APiF: Please introduce yourself. Amarachi Nwosu: My name is Amarachi Nwosu, and I am a Nigerian-American photographer, filmmaker, writer, and speaker based in Tokyo, Japan. I am also the founder of Melanin Unscripted, a platform aimed to dismantle stereotypes and blur racial lines by exposing complex identities and cultures around the world. My work has…

APiF: Please introduce your brand. Nana Quagraine: 54kibo is a new lifestyle brand and e-commerce destination for a carefully selected array of contemporary African design for home, children, and accessories. We’ve been working on the concept for 54kibo since late 2017, with the site launching late 2018. 54 is the number of countries in Africa…

ÖVERALLT = Everywhere is the name of the long-awaited collection by IKEA in collaboration with several African Designers. The sneak peek has me excited, and I need to get my hands on the rug as well as the bench. The limited edition includes larger pieces of furniture, tableware, textiles, and a sustainable tote bag, to…

South Sudanese photographer Atong Atem creates with her studio series an homage to African Studio photography. Living in Australia, she placed her friends into the context of elements from their culture/heritage, that they have been displaced from. In her own words: ‘There is something important about being able to take our icons and visual language…

Inspired by the 1930s is the ready-to-wear Spring 2019  collection by Nigerian designer Duro Olowu – mixed with a  lot of bold flower prints and stripes. I love how the stripes and prints are being combined in some of the looks. The look with the short jacket over the dress almost looks vintage. I could…

APiF: Please introduce yourself. Nana Amu: I am a Ghanaian global nomad, an eclectic mix of cultural and creative influences. My father was a diplomat, representing Ghana in various countries around the world. I was exposed to a rich tapestry of cultures and variety of art forms in Australia, Italy and the UK where I…

Traveling Africa is trending. In the last two years, I have noticed travel groups and organizations popping up that are focused on delivering a unique Africa travel experience.  Several of these travel groups are black-owned, which is great! They all emphasize different aspects: some are about diving into he glitz and glam of big African…

APiF: Please introduce yourself. Moulaye Taboure: I am Moulaye one of the co-founders of Afrikrea. I am a young Malian and grew up in Bamako. I studied and worked in Paris for 10 years, and now I am back living on the African continent – currently in Abidjan.   APiF: What is your cultural heritage…

A couple of weeks ago I went to a Pop-up by “Colored Girls Hustle” in Brooklyn. At the event I came across the visual artist Makeba “KEEBS” Rainey and her beautiful collages of Black Icons.  Find out more about the artist whose purpose is to “create art for Black People”.   APiF: Please introduce your…

Ivorian/French entrepreneur Alice Gbelia was looking for art to decorate her home – she wanted specifically art that referenced her African heritage and represented Black Pop Culture. As she couldn’t find a website that offered what she was looking for, she decided to create a platform that represented and offered art and designs by Black…

Meet Chapstudios, a young brand from South Africa. Its 22-year-old founder Thandazani Nofingxana is using his Xhosa heritage as inspiration for his designs. Thandazani beliefs that it is about time that young Africans are telling their own stories – and he wants to accomplish this through his designs.     APiF: Please introduce yourself. Chapstudios:…

  APiF: Please introduce who you are Sarep Rose: I’m Robin. I currently live in New York but grew up in London.   APiF: What motivated you to start your brand Sarep Rose? Sarep Rose: I was disillusioned with life after graduation and I wanted to do something fun and completely different to my ‘day…