Changing the narrative on Africa.
Internationally recognised after Beyoncé wore her designs, Ivorian designer Loza Maléombho is now looking beyond fashion. Through Pokou, she is combining Baoulé history, local craftsmanship and artificial intelligence to build an African-owned creative universe spanning clothing, film, art, architecture and digital experiences.
Ghana’s geographical indication for kente could help weavers protect the celebrated cloth from imitation, reach new markets and earn more from generations of skill. Turning legal recognition into livelihoods will require collective standards, business support and the revival of local raw-material production.
Laolu Senbanjo has taken Yoruba mythology from traditional symbols and patterns into global music, fashion, film and luxury, building a visual language he calls Afromysterics. In this conversation, the Nigerian artist reflects on the evolution of his work while making the case for African art to be studied and understood on its own intellectual terms.
Once primarily worn as wrappers and ceremonial dress, Akwete cloth is finding new life in contemporary clothing and university training. Weavers, educators and heritage specialists say expanding its market could preserve generations of knowledge while creating new livelihoods.
Hollywood is increasingly turning to African music ecosystems to shape the cultural identity, marketing strategy and global reach of major film franchises. The appointment of Nigerian singer Tems as executive music producer for ‘Children of Blood and Bone’ reflects a broader shift that places African artists at the center of soundtrack strategy, cultural world-building and the creative architecture of global entertainment properties.
Museums are increasingly commissioning documentary films to document African architecture, interpret historic buildings, and preserve architectural memory. Film has become part of exhibition design, audiovisual archiving, and museum collections, carrying architectural stories across borders and generations.
Aso-Oke has never been more fashionable, appearing on international runways and in luxury collections. But behind the vibrant fabric lies a quieter story: the women who built Nigeria’s iconic textile trade are fighting rising costs, imported materials and disappearing skills to ensure a centuries-old tradition survives another generation.
As Zimbabwean designers take their work to Africa Fashion Week London, they are showcasing far more than fashion. Their collections tell stories of heritage, identity and craftsmanship while creating new opportunities for women artisans, creative entrepreneurs and the country’s growing fashion industry.
Mali’s iconic mud-dyed textile, bogolan, is creating new opportunities beyond its cultural significance. As the centuries-old craft gains protected status, women artisans and entrepreneurs are turning tradition into thriving businesses while preserving indigenous knowledge.
From selling paintings at a roadside craft market to earning an international artist residency, Gambian artist Anna Isatou Bah is helping revive the country’s overlooked printmaking traditions while building a new generation of creatives.