How Naëtt Mbaye Is Building a Language of Film, Flesh, and Feeling
Naëtt Mbaye isn’t interested in categories. Not in art, not in identity, and definitely not in career paths. She’s worked as a producer for Chanel, styled shoots at WAD Magazine, and shot analog portraits that feel more like memory than documentation. She’s also acted, written scripts, and quietly made her mark as one of […]
Memories Sculpted in Bronze: A Mother’s Legacy, A Daughter’s Light — The Story of IFTIIN
Mariam Racine didn’t plan to become a jewelry designer. Her path to founding IFTIIN—a studio crafting bold, artisan-made bronze jewelry rooted in African heritage—wasn’t a straight line, but a series of reflections, reckonings, and rediscoveries. “It really started with an unexpected job loss,” she says. “That economic dismissal turned out to be a blessing in […]
The Future Feels Different Here: 7 African creatives who are reshaping design on their own terms
On April 21, the UN observed World Creativity and Innovation Day. But for many African designers, artists, and architects, that kind of thinking isn’t tied to a calendar. It’s just how the work gets done. Across the continent, new ideas are taking shape. Quietly. Experimentally. Sometimes defiantly. Some are working with buildings left unfinished for […]
Threads of Influence II: Colonial Dandyism and the Politics of Dress
From the late 19th to mid-20th centuries, as European colonial powers carved up Africa, a sartorial uprising simmered beneath the surface. In the shadow of Union Jacks, tricolores, and Belgian crowns, African men—across Lagos’s humid docks, Accra’s dusty streets, Leopoldville’s riverfront markets—took the European suit, that rigid emblem of imperial control, and stitched it into […]
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 […]
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, […]
A Homecoming for Culture and Creativity: Gabriel Moses Brings All Day I Dream About Sports to Dakar
Dakar woke to an air of excitement on December 13, 2023, as the Dakar Court International Film Festival prepared to showcase a milestone moment: the premiere of Gabriel Moses’ short film, All Day I Dream About Sports. The project, brought to life in collaboration with Pharrell Williams and Adidas, was not just a film but […]
Emerging Designers from Senegal and Across Africa Take the Stage in Dakar.
On Thursday, December 6, 2024, the Emerging Designers Showcase, Part II at the Pullman Dakar Teranga gathered a remarkable group of talent from Senegal and across Africa. The evening was not just about fashion, but a powerful declaration of Africa’s creative energy, where tradition met innovation. The designers presented collections that told stories of resilience, […]
Jardin Jollof: A Modern Ode to African Heritage
In Senegal, a land where the vibrant threads of West African culture intertwine, there emerges a story told not just through words but through art—a story that resonates with the soul of a continent. Sambacor Konaté, a visual artist of remarkable vision, weaves together the old and the new in what he calls “Jardin Jollof.” […]
Celebrating Roots and Defying Borders: The Journey of Bledard – African Denim Revolution
Bledard is much more than just a clothing brand. It’s a movement, a celebration of our African roots and our diversity. Each piece tells a story, our story, one of a journey filled with culture, knowledge, and emotions. Ibrahima Gueye, Founder of Bledard From Senegal to France: The Roots of Ibrahima Gueye Ibrahima Gueye, the […]