Know your African Supermodel

Hmm, this is a thorny issue.......whether the models on the runway are truly representative of African beauty or a stylised version of a Western perception of what ideal African beauty should be.

Whichever way your feelings lie on that particular topic (we can have a whole debate about it on another day if you like!), the fact remains that there are some beautiful ladies out there holding it down for black women on the runways of the world. 

So I thought I’d give you a heads up on my personal favourites. I’d love to hear who your favourite African models (or models of African descent) are too.....maybe even do an in-depth piece about them.

So here goes, in no particular order of preference:

Ajuma

This Kenyan model is, to quote Tyra Banks, “fierce”!!

She’s 26, gorgeous, engaged with a lovely baby boy and a self-confessed tomboy. She’s also 5ft 10in of graceful limbs, flawless skin and a killer smile.

She’s done work for (amongst others) Baby Phat, Issey Miyake, Vivienne Westwood and (what I consider the supermodel apex!) Victoria’s Secret.

Not bad for a girl who grew up in Turkana (you’ll have to look that one up – believe me when I say it’s far from the runways and catwalks of Milan and New York!)

Interestingly, she didn’t come to fame via the Face of Africa competition that has launched others. Long story short, it was the Ford Supermodel Search that was her launch pad. She gave up a sports scholarship to University in the USA to model instead and boy, did it pay off! 

 

Alek Wek

If you don’t know who this sista is, all I can do is shake my head in shock! Probably one of the most well known faces of African beauty, she rocked the fashion world to the core when Elle magazine put her on their November 1997 issue (yes, it’s been a long time since she hit the scene – still love her!)

While she’s undoubtedly beautiful, what I love about Alek Wek is probably more to do with her work outside of modelling. She’s served on the advisory board of the U.S. Committee for Refugees, works with World Vision and Medecins sans Frontiers and has her own line of designer handbags – beat that!

Born in Southern Sudan, she moved to the UK in 1995 with one of her sisters (she has 8 siblings!) to avoid the conflict there.  She was apparently discovered by a model scout while at a party. It seems she was always destined for fashion though as she was studying fashion technology at the time.

Got to go for now, more of my favourites next time!

So what's up with the African masks?

                                                            Courtesy of africa

Maskophobia – the fear of masks (and if you don’t believe me, Google it!). 

As we all know, a phobia isn’t logical or necessarily curable. I have a friend who is terrified of masks.......and in particular, African masks. Now I’m the first to admit, some of them are pretty damn scary (am I allowed to say plain ugly too?!) but other than that, they don’t arouse any deep sense of revulsion in me. So, yet again, I got to wondering.....what’s with the African masks?

And here’s what I found out....

Firstly, not all masks are created equal. Some of them have very specific uses and purposes. There are masks to be used in funeral processions, masks to be used during initiation ceremonies, masks to be used at harvest time.......the list is seemingly endless!

Secondly, the materials used in African masks goes way beyond the wooden ones we commonly see. There are masks made of copper, glazed pottery, ivory (which we do not condone) terra cotta  and even bronze to mention a few. They can even be decorated with all sorts of beading, raffia and other textiles.

Thirdly, and I think most interestingly to me, is that African masks were not designed to be decorative. They were considered, rather, to be a portal between the living and the spirit world inhabited both by deities and ancestors gone before.

When the wearer donned the mask, he (and yes, a mask wearer would typically be male) supposedly took on the characteristics of whichever spirit had been depicted. Mainly because it was believed that the spirit had actually come to inhabit him within that time.

Today African masks are used mainly in decor both in the home and in commercial spaces aiming to capture an African feel.  This creates a living for the thousands of artisans who carve these masks.  It also ensures that the culture and history of Africa lives on where it might otherwise have become irrelevant.

I’ll try and see if I can hook you up with some sites where you can get your hands on some gorgeous African masks to work in your home or office or wherever! Try checking back at African Fashions as well, they’re good with getting new finds and if you follow them on Twitter then you’ll be the first to know!

Bye for now!