Africa Archives - Page 5 of 6

Published on November 4, 2017November 8, 2017

4 mins read

Why This New Orleans Yoga Studio Plans to Expand into West Africa

Adrianne “Ajax” Jackson is the owner of the Only Black owned Yoga studio in New Orleans. During a recent chat with her about her upcoming one year anniversary, she mentioned an interest in expanding her business to Nigeria or Ghana.

Since Shoppe Black is all about bridging the gap between Black folks on the continent and in the diaspora, we were curious to find out what inspired this decision.

This is what she had to say:

Expanding to West Africa

A big part of what I do is traveling and building relationships with people all over the world. It is inexplicably beautiful to meet people who are seemingly so different from you only to realize how alike we all really are.

Expanding to West Africa came to me in a very clear vision; a yoga & meditation hub on the coast of West Africa! I could see the windows, the architecture & the landscaping! Intuitively I knew that would be the next big venture.

WHY?

As a Black woman and as a yoga teacher, I recognize the yearning for self knowledge in my students and in the Black community.

West Africa is a crucial part of our history and our heritage. Expanding there would enable me to use yoga as a bridge between my community here and communities there.

The literal meaning of the word ‘yoga’ is union, and I think there is something incredibly special and revolutionary in being able to unite two communities of shared heritage through something as positive and healing as yoga practice.

New Orleans Motivation

Watching new students, especially black men, explore yoga and begin to recognize the benefits for themselves is extremely rewarding.

These kinds of revelations that I see regularly, have sparked the desire to extend my student reach and also offer my students even more than the gift of yoga.

This community motivates and inspires me to build a close knit, cross-continental community that fosters the encouragement and support I work to continuously offer my students.

First year in business

Throughout this year of owning Magnolia Yoga Studio I have become increasingly aware of our communal hunger to reclaim our health, power, and self discovery.

We deserve and need know who we are. The practice of yoga and bridge to our ancestral land is a beautiful, transformational, and revolutionary way of learning and understanding ourselves as well as connecting with the diaspora in West Africa.

Yoga is the Key

I hope to inspire a collective healing through yoga and rediscovery of our identity as member of the African diaspora. I deeply believe that yoga is a key component to who we are as a people and where we are going. I love to be able to cast a wider net as to who I can encourage to practice yoga.

It is so essential in stress reduction, connecting with our bodies, and loving ourselves. I believe that each individual deserves to experience these benefits.

The Goal

I would love to see this expansion foster personal and genuine relationships between my students in New Orleans and West Africa.

I hope that this goal of blending yoga and diasporic community building will become part of a larger realization that yes, yoga makes sense as a healing process and practice that will bring us closer.

– Sierra Armstrong & Adrianne “Ajax” Jacskon

Find out more about Magnolia Yoga Studio and their events here.

Published on October 15, 2017March 11, 2019

2 mins read

10 Of Our Favorite Fela Kuti Quotes

Music legend and activist Fela Anikulapo Kuti would have been 79 years also today. In honor of his life and his mission to use his music to liberate his people, we have compiled a few of our favorite Fela quotes. Happy Birthday Fela!

Fela Kuti at the Senator Hotel, London, UK on 11 November 1983

To be spiritual is not by praying and going to church. Spiritualism is the understanding of the universe so that it can be a better place to live in.

My people are scared of the air around them, they always have an excuse not to fight for freedom.

I don’t treat women as objects to be used. I just don’t agree to possess a woman.

The music of Africa is big sound: it’s the sound of a community.

To think how many Africans suffer in oblivion. That makes me sad… Despite my sadness, I create joyful rhythms… I am an artist… I want people to be happy and I can do it by playing happy music. And through happy music I tell them about the sadness of others… So really I am using my music as a weapon.

I want peace. Happiness. Not only for myself. For everybody.

99.9% of the information you get about Africa is wrong.

Music is a weapon of the future / music is the weapon of the progressives / music is the weapon of the givers of life.

I don’t mind criticism, I can handle it, but most people can’t.

Yellow Fever, you dey bleach o, you dey bleach, ugly thing. Who say you fine? Na lie.

My people dey ‘shuffering’ and ‘smiling’, everyday na the same thing. Suffer, suffer for world, enjoy for heaven.

RIP FELA!

Published on August 25, 2017November 8, 2017

2 mins read

Deaf Fashion Blogger Sisters Use Style to Inspire The Disabled

Fashion bloggers Hermon and Heroda Berhane were seven years old when they both mysteriously went deaf at the same time. Now, at 34, twin sisters have blossoming careers in modeling and acting as well as a fashion blog.

Their mission is simple. “We want to tell people around the world that you should embrace disability, not hide from it, they told CNN.

The sisters grew up in Eritrea and had a happy childhood, and like many twins, they share a special bond.

Hermon once injured her cheek while riding her mountain bike. Heroda wasn’t even with her but said she knew something had happened. “When my left cheek started hurting, I knew she was in trouble. It was the only explanation for my pain,” Heroda said.

It took their parents a long time to realize the girls were deaf. “We were playing together in the backyard of our parents’ house; our mother was trying to call our names, and we did not hear at all,” the twins said. Their brother was also deaf, so the family decided to move to the UK to seek medical help.

Hermon’s acting journey began after she took a trip to South America, while Heroda’s confidence grew when she landed a role in a television commercial. As far as Hermon is concerned, “Deaf people can do it like everyone can.”

“We had quite (a lot) of barriers through our lives, especially (our) career, but we fight for it. … We will have to use our deafness and being black women to break these barriers.”

“People are hungry for real inspiration, and we want you to see that we’re wearing clothes that we can afford and most importantly that you can relate (to) with our personality.”

Find out more about them and follow their journey through their blog, Being Her.

Published on May 25, 2017November 8, 2017

2 mins read

MacDella Cooper, Former Refugee & Model Could Be Liberia’s Next President

MacDella Cooper plans to be the next president of Liberia. She is the only woman running against twenty male candidates.

Background

At the age of 13, MacDella had to flee a war torn Liberia. She escaped to the bordering Ivory Coast and in 1993 was cleared to come to the United States.

She eventually received a full academic scholarship to college, and earned a degree in Electronic Communication. After graduating, she began her professional career as a fashion model and worked extensively in New York, Paris, London and Milan.

Sidebar: There’s something to be said about what it takes to some from such a devastating background and still be able to thrive. MacDella reminds us of another Liberian woman who escaped war and has now built a million dollar real estate empire.

Philanthropy

She never forgot where she came from and began donating money and resources to individuals, orphanages and women’s groups back in Liberia.

Her philanthropy birthed what is now known as “The MacDella Cooper Foundation”, a non-profit organization focused on “empowering Liberian youth, especially orphans and abandoned children, by providing education and basic necessities of food, clothing and shelter.”

Political Ambitions

In October 2016, MacDella announced her presidential ambitions. Her campaign is guided by her “Five-Star Platform of Hope and Reform”: Free Childhood Education, Universal Healthcare, Growth of the National Electric Grid, Decentralization in and Land Ownership.

From a statement on her campaign website, she says “As a former refugee who fled the civil conflict from Monrovia to Danane, in La Cote d’Ivoire in the early 1990s; I was fortunate to gain entry into the United States of America where I obtained my higher education.

As a former refugee girl, I bear testimony to the fact that education remains the greatest equalizer for hope and reform. When used constructively, education can transform anybody into somebody.”

Come October of this year, it will be interesting to see if she has what it takes to transform herself into the next President of Liberia.

-Tony Oluwatoyin Lawson

Published on April 14, 2017June 23, 2020

11 mins read

Two Sisters Created the Only Luxury Chocolate Brand Made in Africa

Although West African countries produce over seventy percent of the world’s cocoa, I’ll bet you can’t name one African chocolate brand. Why? Because most of the Continent’s cocoa is exported to foreign countries that produce their own brands.

Fortunately, there are now African chocolate makers getting into the game. Meet sisters, Priscilla and Kimberly Addison. They are the founders of 57 Chocolate, a Ghanaian made chocolate brand.

Priscilla and Kimberly Addison, Founders of 57 Chocolate

SB: What inspired you to start 57 Chocolate and what does the name mean?

57C: Having spent time living in Geneva, Switzerland, we thought it was strange that Switzerland is known for its chocolate but yet doesn’t grow cocoa, the core ingredient in chocolate. Meanwhile, Ghana is the second largest producer of cocoa but produces very little chocolate itself. We saw a vast need for the manufacturing of chocolate in Ghana and across the continent of Africa.

In Ghana, the candy shelves of supermarkets and malls are overflowing with foreign chocolate bars, many undoubtedly made with Ghana’s very own cocoa. Having recognized all this, we were determined to use Ghanaian cocoa to create a Ghanaian brand of chocolate that is reputable locally and internationally. Chocolate really piqued our interest because it allows us a lot of creativity.

We get to experiment with different factors such as how dark to roast the beans, the percentage of cocoa to include, and creating different flavors and parings (e.g. sea salt, coconut shavings etc). We also love chocolate because it really is a healthy treat if you choose chocolate that is high in cocoa content.

The name ‘57 is short for 1957—the year of Ghana’s independence. 1957 was a revolutionary year for the country, not only because it was freed from colonial rule, but it is the year that gave birth to the nation’s “can do” spirit. The name ‘57 is meant to inspire a reawakening of Ghana’s 1957 “can do” spirit.

It is a call and reminder that sometimes in order to go forward, we need to look back at our foundation—our roots. ‘57 Chocolate aims to inspire the people of Ghana, especially the youth to create and develop made in Ghana high quality products.

SB: What has been the most challenging and the most fulfilling part of your entrepreneurial journey so far?

57C: A major challenge for us with starting the business was dumsor– a popular Ghanaian word used to describe the unpredictable power outages. Ghana has been undergoing a power crisis and our business requires a study supply of electricity in order to produce and store our chocolate, since it is made from the cocoa bean to the chocolate bar.

The most fulfilling part of our journey is seeing the joy our chocolate brings to our clients, and knowing that we are adding value to a resource right at home. Many people thought this would be impossible to achieve. Additionally, it’s the support and encouragement that we’ve received from near and far. We have received several inquiries about investments and whether we ship our chocolate abroad.

SB: How important is it to you that African countries manufacture more products instead of importing?

57C: We believe manufacturing is crucial for the growth and survival of any economy. There is a vast need for manufacturing in Ghana and across the continent of Africa. Ghana is the second largest producer of cocoa on the African continent but, very little value is added to the bean itself. We think it’s time to change this narrative.

SB: What are some the different flavors that you produce that are unique to your brand?

57C: Currently, we have 6 signature chocolates: dark (2 kinds including 88 percent baobab and 73 percent dark chocolate), milk, white, mocha latte (coffee flavor) and bissap (hibiscus flavor) chocolate. We pair our chocolates with various ingredients like coconut and sea salt.

Other services we provide include catering for events and chocolate pairings/tastings for groups (a minimum of 6 people).

SB: How important is it that your branding was is on point from the design of the chocolate to the packaging?

57C: Branding from start to finish is incredibly important to us, given that we aim to challenge the status quo of luxury chocolate being only a product of Europe. What is most unique about our brand is that we produce chocolate that is a reflection and celebration of Ghanaian art and culture, particularly through our Adinkra bars.

These bite-sized bars are beautifully engraved with visual symbols created by the Ashanti of Ghana. We have a collection of 12 different Adinkra symbols, each representing a concept or a particular meaning such as leadership, beauty, humility, strength, and resourcefulness. We will be adding more concepts to our collection in the coming year.

SB: You’ve lived in multiple countries around the world. In what ways has this influence your brand?

57C: Our brand has certainly been influenced by the places we’ve been lucky to call home. Living in Switzerland—(one of the country’s most known for its chocolate) we had the opportunity to sample a lot of quality chocolate and so we wanted to create a brand that also exuded excellence.

Our return to Ghana was simply a re-awakening of the need to manufacture chocolate from bean to bar—right at home. The Adinkra chocolates we offer pay homage to our Ghanaian roots.’57 Chocolate is more than just chocolate. It’s about art and culture. This aspect is reflected in everything we do and our brand as a whole.

Living in multiple countries has also influenced our chocolate flavors. For example, having grown up in Dakar, Senegal we drank Bissap (a drink made from hibiscus leaves) often. It was truly a treat for us and our three older siblings. It was always in our fridge and a fresh batch never lasted more than 3 days.

For years we watched our mom steep copious amounts of hibiscus leaves in hot water with cloves, sieve and mix in sugar, vanilla, homemade ginger and pineapple juice. We wanted to somehow recreate this tangy but fruity taste from our childhood and pay tribute to this drink that cherished around the world. Bissap is also enjoyed in Ghana, but it’s more popularly known as sobolo.

It is always eye-opening going into a local mall or grocery store here in Ghana and seeing that 99.9 percent of the goods sold are imported. Foreign soaps, fruits, dog food, juices, chocolate, tomatoes, flour, sugar, and even toothpicks (to name a few) flood the aisles of Ghana’s supermarkets. The country imports goods that its people can either grow or manufacture.

It is known that Ghana primarily exports its resources in its rawest forms–the cocoa bean is a perfect example. We believe in adding value to our local resources by processing and manufacturing them into finished goods. We also believe in patronizing and purchasing other locally made goods and products when we can.

When people manufacture or purchase locally made goods, we are helping Ghana’s economy grow. Our hope to one day walk into Ghana’s supermarkets and see high quality made in Ghana goods dominating the aisles.

SB: Where do you see your company in 5 years?

57C: We will continue to provide high-quality products that reflect Ghanaian art and culture to our customers. We also plan to continue to create gainful job opportunities as we expand our operations.

SB: What advice do you have for aspiring entrepreneurs?

57C: It is important to know and understand the factors that can either benefit or hurt the operations of your business. There is a saying that goes: knowing your customer is paramount for business success. While this is true, we also believe knowing the business climate—where you work is of equal importance.

Also, we believe it is a great time to be in Africa. Africans and Africans in the Diaspora are showing the world that the continent has an incredible amount of potential, worth, and creativity.

Entrepreneurs, change-makers, and bloggers are writing a positive narrative for the continent—contrary to how the global media normally portrays the continent (e.g. typical depictions of abject poverty and civil war). We encourage African youth to actively participate in contributing to this positive narrative.

For a complete list of 57 Chocolate products and to book a tasting, visit their website.

-Tony Oluwatoyin Lawson

Published on December 21, 2016November 8, 2017

3 mins read

Happy Birthday Thomas Sankara: “The Upright Man”

Thomas Sankara, President of the country formerly knows as Upper Volta would have been 67 years old today. After he seized power in a popularly supported coup at the young age of 33, the Pan-Africanist theorist renamed the country Burkina Faso, meaning “The land of upright people.”

Onec in office, he immediately began eliminating corruption and the dominance of the former French colonial power. “Imperialism is a system of exploitation that occurs not only in the brutal form of those who come with guns to conquer territory.

Imperialism often occurs in more subtle forms, a loan, food aid, blackmail. We are fighting this system that allows a handful of men on earth to rule all of humanity.”

Sankara cut the salaries of overpaid government officials and banned them from using the luxury vehicles they had become accustomed to. He rode a bike before he was urged to upgrade to a Renault 5, one of the cheapest cars available in Burkina Faso at the time.

Central to Sankara’s economic strategy to break the country from the domination of the West was increasing the use of locally produced food.“He who feeds you, controls you.”

As a result, Burkino Faso became self sufficient within four years. In order to strengthen the local economy, he insisted that government workers wear a traditional attire made by Burkinabe craftsmen. “We must learn to live the African way. It’s the only way to live in freedom and with dignity.”

His government was also pro women’s rights. He banned female circumcision, condemned polygamy, and appointed women to high governmental and military positions. He even had an all woman security team.

“We do not talk of women’s emancipation as an act of charity or out of a surge of human compassion. It is a basic necessity for the revolution to triumph.”

His administration gradually lost popular support, and internal conflict within his government grew. On October 15, 1987 Sankara was killed in a coup organized by his former colleague and friend, Blaise Compaoré .

Sankara and the traitor, Blaise Compaoré who would become predident after the assasination.

“While revolutionaries as individuals can be murdered, you cannot kill ideas.” – Thomas Sankara

-Tony Oluwatoyin Lawson

Published on December 19, 2016April 5, 2020

3 mins read

Top 12 Thought Provoking Steve Biko Quotes

Steve Biko, the South African anti-apartheid activist was the founding member of the South African Student Organization (SASO) which later evolved into the Black Consciousness Movement (BCM).

Biko stressed the need for Black South Africans to liberate themselves psychologically and to become self-reliant in order to fundamentally change South Africa.

1n 1977, he met an untimely death at the hands of the South African police at the young age of 30. Let’s celebrate his life and wisdom by reflecting on few of his most memorable and profound quotes.

Steve Biko Quotes

“It is better to die for an idea that will live, than to live for an idea that will die”

“Black is Beautiful.”

“Black Consciousness is an attitude of the mind and a way of life, the most positive call to emanate from the black world for a long time.”

“I’m going to be me as I am, and you can beat me or jail me or even kill me, but I’m not going to be what you want me to be.”

“The most potent weapon of the oppressor is the mind of the oppressed.”

“A people without a positive history is like a vehicle without an engine.”

“So as a prelude whites must be made to realise that they are only human, not superior. Same with Blacks. They must be made to realise that they are also human, not inferior. “

“Being black is not a matter of pigmentation – being black is a reflection of a mental attitude. ”

“A Black man should be more independent and depend on himself for his freedom and not to take it for granted that someone would lead him to it. The blacks are tired of standing at the touchlines to witness a game that they should be playing. They want to do things for themselves and all by themselves.”

“If you want to say something radical, you should dress conservative.”

“Merely by describing yourself as black you have started on a road towards emancipation, you have committed yourself to fight against all forces that seek to use your blackness as a stamp that marks you out as a subservient being. “

“In a bid for change, we have to take off our coats, be prepared to lose our comfort and security, our jobs and positions of prestige, and our families… A struggle without casualties is no struggle.”

“WOMEN must be at the forefront of nation-building to bring the South African citizenry together and, therefore, develop a whole new ethos of human co-existence.”

-Tony Oluwatoyin Lawson

Published on December 8, 2016April 5, 2020

9 mins read

Casey Bridgeford of OnCast Media on why more Black Americans should consider doing Business in Africa

I first found out about Casey Bridgeford and his company, OnCast Media while watching a CNBC Africa video on YouTube. It was refreshing to see someone who at the time I thought was not African, talking about business in Africa. (I later found out that his father is actually from Nigeria.)

Since I’m all about having conversations about business in Africa and beyond, I reached out to Casey. This is what he had to say.

SB: What inspired you to create the OnCast app?

CB: I took my first trip ever to Nigeria in 2012. While I was there, I had an opportunity to speak to some entrepreneurs. After telling them my story and my journey, we ended the discussion with a Q&A portion.

During the Q&A, they began to rapid fire, drill questions and every single question they asked was, “Can you help me find financing? Can you help me expand my business? Can you help you begin to sell my products in the U.S.?” I didn’t have the answers to any of their questions.

I didn’t even know the first place to look to get the answers. It left a sour taste in my mouth because I felt like I wasn’t being of any benefit to them.

13403191_571834102989668_6029619430864683537_o — Casey and a group of Entrepreneurs from South Africa

I made up in my mind that one, I will be back, and two, when I do come back, I will not come back empty-handed. My next trip to Nigeria was in July of this year. This time, I had the answers to every question they asked.

The inspiration behind OnCast really lies behind the fact that there are a million things that we should learn in business school and our local accelerator or incubator, but we don’t. We end up spending a lot of time doing research.

12771590_1089231284451674_5954882562011668168_o — OnCast Media at Harvard Africa Business Conference Startup Showcase

We want to take all of that information, put it in one place where it’s easy for an entrepreneur to answer these questions and get about their day of running their business.

SB: Do you think Black America is missing out on opportunities to learn more about the “real” Africa? Why so?

CB: I definitely think so. I think travel is a big part, and I think its because we would would rather go to Europe, Asia, or to the Caribbean. We never think, “I want to go vacation in Africa.” We never think, “I want to go see the people. I want to learn about what contemporary Africa is.”

Casey presenting at Wharton Business School

The media also plays a part with their constant coverage of wars and their advertising of safaris and opportunities to go see the animals.

I’m passionate about wanting as many African-Americans as possible to feel what it feels like to be on the ground in the middle of Black Africa. I say that specifically because there is no feeling like the feeling of weightlessness that you have when you’re not being judged by the color of your skin.

Most Black people, even those who have traveled the world, still don’t know what that feels like. They’ve never gone to the place where everybody looks like them, and the people that look like them run every single thing in the country.

SB: What are your thoughts on the whole, “Africans don’t like Black Americans,” or “Black Americans don’t like Africans.”

CB: It’s an absolute lie. My experience has been the opposite. In my travels just over the summer to South Africa and Nigeria this year, I’ve had several South Africans and several Nigerians ask me directly, “If you’re treated so badly in America, why are you still there? Why don’t you come home?”

It was powerful, hearing that come directly from someone’s mouth. First asking us as Black Americans, but then asking me as an individual, “Why are you still there? Come home.”

I think it’s a huge issue that we have here in America. We feel that we have to be reconciled with White America, but we don’t feel like we have to be reconciled with our African brothers and sisters.

SB: In terms of the businesses in Africa, what are the challenges that you’re seeing that most of the startups or businesses are having across-the-board?

CB: There’s two sides of it. There’s the entrepreneur side and then there is the investor side. Entrepreneurs are always going to tell you one of the biggest issues they’re having is funding. Secondly, how to find good mentors, and thirdly, how to just find information that they need to get their business going.

For investors, they would probably put access to reliable information number one. Then they would probably say access to mentors would be number two, and investment or finances would be number three.

SB: What are some of the most innovative and interesting businesses that you’ve come across so far?

CB: There’s a company that has both African-American and African people on the team. They’re launching their beta in Kenya and it’s called Magic Bus. Their technology allows someone in rural Kenya to be able to understand when the bus is coming, purchase their ticket, and know when it’s delayed and exactly where the bus is all through a cell phone without using any internet connection.

12961673_1582262218750947_3402100732016689090_n — Magic Bus

We see that as being one of those game changer technologies that really helps revolutionize and increase the efficiency of mass transit for people who are in rural areas as well as in city areas as transportation is one of the biggest issues.

SB: So what does success look like for OnCast Media?

CB: We want to become a meaningful resource for entrepreneurs to quickly find information to help them grow their businesses. In doing that, we want to help create 300,000 jobs on the continent through our mobile application. Thirdly, we want to amass the biggest real-time database of entrepreneurial information and statistics anywhere available.

SB: What advice do you have for somebody who’s in the US reading this interview and has just realized that there are business opportunities in Africa as an investor and as an entrepreneur?

CB: Go! Go! Go! I’ve been telling my friends, “If you want to go, I’m going. Let’s get together and I will show you what the business scene looks like, I’ll show you what the social scene looks like, I’ll show you where the opportunities are, and you’ll be connected directly.”

Find out more about OnCast media via their website.

-Tony Oluwatoyin Lawson

Published on October 22, 2016January 10, 2023

2 mins read

Black Owned Ethical Fashion Brands from the Continent

In response to growing demand from socially conscious consumers, ethical fashion brands are popping up around the world and established brands are developing eco-friendly lines.

The Black owned ethical fashion brands below are just some of several that are empowering economically disadvantaged artisans in communities across several African countries.

Black Owned Ethical Fashion Brands

The Haute Baso vision is to promote Rwanda’s ability to produce high-end and functional products that are able to compete on local and international levels.

Anita Quansah creates unique and stylish one-off pieces of clothing with matching neckpieces using vintage and recycled materials which beautifully meld into a look of classic sophistication.

KIKI Clothing is the brainchild of Titi Ademola, a fashion designer who is devoted to creating ready-to-wear collections that are meticulously made in Ghana.

Sonia Mugabo is a Rwandan fashion brand that was born out of founder, Sonia Mugabo’s strong interest in design; and the desire to tap into the existing local artisan talent to make high quality men and womenswear.

Studio 189 is a fashion brand based in Ghana created by Abrima Erwiah and Rosario Dawson. It provides a platform to promote African brands through worldwide distribution and manufacturing of their artisan produced collection.

U.Mi-1 (pronounced you.me.one) is a contemporary brand that appeals to people who judge luxury from the finishing inside to the detailing on the outside.

Sophie Zinga is a Senegalese fashion brand. The collection features exquisite and the finest materials and fabrics namely silks, hand made Senegalese cloth and semi-precious stones.

Duaba Serwa is a Ghanaian womenswear brand founded by Nelly Hagan-Aboagye. Initially starting as a jewelry designer, Duaba Serwa then developed its trademark of applying jewelry to clothes.

Mimi Plange is a modern women’s wear brand launched in 2010 by American-Ghanaian designer, Mimi Plange. Lost African civilizations inspire the Mimi Plange clothing and give the collection depth of meaning.

by Tony O. Lawson

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Published on September 12, 2016September 24, 2022

2 mins read

African Fashion Brands to Keep An Eye On

This month, Fashion Week events will be taking place in New York, Paris, London and Milan. Now more than ever, you can expect the presence of dope African Fashion brands or designs influenced by African culture.

Here are just a few established and up and coming fashion brands on the Continent that you should get into:

African Fashion Brands

Galago (South Africa) sources beautiful leathers and vibrant fabrics and allows you to combine them to make your own bespoke sandal.

ENZI (Ethiopia) is a footwear brand committed to the highest levels of quality in production, design and materials while maintaining a commitment to social and environmental responsibility.

MaXhosa Knitwear (South Africa) celebrates the rich heritage of the Xhosa culture through providing traditional clothing for Xhosa initiation rituals.

Lukhanyo Mdingi (South Africa)aims to show a sense of cross cultural influences of traditional designs; reflecting on a contemporary outlook of African aesthetics and heritage.

Lanre da Silva Ajayi Couture (Nigeria) creates clothing for the woman who is naturally classy but doesn’t shy away from her sensual side.

Loza Maléombho (Côte d’Ivoire) is a fusion between traditional cultures/ sub-cultures and contemporary fashion.

Taibo Bacar (Mozambique) is a burst of wholesome energy for all women who identify themselves with eclectic style where the silhouette plays a central role.

Christie Brown (Ghana) is a women’s apparel and accessories line with pieces ranging from bespoke gowns, and practical yet statement pieces to innovative accessories all inspired by African culture and art.

Thula Sindi (South Africa) is a clothing brand that cuts across the vast discrepancy that exists between unrealistic high-end designer haute couture, and everyday retail chain/bargain bin clothing.