Connect with us

‘We Wanted To Showcase The Best Ghana Has To Offer’: ‘An African City’ Producer Talks Fashion

Published

on

An African City cast

 

The conversation about Africa and its influence on fashion moves on a wide spectrum. Everything from a Vogue Africa being created to African Fashion Week to a need for sustainable manufacturing all fall under this umbrella. But the truth is, for the most part, the Western world has a polarized concept of the continent.

The truth is, there have been leaps and bounds in the past decade that have afforded the ability for metropolis living. “Seven of the world’s 10 fastest-growing economies are currently in Africa, with 70 percent of the continent’s population living in countries which have enjoyed average economic growth rates in excess of four percent over the past decade,” said Millie Monyo the executive producer of “An African City”.

 

An African City2

 

Monyo along with Nicole Amarteifio are the talented ladies behind the show that NPR (among many others) has compared to an African “Sex and the City.” In addition to featuring five metropolitan women with distinct personalities, the show delves into their love lives, careers and, of course, fashion.

We chatted with Monyo about fashion’s role in the show– she had a lot of interesting points.

On the role fashion plays into character development: “Fashion plays a huge role in the series. At its core, we want the series to celebrate personal style. Each character’s outfits are immediate personality indicators. Nana Yaa’s look can be described as urban cool with a hint of vintage. Sade is the most adventurous of the bunch and her style can be described as sexy and on-trend. Zainab and no nonsense Makena are the high fashion girls with Zainab being the more laid back of the two. Lastly, the stylized minimalist, Ngozi tends to be the most prim and proper of the bunch. Each character’s look was crafted for her personality and for the storyline. In season one, you will notice Nana Yaa’s fashion evolution from when she first returns and slowly see how her fashion choices change with the more comfortable she becomes with being back home. It is our hope that over time the fashion of the series will be the most accessible way for fans to parrot their favorite character.”

On the constant comparison to “Sex and the City” and if the show will ignite the careers of the designers featured like SATC did: “We hope so! Fashion plays a MAJOR role in the series as well as in the lives of the girls. I’d even go as far as calling Fashion the 6th main character. We wanted to showcase the best that Africa, namely Ghana has to offer. The response of our audiences has been great and we are delighted that they seem to be hungry for more. Our styling team which includes: JoJo Abot of Vintage GH, Esosa E and myself worked hard to create looks that would do justice to the vibrancy and uniqueness that is Ghana fashion right now. We can only hope to forever change the fashion landscape of Africa as ‘Sex and the City’ did so many years ago in the states and continue to deliver top quality fashion and accessories over the many seasons to come.”

On how involved the cast is in what they’re wearing: “For season one, we asked the cast to select a few staple items from their own wardrobes and bring them to set. We then merged those items with our wardrobe and created some of the looks that you see on the show. We were also lucky to have had clothing donated to us by quite a few tremendously talented local African designers.”

Read more on the next pages. 

The post ‘We Wanted To Showcase The Best Ghana Has To Offer’: ‘An African City’ Producer Talks Fashion appeared first on StyleBlazer.

Advertisement
Comments

Albums

Rawrrzone Picks – FaxoHxzrd Faded

Published

on

photo courtesy of @faxohxzard on Instagram

It’s amazing to see how much progress has been made, not only in the world of music but also in terms of tolerance and acceptance of different genres worldwide. Reflecting on their childhood, many can relate to not being allowed to listen to certain types of music, let alone pursue a career in it.

Growing up in a Greek household, there were limitations, and pursuing a career in music seemed like a distant dream. In many families, the expectation was to follow a more conventional path, such as becoming a teacher or a doctor. Back then, familial support for artistic endeavors was rare. However, as we step into 2024, things have significantly changed.

Parents are now not only supportive but encouraging of their children pursuing their creative dreams. There’s a newfound appreciation for the creative arts, and families play a crucial role in nurturing and supporting their children’s aspirations. This shift marks a significant change in societal attitudes towards creativity and the arts.

<center><iframe style=”border-radius:12px” src=”https://open.spotify.com/embed/album/6ZXkeF6AaiI0Z3YJS0cWhA?utm_source=generator” width=”100%” height=”352″ frameBorder=”0″ allowfullscreen=”” allow=”autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; fullscreen; picture-in-picture” loading=”lazy”></iframe></Center>

The 12-track project, heavily influenced by New York drill with elements from the Vermont music scene, offers a smooth listening experience. The album not only showcases Faxohzrd’s confidence but also his passion for music.

As someone once told us, there’s a difference between artists who create to connect with their audience and those who create solely for profit. Faxohzrd aims to move his crowd and make them experience his music fully.

For example, in “Kobe Bryant,” he displays his pen game and wordplay, cleverly referencing the late Kobe Bryant’s jersey number, 24. Faxohxzrd takes his shot and never misses.

“Lobotomy” is a straight pen track where he exhibits some of his best bars, blending boom-bap and drill beats, giving off takeover vibes as he talks about eliminating his competition as if performing a lobotomy.

“On Me” is a track dedicated to the ladies. Faxohxzrd acknowledges the women in his life, recognizing how they have always supported him and declaring his affection for his dream woman. The song gave me a taste of Mac Miller while listening to it.

Although these were our favorites from the project, without giving too much away, you need to check out the entire project for yourself.

Make sure you follow him on Instagram

https://www.instagram.com/faxohxzrd/

Continue Reading

Artist

Lil $o$o Enjoys The View In New Visual “Passion”

Published

on

By

Enlisting Sexyy Red director Suave Films for the Remdolla produced small screen interpretation, Lil $o$o signals a compelling exploration beyond her usual Rap style and leans into the realm of R&B with the release of “Passion.” Following “Enhancements,” the timely track unveils a vulnerable dimension that showcases her versatility as an artist. With emotive lyrics and a smooth melody, “Passion” shines light on a deeper layer of $o$o’s artistry, inviting listeners into a journey of introspection and raw emotion.

In a press statement to Medium Creative Agency about single, the Issa Rae-approved “Florida Girl” reveals: “I love this record because it really shows another side of me. Sometimes, I feel like people are so materialistic or surface level, and I really am starting to see that ‘real’ is rare. I hope to find something deeper than that and that’s what made me put that into my music.”

There’s something in the water. From the City Girls to Kodak Black, with a long list of others, the Sunshine State has been the stomping ground for hip-hop’s culture shifters. Entertainer Lil $o$o is looking to keep that tradition alive. Despite being native to Chicago, since moving to Miami in her early childhood, she’s proudly claimed it as her musical home.

The 22-year-old Colombiana, whose real name is Sofia Donado, has persevered through trauma and pain and continues to show up for herself and her 3-year-old son, who she’s raising as a single mom. Lil $o$o’s boyfriend was gunned down in 2019, while sitting in his car, leaving her without a partner and their son without a father. He was in the music business, and after his passing, Lil $o$o found healing in discovering her musical voice. The result was upbeat rhythms intended to make people dance, smile, and feel free. It was the only way she knew how to make things better.

After laying the groundwork with promo singles “Better Life,” “Go Ooh,” “Bad Attitude,” and “Woo Tang,” the rising rapstress made her official debut Summer of 2022 with ‘$o$o World.’ Executive produced by mentor and label head LunchMoney Lewis, the 14-track collection of records includes additional instrumentation from JulianBeatz, SFL Xavi, TheonlyDiet, Toju, BrianXWhite, Diem, and SoundsbyBreezy. Guest features come by way of Roc Nation recording artist Bobby Fishscale, XXXTentacion affiliate C Glizzy, Warner Records vocalist Savannah Cristina, and Nelle.

Press play on the HD-clip for “Passion” as well as stream the official audio on your DSP of choice below via Black 17 Media / The Orchard.

Continue Reading

Music

FrankDawg Drops New Song, “Hold Me”

Published

on

By

In the world of music, there are songs that simply entertain, and then there are those that touch the depths of our emotions, resonating with us on a profound level. FrankDawg’s latest release, “Hold Me,” falls firmly into the latter category, offering listeners a powerful journey through themes of love, longing, and vulnerability.

From the moment the first notes hit, “Hold Me” pulls you in with its soulful melody and haunting lyrics. FrankDawg’s rich vocals convey a sense of raw emotion, drawing listeners into the heart of the song’s narrative. Each verse is a glimpse into the complexities of human relationships, exploring the highs and lows of love with honesty and depth.

FrankDawg On The Mic – hold me

Streaming everywhere may 14th music video available now go presave

Continue Reading

Trending

*