Category: Uncategorized
Tiossan Is Senegal’s Only Luxury Skincare Product
It isn’t enough these days to sell a product that merely does its job. Now our products have to be eco-friendly, vegan-friendly, free of allergens, purified, organic, biodegradable, sourced from extra natural springs or free of chemicals. For this, most of it, we are grateful. We care about our well being more than ever and … read more
Author Gloria D. Gonsalves In Her Own Words
Last month, in early September, we wrote a feature on author and poet Gloria D. Gonsalves, founder of World Children’s Poetry Day (WoChiPoDa) and the initiative “Africa Is Not What You Know”. Gloria wrote to Chicamod with her own personal narrative on who she is, where she’s from and where she’s going. This is Gloria D. Gonsalves in her own … read more
CHiCHiA Is Where East Africa Meets London
Remember Lupita Nyong’o’s Nairobi Blue that she wore during the Golden Globes Awards? The one that got everyone talking? It turns out that the dress isn’t the only spectacular element of East Africa on the world’s fashion map. London based fashion label CHiCHiA is putting the region on the map with their East African influenced designs. CHiCHiA is like a breath … read more
Where To Shop For African Products
Every now and then you want to get something unique for that special person, even if that special person is you. If it’s something uniquely African that you’re looking for then our list of shops will be a good read. The best part? No travel necessary. 1. SOKO SHOP Online Soko Shop is the brainchild … read more
DEF.I.NI.TION Africa Finds Value In African Made Products
Wear African and wear it boldly and proudly. Wear Def.i.ni.tion Africa. Def.i.ni.tion Africa solely sells African made products. The authentic company follows three principles: Does the design speak of Africa? Was it printed in Africa? Was it produced in Africa? Its Ugandan directors Olga Mugyeni and Nahida Bhegani formed the company in 2010 after seeing the … read more
Footwear From Brother Vellies
Brother Vellies was founded by Aurora James to introduce the rest of the world to African footwear. Brother Vellies footwear includes boots, shoes and sandals for men, women and children made by hand in Kenya, South Africa and Namibia. Although James is a Toronto native currently based in Brooklyn, she amasses her fashion knowledge from her travels to … read more
The Luo Of East Africa
The Luo, also known as the Dholuo/ Jaluo/ Joluo, are a tribe found mostly in Western Kenya, Eastern Uganda and in the Mara region of Northern Tanzania. The Luo are the third largest ethnic group in Kenya. They belong to the Nilotic group of people under the River/Lake sub group. Ancestrally they came from Sudan’s Bar el Ghazel Region … read more
The Lake In Rwanda That Could Light Up The Country
On the floor of the Eastern Rift Valley, Lake Kivu lies on the western border of Rwanda, shared with bordering country DR Congo. Over the years Lake Kivu has been both an important food source and a tourist hotspot for Rwanda. What many people don’t know about Lake Kivu, is that the beautiful beach is part of one of … read more
Passionate Poet Gloria D. Gonsalves In It For Africa
Meet Tanzanian author and poet Gloria D. Gonsalves. Like most writers, Gloria’s love for reading began in her childhood. While attending primary and secondary school in Tanzania at the Kifungilo Girls’ School, Gloria read novels to improve her English. Reading inspired Gloria to write, entering contests and composing plays to much success. It was many … read more
Liya Kabede Presents Lemlem
Ethiopians are a unique people and their culture is uniquely expressed in their clothing. When Ethiopian born supermodel Liya Kebede discovered the threat to the survival of Ethiopia’s hand woven and embroidered clothing, she decided to found Lemlem. lemlem: n. 1) hand made in Ethiopia from natural cotton. v. 2) [Amharic] bloom, flourish. 3) [history] Since ancient times in the land … read more
The El Molo Tribe
The El Molo tribe is one of the smallest tribes in Kenya. This community that occupies the shores of Lake Turkana in Northern Kenya has a population of only 300. The El Molo are among the bravest people in the world. From time immemorial members of this tribe have been surviving on crocodile and hippo meat, which they hunt and kill … read more
Buqisi Ruux Shoes: African Art At Your Feet
Shoes have become more than merely protective gear for our feet; shoes have become statements, art pieces and forces of fashion. Buqisi Ruux caters to the needs of the trend-loving, urban chic lady. Buqisi Ruux makes beautiful shoes that are traditional yet contemporary. The fashion brand uses fabric that is authentically African to create intricate … read more
Making A Business Out Of Fish Waste
When you think of fish waste you cringe, you do not think of high-end fashion. Newton Owino from Nyanza, Kenya is making a thriving, fashionable business out of the waste from fish. Newton Owino owns the Alisam Product Development and Design Tannery Centre in Mamboleo Estate in Kisumu. Owino designs and makes bags, jackets, wallets, caps, purses, watch handles, … read more
Kinu: Tanzania’s Tech And Social Enterprise
In the age of information as the world accelerates in the field of technology, one has no choice but to keep up. The Tanzanian tech and social scene is keeping up with Kinu. Kinu is a tech and social enterprise platform that enables the tech savvy Tanzanian to engage in a culture of co-creation and innovation, … read more
Meet Zanzibar’s Talented Doreen Mashika: She Captures The True Imagination Of An Exquisite And Exotic Island
Doreen Mashika captures the true imagination of Zanzibar transposing you to a different time capsule. She features a Zanzibari flare but with a twist: African, international, a caliber not only attracting the locals but also those outside Africa. We love the creativity that the designer showcases. The lookbook, phenomenal! Doreen Mashika born and raised in Zanzibar … read more
Vlisco, The Avant Grande Of Tribal Prints And Textile
By Chicamod Editor Fusing urban culture and haute couture into impressive body art ─ gleefully dabbling in color, splashing in eye-poppingly brilliant hues, geometric sequences and the more traditional wraps Vlisco, is a brand designed to make one’s mind simply swirl. The brand recently revealed their Funky Grooves collection containing pieces that are bold, raging, … read more
Rugasira: Uganda’s Coffee Story
By Salem Lorot Sometime earlier this year, an article by the title ‘You Lazy (Intellectual) African Scum!’ by Field Ruwe, a US-based Zambian media practitioner and author, went viral. I remember reading it and ‘burning inside me’ for the truth that Ruwe told and the challenge he gave to the African intellectuals. Field Ruwe observed: … read more
Kikapu Lost Forever? – Living Sustainably
By ChicaMod.com With the world and the new phenomena Going Green, one would wonder where some of the sustainable ways that have been our staple and tradition have disappeared to. If you can remember having to go the market with your Kikapu/ Ekyikapu- Woven Basket;the basket basically carried the produce that was purchased – with the … read more