August
1, 2008 - What do an R&B singer, a rap star, an NBA player, and world
famous models and fashion designers have in common?
They’re helping raise the awareness
of the continent of Africa. While major media focuses on the challenges of the continent (food,
health issues, war), one company is doing its part to help showcase the positive side of the great continent.
Through
the ThisDay media outlet, along with the vision of its creative director Nduka (n-doo-ka) Obaigbena (o-bye-ben-ya), designers like Chris Aire, Deoola Sagoe, and world renown musicians like John Legend and Jay-Z, fashion and music are coming together
to showcase Africa’s achievements.
The
Fashion
While many would say fashion events have
always been somewhat of a hidden secret in the Washington, DC area, and fashion shows featuring African designers and African inspired clothing being less than the norm,
the Global Music and Fashion Festival is changing that dynamic.
Nigerian born Chris
Aire, celebrity jewelry designer, features exquisite pieces from his jewelry line worn with exclusive clothing designs. Aire is the first jewelry designer to feature an all diamond jewelry fashion show in New York City. His pieces for the Washington DC show were delivered via armored truck. When asked the total value of
his pieces for last evening’s show, Chris lamented that the total value “was somewhere around $450,000.”
Fati Asibelua, creative director for the
Momo (moe-moe) line says, “African fashion is where it’s at. If you don’t get in on it now you are going to be too late.”
Nigerian designer,
Deola
Sagoe’s, Masai inspired designs wowed the crowd with its hand woven Nigerian fabrics that spelled chic and exclusive. Deola gets her inspiration from bedtime stories such as Alice in
Wonderland, and the clothing from the Victorian era.
“We’ve been given a global catwalk”,
said Deola. “We now need to have sponsorship”, citing that investors
and sponsors could further heighten the awareness and exposure of the works of Africa’s designers and musicians.
Other models participating in the festival
included Tyson Beckford, Sudanese model Alec
Wek, and Ethiopian model Liva Kebede.
The surprise model of the evening was Washington Wizards’, Caron Butler
who modeled a jacketless shirt and dress pant ensemble, accentuated with Chris Aire jewels.
The
Music
Performances of the evening showcased the
music of Senegal’s, Youssou
N’Dour. N’Dour best known for the music genre mbalax, said he knows, “we are not the highlight of this evening – but we are the content.” His statement refers to American musicians perhaps overshadowing Africa’s musical influence throughout the festival, but reminds
everyone that Africa
is the reason for the event.
John Legend
R&B sensation John Legend, held down
the musical side for the American audience as he performed a myriad of fan favorites that included hits like ‘Heaven Only Knows’, ‘Ordinary People’, and ‘Good Morning’ – the title cut
off his new album, in stores October 28th.
Legend, as well as Jay-Z, have frequently
visited Africa and
were pegged for the event for their performances and humanitarian efforts in the continent.
Jay-Z
Who better to headline a music and fashion
event than recording artist, and fashion industry icon, Jay-Z - who to his own credit, has several multi-platinum selling
albums, and his own clothing line. Jay-Z (aka Sean Carter), performed with a DJ and an 8-piece live band dressed
handsomely in a white dress shirts, black ties, and vests. The crowd stayed on their feet as ‘J’ performed a myriad
of his best selling hits including those off albums such as ’The Blue Print’, ‘The Life and Times of S.
Carter’, and ‘Hard Knock Life’. Jay-Z collaborated on the ‘big’
Kennedy Center stage with Roc-A-Fella Records
family member, Memphis Bleek.
One of Jay-Z’s most memorable performances
of the evening was his recital of his hip-hop style poem blaming current president George W. Bush for the demise of Louisiana flood victims. A video piece showed images of the then flood-torn city, and its residents in distress. “How would you like it if helicopters swooped down close enough to get a look, but wouldn’t
even close enough to help?”, recited the hip-hop artist.
The poem ended with a still photo of Bush
on the jumbo screen, and Jay-Z iterating how he felt about the treatment of the hurricane’s victims as he chanted “f(explective)
Bush!”
The
Grand Scope of Things
The ThisDay Music and Fashion Festival completes
its 2008 tour in London at the royal Albert Hall on Tuesday, October 14th. Other models
and artists who have participated in the festival since it began in 2006 include 2Face,
Diana Ross, Beyonce, Alicia Keys, P Diddy, Chris Brown, Rihanna, and Ozwald Boateng.
Said Nigerian Ambassador, Oluwole Rotimi,
“Africa is rising. African culture is not inferior to other fashion and textiles from other parts of
the world.”
Rotimi envisions having a fashion and music
festival every three months.
While his vision is ambitious, goers of this
past weekend’s festival will not soon forget the music, or the fashion, that graced our Nation’s Capital.
See event photos.
See
also www.thisdayonline.com.
DC Fashion Events
DC Fashion Week
Hair Idol
