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Father’s Day is a time to honor the profound role of fathers. In African societies, fathers are more than just parents; they are custodians of heritage, embodying strength, wisdom, and resilience. They are vital links through which traditions, values, and life lessons pass from one generation to the next, forming the foundation of identity and community. “African fatherhood” is incredibly diverse, reflecting the continent’s rich cultures—from the Maasai and Nyamwezi to the Hemba, Zulu, and Xhosa. Across these varied traditions, fathers play pivotal roles, extending their influence to the stability and resilience of the entire community. Supporting fathers is a fundamental strategy for community development, recognizing their role as cornerstones of social cohesion and cultural continuity. Examples of diverse traditional roles and teachings include: Maasai fathers: Protectors, providers, instillers of resilience and survival skills. Hemba fathers: Custodians of traditions, leaders, mediators, passing down cultural heritage, respect, integrity, and humility. Zulu fathers: Leaders, protectors, transmitting ancestral wisdom, cultural pride, respect, bravery, and unity. Xhosa fathers: Guides and mentors, teaching life lessons, cultural history, spirituality, responsibility, and cultural pride through rituals like “ulwaluko.” Bamileke fathers: Providers and educators, imparting farming, craftsmanship, and business skills, emphasizing education. Fulani fathers: Preservers of cultural traditions, instilling discipline, resilience, and adaptability for nomadic livelihoods. Tikar fathers: Custodians of cultural heritage and moral values, passing down rituals, ceremonies, oral traditions, and ethical behavior. Lessons for Life: Values and Character Traits Imparted African fathers shape their children’s moral compass, instilling core values for ethical behavior and responsible citizenship. Fathers in Hoedspruit serve as role models of integrity, emphasizing honesty, respect, and responsibility, teaching that success includes contributing positively to society. Tikar fathers stress ethical behavior, honesty, and respect. These values are taught through direct instruction, modeling, and community participation. Fathers foster a strong sense of community and collective responsibility. Hoedspruit fathers teach about family bonds and teamwork, drawing lessons from nature (e.g., lion prides and elephant herds). Tikar fathers emphasize respect for others. The natural world often serves as a classroom, making abstract concepts tangible. Fathers also equip children with mental fortitude, fostering resilience and adaptability. Fulani fathers instill discipline, resilience, and adaptability for nomadic life. Resilience is the ability to bounce back from adversity, and fathers encourage learning from setbacks, preparing children for unpredictable challenges. Hands-On Wisdom: Practical Skills and Resourcefulness Historically, African fathers equipped children with practical skills for survival and economic sustenance. Maasai fathers teach pastoralism, while Bamileke fathers pass down farming, craftsmanship, and business skills. Fulani fathers preserve cultural traditions and livelihoods. These skills maintain the economic and social fabric of the family and community. Contemporary African fathers also pass down modern practical know-how, imbued with deeper life lessons. South African fathers teach skills like braai (fire-making and grilling), which fosters patience and communal bonds. Basic car maintenance teaches self-sufficiency and safety. Tying a tie teaches presentation and confidence. These tasks become vehicles for transmitting responsibility, preparedness, attention to detail, and respect. Underlying these skills are universal lessons about diligence, foresight, and independence. They build connection, resourcefulness, and quiet confidence, equipping individuals with a mindset for navigating challenges. Direct paternal guidance in acquiring tangible skills directly builds a child’s confidence, preparing them for life’s challenges in any environment. The Evolving Father: Nurturing and Engagement in Modern Africa   African fatherhood is transforming, moving beyond provider and protector roles to embrace more active, nurturing, and emotionally engaged parenting. This evolution is driven by socio-economic changes, urbanization, and a global re-evaluation of gender roles. Education is a key catalyst, empowering fathers with knowledge for holistic involvement, dismantling harmful stereotypes, and fostering nurturing roles. Modern African fathers balance traditional provision with profound emotional support. Hoedspruit fathers, like fish eagles, balance hunting and caring. They provide stable, loving environments where children can thrive emotionally and intellectually, listening to fears, dreams, and aspirations. This balance is crucial for holistic child development. The Profound Impact: Why Fathers Matter Immensely Fathers foster a child’s inner strength and self-worth, providing foundational security. Black fathers are crucial for self-esteem, modeling virtues like courage and integrity. Their positive affirmations and active involvement create a supportive environment for children to explore passions, develop skills, and take risks. Fathers instill a deep love for lifelong learning. They engage in conversations, encourage reading, and participate in educational paths (parent-teacher meetings, homework, extracurriculars). Bamileke fathers emphasize education, supporting academic journeys, often intensified in migrant families where success repays parental sacrifices. Fathers help children understand emotions, communicate effectively, and build empathetic relationships. Black fathers teach emotional intelligence through open dialogues and shared experiences. A father who demonstrates emotional intelligence teaches children to understand and manage emotions. They foster open communication by creating an environment where emotions are discussed, modeling vulnerability to humanize themselves. A father’s consistent presence and active involvement contribute significantly to a child’s sense of security, stability, and overall well-being. They safeguard their families, ensuring a safe and secure environment. Research shows that father absence is associated with developmental challenges, including developmental delays, teenage pregnancy, delinquency, and abuse. This highlights the foundational importance of paternal involvement for healthy child development. Real-life examples illustrate the profound dedication and resilience of African fathers. Alphonse Batundi (DRC) moved his sons for safety, embodying relentless protection. Douglas Bashonga (DRC) meticulously implemented cholera prevention to protect his family. Adama Kone (Côte d’Ivoire) rushed his premature baby to the hospital, demonstrating immense courage. Thembile (South Africa), a single father, sought support from a parenting program, showing adaptability and commitment to growth. These stories make the immense impact of fathers tangible and moving.  A Legacy of Love, Leadership, and Resilience African fathers, in their diverse traditional and evolving modern roles, are irreplaceable figures. They are foundational architects of character, steadfast guardians of cultural heritage, and enduring wellsprings of resilience that strengthen individuals and the fabric of African societies, both on the continent and in the diaspora. Their impact is profound and far-reaching. African fatherhood is a dynamic continuum, constantly adapting to socio-economic changes, urbanization, migration, and global influences, while preserving core values and

“We are more of a solution-based brand for black women and Black hair care. So I feel like it’s like for us, by us.”   Meet Fola Fash, the visionary behind TAUPE TOOLS. In this edition of Founder’s Story by NOIRE, we had an insightful conversation with Fola Fash about her entrepreneurial journey—the challenges, the lessons, and the wins. Explore her story and get inspired! For over a decade, the founder of TAUPE TOOLS, Fola Fash, has been at the forefront of the hair care industry, refining her craft as a hairstylist and salon owner. With years of experience and a passion for problem-solving, she has built a brand that caters specifically to the needs of Black women—offering innovative, solution-driven tools designed for textured hair. Bridging the Gap in Hair Care TAUPE TOOLS was born out of necessity. While running TAUPE, her Lagos-based salon, she noticed a recurring challenge—many of her clients wanted sleek, straight styles but feared heat damage. Despite performing countless silk presses with expert precision, she saw that clients struggled to replicate the results at home. “I felt like there was a gap in the market for easy-to-use tools that are straight to the point,” she explains. “As a hairstylist, I want to provide solutions. Our clients loved how we did their silk presses, and they never experienced heat damage. That’s what inspired our first product—the TAUPE TOOLS Silk Press Straightener—which delivers sleek results in just one pass without compromising hair health.” From that single innovation, TAUPE TOOLS evolved into a full-fledged brand, committed to empowering Black women with professional-grade tools designed for their hair textures. From London to Lagos: A Global Hair Education Her journey in hair care began in London, where she trained at the prestigious Sassoon Academy. While the school focused primarily on European hair, it provided her with a strong foundation in cutting and coloring techniques. However, she knew she needed to refine her expertise in Black hair. “While I was in school, I realized I needed extra knowledge about textured hair,” she stated. “So, after my classes, I interned at a high-end Black hair salon in Knightsbridge, London. That experience was invaluable—it taught me the intricacies of caring for and styling Black hair in a luxury salon environment.” This dual education gave her a well-rounded perspective, but her mission became clear: the hair care industry already offered countless solutions for non-textured hair. What was missing were high-quality, innovative tools made for Black women, by Black women. Creating Solutions for Every Hair Type “I understand the struggle because I experience it myself” – Fola Fash The conversation around Black hair has been ongoing for years, with countless debates over the best products, routines, and techniques. Whether it’s 4C, 4A, or somewhere in between, the challenges Black women face in managing and styling their hair are diverse. “There are so many different hair types, and everyone has a different method that works for them. My goal with TAUPE TOOLS  is to create products that simplify the process—taking the guesswork out of styling while maintaining hair health.” With TAUPE TOOLS, she’s not just selling hair tools—she’s offering confidence, convenience, and care. As the brand continues to grow, one thing remains at its core: innovation designed specifically for Black hair, ensuring that every woman can embrace her beauty with ease. Understanding and Addressing the Gaps One of the biggest challenges Fola noticed was that even though many women embraced their natural hair, they still wanted versatility. “A lot of people, even though they’re natural, still want variety,” she explains. “They want to be able to switch between curly and straight styles without compromising their hair health.” To support this, TAUPE TOOLS offers high-quality, textured hair extensions that mimic natural textures like kinky straight, yaki straight, and curly hair. This allows women to change their look without relying on excessive heat or chemicals that could damage their natural curls. Beyond extensions, Fola also realized that many common styling tools simply weren’t built to withstand the rigors of Afro-textured hair. “Most paddle brushes break after one or two uses when blow-drying natural hair,” she points out. Recognizing this, TAUP TOOLS launched durable paddle brushes and smoothing brushes designed for both natural hair and extensions, ensuring longevity and effective styling. A Hairstylist’s Edge in Product Development Fola’s deep understanding of hair—gained through years of working with diverse textures—gives her an advantage. Unlike many brands that rely solely on market research, she gets direct feedback from clients in her salon every day. “I listen to my clients,” she says. “They tell me their challenges, and I develop products that solve real problems.” This customer-driven approach has been central to TAUPE TOOLS’ success. “As Black women, we all still have the same problems when it comes to hair,” she notes. Whether it’s maintaining silk presses, avoiding heat damage, or keeping twist-outs fresh for days, Fola prioritizes solutions that cater to the everyday needs of textured hair. Navigating the Business Landscape Starting and scaling a business as a Black woman in the beauty industry is no small feat. Fola’s journey hasn’t been without challenges—especially operating in Nigeria’s volatile economy, where prices fluctuate and business planning is unpredictable. But her resilience and clear vision have helped her thrive. One of her biggest lessons? Thinking about scale from the very beginning. “If you’re opening a salon, think about how you’re going to scale before you even open,” she advises aspiring entrepreneurs. This forward-thinking approach led her to expand beyond the limitations of a physical salon into e-commerce, allowing TAUPE TOOLS to serve customers internationally, with a warehouse based in the UK for seamless global shipping. Inspiring the Next Generation Beyond providing solutions, TAUPE has also set a new standard in the African beauty industry. When Fola launched her premium salon in Nigeria, many were skeptical about her pricing model. “People didn’t understand why I was charging what I charged, but my clients kept coming,” she recalls. Over time, her success helped shift industry

This episode of African Creative Stories features the talented Tshidiso Mothusi Mothusi, an excellent photographer, Dive into his inspiring journey as you read on. Tell us about yourself My name is Tshidiso Mothusi Mothusi. I’m originally from Kagiso in Johannesburg’s Westrand. I graduated in biotechnology, but my heart lies in creativity, which led me to pursue freelance photography. I’ve been working as a photographer for three years while balancing my role as a supervisor at Starbucks. What’s your favorite personality trait? It has to be my outspoken nature. Growing up, I was painfully shy, which held me back socially. Over time, I worked hard to build self-love, with the gym playing a big role in my personal transformation. It also helped me maintain sobriety and boosted my confidence. How did your photography journey begin? I’ve been passionate about photography for over a decade, spending years learning about editing and capturing visuals. Three years ago, I finally had the opportunity to purchase my first professional camera, which marked the true start of my career. What’s your favorite moment during a shoot? It’s when I’m working to perfect the lighting and achieve beautifully exposed images. The satisfaction of creating visuals that both the client and I are proud of is unmatched. Do you have a favorite project so far? Definitely my collaboration with 10.01.10_0 on their new range of garments. The project gained recognition on Hypebeast Africa and even Hypebeast worldwide. It highlighted the universal nature of art and boosted my confidence as an artist. Why does this project hold such significance for you? It was my first-ever studio shoot, and I had the privilege of working with one of my favorite photographers, Calvin (you can find him on Instagram at @calvin). He assisted me with lighting, which taught me valuable techniques I now apply in and out of the studio. The experience deepened my love for photography and inspired me to keep learning. What’s one piece of advice you’d give to other creatives? Allow yourself to be different and dynamic. Pursue what brings you joy and fulfillment in your art. There are countless stories waiting to be told—so tell yours unapologetically. Tshidiso’s story is a testament to the power of passion, collaboration, and persistence. As he continues to evolve as an artist, his work inspires others to embrace their uniqueness and push the boundaries of creativity. Watch out for the next episode! Stay connected with Afrique Noire Magazine here on Instagram and join our fast growing community on TikTok. You can also follow Tshidiso Mothusi here on Instagram.