Curated Africa

illuminating a continent

[niyiokeowo]

Lisa Folawiyo (@lisafolawiyo) is one of the best-loved designers in the African Fashion industry, a pioneer in the popularity of beaded ankara and internationally known for her fashion labels under the Jewel by Lisa umbrella, namely Jewel by Lisa, the J label and Pretty Precious kids collection. Although her work has been featured worldwide, from Lagos Fashion and Design week to New York Fashion Week, Folawiyo emphasises the notion of looking more inward rather than internationally for recognition. Guardian life caught up with Folawiyo for a chat to celebrate International Women’s Month and find out more about her progression as a fashion designer in the Nigerian high society. Creative Direction: @themadamezeta Photography: @niyiokeowostudio Makeup: @eyesome_beauty Assisted Syling: @mruduku Words: @beatriceporbeni

[howiviewafrica]

Home in Rwanda. (The Africa we don’t see on TV)

[urbanafricancities]

Cairo, Egypt Africa

[eastafricaart]

Gallery note

Whoever gave this comb to his wife more than 200 years ago must have loved her dearly. Carefully carved and made of precious materials (elephant ivory and gold folio), it’s something the owner would have shown off, perhaps even wearing it in her hair. It would signal that she was among the wealthy elite of Zanzibar, and had married well.

[vintage-sudan]

MALCOM X + SHEIKH AHMAD HASSOUN, SUDAN (1959)

[ancientart]

A brief look at the prehistoric rock art of Laas Geel, Somaliland (East Africa).

Despite already being known to the local inhabitants of the area for centuries, the art was ‘discovered’ by a team of French archaeologists carrying out an archaeological survey in northern Somalia in 2002, thus only recently gaining international recognition. 

Laas Geel is one of the most remarkable archaeological sites in the Horn of Africa, and contains some of the earliest known cave paintings in the region. These paintings are estimated to date to between 9,000-3,000 BCE, and are incredibly preserved considering this.

The artworks, painted in the distinctive Ethiopian-Arabian style, depict predominantly wild animals, decorated cows, and herders, the latter believed to have been the creators of the paintings. Note the herd of cows shown in the first photo, the ceremonial cow shown in the seventh, and the herder shown aside the cow in the final photograph. 

Photos taken by joepyrek.

Recommended reading: Grenier L., P. Antoniotti, G. Hamon, and D. Happe. “Laas Geel (Somaliland): 5000 year-old paintings captured in 3D.” International Archives of the Photogrammetry, Remote Sensing and Spatial Information Sciences, Volume XL-5/W2 (2013): 283-288.

[odditiesoflife]

The Tiny Rock Restaurant in the Sea

At beautiful Michanwi Pingwe Beach on Zanzibar’s coast in Africa is an incredibly unique restaurant. The restaurant is so small, it’s perched on a fossilized bed of coral located in the Indian ocean. Another surprise is that the interior is quite different than the interior. To reach the restaurant, it’s either a walk or boat ride because when the tide comes in, the restaurant is surrounded by water. The spot is so spectacular that it has been used by Vogue magazine for photo shoots.

The restaurant serves a wide variety of seafood as well as wine, beer and soft drinks. However, the Rock Restaurant is a little more pricey than one might expect. The least expensive items on the menu are the mango salad, octopus salad and fish carpaccio — each priced at $14.00 USD. The most expensive menu item is the Rock Special with grilled lobster, cigal, jumbo prawn, fish filet and calamari oil for $48.00 USD. But if you can make it to Zanzibar for a visit, a trip to the restaurant is a must.

sources 1, 2, 3, 4

[sogehtes-deactivated20140101]

i would like to visit

[rickysuavemami]

#goals

[crustysvm]

Dear, future husband plzzz bring me here!

[melaninmoney]

Que lugar lindo!!!!!!!!!!

[beautiesofafrique-deactivated20]

Efik bride, Nigeria

[morobook]

[curatedafrica]

Morocco. Marrakech. 1998

[beautiesofafrique-deactivated20]

Miriam Makeba (1932-2008), also known as Mama Africa, was a Grammy award winning anti-Apartheid and Civil Rights activist who popularised African music around the world. She went on to record music with artists such as Harry Belafonte, Hugh Masekela, and Paul Simon and has become a South...

[cityafrica]

Colegio Inhambane, Inhambane, Mozambique

[irenexplores]

The art of Rolex making.

In Uganda, a rolex is eaten too!

Eggs

Chapati

Fresh tomatoes

Cabbage

A dash of salt

Kampala, Uganda.

Instagram | Twitter | Website

[everydayafrica]

A man walking back home after the 4pm prayers at a mosque in Woodstock/district 9 :

Photo by Sam Vox @sam.vox :

#samvox #capetown #southafrica #streets #ramadan #prayers #mosque #religion #culture #everydayafrica #everydayeverywhere #photooftheday

[cityafrica]

Ibadan. Nigeria

[curatedafrica]

Sensitivity Reader

African-American cis hetero woman.

Here’s something about me:

- published short story historical fiction author

- Masters Degree in Cultural Anthropology focusing on: identity, immigration, nationality, race

- experienced public educator on immigration issues, minority rights, human rights.

- Professional training in identifying and mitigating micro-aggressions

How I can help you:

As an anthropologist and educator I can help you with cultural ignorance and insensitivies, stereotypes, macro and micro aggressions

negotiable fee

[everydayafrica]

A woman takes food orders of two men seated on a wooden bench at a makeshift restaurant in Najjembe, Mabira Forest situated along the Kampala-Jinja Highway.

Photo by @edward_echwalu Edward Echwalu

#everydayafrica #everydayeverywhere #MobilePhotography #ugandaphotos #ShootingUganda #Uganda #

[beautiesofafrique-deactivated20]

Efik girls

(The Efiks inhabit the coastal area of South Eastern Nigeria and are very well known nationally and internationally partly because of the prominence of Calabar in Nigerian history and also due to their rich cultural heritage. Among the broad culture of  the Efiks are “Ekombi”, the Efik classical music, “Ukwa”, the only fencing  match in sub-Saharan Africa, “Mbuk”, a  collection of Efik folklore, and “Ekpe”. Abang dance is performed for entertainment  and at festive occasions. The dance can be simple as well as elaborate with  many interpretations behind it. The most famous cuisine “Edikangikong” is renowned  as next to none in Nigeria.

There are a host of other  traditional dance forms. “Nkuho”, where a young female, who is about to be betrothed  in marriage, is confined, taught and molded into womanhood. Here she learns  moral values of the community and how to appreciate herself. While in  confinement, she is not allowed to do any chores. Instead, she eats as much as  she wants; is pampered and taught the Ekombi dance in preparation for the day  that she comes out of the confinement. She is not allowed any male visitors  except her suitor. The length of time in the confinement has changed over the  years.) Source