Prints of a Place: Banke Kuku’s Lagos-Born Language of Luxury
The designer Banke Kuku. Photo credit: courtesy of Banke Kuku. Banke Kuku is shaping contemporary luxury through a signature fusion of Nigerian heritage and modern print innovation—an approach rooted in her culture and a steadfast commitment to sustainability. In her vision, luxury extends beyond mere fabric or form—it becomes a narrative: the way a print […]
Inside Africa Basel: A New Stage for African Contemporary Voices
Africa Basel’s inaugural edition ran from June 18–22, 2025, alongside Art Basel, transforming the Ackermannshof courtyard in Basel’s St. Johanns-Vorstadt into a dedicated hub for contemporary African art. Nearly twenty galleries participated, offering collectors, curators, and the public an immersive look at painting, sculpture, photography, installation, and digital media. A curated VIP preview on opening […]
Luxury Dreams, Local Struggles: The Price of African Fashion Today
African fashion has been experiencing a delightful renaissance. From Lagos to Abidjan, Dakar to Nairobi, designers are capturing global attention with their creativity, craftsmanship, and cultural storytelling. But beneath the glamour, many African consumers are voicing a growing concern: the escalating cost of homegrown fashion is driving them out of the market. As inflation and […]
Cover, Don’t Conceal: Marième Mboup and the New Shape of African Modesty
Once considered the domain of religious and conservative values, modest fashion has undergone a dramatic transformation — becoming one of the most expressive and innovative style movements among African youths today. It is evident across major cultural capitals like Lagos, Dakar, and Addis Ababa, young Africans are reimagining what it means to dress modestly. Though […]
From Artifact to Agency: Inside The Met’s New Chapter for African Art
On May 31, 2025, New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art (The Met) reopened its Arts of Africa galleries with a celebration that felt less like a formal unveiling and more like a long-awaited homecoming. The newly redesigned space, part of the Michael C. Rockefeller Wing, brought together artists, curators, collectors, and cultural leaders from across […]
A Decade of Design: Roselyn Silva on Intentional Elegance and Her São Tomé Roots
Africa Day 2025: The Legacy and Future of African Unity
Every May 25th, the African continent unites to commemorate Africa Day—a celebration of independence and a long and complex journey toward unity and sovereignty. At its heart lies the African Union (AU), a continental body born from the vision of a self-determined Africa, free from colonial dominance, economic subjugation, and foreign political interference. Understanding the […]
Meet Akunna Nwala-Akano: The Jewelry Designer Crafting Legacy with Akano Diamonds
There’s a creative optimism that fuels Akunna Nwala-Akano, one deeply rooted in the ceremonial elegance of her Igbo heritage. She carries the quiet confidence of someone raised around heirloom gold bangles, passed from one generation to the next, and grandmothers who marked life’s milestones with handcrafted adornments. Born the youngest of three daughters to a […]
1-54 New York 2025: African Artists Reshape the Narrative
Over the past decade, 1-54 Contemporary African Art Fair has evolved from a niche satellite event into a mainstay of the international art circuit. This year marked its tenth anniversary in New York, as the fair returned with its most ambitious edition yet, opening from May 8 – 11 at the Halo on 28 Liberty […]
Inside the Textile Language Installation by Art Comes First at 1-54 Art Fair
The 2025 Met Gala may have come to a close, but the conversation it sparked around Tailoring Black Style is far from over. In fact, it feels less like an ending and more like a new beginning—an extension of a dialogue that continues to reshape how we perceive style, identity, and heritage. As history has […]