Carpet maker Hend al-Kahhal works in the same spirit, of bringing Egyptian identity to global frontiers.

Standing on the factory roof, where wool and silk creations hung out to dry, Kahhal said the family business works with designers “to give a contemporary touch to Pharaonic and Mamluk motifs.”

The Egyptian Handicrafts Export Council, under the Trade and industry ministry, has long been working to showcase such Egyptian creations internationally.

But Hafez, the culture consultant, said she hopes for more progress in the future, as often “budget constraints, red tape, and customs regulations don’t exactly make things easier”.

The question, she said, is whether Egyptian “authorities are aware of the soft power these creators can have.”

 

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Admin published in Africa, African Countries and Places, African Entertainment News & Features, African Facts, African Fashion,

12 years a musician: Nigerian singer Davido, fans celebrate timelessness after ‘Back When’.

  • Award-winning African Afrobeats singer, Davido, has remained in the news for different reasons lately.
  • African News, especially the entertainment beat, is still agog with news about Davido’s Timeless Album.
  • While that buzz is still on, the Nigerian Musician went online to celebrate his 12th year since he started music professionally.

On the 7th of May 2023, fans, friends, and family of Nigerian Award-winning Afrobeats singer, David Adeleke, popular as Davido, celebrated his first 12 years of making music professionally. The commemoration took the world back to when his debut song, ‘Back When’, which features the rave of that era – Naeto C, was released as the prime single heralding his first album. ‘Back When’, a song from his 2012 debut album ‘Omo Baba Olowo’, was produced in London by Davido himself while popular African music video director, Clarence Peters, shot and directed the video that was first uploaded online on the 9th of May 2011. The song rose to become one of the biggest hit songs from Africa at that time, marking his full induction into the entertainment industry.

Davido and a vixen; shot from his music video. Credit: Youtube.

Through a post shared on his Twitter handle, Davido expressed his appreciation to God for the 12-year ride, he described himself as God’s child. “12 years ago, today I dropped my first single. God’s child”, he wrote, stating how happy he is that people still accepted the album Timeless, which has been breaking records since its release, even after 12 years of putting out music.

 

While on tour recently, to sell his new Album, a brief chat he had with someone showed up online where the singer showed how happy he is to see people the world over accepting his new work of art, according to him, when compared to the previous Albums, Timeless got a good reception. He also mentioned that he has always felt people’s indifference to his earlier albums but Timeless rose to a different level. He said: “I’m happy that people accepted Timeless and I feel they always doubted my album. It’s a different feel for me because people have never accepted my album, so this is a fresh one for me…I haven’t felt this before”. The singer, and father, who had stayed away from social media for a while, just after the loss of his son, expressed satisfaction and optimism about his music and social media comeback.

London, United Kingdom. January 27, 2019. Davido performs live on stage at The O2 Arena. Credit: Michael Tubi / Alamy Live News

He mentioned that the responses and positive reactions he has been receiving since TIMELESS dropped have been quite encouraging. Davido disclosed that he is just getting started, even though he admits that the journey has, so far, been heavy with breath-taking adventures. “This journey has been crazy, but we’re just getting started”: he says. He rose to prominence and popularity after he released ‘Dami Duro’, the second single from his debut studio album. With global prominence, an avalanche of awards, honorary mentions across different quarters, and worldwide recognition of his art, the singer has earned respect and recognition as one of the iconic names in the African music landscape.

 

Davido has remained a key source of entertainment news globally. He won the popular ‘next rated’ award category at The Headies In 2012. The 30-year-old father, in the last decade, has released hundreds of chart-topping songs like ‘Skelewu’, ‘Gobe’, ‘Aye’, ‘One of a Kind’, ‘Owo Ni Koko’, ‘Fall’, ‘If’, ‘Fia’ ‘Assurance’ and several other African hits. In 2019 he dropped ‘A Good Time’, an Album that preceded ‘A Better Time’ which he released in 2020. ‘Timeless’, his 17-track fourth album was released on the 31st of March 2023, and it has continued to garner millions of streams across music platforms.

LOS ANGELES, CA – JUNE 24: Davido accepts The Best International Act Award onstage at the 2018 BET Awards at Microsoft Theater on June 24, 2018, in Los Angeles, California. Credit: Leon Bennett/Getty Images/AFP

The album also set a new record for the first-day streaming for an African album on Apple Music in the same month of March. Davido stands out as one of the most-followed African artists on social media. His frequent global tours are almost always sold-out events. A lot of fans believe that these first 12 years are only the beginning, just like the artist has emphasized. Considering his antecedents, do you feel Davido can comfortably remain on top of the African Music space for the next 12 years? Kindly share your thoughts in the comment section.

 

 

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Admin published in Africa, African Countries and Places, African Entertainment News & Features, African Facts, African Fashion,

Mr Eazi’s Zagadat Capital benefits from $1 billion Vydia sale deal.

  • African news platforms have continued to steam from the record-breaking deal involving Mr Eazi’s portfolio company, Zagadat Capital.
  • In March 2023, the multifaced artiste got recognized as the first Nigerian artiste to win a Latin Grammy Award.
  • Mr Eazi has established his influence in both music, tech, and business, in Africa and globally.

Oluwatosin Ajibade, famously known as Mr Eazi, has recently stirred African News media and the rest of the world, with the recent sale of Vydia, the portfolio company in partnership with his venture capital fund, Zagadat Capital, for an astonishing $1 billion. The digital video and audio distribution company was acquired by American firm, Gamma, in an unprecedented transaction regarded by many as the biggest in Afrobeats, so far.

 

Gamma is a music and technology firm owned by former Apple Music Executive, Larry Jackson, who believes that Gamma’s vision is in seamless harmony with Vydia’s potential and capabilities, he is enthusiastic about the acquisition. He says “Vydia epitomizes the vision of Gamma as an ideas company.” Entertainment brands that have worked with Vydia include artists like Kanye West, Akon, Mr Eazi, and Anuel.

 

Source: www.nydjlive.com

 

Jackson said about the acquisition: “Gamma is built with the flexibility and aptitude that creators need to connect with fans on all formats and across all channels – with transparency and no restriction. We are a progressive media company powered by the best-in-class content distribution and analytics software by way of our Vydia acquisition.”

 

Beyond a rewarding career in Music, Mr Eazi’s influence in the business world has continued to grow. He set up and runs the music distribution platform emPawa, to promote Afro-music. The platform has worked with several artists including Namenj, Fave, Joeboy, Bella Alubo, and Mr. Eazi himself.

 

Source: www.nydjlive.com

 

Zagadat Capital, established in 2021, has speedily built a reputation for its strategic investments in different tech companies. The companies include home services provider Eden Life, remittance-based loaning firm Paisa, African fintech company Pawapay, and, newly, the South African basketball team, CapeTown Tigers. Zagadat Capital’s portfolio shows that Mr Eazi is committed to the promotion of innovation and advancement in the African tech network. Zagadat Capital’s early investments centred on music tech companies. The companies include ticketing platform SHOOBS, Mr Eazi’s enterprise emPawa, and American music distribution service Vydia.

 

Remarkably, emPawa used the services of Vydia before Mr Eazi made any financial investments into the platform, indicating that, from the onset, he was quite confident in Vydia’s potential. The success of this notable deal reinforces Mr Eazi’s status as a dominant figure in music, tech, and the business world. His impact on the global entertainment scene, as a many-sided entrepreneur, is undisputed. The acquisition of Vydia by Gamma will reform the music distribution scene, giving artists quality platforms and gears to reach new markets as they enlarge their careers.

 

Mr Eazi and his girlfriend, Temi Otedola. Source: www.gltrends.com.ng

 

As the digital age continues to alter the music creation, distribution, and consumption processes, Gamma’s vision mixed finely with Vydia’s infrastructure could be a possible harbinger of a new era of innovation in music. Mr Eazi’s accomplishments with Zagadat Capital and emPawa point to the tremendous potential for growth in the African tech and entertainment sectors. As more investors look towards the continent, we are likely to see more ground-breaking collaborations, offers, and deals that will all add up to push economic growth and enhance a flourishing creative network.

 

Mr Eazi, who recently made history by becoming the first Nigerian artiste to win a Latin Grammy Award, is set to become an in-law to one of Africa’s leading businesspersons, Femi Otedola.

 

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Admin published in Africa, African Beauty, African Entertainment News & Features, African Fashion, African Models,

April 2023 Edition: Photogenic Stride Contest for African Models Commences

The April 2023 Edition of the Photogenic Stride Contest by AfriSQuare commences as the first edition for the year 2023. The contest which runs every month with a cash prize of $150 to be won, is an online beauty contest that showcases the true beauty of African women across Africa

 

 

However, the photogenic Stride contest has proven to be a starting point for ladies who aspire to become models in Africa. The last edition for 2022 was held in November.  The April edition 2023 is up and running, and currently, ladies from across Africa are getting ready to take the crown as the winner of the April edition, because there can be but only one winner. 

 

 

Ladies who have won previous editions have either benefitted as winners, runners up or via consolatory prizes. In order for you to be among these categories (winner, 1st and 2nd runners ups), this is how you register. 

 

 

Also, the Photogenic Stride contest is purely based on merit with transparency in operations. The more you share your link with your friends, the higher your chances of winning. If you are an African lady, why not hit the link below, you might be the lucky winner.

 

 

You can join the April 2023 AfriSQuare Photogenic Stride by clicking here. 

 

Note: no fee is attached for voting, as well as registration.

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AMVCA 2023: RMD, Brotherhood, others eye best movie, actor as full nominees list emerges.

Source: https://www.dstv.com/africamagic/en-ng/home
  • The full list of nominees for the 9th edition of the AMVCA has since been generating a lot of reactions from lovers of entertainment and the screen.
  • The organizers of the event, the contenders, and the voters or viewers are all hyped up for the big day.
  • The voting categories are open to the public on AMVCA (dstv.com).

 

Stars headlining nominations for the highly awaited 9th Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards, AMVCA, 2023 include Chidi Mokeme, Tobi Bakare, Bimbo Ademoye, and others. MultiChoice, the organizers of the awards, on the evening of Sunday, April 16, 2023, released a comprehensive list detailing the various categories and the nominees ahead of the significant event, and different African news platforms have since been stirred.

 

Chidi Mokeme in Shanty Town. Source: www.pulse.ng

 

AfriSQuare gathered that digital content creators in Nollywood, and in Africa generally, have also earned recognition; this shows an expansion in the annual event’s scope, which traditionally recognizes outstanding performances in film, television, and entertainment.  The nominees are spread across more than 30 award categories, some of the categories, about ten of them, are open to the public; voters from the general public can choose their preferred nominees, while some other categories are to be decided by a panel of judges set up by the organizers. The event itself is scheduled to hold from the 18th to the 20th of May 2023, in Lagos State, Nigeria, and will be broadcast live on Africa Magic channels.

Source: AMVCA (dstv.com)

 

The AMVCA has grown into a premium event that acknowledges outstanding accomplishments in African television and film. This year, numerous talented actors and actresses across Africa, all contending for awards in different categories, will feature. The list of nominees contains talented film makers as well as prominent actors and actresses such as Nkem Owoh, Mercy Johnson, Chinedu Ikedieze, Chidi Mokeme, Richard Mofe Damijo, and several others. A number of movies and television series have also been nominated for awards, including ‘Brotherhood’ directed by Jade Osiberu, ‘Ile Owo’ directed by Kayode Kasum, among others.

 

According to the organizers, talented Big Brother Naija alumnus, Bisola Aiyeola and Ghanaian actor, Adjetey Anang, will be the main hosts for this year’s award show. There are several ways to vote for nominees of different categories. Members of the public are encouraged to cast their votes for their favorites as this could make them big winners of any of the public voting categories on awards night. To vote, one must register first before they can get behind their favorite nominees for the ninth edition of the Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards.

Adjetey Anang and Bisola Aiyeola, the event’s hosts. Source: AMVCA (dstv.com)  

 

To see the full list of nominees, as well as to register and vote for your favorites, the AMVCA site AMVCA (dstv.com) will come in handy. Feel free to visit. Also, share with us, here in the comment section under this post, who you think should win what awards. Is anyone on the nominees list who should not be there? Is there someone who should have been on the list? What do you think of the nominees and the categories? What do you think about the inclusion of online content makers in the mix? Share your thoughts with us in the comment section, even as you share the post with your friends.

 

 

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Admin published in Africa, African Beauty, African Countries and Places, African Culture and Traditions, African Facts,

Egyptian craftsmen remain mosaic tradition custodians.

  • Craftsmen have continued to keep ancient Egyptian arts alive.
  • Mosaic designs are an integral part of the time-tested civilization of Egypt.
  • From tables to chess boards, beautiful everyday items keep emerging from seashells.

In the Egyptian town of Sakiet Al-Mankadi, little wrecks of seashells turn into beautiful works of art after groups of creative men go through hassles to collect small shards of the seashells, and artistically employ them in the making of decorative materials. After years of diligently making arts from seashell, the town of Sakiet Al-Mankadi has become well-known for this seemingly growing seashell industry because numerous items produced in this town from seashells are stocked up in shops in the Khan Khalili bazaar in Cairo, and even sent out of Egypt to patrons from beyond the shores.

 

The shells eventually end up as embellishments on boards that are used to decorate walls. The craftsmen are an essential factor in the making of these beautiful arts. In sourcing the shred of shells, they develop an eye for aesthetics; they know what shell works best. Then they deploy the requisite skillset to transform the wrecked shells into artistic masterpieces.

 

                   

 

But, beyond skill, another quality is essential: “you have to be patient so that you can create the design, a design can take an hour while another can take a day or even a month,” Kareem Saeed said. His workshop has continued to stand tall as one of the 40 workshops in the village where the craft is not only held high but also handed down from one generation to the next. Saeed went further: “you could say I was born here; I grew up here in my father’s workshop, in here I learnt all from A to Z.”

 

Designing in this type of craft has many stages that demand skills of cutting, designing and making the shell materials. The shells are collected and assembled from different countries including Oman, Australia, and sometimes Japan. The wood is from Domyat, or Damietta, a port city and capital of the Damietta Governorate in Egypt. A craftsman, Ahmed Ali, using a specific type of machine, cuts the shells into usable pieces for the designers: “I am an expert here on this machine, I cut the seashells for the workers in all the different sizes and shapes we need, “Ali explains.

 

A lot comes from this raw material. Among other things, furniture, chess boards, tables, and gift boxes are just some of the marketable items that can be made. The tools and other items used to make this traditional craft are not cheap.

 

                         

 

Ammar, a craftsman who has worked in the industry for more than 40 years, is optimistic that the trade will get more recognition soon; he hopes for better acknowledgement of the craft pointing out that things had been tougher since COVID-19 and the attendant lull in tourism. “This craft is beautiful, I wish that the government and even the governorate would take more interest in it – especially the Menoufia governorate, because this industry here is considered a treasure in this governorate,” he says.

 

Creations from these pearls and shells are major items to be sold in Cairo shops. The craft is believed to be a durable type of décor, and this is gradually drawing people in from Dubai, Saudi Arabia, France, and Germany. The craftsmen also sell bespoke material designed based on preorder.

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Benin’s Kidjo sustains rise, bags popular Polar Music Prize.

 

  • Angelique Kidjo has reinforced her worldwide influence by adding yet another feather to her cap.
  • The prestigious Polar Music Prize has been added to her repertoire of universally recognized laurels.
  • This is yet another rewarding recognition for her, her family, Africa, and her fans globally.

 

On Tuesday, 28th March 2023, five-time Grammy winner and Africa’s own Angelique Kidjo was announced as one of three winners of the 2023 Polar Music Prize. She was named a recipient of the prestigious Prize together with Island Records founder, Chris Blackwell of Britain, and Arvo Part, a composer from Estonia, giving her a hallowed place in this unique company of greats.

 

Blessed with a profound and strong vocal, the Beninese singer-songwriter who sings in her native Fon and Yoruba languages as well as in French and English, earned a rather usual compliment from the organizers of Sweden’s Polar Music Prize; they labelled the polyglot singer “one of the greatest singer-songwriters in international music.”

 

 

Time magazine had named Kidjo “Africa’s premier diva”, and this year, she joins only two former recipients of the Polar Music Prize from Africa: Miriam Makeba from South Africa who won the Prize in in 2002, and Youssou N’Dour from Senegal who won in 2013. Blackwell founded the Island Records and signed legendary stars like Bob Marley, Cat Stevens, Roxy Music and U2. Estonia’s Arvo Part, who the judges called “the world’s most performed living composer”, got recognized for his “unique compositional technique, tintinnabuli” which he invented in the 1970s.

 

Founded in 1989 by ABBA manager Stig “Stikkan” Anderson, the Sweden-based Polar Music Prize has been presented since 1992 and is considered one of the most prestigious honors in the music industry rewarding the laureates with about $58,000 each. The Polar Music Prize honored Iggy Pop and US songwriter Diane Warren, Last year. Previous winners include Paul McCartney in 1992, Elton John in 1995, Stevie Wonder in 1999, Björk in 2010, and Sting in 2017.

 

Expressing how delighted she is, Kidjo says, “To be awarded the Polar Music Prize is humbling, I have no words to say how important this is for me. It comes with a sense of responsibility that is bestowed upon me as an artist to continue to do great work. I will do my best to be a proud recipient of the Prize through my work as a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador, on behalf of the children, and as an ambassador of music, to help create a world in which we can all live in peace.”

 

 

Kidjo has put her creative might into thirteen premium albums credited to her. The West African music icon was appointed a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador in 2002 and she has remained an avid crusader for the rights of children, climate change, and girls’ education. Angélique who has been to many parts of the world advocating for UNICEF-supported programmes also created her own charitable foundation, Batonga, devoted to wholistically supporting the education of young girls in Africa. She says “I believe music is a language beyond the color of skin, country or culture. I want to inspire people to work to help educate, nourish and protect our children.”

 

Kidjo’s major hits include “Agolo” and “We We”. In a chat with CNN’s African Voices in 2018 she said, “having a beautiful voice is one thing, you always have to think about what you want to do with that voice.”

 

The ceremony for the 2023 Polar Music Prize will take place on May 23 in Stockholm, the capital and largest city of Sweden as well as the largest urban location in Scandinavia.

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17-YEAR-OLD BRITISH NIGERIAN BAGS DOCTORAL DEGREE.

  • Esther is a British Nigerian that crossed several milestones at a very young age
  • She has written and is still writing maths books for young kids.
  • She dreams of opening a bank.

 

 

Every regular six-year-old will prefer to play in the dirt, play with toys or watch cartoon shows but that was not the case for Esther Okade who at six years was already taking her maths GCSE.

 

 

Esther is a British Nigerian who lives in Walsall, in the West Midlands with her family. She wrote her first Math GSCE at six and received a C-grade. A year later, she outdid herself and got the A-grade she wanted. In 2014, she wrote the Math A-level exam and got a B grade.

 

 

In 2015, at the age of 10, she enrolled at Open University for a maths course and began getting straight A’s as one of the youngest undergraduate students in the country. Three weeks after enrolment, she was already top of the class, receiving a perfect score on her first test, which she said was “easy.” At the time of enrolment, Esther said, “I want to (finish the course) in two years. I actually wanted to start when I was seven. But my mum was like, “you’re too young, calm down.” So I’m going to do my Ph.D. in financial maths when I’m 13. I want to have my own bank by the time I’m 15 because I like numbers and I like people and banking is a great way to help people.”

 

 

Esther’s mother, Efe Okade, who is also a mathematician noticed Esther’s flair for figures shortly after she began homeschooling her at the age of three. She has a passion for maths which made her want to go to the university at a young age. She told CNN, “The course is so interesting. It has the type of maths I love. It’s real maths — theories, complex numbers, all that type of stuff. It was super easy. My mum taught me in a nice way.”

 

 

Esther is already writing a book for young kids called Yummy Yummy Algebra. She said to CNN “It starts at a beginner level — that’s volume one. But then there will be volume two, volume three, and then volume four. But I’ve only written the first one. As long as you can add or subtract, you’ll be able to do it. I want to show other children they are special.” She also talked about her dreams of opening a bank.

 

 

At 17, she is bagging a Ph.D. in Financial Mathematics.

 

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Côte d’Ivoire’s fashion week showcases 30 African designers.

 

  • The 16th annual Afrik Fashion week took place in cote d’Ivoire’s commercial capital, Abidjan 
  • The fashion event brought together 30 designers and 60 models from several African countries.
  • Julianna Gnepa, a makeup artist said that it was an opportunity to meet other designers and models.

 

 

 

It was all flashiness and beauty at the 16th annual Afrik Fashion Week which took place this week in Côte d’Ivoire’s commercial capital, Abidjan.

 

 

 

The major fashion event brought together 30 designers and 60 models from several African countries, around the theme “Youth, Fashion and Cultural Diversity”.

 

 

 

“We think that Africa and even Côte d’Ivoire deserve to host a fashion week and for this edition, we tried to put our best foot forward by inviting African designers to share the stage with local designers,” said Isabelle Anoh, the event organizer.

 

 

 

And it wasn’t just about clothing. Handbags Jewelry, shoes – there was plenty to be seen and enjoyed by all.

 

 

 

For fashion designer Nancy, the event was also an opportunity for someone like herself, who wants to enter the fashion world, to learn and gain a little more visibility.

 

 

 

“Through fashion shows we see what others create and through that we get inspiration. And for us also to exchange with other stylists and other designers and of course to make ourselves known,” she said.

 

 

 

The event was widely seen as a wonderful opportunity to network with others in the industry from across the continent.

 

 

 

“It’s an opportunity for me to meet several designers, to get to know different models and creators. And also, participating in this event has been a great joy for me and it allows me to value my work,” said make-up artist, Julianna Gnépa.

 

 

 

Afrik Fashion Week was a stunning showcase for a celebration of the diversity of styles and materials of African fashion.

 

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UGANDA, ALGERIA SIGN A MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING.

 

  • Uganda National Oil Company and Algeria’s Oil Company Sonatrach signed a Memorandum of Understanding to partner in the development of oil and gas projects in Uganda.
  • The MoU covers establishing oil and gas upstream, midstream, and downstream schemes.
  • The MoU aims to jointly assess cooperation opportunities across the entire oil and gas value chain.

 

 

Uganda National Oil Company and Algeria’s Oil Company Sonatrach signed a Memorandum of Understanding to partner in the development of oil and gas projects in Uganda. The MoU was signed by the General Manager of Uganda Refinery Holding Company Dr. Micheal Mugerwa on behalf of Uganda and Sonatrach Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Toufik Hakkar signed on behalf of Algeria.

 

 

This was announced by the state-owned oil company in a Sunday brief statement on Twitter. It disclosed that the MoU covers establishing oil and gas upstream, midstream, and downstream schemes, and also capacity building among others.

 

 

This was also part of President Museveni’s three-day visit to Algeria in which he said Uganda is looking at Algeria investing in Uganda’s refinery. The president said, “we want to build an inland refinery. It is absolutely necessary because it will cut transport costs seeing that we are far away from the coast”. He also expressed the need to fast-track economic integration in order to facilitate the modern prosperity of the African people. According to the president, this was top on the agenda in the talks held between himself and his host Abdelmadjid Tebboune at the Presidential palace in Algiers on Sunday morning.

 

 

Museveni noted that modern prosperity is based on the production and sale of goods and services, a reason why since 1980 through the Lagos Plan of Action, African leaders realized the issue of economic integration. “This has taken a long time but we are moving steadily. We have now agreed on the Continental Free Trade Area-CFTA, But in order for that to happen, you must have peace on the continent and that’s why therefore the discussion between His Excellency and myself focused on the issue of peace in Africa,” he said. He also said this should be followed by infrastructural development and commended Algeria for having moved ahead on that front by building communication linkages through the Sahara to West Africa.

 

 

The MoU aims to jointly assess cooperation opportunities across the entire oil and gas value chain. Through this agreement, Sonatrach seeks to develop partnership opportunities with UNOC so as to allow better use of the capacities available from both parties. Thus, this memorandum is part of Sonatrach’s strategic orientation targeting African markets and aiming to strengthen its presence at the continental and regional levels.

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Kigali hairstylist’s artsy videos put him atop.

  • African youths are prominent for creativity.
  • They find available ways to showcase the diverse beauties of the continent.
  • Young hairstylist, Safari Martin, has defined himself as an unusually creative barber.
  • His regular social media videos have drawn attention to the precision with which he presents his creative haircuts.

Either by word of mouth or by watching some of his delightful videos on Instagram one may have come across the thrilling tale of 23-year-old Martin Safari, a creative young man who, in his spoofs, cuts clients’ hairs with all types of tools, hammers inclusive. Surprising as it may, Safari finds hammers, knives, forks, and other weird tools useful in doing a remarkable job.

 

In his videos, actually acted out, the young barber dresses for each part, sometimes he simulates a mechanic trying to fix a spoilt car, other times he explores other roles. Safari mentioned that, as a child, he always imagined himself living the life of an extraordinary artist using pencils, brushes, pallets, and paint. But his parents had nudged him into the sciences because they expected a doctor to emerge from their son.

 

Many years later, neither medicine nor artistry has kept Safari gainfully engaged; though he has found a unique way to bring art into his work.

 

Safari talked about how he obeyed his parents at first and closed in on the sciences, deserting his interest in arts until, one afternoon, in his boarding school in Uganda, a friend asked for help with tidying up their hair because a proper haircut outside the school was quite beyond most students’ budget. That was destiny’s call; Safari answered the call wholeheartedly. From then on, without fully understanding what he was getting into, he found a new interest. For him, it continued as a simple hobby, just a courteous service to his peers. But, when the demand for this hobby of his began to swell, he joined heads with his school friends, and they smuggled in a clipper after which he began to attach stipends to his services.

 

Most of his needs in school were met and he stopped asking his parents for pocket money. He explained that “when I went back home for the holidays, I decided to take it to another level. I subscribed to some of the biggest barbers’ YouTube channels and took some online courses. “Safari substantially added to his skills during holidays so much that his school noted his improved talent and hired him as the official school barber. Just after his graduation, he set up a small-scale barbershop in that Ugandan neighborhood. Eventually, he returned home to Rwanda.

 

Safari has gone ahead to carve a brand in Kigali as one of the most skilled barbers in town. He leverages on the internet; he picks ideas, shares his unique works, as well as secure clients’ appointments online, through his Instagram handle, @safro_fades. Currently, he does not operate from a fixed address, he has niched himself as a pro barber who is accessible online and available for home services. Safro, as he is fondly called, charges from 15,000 Rwandan franc upward; his distinct home package goes for about 20, 000 Rwandan franc and above, depending on factors like location, clients’ preferred style, and other cost influences like dyeing, tinting, etc.

 

Averagely, Safari’s cuts usually take about 40 to 50 minutes. He believes he is still an artist and his art manifests in his haircuts, he says “I think my talent didn’t fully disappear. People tell me that they see my art just by looking at how I present my content and the way I make a haircut. This gives me the ultimate satisfaction”. He says that the ‘beauty of existing in this era’ contributes immeasurably to some of his successes in the barbing trade. “I can imagine that if this was a decade ago, I would just be some other barber. But because of technology and social media platforms, through proper content creation, I’m able to reach my desired audience, willing to pay adequately for my services,” he pointed out.

 

While a lot of people see Safari as a skilled barber, he looks beyond the trade, he works to establish himself as a captivating content creator, consistent and creative. “Most of my clients are Rwandans, but considering their conservative nature, I usually have a hard time convincing them to let me post them on my online page,” he mentioned while explaining probable reasons for a possible delay in his global exposure. Safari opines that anyone can prosper in any career path they pick to pursue, whether they originally dreamt of it or not. He admonishes young African talents by saying “make sure you master your craft, attract and keep your clients coming back and then promote your craft and then, make money.”

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Green Ghana 2023: Queen Mothers encouraged to begin bamboo farms.

  • Ghana’s potential in the area of agriculture is undisputed.
  • The authorities are making efforts to maximize Ghanian green lands for subsistence and commercial purposes.
  • Bamboo and rattan are invaluable plants grown in Africa.
  • Demand has been placed on the influences of the Queen Mothers of Ghana to enhance the growing of the cash plants.

Efforts are going into the restoration of Ghana’s landscapes, as well as into the lasting fight against global warming; and the country’s Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources, in collab­oration with the Forest Plantation Fund Board, organized a two-day preparation workshop for Asanteman queen mothers on bamboo farms development.

 

This supports the government’s tree planting works, as at least 22,671,696 trees planted in 2022 outdid the government’s target of 20 million trees across the 16 regions of Ghana. The Minister of Lands and Natural Resources of Ghana, Samuel Abu Jinapor, said that the government hopes to plant no fewer than 10 million trees this year under the Green Ghana program. Speaking on the downward review of the number of trees to be planted, the Minister said that government wants to be more dedicated and devoted to nurturing the over 30 million trees planted already in recent years so that all the trees can reach maturity as soon as possible.

                     

The workshop, strategically placed to leverage on the immense traditional and political powers of the revered queen mothers’ stools, follows the  government’s prior regeneration moves, and comes after the Minister had visited Ashanti Region in De­cember last year to enlist the support of the queen mothers in fighting against unlawful mining, and to promise them that they will be integral parts of the 2023 Green Ghana agenda aimed at planting bam­boos in marketable amounts.

                           

While speaking with the queen mothers at the workshop, in Kumasi, on the 9th of March, the Deputy Minister for Lands and Natural Resources responsible for Lands and For­estry, Mr. Benito Owusu-Bio, expanded on the pertinence of the workshop to the govern­ment since it acknowledges the potential of bamboo and rattan resources as valuable materials that can better the live­lihoods of several scores of inhabitants around forest ecosystems.

 

He went on to expound the benefits of the workshop, among other things, clarifying that queen mothers will be armed with good knowledge and insight into the degree to which bamboo and rattan in Ghana could aid sustenance of communities; he pointed to the vast prospects in the area of job creation, especially for youngies and women alike. He believed that the workshop would birth critical outcomes as it would increase the number of stakeholders, in government and private settings, putting in efforts to meet the planting goals in the country’s Forest Plantation Strate­gy, which plans to establish more than 500,000 hectares of new bamboo plantations between 2015 -2040.

                   

Owusu-Bio reassured the queen mothers that the first sensitization package was simply to kick off, that the Minis­try would assemble more resources to spread the program to other regions so as to optimize the bamboo industry. “I wish to assure you of the unflinching support of my Minister and the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources to support this initiative. We will do our maximum best to provide the necessary technical and logistical support to promote this bamboo plantation development enter­prise,” he said. He also counselled the Forestry Commission, the Director of In­ternational Association of Bam­boo and Rattan Development, INBAR, and the Plantation Fund Board to continue providing the needed backing to ensure that the program succeeds.

 

The queen mother of the Mampong traditional area, Nana Agyakuma Difie II and Chairman admonished the queen mothers to see the programs as an opportunity to advance, as well as a responsibility to their children and yet-to-come generations seeing that with one swoop, global warming is reduced and the government’s reafforesta­tion agenda gets a shot in the arm. While motivating them to take up the project heartily and make it a reality, she stressed that the bamboo project was not exclusive to Asanteman queen mothers but for all Ghanian queen mothers and women traditional authority figures countrywide.

                         

In his own statement, the Board Chairman of the Forestry Plantation Fund Board and Chief of Chiraa traditional area, Nana Osei Yaw Barima, promised a smooth and cooperative partnership with the queen mothers to see the bamboo project through to a resoundingly successful end. Mr Joseph Osiakwan, the Technical Director for Forestry at the Ministry, in his short presentation on the justification for the workshop, expressed hope that queen mothers will have adequate knowledge on growing healthy bam­boo and making vital marketable products from the plant by the end of the two-day workshop.

                       

Bamboo and rattan come in handy in the making of fanciful Furnitures, mats, decorations, as well as other household and fashion items, and with these products boldly taking their places in the global market, producers of bamboo and rattan are in for a swell time. With about one million hectares of home-grown bamboo, Ethiopia sits kingly as the biggest bamboo grower in Africa. It houses about 67% of all African bamboo.

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FIRST BLACK WOMAN TO WIN 2 OSCARS

  • Carter in her Speech to Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences “for recognising this superhero that is a Black Woman”. “She endures, she loves, she overcomes”
  • To Chadwick Boseman “She is my mother, please take care of mom”.
  • “I hope this opens the door for others… that they can win an Oscar too” … Carter to women of color.

 

 

Ruth. E. Carter at the age of 62 broke history on the 12th of March, 2023 to become the first African American woman to win 2 Oscars at the 95th Academy Awards held at Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. Carter who is an American costume designer for film and television won her first Oscar for Best Costume Designer for Black Panther (2018) and her Second Oscar for Black Panther: Wakanda Forever (2022). In her 30 years plus career, Carter has 40 films credited to her. They include: Malcom X (1992), Selma (2014), Four Brothers (2005), Chi-Raq (2015), The Butler (2013), Being Mary Jane, Dolemite is my name (2019), Coming 2 America (2021). Carter has also designed costumes for Chadwick Boseman, Eddie Murphy, Angela Basset, Forest Whittaker, Denzel Washington and Oprah Winfrey.

 

 

Carter was born April 10, 1960 in Springfield, Massachuetts. She and her seven siblings were raised by her single mum. Carter was inspired by her mum who was a designer and a seamstress. In her homage to Black Panther star Chadwick Boseman, who died after fighting colon cancer for four years… “she is my mother. Chadwick, please take care of mom”. Carter had an early start in her career as an intern at Santa Fe Opera in New Mexico and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts Degree from Hampton University. She later moved to New York where she earned an Associate Degree in Fashion Design in the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York.

 

 

In her Acceptance Speech she thanked the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences “for recognising this superhero that is a Black woman. She endures, she loves, she overcomes. I pulled myself up from my boot straps, I started in a single parent household. I wanted to be a costume designer. I scraped, I dealt with adversity in the industry that sometimes didn’t look like me and I endured. So, I feel that this win opens the door for other young costume designers that may not that this industry is for them and hopefully they’ll see me and they’ll see my story and they’ll think that they can win an Oscar too”.

 

 

She also addressed women of color “… I hope this opens the door for others,… that they can win an Oscar too”. Coincidentally, Michelle Yeoh who is a Malaysian at the age of 60 became the first Asian woman to win an Oscar for Best Actress. In her speech, “For all the little boys and girls who look like me watching tonight, this is a beacon of hope and possibilities. This is a proof that dreams… dream big… and dreams do come true. And ladies, don’t let anybody tell you, you’re ever past your prime. Never give up”.

Carter who is a Afrofuturist stated that “I would have to represent images of beauty, forms of beauty from the African tribal traditions so that African – Americans could understand it, so that (non-black) Americans can understand African – Americans better; so, we could start erasing a homogenized version of Africa.

 

 

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Ghanian teachers’ colorful line of duty.

  • Ghana has joined other African countries that pay attention to cultural attires in the workplace.

 

  • Teachers in a district of the west African country adopted this initiative and have since pushed it joyfully.

 

  • The idea is to reinforce the creativity in the clothing of Africans.

Following conventions in other parts of Africa, teachers in the Hohoe Metropolis, Volta region, Ghana, have adopted the wearing of native Ghanaian and African clothing on the last Friday of every month. This creativity, introduced in 2022, is to encourage the wearing of native Ghanaian garments and to fortify collective bonds through culture and tradition.

 

Ms Janet Valerie Datsa, the Hohoe Municipal Director of Education, started this to merge culture and education into one since they were hitherto mutually separated. Other than boosting culture, it also fosters unity among teachers from a wide range of ethnic groups and backgrounds. Teachers in the Metropolis have followed the initiative religiously.

 

                       

 

Every last Friday of each month, countless school grounds in the Municipality are continually awash with beautiful and assorted styles of African prints and native wears. Workers at the education offices also take part in this healthy showcase of culture.

 

Mr Samuel Kaletsi, one of the teachers at the St. Francis College of Education Demonstration Primary School, expressed his happiness with the creativity. “First of all, let me thank Madam Valerie- I mean our Municipal Director for her singular efforts in promoting cultural awareness and unity among the teaching class. This initiative has really helped in giving meaning to the true spirit of Africanism. In fact, our learners (pupils/students) are also benefiting from it as they are becoming enlightened on the cultural uniqueness of their beloved country, Ghana,” he said.

                       

Other teachers applauded the proponent of the initiative for her sincere efforts in strengthening the ties since teachers in the municipality come from many parts of the country. They endorsed the idea as one that would nurture unity and national cohesion.

 

The main advocate of the idea, Madam Valerie Janet Datsa, said: “Well, I am so humbled by all of the praises being showered on me by my colleagues. I really don’t have much to say but I am happy that just in less than two years since this idea came up, it has gotten this far. I am really humbled,” Madam Datsa said, adding that it was necessary “so as to continue to showcase our rich culture, traditions and heritage to the rest of the world.”

 

She was hopeful that the concept would be accepted and implemented by other education boards in the district and other parts of the country.

This concept is not relatively new in Africa as in most Nigerian cities workers and businesspeople alike adorn themselves with native attires on Fridays, not just each month’s last Friday.

 

 

 

 

 

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MOROCCO’S FASHION WEEK SET TO CELEBRATE WOMEN.

 

      • Morocco’s fashion week is to be held from the 8th to the 11th of March.
      • The event will tie in with the celebration of women.
      • The event will promote upcoming designers.

The 2023 edition of Morocco’s fashion week will be held from the 8th to the 11th of March. This year the event will be hosted with Riad la Brillante, a hotel nestled in the heart of the medina where traditional craftsmanship and modernity meet harmony and elegance. 

This edition ties in with the worldwide celebration of women, including International Women’s Day on the 8th day of March.

This occasion is organized and supported by the Oriental Fashion Show and it is chaired by Hind Joudar in partnership with M Avenue. The partnership is dedicated to building a lasting anchorage within the kingdom. 

The fashion runway will be at M Avenue, which would not be the first time the fashion runway is hitting one of the city’s must-see attractions developed by Nabil Slitine.

The fashion shows are slated for the 10th of March, starring special exhibitions on Morocco’s iconic caftan. This is intended to pay tribute to the craftswomen on the occasion of World Women’s Rights Day.

The primary aim of this event is to promote young and upcoming designers with a prize allowing winners to travel to a parade in Paris. The competition is organized in conjunction with the styling and modeling schools Casa Moda, Lasalle College, and Escom in a joint partnership. There will be judges like Saher Okal, the founder of the Academia Moda school in Nazareth, Morocco’s Said Mahrouf, and Zineb Joundy as well as Egyptian dressmaker Hany El Behairy on the panel.

From the 9th to the 11th of March, other works of art will be shown throughout the day in collaboration with the association “Dam Lmaalma.”

Then on the final day, a gala dinner will be held within the mythical Royal Mansour palace. It will be preceded by a parade featuring the creations of big names in fashion from international regions. The dinner will benefit Atlas Kinder, an association that takes care of orphaned children.

Marrakech was chosen as the permanent establishment for this bi-annual event celebrating the city as an international fashion capital.

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IDRIS ELBA ATTENDS ‘SACRED SUNDAY’ AT MANHYIA PALACE, GHANA

 

 

Hollywood actor Idrissa Akuna Elba, born of a Ghanaian mother, visited the Manhyia Palace and paid homage to the Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu II and Asantehemaa Nana Konadu Yiadom III during the first Akwasidae of the year. This was after his meeting with the President of Ghana, 

 

 

The Akwasidae which means ‘Sacred Sunday’ is a festival celebrated by the people and chiefs of the Ashanti region. It is celebrated every six weeks at the Manhyia Palace in Kumasi. 

 

 

There is a celebration in a particular period on the Akan annual calendar called the Adae Festival. The festival has two celebration days namely the Akwasidae Festival which is celebrated on the final Sunday of the period, and the Awukudae Festival celebrated on a Wednesday within the period. 

 

 

Participants wear traditional Kente clothing and adorn themselves with gold jewelry, beads, and other decorative items, which symbolize wealth and prosperity. The festival is centered on ancestral reverence, remembrance, and acknowledgment of past kings and noble feats. 

 

 

The Festival which was marked with drumming and dancing with an exchange of greetings and pleasantries served as a celebration of the Golden Stool, bringing together the Asantehene, sub-chiefs, subjects, and dignitaries at Manhyia in Kumasi.

 

 

In the pictures circulating on the internet, Idris was seen waving and paying homage to the rulers of the Ashanti kingdom, dressed up in traditional Kente clothing with gold adornments. 

 

 

 

According to a news report, the actor and his team recorded parts of his time and visit at the Akwasidae festival, which will appear in his upcoming film.

 

 

The British Hollywood movie star recently made public his intentions to build a film studio in Ghana during his meeting with the country’s president, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo.

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AFROBEAT SINGER MAKES HISTORY YET AGAIN

Nigerian singer, Temilade Openiyi widely known as Tems has yet again made history as she won her first Grammy Award at the 65th Grammy Awards gala ceremony in Los Angeles on Sunday, 5th February 2023.

 

The awards ceremony which took place at the Crypto.com Arena was graced with the presence of many great artists in the world.

 

The music star was awarded her first grammy for her feature in the 2022 hit song by American rapper Future’s hit single ‘Wait For U’ which included Drake, under the award category for ‘Best Melodic Rap Performance’.

 

Tems came into the limelight after she was featured on wizkid’s song ‘Essence’, which paved the way for her in America’s music industry.

 

Following this great feat, Tems becomes the first non-mixed Nigerian female artist to win the Grammy Awards.

 

She was recently nominated for the Oscar Awards for her contribution to Rihana’s ‘Lift Me Up’ the original soundtrack for Ryan Coogler’s Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, making her the first Nigerian to receive an Oscar nomination.

 

In 2022, she became the first Nigerian and African female musician to win the Best International Act at the BET Awards.

 

The Afrobeat singer has made remarkable breakthroughs in the music industry both at home and abroad.

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NIGERIA’S ‘FASHION SHOW FOR SENIORS’ DRAWS GLOBAL ATTENTION

Artworks generated by artificial intelligence (AI) have caused a stir on the internet. 

 

With a first glance at the images, one would think they are actually really old people captured from the sides of a runway. 

 

 

However, Nigerian filmmaker and artist Malik Afegbua is the creator of the AI artworks of reimagining a stylish old age. The pictures are a result of Afegbua’s imagination, combining AI software and portraying older-looking models in beautiful clothes. 

 

 

This creation of his has gained the attention of many particularly an Oscar-winning costume designer, Ruth Carter who is behind the Black Panther films. She wrote on instagram “this is so dope!!”. 

 

 

The series of images which is called ‘Fashion Show for Seniors’ has gained more than 100,000 likes on social media, it has without doubt made an impact on the real world.

 

 

In a zoom interview with BBC, Afegbua mentioned that he started off his creative career when someone handed him a camera gift, which was where it took off.

 

 

Thereafter, the business school graduate became a filmmaker and produced commercials, documentary films and virtual reality exhibitions, and at the advent of AI, he also took advantage of it as a new leading force in art. 

 

 

With his fashion show series, he wanted to challenge the stereotypes surrounding aging and what he sees as the insignificance of older people in society. He said, “I have never seen a fashion show for elderly people, but they exist-so why not?”. 

 

 

On the other side of the pendulum, Afegbua has also received some backlash against the use of AI in art, a notion of whether computers can truly replicate human creativity. Although he has a different perspective. He sees an opportunity for artists to advance in their field. 

 

 

 

“Artificial Intelligence learns from us and learns from the World Wide Web. I try to learn how to talk to it, how to communicate better to get exact results from it”. He disclosed to BBC

 

 

 

Looking at the style of the fashion show series images, there is a mix of traditional African Nigerian fashion. “I am a lover of fashion and I always like to experiment. I wanted to mix traditional African Nigerian fashion with something futuristic, something Afro-futuristic”, he said. 

 

 

 

He also has another collection of pictures which he calls his Fiction Series, an inspiration of an Idea of the future. This collection of pictures depicts the people of Ngochola, an imagination of ancient African civilization which was motivated by the stylings of Black Panther’s Wakanda army and Ruth Carter. 

 

 

 

More so, Afegbua plans to continue creating the Elder series and use AI technology to recreate what is possible today and in the time to come.

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NDAVI NOKERI FINISHES AMONG TOP 16 AT THE 2022 MISS UNIVERSE BEAUTY PAGEANT.

Ndavi Nokeri is a South African model and beauty pageant that was born on 25th January, 1999. She comes from a christian family and she speaks four languages.

 

In 2022, she competed for Miss South Africa, which was her first attempt and she won. In 2019, she won the Miss Jozi title.

 

She holds a Bachelor of commerce, Investment and Management degree from the University of Pretoria. She also held a job at an asset management firm.

 

She is an advocate for educational equity for all children and students in South Africa. In her interview with Glamour she revealed her struggles, she said “growing up, I struggled with mathematics in school. With every bad result I received, I started believing and accepting that it was something that I could not do until I decided to approach it with a different attitude. I decided that I am the author of my own story and so I redefined myself as a woman who is capable of doing all things she sets her mind to with excellence. This is the attitude that I carry with me into every journey and it has shaped the person I am proud to be today.” 

 

She prepared for the Miss South Africa, 2022 for two years which shows how passionate she is about preparations and winning.

 

She represented South Africa in the 71st Miss Universe beauty pageant and she was among those that finished top 16.

 

She will also go on to represent South Africa in Miss World 2022 and Miss Supranational 2023.

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HANNAH IRIBHOGBE REPRESENTS NIGERIA AT THE 71ST MISS UNIVERSE BEAUTY COMPETITION.

Hannah Iribhogbe is a Nigerian actress, model and beauty queen, she hails from Edo State. She is professionally known as Montana Felix. The name Montana came into existence during her secondary school days when she realized she was multi talented and Felix is her father’s last name.

 

Hannah is a student of North Lake College in Dallas, Texas, majoring in business management. She is active in charity work as she works with NGOs and orphanages. She is also intentional about women empowerment and getting more women into government and politics and also taken kids off the Nigerian streets. Personally, she is responsible for two girls. She has established a foundation called the Montana Initiative, an organization working to feed 10 million children all over Africa.

 

She began her professional modeling career in 2020. In 2022, she was crowned Miss Universe Nigeria 2022 at the Most Beautiful Girl in Nigeria pageant in October, 2022.

 

The 71st Miss Universe beauty competition just took place and Nigeria was ably represented by current Miss Universe Nigeria, Hannah Iribhogbe or Montana Felix as she is popularly known on stage. She is currently in New Orleans, USA for the beauty pageant which officially kicked off on the 11th of January.

 

The competition was hosted by Jeannie Mai and Olivia Culpo, Miss Universe, 2012. At the end of the event, Miss Universe 2021, Harnaaz Sandhu of India crowned her successor.

 

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FRENCH LUXURY BRAND TAPS THE NIGERIAN FEMINIST WRITER FOR THEIR NEW BAG CAMPAIGN.

Chimamamanda Ngozi Adichie is a Nigerian writer and feminist. She was born on the 15th of November, 1977. Her works include novels, short stories and non-fiction.

 

In 2015, Chimamanda was awarded a MacArthur Genius Grant, she received the PEN Pinter Prize in 2018 and she was also described in the Times Literary Supplement as the most prominent of a procession of critically acclaimed young anglophone authors who has succeeded in attracting a new generation of readers to African literature.

 

Throughout her lifetime she has received so many awards and has been recognized on so many occasions in line with her work or beliefs. She was recently made the Odeluwa of Abba, a Nigerian chief, by the kingdom of Abba in her native Anambra State. She was the first woman to receive such an honor from the kingdom.

 

 Chimamanda has just recently featured in Dior’s bag campaign. The French luxury house used the Nigerian feminist writer for the campaign of “The Lady 95.22” which is dedicated to a new variation of the classic Lady Dior bag that was made popular by Diana, Princess of Wales. 

 

Chimamanda posed in a black pantsuit and a white T-shirt emblazoned with the words “We Should All Be Feminists” which referenced one of her more famous works and first collaboration with the fashion house.

 

The bag launched on the 12th of January, 2023 and featured a cast of exceptional women from different realms like art, cinema, sports, literature, fashion and music.

 

 

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FIRST EDITION OF THE ANNUAL NAIROBI CITY FESTIVAL KICKS OFF

Nairobi hosts the first edition of the annual Nairobi city festival. This event was scheduled to be held from the 12th-17th of December. 

 

 

In the afternoon on the 12th of December, the Nairobi city council Governor Sakaja Johnson, accompanied by Deputy Governor Njoroge Muchiri, county secretary, Dr. Jairus Musumba, Nairobi county executives, county assembly leadership and county staff formally unveiled the Nairobi festival at Uhuru park.

 

 

The Governor in his opening speech said “for the next six days, the Nairobi festival, organized by the Nairobi City County Government will provide a platform to celebrate the diversity of Nairobi, as well as its rich creative arts and culture and ICT. The festival will consist of five key pillars, namely visual and performing arts, sports, culture and trade. In addition, there will be an information communication and technology exhibition, whose aim will be to further the level of engagement between ICT professionals, as well as to exhibit industry innovations. I want to urge Nairobi residents that their security will be guaranteed, and it will be at a very high level, so let nobody try anything funny”. He continued “this extravaganza will provide a platform for Nairobi youth to showcase the abundant talent in this city and support the creative arts, this is exactly what we are doing. We have been open to partnerships to make Nairobi work. Within 30 days of assuming office, we have had a dozen partners put pen to paper to long lasting partnership agreements; something that we are grateful for and do not take for granted”.

 

 

Over 50 Nairobi artists will be performing throughout the duration of the event.

 

The event is ending on the 17th which also happens to be the festival’s cyclist day. The cyclists will be joining the festival from the central park.

 

The Governor had said that charges from the event will go towards a Christmas package to the needy and vulnerable in Nairobi. 

 

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ZIMBABWEAN MODEL CROWNED UNIVERSAL QUEEN AFRICA 2022

In her first International pageant appearance, Zimbabwean model Nomatter Shamuyarira was crowned the Universal Queen Africa 2022 at the pageantry held in Port Harcourt, Nigeria.

 

The competition had contestants from 15 African countries including the host nation Nigeria, Angola, Tunisia, Egypt, Cameroon, South Africa and Uganda, with Botswana’s representative as the first runner-up, Ghana and Gambia representatives as second and third runners-up respectively. 

 

As part of her winning package, the Queen was awarded a cash prize of $5000, a trip to any African nation of her choice, as well as an endorsement deal as a brand ambassador with companies in Nigeria.

 

Shamuyarira who works with a top-modelling agency in Zimbabwe revealed that winning the Universal Queen Africa 2022 is a milestone in her modelling career.

 

She began her professional modelling career in 2017, as she was inspired by her aunt and former Miss Zimbabwe, Angeline Musasiwa and within the five years of her career, Shamuyarira has received myriads of accolades in pageantry and commercial modelling.

 

Asides modelling, Shamuyarira is a public health researcher with the Biomedical Research and Training Institute of Zimbabwe and a director of a local-based, youth-led and non-governmental organisation focusing on mental health literacy.

 

The next edition of the pageantry will be hosted in Zimbabwe next year.

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20 YEARS OF DAKAR FASHION WEEK CELEBRATED IN STYLE

The Senegalese 20 years of Dakar Fashion Week was celebrated in style on Saturday 3rd December, with a show at the historic Island of Goree once known for slave trade. 

 

The show was put together by Adama N’Diaye who is a French designer with Senegalese roots and owner of the French label Adama Paris. 

 

The designer and organiser of the Dakar Fashion week was completely elated for the growth the Dakar Fashion week has experienced over the years, which had a very nice party with 20 exceptional designers. She said African fashion is inspiring, diversified, beautiful and daring. 

 

The show had a runway of 20 designer’s work from African countries including Angola, Morocco, Mali, Mozambique and South Africa.

 

One of the designers from Morocco, Karim Tassi said that the originality is to be in Africa and bring together all the African designers, with each of them displaying their own cultural identity and putting everyone on the same catwalk, which is magnificent. 

 

The show helps boost the local fashion industry in Senegal, motivating and encouraging more younger people to follow a career in this business.

 

The event ended on Sunday evening with an all “white night”.

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2022 Afro Hair Culture and Beauty Festival Incites Natural Hair Growth in Africa 

The two-day Africa Hair Summit for Afro hair culture and beauty festival opened its curtains on Thursday 1st December and ended on Friday 2nd December, which took place at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel in Abuja, Nigeria.
The fashion exposition was put together by Specialized Exhibitions Montgomery, as it is the largest gathering of corporate organizations and natural hair lovers showcasing the beauty of African culture and Heritage.
Speaking to the Head of Volunteers at the festival, Precious Zoe, she said the festival is not just for women only, it is also for men as they have had celebrities at the festival, the likes of Prince and Whitemoney ex-BBN housemates.
She revealed that they have also had a virtual show in South Africa last year and they also visit schools as well as to enlighten students on how to grow and maintain black natural hair.
Since its inception in 2016, this will be the 2nd edition of the Afro hair culture and beauty festival. The fashion show was also held in Lagos last year.
According to Precious, they also have partners in other countries, such as South Africa, and they usually organize virtual shows in June and the physical shows are usually in December.
The festival provided a platform for exhibitors to place their products in a market channel to attract customers.
It entertained the nitty gritty that naturalists needed to know about toxic chemicals in hair and beauty products, along with teachings on the production of healthy alternatives that promote natural hair growth and maintenance.
The Afro hair culture and beauty festival also featured hairstyles for different careers, styling products, treatment, and natural hair care services.
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NIGERIA EMERGED AS TOP 3 WINNERS OF THE MISS PRIDE OF AFRICA BEAUTY PAGEANT

At the Miss Pride of Africa Beauty Pageant that was just concluded, Nigeria emerged as one of the top winners in the competition which was held in London, United Kingdom.

 

The  Beauty Pageant took place on 26th November, 2022 and was organised to empower African women by providing a platform that would encourage them to further give an in-depth humanitarian service on the continent. 

 

The competition had a number of African countries including Ghana, Nigeria, Uganda, Rwanda, Congo, Mayottee and Sierra Leone, with representative beauty queen aspirants.

 

Nigeria’s Akerejola Itiafa was one of the top 3 winners after a total of 17 candidates contested for the ultimate crown and several stages of assessment.

 

Itiafa said that: “As Queen, my charitable campaign would be focused on promoting financial literacy in Africa, especially for low-income enterprising women, women with small business”, as she spoke on her plans for the crown.

 

Asides from being crowned the People’s Queen, she also earned other awards such as second princess, an ambassador of the pageant and the award of the best swimwear.

 

During the contest, her incredible manifesto was targeted at increasing financial literacy among low-income enterprising women in Nigeria and also, she showcased the multi-faceted aspects of the Nigerian culture through food and various cultural attires.

 

The newly crowned Miss Pride of Africa Beauty is a proud Nigerian from Ogori-Magongo in Kogi state. She is a graduate of the University of Lincoln with a B.A. in Business Marketing and Masters Degree holder in International Trade, Strategy and Operations from the University of Warwick.

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WINNER OF PHOTOGENIC STRIDE, SEPTEMBER EDITION.

Photogenic stride is an online beauty contest for African women where participants upload their finest pictures and viewers get to vote. It is a monthly contest and each winner goes home with $150. 

 

Miss Grace Monicah emerged as the winner in the September 2022 edition. Miss Grace Monicah is a 22-year old Kenyan based undergraduate of Kenya institute of professional studies pursuing a certificate in ICT.

 

She is currently working as a debt collector and a part time photoshoot model. Apart from the photogenic stride, Miss Grace has participated in other online photo contests like Seensta, a natural hair challenge and a traditional wear challenge where she emerged 2nd and third, respectively.

 

Miss Grace heard of the photogenic stride contest from a friend who was also a participant. During her interview with Afridesk she was asked if it was difficult soliciting for votes to which she replied “it was not easy but since I am a go-getter, I did not give up. I wanted to win.” 

 

She has expressed her desire to pursue modeling full time but the one challenge she is facing is raising the money to enroll into a full time modeling class. 

 

When asked if there was anything else she would like to pursue apart from her modeling career, her reply was “of course, I am a business oriented person. In the near future, I want to run my own business. I make beads, handmade bracelets, anklets, waist beads etc.” She went ahead to show us her really beautiful designs. She makes them in her free time and sells them. She also reiterated that modeling is still her greatest passion.

 

Miss Grace won the photogenic stride contest with a total vote of 5521 which confirms her go-getting personality.

 

The participation and voting in this contest is totally free. You must be a registered user to contest and vote for your contestant.

 

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BURNA BOY, TEMS AND OTHER AFRICAN STARS BAGS GRAMMY NOMINATIONS

Nominees for the 2023 Recording Academy Awards, popularly known as The Grammys  have been announced on Tuesday and African stars Tems, Burna Boy, Rocky Dawuni, and Angelique Kidjo have been nominated for the awards.

 

Self-acclaimed Africa’s Giant, Burna Boy and Singer-songwriter Tems are the two Nigerians who made the Grammy list, with two nominations each.

 

The African stars Burna Boy and Tems bagged two and three nominations respectively.

 

Burna Boy was nominated for Best Global Music Album for his latest album “Love Damini” and Best Global Music Performance for his popular song “Last Last”. This nomination makes it the third time in three years the music star has been nominated for the Grammys.

 

Tems was nominated for her writing on Beyonce’s Renaissance album and for “Best Rap Song” and “Best Melodic Rap Performance” for her contributions to Future’s “Wait For You”, making the first Nigerian female artiste to earn a Grammy nomination.

 

The 12-time Grammy nominee, Beninese superstar Angelique Kidjo was also nominated for several including Best Global Music Album.

 

Eddy Kenzo, Afropop dancehall star has become the first Ugandan artist to be nominated for the Grammy, as well as South African artistes Zakes Bantwini and Nomcebo Zikode have been nominated for their performances of hit single, Bayethe.

 

This year’s nomination list also includes popular artistes: Beyonce, Jay Z, Kendrick Lamar, Doja cat, Adele.

 

The 65th edition of the Grammy Awards ceremony is set to take place February 5th, 2023, at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles.

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CAMEROON’S FASHION WEEK: URBAN PARADE IN CELEBRATION OF COTTON

Models opened the show to an impressive parade of dancers, performers, clowns and giant puppets in Cameroon’s fashion week which kicked off in Yaounde with an urban parade dedicated to the celebration of cotton.

The fashion show was tagged “Cotton Pride, from seed to dress”, which served as an introductory piece to the commencement of the Fashion and Design Forum.

The show director Nathalie Veuillet stated that there is a whole lot of work that goes into producing fine and beautiful cotton trousers or dresses.

She said: “When you see a woman walking by in a beautiful dress or a man in beautiful cotton trousers, you can’t imagine the whole chain of work that goes into it. So in fact Cotton Pride is the pride of cotton work. It means that before you can wear this beautiful dress, there are people who cut, there are people who sew, there are people who spin the fibres, there are people who sow the seed, others who pick the flowers and others who transport these cotton flowers to the spinning mill. So in fact all these pictures show the different stages of cotton processing”.

Headed by Yves Eya’a, the Urban Parade was an initiative of the Centre des Créateurs de Mode du Cameroun (CCMC).

According to the CCMC promoter, the theme of the designers’ collection is “Let Fashion Express Itself” and the street fashion show was a way to express “the fashion” in Cameroon today. “It was important that fashion went to the streets because today when we look at the streets, it’s all that inspires us as designers, as fashion, as fashionistas”.

The Cotton Pride fashion show attracted many people and onlookers as the show was an intriguing one to see.

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November 2022 Edition of the Photogenic Stride Contest by AfriSQuare Kicks Off

The November 2022 edition of the  Photogenic Stride Contest by AfriSQuare has kicked off today as a winner and other runner-ups emerges from the October edition. This contest which was created to showcase the true beauty of the African woman has proven to be a starting point for aspiring models in Africa, which is evident in the past editions.

 

 

 

Tricia Andong from Nigeria who contested in the October edition  with 80 ladies from other African Countries is the winner with 3,149.5 votes. She is now an AfriSQuare model as she joins the league of other AfriSQuare models, like Princess Monic from Kenya who contested with other 99 ladies from across Africa in the September 2022 Photogenic Stride Contest edition and won with 5,521 votes.   

 

 

Currently, ladies from across Africa are warming up to win this November 2022 edition as the contest to showcase the true beauty of the African woman intensifies. The AfriSQuare photogenic stride contest is one of a kind as contestants of the previous editions have benefited either as winners, runners ups or via the consolation prize. But you must have at least shared your links with your family and friends for you to be voted for, as you can have a chance to become the winner.

 

The AfriSQuare monthly photogenic stride contest is based on pure merit as it is a virtual event with transparency in operations. The more you share your link with your family and friends to vote for you, the higher the chances you have to win. If are you an African lady, then click here to contest for the November 2022 photogenic stride contest.

 

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MWILA WOMEN AND THEIR BEAUTIFUL HAIR CULTURE

Mwila is an ethnic group that is part of Nyaneka which is a larger ethnic group living in southern Angola. They settled in the area of Huila during the 17th century because of the drought that made them abandon their lands in the country of Quilengues.

This tribe rarely eat meat, they only kill their cattles on special occasions.

The women of this ethnic group take great pride in their hairs and it could be used to pass a message. For instance, when a woman has just three dreads, it means there are dead people in the family. The usual number is 4-6.

They coat their hairs with a red paste called Oncula. Oncula is made with crushed red stone, mixture of oil, crushed tree bark, dried cow dungs and herbs. Their plaits like dread are called Nontombi.

The beautiful decorations are done with beads, cauri shells either real or plastic and dried foods. In this ethnic group, a shaved forehead is considered a sign of beauty.

These hairstyles are protected with a headrest. Hair means a lot to the women of this ethnic group.

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WAKANDA FOREVER PREMIERE IN LAGOS, NIGERIA

The sequel to black panther 2 that was released in 2018, Wakanda forever will be released on the 11 of November across the continent. For a continent wild celebration ahead of the release, the cast and crew of Wakanda forever visited Nigeria for the first time for the premiering on Sunday, the 6th of November

Letitia Wright, Lupita Nyong’o, Danai Gurira, Tenoch Huerta, Mejia, Winston Duke and director Ryan Coogler were among the team visiting Nigeria. When asked on her Instagram question poll when she was coming to Nigeria, Lupita answered “Now”.

Director Ryan Coogler was asked why Nigeria and his reply was “Lagos has a lot of history and cultural significance for filmmakers” in the same vein he mentioned taking a genealogy test that revealed his lineage.

Some cast and crew members were present on Sunday morning where they fielded off questions from the media.

The Wakanda forever story continues with the story of T’challa, the king of Wakanda. Some of Nigerian musicians were featured in the soundtrack track of the movie. Tems performed Bob Marley’s “no woman no cry” in conjunction with co-writing lift me up. Fire boy and Burna boy sang two solos. Other Nigerian singers were; CK, Toby Nwigwe and fat Toby.

This event was held in association with Africa International Film Festival (AFRIFF) and Film One Entertainment. In attendance were actors and actresses, celebrities and social media personnels dressed in accordance with the event.

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