The Enduring Power of the Drianké in Senegalese Culture and Art
In Senegal, particularly in the lively streets of Dakar, there is a woman whose presence commands respect and admiration. She is the “Drianké“. More than a symbol of beauty, she embodies wisdom, resilience, and leadership. Her influence stretches far beyond her carefully curated attire and radiant presence; she is the weaver of traditions, the keeper […]
HERitage: Celebrating African Female Changemakers
In conversation with Diarrha N’Diaye-Mbaye founder and CEO of Ami Colé, now Executive Vice President of Skims’ beauty and fragrance business.
A Lucid Abidjan Dream: Leslie Barbedette’s Hybride Studio Redefines Minimalism
A carefree scroll through Hybride Studio’s Instagram account leaves one thing lingering in the mind – a lucid Abidjan dream. Perhaps it’s the portraits of models in black off-shoulder blouses or flowing overlay pants, posed with poise against warm, monochrome backgrounds. But above all, it’s the effortless elegance that speaks loudest, boldly telling Guzangs that […]
Nene Yaya: A Legacy of Luxury with a Soul
Marième Gaye remembers the first time she saw her sister, Nene, cradle a handbag the way one might hold something precious—a delicate heirloom, a piece of history wrapped in fine leather. Even as children, Nene had a discerning eye. While others indulged in fleeting trends, she believed in permanence. “A great handbag,” she often said, […]
How African Streetwear Brands Are Rewriting the Narrative and Amplifying African Music
Streetwear started as a shout—a way for kids to break free from fancy runways and stiff rules. It grew up with hip-hop and skate vibes in places like New York and LA, all about realness and attitude. Now, Africa’s taking it and making it its own. From Lagos to Johannesburg, brands like Daily Paper, Free […]
How Influencer Culture Rewrote the Story of African Fashion
Then came the digital shift. Social media offered a gateway to a new kind of visibility, a faster and seemingly easier path to growth. But even with these advances, for many African designers, the fashion business remained a matter of survival. With economic instability across the continent, it became clear that success hinged on capturing […]
Guzangs Joins the UN Fashion and Lifestyle Network
Fashion is more than fabric. It is history, movement, and resistance stitched into silhouette. It is storytelling in motion, a language spoken through thread, texture, and the way a garment shapes the body. At Guzangs, we have always believed that fashion is a cultural force, an archive of identity, and a bold statement of where […]
Beyond the Rack: Africa’s Concept Stores Changing the Game
Aby Concept Store. Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire Across Africa, a quiet revolution is unfolding—not just in the hum of sewing machines or the flash of runway lights, but in the intimate, electric spaces where fashion finds its heartbeat. Concept stores like Lagos’ Alára, a glass-walled masterpiece refracting the city’s energy into art, or Kigali’s House of […]
Kimathi Mafafo’s Art Weaves Stories of Womanhood, Healing, and Identity
There is a certain mystique attached to artists who draw inspiration from pain. It places them in a different realm—allowing them to tap into a deeper creative source and forge an intimate connection with those who experience their work. This holds true for Kimathi Mafafo, the South African multidisciplinary artist whose medium of choice is […]
Women’s Day Through Their Eyes: African Image Makers, 1950s–1980s
From the 1950s to the 1980s, as Africa waged its fight for independence and self-definition, a quiet revolution unfolded—one captured through the eyes of African women behind the lens. Defying colonial legacies and patriarchal gatekeeping, they reclaimed photography and film as instruments of power. Thérèse Sita-Bella, Felicia Ewurasi Abban, Safi Faye, Awa Tounkara, Ifeoma […]