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Some photographers capture beauty. Others, like Sophia El Bahja, capture meaning. Her images are not just visuals but cultural statements intertwined with the textures of Moroccan streets, the colors of its fabrics, and the rhythm of its youth. Looking at her work, you feel the tug of heritage meeting the sharp edge of modernity, an intimacy that is at once familiar and daringly new. Born into an artistic household where creativity was less a pastime and more a language, Sophia grew up surrounded by concerts, festivals, and the hum of cultural life. That early exposure left her with a sharpened eye and a sensitivity to details others might overlook. Today, she uses her lens to tell stories that straddle worlds: fashion and art, tradition and innovation, Morocco and the globe. But Sophia is not simply photographing; she is reframing. Her work insists on ownership, pride, and bold self-expression. Every frame she creates asks viewers to look closer not only at Morocco, but at the power of photography to reclaim, redefine, and reimagine. Read Sophia talk about her beginnings, her vision, and why she believes African photography is entering its most exciting chapter yet. Tell us about yourself. Who is Sophia El Bahja, and how would you introduce your work in one line?I’m a Moroccan photographer driven by the desire to tell stories through images. I focus on fashion and artistic photography, passionate about blending heritage with modernity.In one line: I tell stories of culture, identity, and style through bold, timeless visuals that merge tradition with a contemporary edge. Where did your love for art and photography first begin? Was it a single moment, or did it unfold over time?It wasn’t a single moment; it unfolded gradually, almost like a thread that kept weaving itself into my life. I grew up in an artistic family, with both of my parents working in the Ministry of Culture. My childhood was filled with concerts, festivals, and artistic encounters that shaped my sensitivity to beauty and creativity. My father was also passionate about photography. I still remember the first time they bought me a camera during one of our travels; I started with vlogging and then slowly moved to taking pictures. Without realizing it, I was absorbing a way of seeing the world through images, even through phone photography, before getting my first professional camera. Later, in university, I began experimenting more seriously, and that passion truly took root. Take us back to your very first photoshoot. What was that experience like, and what did it teach you? My first photoshoot was both exciting and intimidating. I realized very quickly that it wasn’t just about taking pictures; it was about creating trust, building a story, and paying attention to every detail, from styling to light. It taught me that photography is as much about people and connection as it is about the technical side. That experience pushed me to start taking online courses to learn more about the technical aspects, which gradually became embedded in my work, sometimes without me even realizing it. If you had to describe your photographic style in three words, what would they be and why?Cultural, bold, mixed. Cultural, because part of my work draws on heritage, traditions, and identity, weaving them into modern contexts.Bold, because I like to experiment with strong visuals, contrasts, and striking compositions that immediately capture attention.Mixed, because my work lives at the intersection of many things; I mix culture and modernity, blend different photographic styles, and balance between raw, cultural visuals and editorial, creative ones. That mix is what makes my photography feel both personal and versatile. Who is your greatest icon in the photography world, past or present, and how have they influenced your work?I really love Jeremy Soma’s work! His photography encouraged me to be bolder in my own approach; to take risks, experiment with stronger visuals. Which story or project are you most proud of capturing through your lens? The project I’m most proud of is Marroki Export. It’s a bold and visually rich photo series that frames the Moroccan fashion industry through the lens of its youth. The project captures how a new generation confidently merges traditions with a contemporary edge. For me, it’s more than just fashion photography; it’s a statement about identity, pride, and how Moroccan culture continues to evolve while staying deeply connected to its roots. What do you want people to feel or take away after experiencing your photography?I want them to feel connected to their roots, to the stories of others, or simply to a moment of beauty. My hope is that my images spark pride, curiosity, and reflection. How does Africa shape the way you frame subjects? Are there themes, rhythms, or visual languages you lean on?Africa shapes everything. Especially Morocco. The textures of the streets, the patterns of fabrics, the colors of markets, and even the rhythm of daily life naturally seep into my images. There’s a richness and rawness that I can’t ignore, and I lean into it by highlighting details that others might overlook. For me, Africa is not just a backdrop; it’s a pulse that guides the way I compose, light, and narrate my work. Beyond the camera, what inspires your creativity? Books, music, travel, or everyday encounters? All of them play a role, but I’d say everyday encounters inspire me the most. Conversations with people, observing how they move, how they style themselves, how their environment reflects their story. That’s where my ideas are born. Travel feeds my eye with new aesthetics. But at the heart of it, it’s human interaction that fuels my creativity. Looking ahead, what excites you most about the future of photography in Africa? What excites me is the rise of a generation of African photographers who are reclaiming their own narratives. For so long, Africa has been photographed through an outsider’s lens, often reducing it to clichés. Now, we’re seeing bold, unapologetic, and innovative work coming from within, redefining how the world sees us

Written by Kemi Adedoyin If you ask ten different Africans what waist beads mean, you’ll likely hear ten different answers. But some common replies are: they’re seductive traps for men, or they’re powerful spiritual charms. Both are true, and both are painfully incomplete. The tragedy is not that waist beads are misunderstood. The tragedy is that we’ve allowed them to be flattened into clichés, forgetting that they are some of the most layered cultural texts Africa has ever produced. Where Waist Beads Come From Waist beads are not new. Archaeological records show that beads, including waist beads, were part of African societies as far back as the 15th century, particularly in regions like ancient Ghana and Yoruba land. Traders along the trans-Saharan routes moved beads across kingdoms, and over time, beads became deeply symbolic markers of wealth, spirituality, fertility, and femininity. In West Africa, especially Nigeria, Ghana, and Senegal, waist beads evolved into cultural signifiers where women received them at puberty, wore them at festivals, and adorned themselves with them at marriage. They were never just decoration; they were woven into life’s most significant transitions. Colors and materials of waist beads were never random. Each strand could carry a significant meaning. In some traditions, specific stones or crystals were added for spiritual reinforcement. For example, onyx for grounding, turquoise for healing, and coral for wealth. More than Seduction Yes, waist beads can be alluring. In some cultures, they were tied during marriage to heighten intimacy, to add rhythm to a woman’s movement, or to mark a private bond between lovers. But to say they are only about seduction is to erase their depth. Among the Ghanians and Yoruba, waist beads (ileke idi) marked life’s transitions – puberty, fertility, and social status. They were treasured as wealth, beauty, and inheritance. The Igbo used beads in initiation rites, sometimes layering them with spiritual significance. Seduction was only one note in a symphony of meanings. More than Spirituality Another myth we cling to is the idea that waist beads are inherently spiritual. Yes, some were infused with herbs, prayers, and protective charms. Among the Krobo of Ghana, for instance, beads marked a girl’s coming of age, infused with blessings for her future. But not all beads carried spiritual weight. In many households, they were everyday adornments, tied on infants at birth and replaced as the child grew. They were sacred sometimes. But they were also ordinary. Festivals, Rites & Marriages Waist beads were woven into cultural celebrations. Festivals still showcase women adorned in elaborate beads, waistlines gleaming with colors that signal both beauty and community identity. In the Igbo culture of Nigeria, waist beads (sometimes combined with other beadwork) form part of traditional marriage adornment. A bride is often dressed in coral and waist beads to symbolize fertility, beauty, and honor to her new family. Waist Beads and the Female Body Waist beads were also practical tools of intimacy with one’s own body. Long before the invention of bathroom scales, African women used them as subtle trackers of weight and body changes. A strand growing tight meant weight gain; slackness meant loss. But beyond tracking, waist beads made the body conscious. They taught posture, movement, and poise. They reminded women of their hips, their waist, their softness, not as flaws to be hidden, but as gifts to be celebrated. Now that beauty standards are imposed from elsewhere, waist beads remain unapologetically African as they embrace curves, fullness, and presence. They do not shrink the body; they frame it. Waist Beads as Heritage Waist beads are often private heirlooms. Mothers gift them to daughters, grandmothers to granddaughters, with blessings stitched into every bead. They are diaries of growth; new strands added at puberty, tighter strands during motherhood, celebratory strands at marriage. Some are never meant to be seen in public. They remain under clothes, intimate reminders of heritage and womanhood, known only to the wearer. Others are showcased proudly during festivals or dances, where their shimmer tells of lineage and identity. What We Keep Getting Wrong We keep trying to force waist beads into one box. Seduction. Spirituality. Fashion. Fetish.But the truth is that waist beads don’t have a single definition. They are: Erotic and sacred Fashion and heritage Private and public Ordinary and extraordinary The Bigger Conversation If waist beads spark debate, maybe the real issue is not the beads themselves but how we see our culture. Have we stripped waist beads of their meanings, turning them into Instagram trends and fast-fashion trinkets? How do we reconcile their heritage with modern reinterpretations when a Krobo girl ties beads at her initiation, and an Instagram influencer wears them as boho chic? Do waist beads still carry the same significance in marriages, rites, and festivals today? Or are they shifting into new cultural spaces? Can reclaiming waist beads become a deeper act of reclaiming African womanhood itself? These are not just conversations about jewelry. They are conversations about identity, ownership, and memory. What we get wrong about African waist beads is that we underestimate them. They are not silent accessories; they are living texts. To see waist beads glimmer at the waistline is to see Africa herself – impossible to reduce.

In Ethiopia, a wedding is never just a ceremony; it is a grand symphony of tradition, faith, family, and festivity. It is witnessing together generations, communities, and cultures. With elaborate pre-wedding rituals to dazzling wedding attire, from the sacred vows to the feasts that follow, an Ethiopian wedding is a kind of celebration that lingers in memory long after the music fades. Courtship and Engagement Though modern love stories increasingly begin in classrooms, workplaces, or cities, Ethiopia still holds strongly to the belief that marriage is as much about families as it is about two individuals. Traditionally, courtship begins with shimagelay, a formal negotiation led by elders from the groom’s family. Their role is to approach the bride’s household, offer respect, and secure the blessing of her parents. Once the families agree, the engagement ceremony known as Telosh follows. On this day, the groom and his family arrive at the bride’s home with gifts: jewelry, perfumes, fabrics, and sometimes even an Ethiopian wedding dress woven from soft cotton. The bride, in turn, presents her future husband with gifts, symbolizing mutual respect. Far from being a quiet affair, Telosh brims with music, laughter, and playful teasing as women ululate and men break into song. Pre-Wedding Preparations The days before the wedding are rich with tradition. Brides are pampered in rituals of beauty – sometimes with honey and milk foot-washing, other times with elaborate henna designs across hands and feet, especially in Muslim communities. These moments are both symbolic and celebratory, preparing her to step into her new life adorned with grace. Different regions bring unique flavors to the preparations. In the Gurage community, women gather for Ensosela, a lively female-only event filled with song. In Harari tradition, the groom’s family sends sweets and chat leaves to the bride’s home during the engagement, adding to the anticipation. Ethiopian Wedding Attire No Ethiopian wedding is complete without its iconic attire. The bride often shines in a habesha kemis, a flowing white cotton gown decorated with vibrant embroidery along the borders. These are sometimes modernized into Ethiopian wedding gowns, combining traditional handwoven fabrics with contemporary tailoring. The groom, meanwhile, may wear a traditional Habesha libs, paired with a regal Kaba – a cape-like garment edged with gold embroidery. Together, the couple’s appearance is not just stylish; it reflects cultural pride.  Among Harari brides, jewelry plays a starring role, from elaborate headpieces like the Siyaasa to layers of gold necklaces and bangles. The Sacred Wedding Ceremony Ethiopian weddings differ according to faith, but all are deeply symbolic. Ethiopian Orthodox Christian weddings often take place inside a church, with the priest blessing the couple and placing crowns on their heads, declaring them the king and queen of their new household. The ceremony, filled with incense and chanting, emphasizes the sanctity of marriage. Muslim weddings center on the Nikah, where vows are exchanged before God in the presence of an imam. Afterwards, families host a joyous celebration, complete with food, music, and dance. Protestant and Catholic weddings tend to mirror Western services but still embrace Ethiopian traditions, whether through attire, music, or dance. Across all faiths, the presence of elders, the blessings of parents, and the joy of the community are constants. The Feast and the Famous Gursha Once vows are exchanged, it’s time for the central highlight of any Ethiopian wedding. Guests gather around large platters of injera, topped with an array of stews and sautés: doro wat (spicy chicken stew), tibs (beef or lamb), and kitfo (minced beef with spiced butter). What makes dining special is the act of gursha, which is feeding one another by hand. The bride and groom feed each other as a symbol of love and care, and soon, guests join in, feeding family members and friends as a sign of affection. Sweet tej (honey wine) flows in glass flasks called berele, while homemade tella (beer) adds to the cheer. Celebrations: Music and Dance Ethiopian weddings are famous for their music and dance. The eskista, a traditional dance of rolling shoulders and chest movements, electrifies the reception. Guests, young and old, join in, clapping and swaying as the rhythm builds. Professional dancers sometimes lead the crowd, ensuring the energy never wanes. Celebrations often last well beyond the wedding day. Melse: The day after the wedding, the bride’s family hosts a gathering. The couple wears their finest Ethiopian wedding attire, often including the embroidered Kaba, and receives blessings from both families. Kelekel: On the third day, the party continues with more food, more dancing, more joy. Beyond the grand celebrations, Ethiopian weddings are filled with small but meaningful customs. The Bread Name: In some traditions, the groom’s mother hides a loaf of bread, and the groomsmen must find it. If they fail, they pay a fine. Once found, the groom’s mother gives the bride a nickname, welcoming her into the family. Kneeling to Elders: Couples kneel before their parents and elders, kissing their knees or feet in a powerful act of respect. Elders then bless the union, reminding the couple that marriage is as much about heritage as it is about the future. Ethiopia’s Cultural Tapestry An Ethiopian wedding is not just a milestone for a couple, it is a cultural festival, a family reunion, and a communal feast. It is at once sacred and joyous, intimate and expansive. From the regal crowns of an Orthodox ceremony to the shoulder-shaking energy of eskista, from the elegance of an Ethiopian wedding dress to the tenderness of gursha, the celebration is one of the most dazzling expressions of love anywhere in the world.