Trend Watch: Lagos - Africa's Cultural Nerve Center?

The 21st century has seen Africa front and centre of age old discussions on culture, art and identity, culminating in a movement - some call it a Renaissance - that is beginning to define and re-define the continent's value beyond its borders. In other words, Africa isn't just safari central or AIDS republic -- Africans and non-Africans worldwide are probing the length and breadth of Africa's unique contribution and sharing their findings and creations on some of the world's most recognized platforms. Yet, with exhibitions and shows traversing the nooks of London, New York and Vienna, Africa itself is beginning to host a small but encouraging number of them. 

Today, Fela!, the Broadway Show depicting the life and times of the late Fela Anikulapo-Kuti, opens at the Expo Hall, Lagos [April 20-25] and promises to be a colorful and cultural affair. Art buffs and enthusiasts are set to converge at Terra Kulture this evening where the Centre for Contempoary Art (CCA) will host a conversation with renowned Nigerian-British artist Yinka Shonibare, MBE. May 14 sees the arrival of the Austrian Lace - Nigerian Fashion exhibition, celebrating Austria and Nigeria's textile and (invariably) cultural relationship. In one sense, Lagos is shaping up to be one of Africa's most formidable cultural nerve centres, and these trends must be nurtured and fostered in across the continent or we stand the risk of appreciating Africa more outside its shores than inside -- a tragedy, if you ask us.

For further information on each event:

Yinka Shonibare

Fela!

Lace in Lagos

- SLiq

Photos: Yinka Shonibare, Broadway, Silke Jurkowitsch

SL Trend Watch: The Turban//Fashion Week Staple

Perhaps it's time for us to whip out our turbans. We spotted a variety of patterned head-wear on four of our favourite Afro-cosmo stylistas during their Fashion Week pursuits. Between Pepper's plaid statement turban, Ore's soft and sweet scarf, and Andrea and Sandy's fun ankara headwraps, we're itching to get a-tying.

Whose look most inspires you? Whoever you choose, be sure to visit all their blogs:

Fab African Black

Lipstick Boudoir

Paris Most Wanted

XO

Photo of Pepper courtesy of Vogue Italia

SL Trend Watch: 2011 - The Year Of E-Commerce?

[From Nkwo's most recent collection, Happy Lives Here]

We're obsessed with brands that have some sort of e-commerce representation, be it on portals like Etsy and Big Cartel, brands with the "shop" function built into their websites, or brands stocked on sites like My Asho, Agnes and Lola, and Couture Lab. 

2011 has started off on quite a high note, with a number of brands (including Anita Quansah and House of Makeda) announcing plans to launch e-commerce compatible websites in the first quarter of the year. Earlier today, Nkwo - a brand we've long loved and admired at Shop Liquorice - released sneak peeks of the new look book for their Happy Lives Here collection alongside an announcement that their e-store is scheduled for an end of February launch. Already, Nkwo pieces are available at ASOS, My Asho, and Agnes and Lola.

 [From Zed Eye's Tribal Romance S/S 2011 collection]

The folks at Agnes and Lola also announced an exciting line-up for Spring, including pieces from London-based brand, Zed Eye. This is a first for the rising brand and plans are already underway for an exclusive "shop" portal on zedeye.com.

We can barely contain our joy. Will 2011 be the year e-commerce takes off? The year we - and the rest of the world - can finally support several of Africa's finest brands online? It just might be.

XO

SL Trend Watch: Ghana meets Nigeria

Ghana and Nigeria are next door neighbours, but do we know enough about each other fashion-wise? A number of out-of-Ghana brands are set to bridge the gap. 

We've all heard of kente in all its colorful variations and its roots in ancient royalty. We've also heard of established brands like Woodin. But how many budding out-of-Ghana fashion brands do you know? The first one the SL girls came across at a Beauty and the Feast exhibition in Lagos is ReneeQ, known for her unique statement mix-and-match tees. Last we checked, though, there's nowhere we can go in Lagos to get our ReneeQ fix...but all's not lost! We recently found out that Diva Delicious - makers of luxurious straw clutches and accessories in general (samples above) - is now available in Lagos [Oluwafemi Clothings, Good News Plaza, Suite A8, Agbaoku street, Opebi; +234 8055 355 945], and lovers of Christie Brown will be able to buy select pieces at Temple Muse from this Saturday, throwing some additional West African flavour into Nigeria's rapidly growing fashion scene.

Finally, if you're in Ghana and want a piece of Nigeria, Tebazile's store is a good start [Allys Plaza, Dzorwolu, Accra, Ghana; 0245 001 894].

Any other fabulous finds that bring Ghana and Nigeria that much closer? Please share!

XO