Hello Afro fashionista peeps, come in here and take a look at the best ankara African print styles that you can find right now. These pieces are gorgeous and you should definitely be adding one or more of them to your collection.
I would also like you to know that these pieces are a selection from a majority of the designers that showcased their fresh and latest collection at the recently concluded Africa Fashion Week London.
For those of you who do not know, Africa Fashion Week London is the biggest fashion event in the whole of Europe. The top fashion event celebrates African fashion and provides a platform for African designers and those whose fashion has been inspired by African fashion to showcase their collection to a wider audience. The inaugural Africa Fashion Week London event took place in 2011, since then, the fashion show has been taking place every year and has increased the number of designers that showcases their pieces, as well as fashion lovers that attend the event. Before I forget, if you are looking for the best ankara African print styles that are hot and in vogue, you should be attending this event every year.
What do you think pieces that we have showcased here? Do you think they are some of the best ankara African print styles that you can find right now? Share your thoughts with us by leaving a comment below. We look forward to seeing and reading your opinion to see if whether you have picked up one or more of the pieces here, and on whether you think they are some of the best ankara African print styles that you can find right now
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There has been a long discussion on the Zwarte Piet and his black face in the Netherlands – and how it is demeaning to black people. Many have wondered about why white people are being painted very dark to represent black people while there are many coloured men and women available to take on the role and not even have to paint their face in a ridiculously demeaning and mocking manner.
In a recent article published on Dutch News in English, it is alleged that the Zwarte Piet will remain black in most towns and villages in the country. This decision seems to undermine the calls by a large percentage of the black community in the Netherlands asking for this practice to be abolished because it is racist and evokes the slave trade era of the former Dutch empire.
“It’s not only Antilleans or Surinamers who are complaining,” says Jessica Silversmith, director of the regional Anti-Discrimination Bureau for Amsterdam, referring to people descended from the former Dutch colonies that once traded in slavery. “It’s all kinds of Dutch people,” she added.
Black children in the Netherlands have complained about how they have been bullied and called Zwarte Piet at school. Even the traditionally right wing Dutch news website GeenStijl reports that:
“Zwarte Piet is nothing more than a repulsive parody of a slave, fine-tuned to indoctrinate schoolchildren into the finer points of racism … The sooner we get rid of Zwarte Piet, the sooner we won’t look like idiots to the rest of the world,” according to AP.
In the Netherlands, the St Nicholas Day is celebrated on the 6th of December, with the arrival of Santa Claus (Sinterklaas), and his pageboy helper ‘Zwarte Piet’ or Black Pete – who delivers Christmas gifts and sweets to the children that have been good.
Dutch people in support of the Zwarte Piet black face have argued he is not a black man but has a black face because he came down the chimney. But the question they have failed to answer is why he has dark curly hair as well as why his clothes are not dirty.
But Zwarte Piet is not the only white face painted black in the Netherlands to have been causing controversy in the black community. In the Vogue Netherlands May 2013 editorial tribute to Marco Jones, model – Querelle Jansen’s face was painted black while she was wearing a dark Afro wig to represent black icons.
Writing about the vogue blackface editorial and controversial photo-shoot on Fashionista, Dhani Mau pointed out: “A couple of alternative ideas: Use a model who already looks something like Grace Jones or Josephine Baker without facepaint. “Or just, you know, don’t paint a white person’s face black ever?” she added.
But the black face trend did not stop at painting white people black. Lighter skinned black people are now being painted very dark to represent Africans. And this too has been a controversial topic in the black and African community. But it seems the media and other events promoting the black face trend are not listening or not ready to care enough about making any changes.
As part of painting lighter skinned black people darker, in 2012, American super star and music artist, Beyonce was painted and darkened to represent African women in a photo-shoot that paid tribute to legendary Nigerian music icon, Fela Kuti by French fashion magazine, L’Officiel Paris.
The Beyonce photo-shoot brought along with it a lot of controversies as many Africans believed it had racial undertones as well as being derogatory to the African people who are of different tones and shades.
Reacting to the backlash, L’Officiel made the following statement:
“The designs are all reflective of the African influence on fashion this season,” the magazine said. “As for the artistic make-up, the inspiration came from several African rituals during which paint is used on the face. “We find the images beautiful and inspiring,” the editors said, defending their decision.
What’s your opinion on the black face trend such as the Netherlands’ Zwarte Piet, seeing white people being painted to represent black people on major magazine photo shoots? Or in the case of Beyonce photo-shoot, darkening lighter skinned black people to represent Africans?
Photo Credit: Vogue Netherlands – L’Officiel and Foxnews
Beyoncé shares first pic of Kelly Rowland’s son Titan. The bootylicious singer gave fans the first look at Kelly Rowland’s baby boy when she shared a picture of his cute little young hands. The photo was taken and shared two days after the former Destiny’s Child singer and her husband Tim Weatherspoon welcomed their son and first child to the world.
Beyonce posted the photo to her Instagram page and congratulated Kelly on the birth of her first child.
“There’s no better feeling than holding my beautiful nephew,” Beyonce wrote. “I thank god for the honor of witnessing my sister’s journey into motherhood. I’ve always dreamt of our little ones growing up together. I’m so thankful for our bond. Baby Ty, I love you so much. Congrats to my Spoons.”
Kelly and her husband welcomed Titan to their lives on Tuesday, November 4. The newly born baby boy arrived at 1:30 p.m. and weighed in at 7.5 pounds.
Arcade Content’s Kyle Lewis directed In Defence Of My Art, the hit new music video from Tumi, featuring Reason and Ziyon from Liquideep.
Filmed in black and white by DOP Roscoe Vercueil, In Defence Of My Art positions Tumi as an emperor ready to defend his legacy. The video is full of striking imagery, including a throne of guns, a mouthful of bullets, women on leashes, and much, much more…
The interwebs have been singing the praise of both Tumi’s lyrics and Kyle’s direction. On his blog, musician Slikour called the music video “the best I’ve seen this year.” OkayAfrica called it “thrillingly frightening” and Afripop called the imagery “outstanding and at times a little spooky.”
Grand McDonald was the production designer; Kaley Meyer did the styling, makeup and hair; and Cathy Michel was the editor.
Kyle won the South African Music Award (SAMA) for Best Music Video earlier this year for The Parlotones Sleepwalker, which featured Khuli Chana. He’s also directed Toya Delazy’s recent Forbidden Fruit music video.
Kyle is repped by Arcade Content, a new division of Egg Films that produces content that falls outside the realm of traditional TV commercials, like music videos, brand films, and web series.
What people are tweeting:
“In defence of my art music video by @TumiMolekane is easily my favourite video of 2014! I’ve never been so captivated by a music video!”
@justkaytoyou
“Best work of art i have seen this year @TumiMolekane ft @ReasonHD &@ZIYON #IDOMA”
@AdamsMtonga
“Prolly #video of the year #IDOMA”
@VeliSoDope
“In defense of my art is one of the best tracks and video of the year. @TumiMolekane #legendarytakeover #BestVideoOfTheYear !!!!! #IDOMA
@Mongi501
More tweets from the public
@TumiMolekane : homie I like your new vid. One of the best in S.A. Feat @ReasonHD”
@MEEK_TRIXX01
“@TumiMolekane : I watched, I watched again and I watched thinking I’ll get enough of this great art but nah. Hail the KING#IDOMA”
@HLABAZ
“Just watched the new @TumiMolekane video. Well, damn!! Artistry. Pure art. Hat off, sir.”
@Ofentse_Tsie
“Tumi Molekane’s In Defence Of My Art, Toya Delazy’s Forbidden Fruit & ANATII’s Freedom are the three most creative & well executed videos in SA.”
@meaghanDMAC
A Nigerian-German man has been jailed in the UK for trafficking drugs into the country. Ukachukwu Charles Imoh, 57, was arrested at UK’s Dover’s Eastern Docks from travelling on a ferry to the United Kingdom. When questioned, he told officers he was on a trip to visit family members in Britain. Not convinced with his explanation he was taken to the hospital where he was screened for cocaine. The x-ray result came out positive and it was discovered he was carrying 83 wraps of cocaine which had 66% purity level on his body.
On seeing he was already found out, he pleaded guilty to drug trafficking and was sentenced to four years in a UK prison where he’ll be deported after serving his term (under the UK Borders Act 2007). The cocaine he carried on him is estimated to be worth over £215,000.
Lupita Nyong’o Is Flawless is the new Lancome ad! We can’t deny that fact and you will agree with us after taking a good look at the breakthrough actress who has made the headlines across several platforms around the world.
This year has been a wonderful one for Lupita Nyong’o. She won an Oscar and several other awards for her supporting role in “12 Years A Slave“. Since then, the Kenyan actress has been the cover girl of several international and reputable magazine. She is the ‘its girl’ of the moment and the media cannot get enough of her. She’s the kind of girl that looks good in anything she wears.
As the ambassador of Lancôme, Lupita’s latest new Lancome ad campaign for the French giant brand has been unveiled and she’s simply flawless. Wearing a pink dress and Lancôme’s L’Absolu Rouge lipstick, the actress is photographed lying on beautiful roses and looking radiant and positively stunning.
In a behind-the-scenes video, the GLAMOUR Magazine’s Woman of the Year talks about how she had fun modelling for the ad that was shot by Mert Alas and Marcus Piggott.
“Working with Mert and Marcus was a lot of fun. They were very precise, very specific about what they wanted, but they did it with such a joy,” she says. “Makeup for me is like the frame of an art piece. Wearing lipstick makes me feel well-dressed.”
What do you think of Lupita Nyong’o’s look in this new Lancome ad? Do you think she is as silky and flawless as we think? do share your views with us by leaving a comment below. We can’t wait to see and read what you think about this celebrity of the moment.
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Kenyan brand, Lalesso has unveiled the look-book for its Spring Summer 2015 collection featuring a combination of unique patterns and vibrant colours.
Lalesso is a luxury African fashion and lifestyle brand with production units in Kenya and South Africa. The brand is co-owned by Alice Heusser and Olivia Kennaway, two like-minded people who met while studying Fashion Design in Cape Town, South Africa.
The pair’s inspiration came from their journey to the remote Island of Lamu in the Northern part of Kenya where the coastal Swahili women decorate the khanga cloth with an exceptional vibrancy and graciousness.
A British-Nigerian man (Obi Onyia) has been charged with the attempted murder of a man in his early thirties that was found in stab wounds in The Stowage. The victim was taken to a South London hospital with an ambulance after the police were called to come to the address at around 8:20pm. The victim’s condition is reported to be critical but stable.
The attack took place last Sunday and the 19-year-old Obi Onyia was arrested in Shooters Hill on November 3rd, 2014. Onyia is being charged with attempted murder, making threats to kill, and possession of a pointed/bladed article. He is currently in custody and appeared at Bromley Magistrates’ Court on November 4th through a virtual court.
The incident took place during a weekend of violence across London, with one man being stabbed to death in Hendon, and another killed by knife wounds in Southwark. In another incident, a woman was shot dead in Holloway while another was killed in Ilford.
A couple of Nigerians in UK have been associated with murder cases this year. One flee to Nigeria after being declared wanted by the UK police. He has been captured by the Nigerian police and is set to be extradited to the UK where he will be prosecuted for his crime. Another Nigerian youth, 21-year-old Sodiq Adebayo has been charged with the murder of Noor Hassan Barre was stabbed to death on October 31, 2014. The event took place at the Middlesex University.
Kelly Rowland is now a proud mother and the former Destiny’s Child singer and her husband Tim Witherspoon welcomed their son and first child that has been named Titan Jewell. The name was picked out by her husband, according to what Kelly told People Magazine earlier this year. The baby was born on Tuesday at 1.30pm.
“We are thrilled to announce that today we are the proud parents of our first son,’ Kelly told People in a statement. ‘We are blessed to report everyone is healthy and happy!”
Kelly and Tim’s secret wedding took place earlier this year in a low-key romantic ceremony in Costa Rica after a long engagement. In attendance were Beyoncé, her mother, Tina Knowles, her sister, Solange, and Destiny’s Child team member, Michelle Williams.
Check out the pieces Tiffany Amber showcased at the GTB Lagos Fashion And Design Week 2014. The Nigerian top fashion brand presented its latest collection on day 4 of the event.
