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From Runways to Realities: Two African Models Share It All

In this month’s episode of African Creative Stories, we had the pleasure of interviewing two incredible models: Jesujoba Isaac (AWE) from Nigeria and Lelam Nombewu from South Africa. They shared their experiences about the realities of being a model in Africa and offered insights on how the industry can improve. We hope you enjoy this episode as much as we did!     In conversation with the first model    What’s your name, and which country do you reside in?   My name is Jesujoba Isaac, AWE. I currently reside in Lagos, Nigeria where I work as a model and performance poet.     What’s your fondest memory as a model?     I now have quite a few memories; working with one of the best photographers in Lagos, walking the runway at Lagos Fashion Week and featuring on the GTCO Fashion Weekend campaign. It’s been such a ride, and a long time coming.     What improvements do you think the modeling industry in Africa needs?   I honestly feel that there have been too many rejections, even when a model practically meets the criteria for a shoot or fashion show. It’s too political, which makes it difficult for the new generation of models to thrive. From my personal experience, it’s a painful process fighting your way to the top. I don’t think there should be any boxes whatsoever—there’s room for everybody..   In conversation with the second model    What’s your name, and which country do you reside in?   My name is Lelam Nombewu, and I’m from Cape Town, South Africa, where I still reside.       What’s your fondest memory as a model? One of my fondest memories as a model was working with Michael Ludwig Studios. The experience was incredibly special to me because it wasn’t just about the work, it was about the lessons I learned from Michael.   Their patience, willingness to teach without criticism, and dedication to their craft were things that left a lasting impact on me. It taught me so much about the industry and, more importantly, about myself.       What improvements do you think the modeling industry in Africa needs?   When it comes to the African modeling industry, I believe there is a pressing need for greater diversity and representation. While there has been a growing focus on African beauty, a significant gap remains in representing the full spectrum of our continent’s diversity. From different cultures, body types, and skin tones, Africa has so much more to offer than what is typically portrayed in the media. People often hold a narrow view of what an African model should look like, but the reality is that we come from a rich variety of backgrounds, and this diversity deserves to be celebrated.   Furthermore, I believe Africa needs to invest more in talent development. We have incredible potential, but it often goes unrecognized due to a lack of platforms to showcase and nurture this talent. Many aspiring models struggle to access proper training, mentorship, and professional development opportunities. With more resources, workshops, and agencies dedicated to guiding and uplifting young talent, we could build a more professional and sustainable modeling industry.     Thank you for joining us on this episode ofAfrican Creative Stories. Stay connected with Afrique Noire Magazine here on Instagram and join our fast growing community here on TikTok

December 4, 2024

From Congo to Palestine, to the World: The Interconnected Fight for Liberation

The global genocide and exploitation of Congo dates back to the 16th century following the pillaging of Congo’s natural resources for colonial interests, and the brutalization of the Congolese people’s bodies, villages, women, and other civilians. Congo has been at the focus of the world’s deadliest conflict since 1945 involving 5.4 million deaths. Surrounding countries are involved in the ravaging of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC)’s mineral wealth. More recently, hundreds of thousands of children, girls, and women are abducted, brutalized, and are forcefully made to work, some as sex slaves, and even UN peacekeepers do not do much to protect citizens and instead participate in these abuses and plunder.     At the center of the plight of the people of Congo, are unsafe and violent resource extraction projects. Home demolitions, evictions, displacement, targeted violence on activists and land defenders, and child exploitation are commonplace in these unsafe mines, with one of them caving in 2019 killing a total of 49 people.     Since the 1990s, Congo has been at the center of mass atrocities at the hands of Belgian colonizers led by King Leopold, amassing more casualties than the holocaust in an exploitative, brutal, and tortuous regime with farming rubber, ivory, and minerals for profit at the heart of its interests. Now, neo-colonial traditions continue to harm the Congolese people– history has not changed as children are still being abused for profit, women are still raped, villages are still being pillaged, and men are still being killed. A large part of what exacerbates the exploitative conditions in Congo are large mining companies that seek to pillage Congo’s wealth of natural resources to continue to wage imperialist wars on other nations.      For example, grave human rights abuses are almost essential within Congo’s mines– massacre, genocide, environmental destruction, mines that Glencore, the world leading producer of cobalt in the DRC, and one of its subsidiaries, Katanga Mining have greatly benefitted from. Aside from this, these mining operations are responsible for up to 80% of the destruction of the ecosystem and cause the pollution of rivers, air, and soils that lead to chronic illnesses affecting surrounding communities.      However, Glencore is not only active in inciting violence in Congo, but also in other nations– to pacify community resistance at mining sites, a large part of Glencore’s subsidiaries also employ numerous private security companies managed by former apartheid South African soldiers that are responsible for human rights violations in Namibia and Angola.      The company is also in corruption scandals after allegedly paying 75 million euros to Israeli billionaire Dan Gertler who bribed officials in Gecamines to secure mining agreements. This tracks, seeing as Israel’s genocide of Gaza utilizes bombs, jets, tanks, and guns used by Israeli forces in their Palestinian occupation are directly produced from destructive mining operations in Congo, Columbia, South Africa, West Papua, and Bougainville.      Our oppressors are not all that different, but are interconnected and the same. The brutal cycle of community resistance at mining sites which are pacificied via military repression fueled by minerals from other conflict zones does not start and end with Glencore. Unfortunately, it is not an isolated incident as seen in the case of Rio Tinto, a subsidiary of Bougainville Copper. Rio Tinto has polluted the Bougainville’s river systems killing aquatic life, land based livelihoods, and sacred spiritual sites in the area. They have also supplied helicopters to the Papua New Guinea army to pacify anti-mining and independence movements, commit torture, and launch extrajudicial killings, killing over 20,000 Bougainvilleans by the end of the decade. The same company is also responsible for human rights violations in Madagascar, West Papua, and Lonmin in the Marikana massacre.      Human rights violations in the nations of the world’s oppressed majority range far and wide, but our oppressors remain exactly the same. The fight for a free Congo, is one with the fight for a free Palestine and a free world for the oppressed masses of the globe. As we recognize how each of our struggles for national liberation is interconnected, we must also come together to fight for what will be our joint liberation. Through finding strength in international solidarity of the oppressed peoples of the world, we shed the view that these issues of violence and abuse are separate instead of a shared fight against imperialism, colonization, and exploitation.   Stay connected with Afrique Noire Magazine here on Instagram and join our fast growing community here on TikTok  

October 13, 2024
Culture

Entrepreneurial Journeys: The Inspirations Behind Launching Brands in Africa

AFRICAN CREATIVE STORIES   Join us on this episode of African Creative Stories as we sit down with five remarkable African entrepreneurs who are revolutionizing their industries across the continent. They reveal the sparks that ignited their brand launches and the pivotal moments that defined their journeys. Dive in and enjoy their inspiring stories!   Peter ACHA – Founder of PETTRE TAYLOR (Lagos Nigeria)     Q – What inspired you to start your brand?   A – What really inspired me to start Pettre Taylor was a travel experience I had with my dad when I visited my hometown, Utonkon, the Ufia land, for the first time as a youth. Learning to pronounce words in my native dialect while interacting with people and immersing myself in the culture was incredibly priceless and eye-opening.   I also got to teach them words in English and share the knowledge I had. Allowing myself to connect with my people made me realize that, just like my culture and my people, there are other cultures out there with their own spaces, people, and traditions. This fueled my curiosity about the cultural tapestry of the world.   My brand reflects my journey to view the world through my own lens and present my clothes as a medium for cultural dialogue.           Q – What’s the most unforgettable memory or defining moment you’ve had with your brand?   A – I had always been quite reckless in my design process, randomly buying fabrics and designing expressively, without always knowing if the clothes would be well-received. But I had this feeling that there was someone out there for whom I was designing.     When ‘30s Store’ reached out and invited me to showcase my work at their pop-up event in Lagos, I was both excited and nervous. The moment we were done arranging the clothes on the racks, the response was overwhelming. Within an hour, I had sold out almost my entire stock, leaving just two pieces remaining. It was an incredible feeling, not just because of the financial success, but because it validated my approach and my belief that there was an audience for my brand.       Maina Wathiong’o  – Founder of KAUWRI (Nairobi Kenya)         Q – What inspired you to start your brand?   A – After spending a year in the design industry, I developed a deep appreciation for the intricate and artistic nature of the design process. From conceptualizing ideas to creating samples and eventually seeing the final product purchased and cherished by clients, I found the entire transformation fascinating and fulfilling. This experience solidified my desire to pursue design full-time. I wanted to create something unique that reflected my heritage, which led me back to my Kenyan roots, specifically my Kikuyu culture. The cowrie shell holds significant cultural reverence, and I envisioned Kauwri as a modern ode to my culture. Initially, I focused solely on cowrie shells, but to avoid limiting my creativity, I expanded the scope to include other shells and nature-inspired jewelry. Our journey began with the launch of the Celestial Collection at Nairobi Design Week in March 2024. This collection beautifully merged celestial elements with the cowrie shell, marking the beginning of Kauwri’s unique design narrative.           Q – What’s the most unforgettable memory or defining moment you’ve had with your brand?     A – One of the most unforgettable moments for Kauwri thus far was participating in Nairobi Design Week 2024. Launching our first collection and receiving such positive feedback was incredibly validating, especially as a self-taught jewelry designer. The exposure and following we gained from the event were remarkable.           Another defining moment was when a client purchased a ring from us as a gift for Arsema Thomas, known for her role in “Queen Charlotte.” It was a humbling yet proud moment to know that Arsema Thomas owns a piece of Kauwri jewelry.     Daniel TOHOU – Founder of  NEFER (France and Dahomey – Benin)-     Q – What inspired you to start your brand?   A – L’inspiration qui m’as permis de commencer NEFER est le désir profond de rendre hommage à l’héritage globale de l’Afrique et sa diaspora.   Translation – The inspiration that allowed me to start NEFER is the deep desire to pay homage to the global heritage of Africa and its diaspora.       Q – What’s the most unforgettable memory or defining moment you’ve had with your brand?   Le moment le plus determinant est l’opportunité que j’ai eu d’habillé Jidenna pour les Grammy awards, ce fut l’ouverture de la marque au yeux du monde.   Translation – The most defining moment was the opportunity I had to dress Jidenna for the Grammy awards, it was the opening of the brand to the eyes of the world.   Halimat SALAKO – Founder of BL BRAND (Lagos Nigeria)       Q – What inspired you to start your brand?   A – When I began, I had no inspiration (that’s quite funny 😂). It started merely as a means to survive, seeking something different from the typical entrepreneurial skills we were offered.   Over time, it has evolved into a passion and a way to build a community. It’s no longer just about survival; it’s about driving change, standing out, and creating lasting memories. Inspired by the cultural heritage of Adire, I wanted to differentiate myself by infusing the traditional Adire style into modern streetwear.       Q – What’s the most unforgettable memory or defining moment you’ve had with your brand?   A – I have a lot of unforgettable memories with the brand. When we were planning a campaign, it took a lot of time to execute the plan. When the video was released, it became the talk of the town. I felt really good seeing people watch the campaign. It still feels unreal

August 5, 2024