Enjoy the flow that Senegalese-born New York-based international known photographer, Delphine Diallo, releases as she liberally shares her journey of enlightenment; working as a talented graphic designer in the Parisian creative scene yet not able to get past the glass ceiling in the corporate art world. A climactic epiphany for change and a divinely orchestrated connection with the legendary Peter Beard saw her to collaborate on the Pirelli calendar shoot in Botswana. This turning point led to an awakening that saw her begin her own vision quest. Delphine describes herself as predominantly a ..read more

Skander Negasi, CEO of Trade and Fairs GmbH, introduces us to the developing fashion and textile hub in East Africa. With manufacturing costs increasing in Europe and Asia, buyers are looking for new destinations. Following the successful launch of the Origin Africa trade show in 2012 in Ethiopia alongside US Aid, since then many international trade fairs, events & conferences within different industries, including textile, apparel and fashion have been organised. He is responsible for the biggest exhibition of this nature in Africa, the Africa Sourcing and Fashion Week (ASFW) in Addis Aba ..read more

Soji Solarin is a Nigerian born contemporary fashion designer whose experience and perception on racism in Germany and world view offer a unique perspective on ‘Blackness’. Moving to America from Nigeria at the age of 13, he’s drawn inspiration from hidden figures such as the Black cowboys in America, which we later see reflected in Soji’s first collection “Negro Cowboys“. From Nigeria to Maryland, Los Angeles, lang haul to Berlin, where he’s now based, to Moscow where he debuted his Spring 2020 collection at MBFW - Soji has been able to identify and distinguish the disparities in how he’s bee ..read more

Meet the art, media and design theorist, curator and co-director of Fluctuating Images, a platform for media art and design, Dr. Cornelia Lund. Well-travelled and versed in the art and design world, Lund’s academic perspective and articulation substantiates and encourages validation of non-Eurocentric and Anglocentric theories and practices within the art and design framework. Lund’s intriguing analysis on recent contemporary African art trends explores music, art and design production; noticing the younger generation take up the notions of ‘post-coloniality’, reflecting African traditions, pr ..read more

Ibaaku joins us for our #16episode all the way from Senegal - sonic poet, visual artist, composer, radio presenter and platform founder. This multi talented artist shares with us extensive insight into the African music scene. In true Fashion Africa Now style, the topic of fashion and music is explored on the African scene; Ibaaku describes  fashion and music as “two expressions that go together. For me it’s a way to give body to the music, give body to the frequency… fashion and music are really intertwined”. Starting out as early as 2001, interesting observations are made from this well ..read more

Chebet Mutai gives an exposé from a global perspective into the fashion and textile industry all the way from Nairobi, Kenya. Her break into the fashion scene has been solution-orientated. Chebet founded the luxury lifestyle brand, Wazawazi that specialises in leather accessories, reflecting beauty and the progressive nature of Kenya, and by extension, Africa. Providing training, up-skilling, and generating economic value to the local community is at the helm of her brand. With a background in development and having worked at the World Bank, the discussion of the West promoting ‘ethical fashio ..read more

The rise in black platforms promoting and celebrating Africa has been instrumental in raising cultural pride and and expectations of the Continent. Hubs of creativity, fashion, innovation business and entrepreneurship are rapidly springing forth and advancing with technology. And there are those non African who have invested their time and passion into the Continent, seeking commonality. Style anthropologist, writer, creative producer and part-time DJ, Carmen Hogg from Amsterdam, represents this through her work. Her individualistic approach has seen her frequent Ghana and Nigeria where she ha ..read more

Out of the Pearl of Africa is an erupting fashion scene. A Ugandan special with guests, Tazibone Solomon in Kampala and Ssonko Brian in Jinja, hosted by Beatrace Angut Oola out in the Diaspora in Germany, also originally from Uganda. Solomon brings a wealth of experience in Ugandan celebrity glamour, couture, media and entertainment. While Ssonko empowers local communities, artisanal production, textile innovation and advocates for sustainability. The multifaceted nature of fashion and its impact is revealed in the recounts of these two successful creatives, whose paths hadn’t yet crossed in U ..read more

Akinbode Akinbiyi’s wisdom from wandering through cities and nations, observing the essence and evolution of life is captured through his art form of photography. In this episode we hear his insight as Beatrace probes a conversation on the rising awareness and pride in Black culture. His vivid experience from the fifties to the present day of world changing movements frames several scenes that have brought empowerment and assertion to Africa and the Diaspora. Cultured, travelled, internationally renowned and a love revolutionist at heart, Akinbode Akinbiyi discerns on camera the meaning and th ..read more

Fashion Icon April Walker, from Brooklyn, New York, is considered as one of the architects and trailblazers in streetwear. The release of ‘The Remix: Hip Hop X Fashion’ in 2019 on Netflix, put a spotlight on Walker Wear as one of the brands pioneering with the glitterati of Hip Hop from the eighties and nineties. New York was a diverse melting pot of hustlers, the famous, athletes and even correctional officers. On the flip side April reveals the underbelly of the misogynistic and oppressive music and fashion industries, being black and being subjected to mass-misappropriation, yet also being ..read more