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One of my all-time favorite brands, LAURENCEAIRLINE, recently released some stunning images from their
S/S 2013 collection. For those of you who may be unfamiliar with this brand,
LAURENCEAIRLINE is a men’s clothing line based out of Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire.
What makes this brand so special is its dedication to creating job opportunities in Abidjan
amidst the aftermath of the humanitarian and political crisis in the Ivory
Coast. Below are a couple of my favorite images - you can view the
rest of them on the brand’s facebook page.
Alec Lomami is a Congolese musician whose effortless
fusion of indie pop & French hip-hop has secured his position in the burgeoning realm of African hip-pop music. His unique sound has also given him recognition on sites such
as MTV Iggy, Okayafrica, and Fader. He recently released the video for his song “Kinshasa”, remixed by
Danish music producer CHLLNGR. The original song was written by Alec during his
9 month detainment in an American immigration jail while he awaited a decision
on his application for asylum. It’s quite riveting to see how such beauty can
be born out of such a trying time, but is that not the mark of a true artist?
I recently came across the absolutely breathtaking work of Nigerian artist, Njideka Akunyili. Through the use of charcoal, ink,
acrylic, xerox transfers, lace and paper collage on paper, Njideka creates
poignant images which touch on matters of great importance to her, such as the interracial love she shares with her husband. In
her own words, “My
art addresses my internal tension between my deep love for Nigeria, my country
of birth, and my strong appreciation for Western culture, which has profoundly
influenced both my life and my art. I use my art as a way to negotiate my
seemingly contradictory loyalties to both my cherished Nigerian culture that is
currently eroding and to my white American husband.”
