Today’s piece is about self-love.
By self I mean African.
The love of Africa. Not being in Africa but being African.
Isn’t it amazing how expressive the African woman has been lately?
With her fashion, simply feeling so comfortable in her skin and in her
surroundings enough to give the rest of the world inspiration just by
looking at her? I think it’s phenomenal. We all do.
Five years back, the Burberry Prorsum’s Spring/Summer Collection was
released at London’s Fashion week and the whole world was in awe. The
designs were beautiful, top-notch creativity and to top it off
African-inspired. Magazines were blowing up expressing the ‘exotic’ edge
of this collection. How creative and inspiring and ‘fresh’ it was to
the runway. Am I the only one who is wondering why this was being made
into such a big , gigantic deal? No hate, no shade but most fail
to realize that Africa has been wearing such fabrics for more than 30
years. When I was younger, I remember my ma and grandma, wearing
their vitenges (as we call them in Kenya meaning African fabric from
head to ankle, literally). Going to church on Sunday or going to see
the neighbor’s beautiful newborn, every occasion had its own attire and
if you did the math of occasions vs attire…*sigh*.Too many, too
too many.
I am sure the same goes for every other African Gal out there. We
have had the most boisterous and bold women in our lives as fashion
inspirations. As a matter of fact,the term Sunday best is an
African-coined term.Yes, it was. The fearless women before us chose to
voice their expressions with how they dressed for church every Sunday
and man did they step up to the plate! Being able to improvise with
whatever they had and still make an outfit and good one at that! And you
wonder where our talent came from?
Over the years, our love for fashion has never faded and now more
than ever hundreds of African designers are inspiring the rest of the
world by showcasing their creative minds in fashion.
Social media right now is raving with pictures and stories of an
African woman proud to be herself; feeling free to reveal her true self
and revel in her heritage without fear of judgment. From bolder than
bold African-inspired fabric to the famous Bantu knots on our heads and
choosing to flaunt that wild mane of hair that can break into half any
comb.
Ladies, this is our time and I have never been prouder to be African!
Here’s to us! To growth and to authentic beauty!
Model at the top:Grace Neema
IG Handle:@gracemuriuki
Written by: Christine Wothaya
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