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A Fashionable Family Affair: Designer Deola Sagoe's Daughters Launch Their Own Fashion Label

Written By: MIM!—Sisters, Teni, Aba and Tiwa Sagoe, daughters to Deola Sagoe of the eponymous and legendary fashion house, have channelled their collective fashion heritage to bring their own vision to the fore with the launch of Clan, a new fashion label with a fresh and irreverent style, for edgy, style-conscious girls and guys who like to stay ahead of the fashion curve. Clan is targeted at the teenage to thirties demographic, offering dynamic fashion that’s easily accessible, yet savvy and distinct. As the brand name implies Clan speaks to the power of family, the magic that comes out of being part of a bigger picture, whilst still being unique and different, and having the courage to experiment that’s always fantastic to watch. It may seem obvious to see the daughters of Deola Sagoe finding their way into the fashion industry. Not so if you ask the girls, the eldest of whom is just 20. Each has her own distinct career path marked out, and surprisingly none has chosen to be a fashion designer. But it must be in the blood as Clan has grown organically, taking on a life of it's own, forging its way into being as if by some pre-destined plan.  

The current line offers separates from bra-lets, high waisted print shorts and Ankara bustiers to casual lounge dresses and swim wear, as well as wardrobe staples such as chiffon shirts and dainty lace skirts for the free-spirited and young at heart. Take a look at pieces from the collection below.

Written By: MIM!—It's right around that time of year when our favorite African designers start revealing their collections for the next season, and we're very excited to see what is in store! First up is Nigerian designer Autumn Adeigbo, who released her "6 Nights With Jean-Michel" collection last week. Read what Autumn has to say about her latest collection below:

Written By: MIMI—After a successful presentation of the new HVS De Luxe Collection during New York Fashion Week, fashion designer and stylist Bukola Are reveals new ad campaigns to promote her new collection. The ads were shot on location in the UK with fashion photographers David Otokpa and Timothy Paule in the U.S. Take a look at some of the images from the collection below.

Written By: Nani Hapa—The jury is still out over whether Ghana's groundbreaking movie industry, Gollywood, can give Nigeria's veteran movie industry, Nollywood, a serious run for its money. But when it comes to figuring out which stars are the biggest, the debate is over ... at least if we're measuring stardom according to how often Google searches are run about a particular person. We thought it would be fun to use Google Trends to figure out who the most popular actresses are among Nollywood heavyweights—Genevieve Nnaji, Omotola, and Stephanie Okereke—and Gollywood starlets—Nadia Buari, Yvonne Nelson, and Jackie Appiah. (You'd have to be living under a rock not to recognize these women's names.) And according to Google Trends, Genevieve Nnaji is on the top of the game as the most Google searched African actress. Who's in second place? The rest of the results may surprise you ...

Nneka Releases Her Music Video For "Soul Is Heavy"

NNEKA - Soul Is Heavy from Shoemakerhh on Vimeo.

Communication For Change Celebrates Stephanie Okereke And More ...

Written By: MIM!—On June 29, Communication for Change premiered RedHOT, a new five-part documentary film series, featuring some of the best acts of Nigerian visual and performing arts in music and film sectors. Filmed over a two-year period, the documentary is a description of the life and work of 17 amazing Nigerian artists, discovering their inspiration.

Created with support from the US charity, Ford Foundation, RedHOT is a tribute to Nigeria’s finest creative talents, showcasing the depth and breadth of Nigeria’s ingenuity. Among the Nollywood veterans featured in the documentary are renowned Nollywood actor and director, Stephanie Okereke, along with creative painter and printmaker Bruce Onobrakpeya, painter Kainebi Osahenye, mixed media artist and scholar Nnenna Okore, top flight musician and photographer TY Bello, comedy entertainer Julius Agwu, music producer, Cobehams Asuquo, veteran flutist Tee Mac, the talented female drummer Ara, celebrated Nollywood directors Tunde Kelani and Izu Ojukwu, as well as engaging dance groups including Crown Troupe and the Society for the Performing Arts of Nigeria (SPAN).

(Photo Credits: © Icy PR)

Hello Gorgeous! Deola Sagoe's Ori Oke Collection

Written By: MIM!—The name for Deola Sagoe’s latest collection—Ori Oké—is derived from the Japanese word Shibori and the Yoruba word Aso-Oké. Both words describe methods of creating the traditional cloth of the respective cultures. Discover a collection inspired by the similarities Deola sees within Japanese and Yoruba style of dress in the article Hello Gorgeous! Deola Sagoe's Ori Oké Collection.

(Photo Credits: © Deola Sagoe)

Soul Video: Sade "Love Is Found"

Written By: MIM!—Sade has released her video for Love Is Found. Watch it now on www.vevo.com.

(Photo Credits: © JC Epic Records)

Soul Video: Asa, Why Can't We (Directed By Raphaël Frydman)

Music Video Asa "Why Can't We" from Raphael Frydman on Vimeo.

Double Your Shoes On An Afri-Chic Budget

7D - Shoe-Wrap Advert from Nel - VillageBoi on Vimeo.

Affordable Luxury: Jewel By Lisa Launches The J Label

Written By: Nani Hapa—Couture label Jewel by Lisa's love affair with fashion is endless as evidenced by the birth of The J Label, a completely new and unique brand for the youthful fashion conscious, every day girl, a true dictator of style, with an unbreakable loyalty to the Jewel by Lisa brand. The J Label is a strong combination of urban cool, afro-pop, and cutting edge beautifully crafted clothes—it is affordable luxury at its best. Read on to preview pieces from the affordable collection below.

Written By: MIM!—Rising Nigerian Pop-Alternative artist, Gloria Maduka, has released her first single, Love Illusion, from her debut album, Of Light and Angels. Love Illusion is a cross-over song with a message of caution to those who have been once deceived in love. Gloria Maduka infuses her native Nigerian language within the song, and makes reference to Mase Gbagbe (mah-sheh-gbah-gbeh), Don't Forget. Take a listen below.

Written By: Kemi Ebun—Growing up as the teenage daughter of an Nigerian mother in urban America in the nineties was—as I described in the article Excuse Me Jay-Z, I Don’t Apologize For Liking Fufu—”equal parts awkward, hilarious, painful, experimental, joyous, and confusing.” For all my mother's faults that contributed to those "awkward, hilarious, painful, experimental, joyous, and confusing" years I spent as an embarrassed teenager, my grown up self appreciates, and has even come to love, my Nigerian mother—flaws and all. So here I share 10 things that I like—no, love—about my Nigerian mother.

Read the 10 Things I Like About My Nigerian Mother in the latest issue of MIMI, Unapologetically Modern.African.Female.

(Photo Credits: © Gary Alvis / iStockPhoto)

Mogul In The Making: Olabisi Waller

Written By: MIM!—Olabisi Waller is the CEO and executive director of two successful online companies, Elise Charles and EC Cosmetics. Her entrepreneurial ambitions were nurtured by her upbringing with her mother who constantly reminded her and her nine sisters “never to let anyone tell them they could not do what they wanted.” It is no surprise then that Olabisi discovered her entrepreneurial spirit at a young age when she would buy affordable goods at a local market and resell it for a profit to her schoolmates. Ultimately, Olabisi studied business administration at Ondo State University in Nigeria. She has been self-employed since 2001, and is currently enrolled in the Wharton Business Development Program at the University of Pennsylvania. She started the gift and souvenirs business Elise Charles Company along with her husband, Charles Waller in 2007 and a year later launched EC Cosmetics with the goal of providing the beauty industry unique products that truly enhance a woman’s beauty. MIMI caught up with the mogul in the making to find out her secrets to success.

Read MIMI's Q&A with Olabisi in Mogul In The Making: Olabisi Waller in the latest issue of MIMI, Unapologetically Modern.African.Female.

(Photo Credits: © ICY PR)

The Elements Of Style: Lola Faturoti

Written By: Nani Hapa—Born the daughter and granddaughter of tribal chiefs in her native Ondo, Nigeria, designer Lola Faturoti is deeply influenced by both her personal history and African roots. “I got interested in fashion because my grandmother was a designer, she designed traditional Nigerian clothes. That was my first introduction to fashion,” laughs Lola, “which I hated because I wanted to be out playing instead of picking out seams!” Along with her grandmother, Lola’s mother played a pivotal role in the development of her daughter’s personal style. “My mom traveled a lot to London and New York. She bought me a lot of clothes, so I began to dress differently. I think that was the first introduction to me wanting to be different through clothing.” MIMI interviewed Lola to find out more about what inspires her eponymous label and how her heritiage influences her work.

Read The Elements Of Style: Lola Faturoti in the latest issue of MIMI, Unapologetically Modern.African.Female.

House Of Makeda's Ogeyinka 2011 Collection: Inspired By Fela Kuti And His Queens

Written By: MIM!—Ogeyinka 2011, meaning surrounded by beauty and style in Yoruba, is the new collection from House of Makeda, the now two-year old afrocentric design house by jazz singer Teni. Inspired by Fela Kuti and his Queens, House of Makeda's 2011 Ogeyinka Collection uses a cornucopia of pinks, greens and blues in ankara african print, aso-oke, silk, satin, leather, velvet, sequins and embroidery. Teni shares: "We chose to use ankara for this collection because right or wrong, it remains synonymous with African fashion and there was none more African and supportive of home-grown fashion than Fela and his Queens. It reflects the effortlessly second to none, rich, avant-garde 1970's style of these unsung style icons, in a time where from Broadway to Beyonce, the world is taking note." Take a look at some of the pieces below.

House Of Versatile Styles Releases Fashion Film

Written By: MIM!—There's no question that Bukola Are of House of Versatile Styles has mastered the art of branding. Take a look at her fashion forward film for her label, featuring among other pieces, her ankara inspired accessories.

House of Versatile Styles Fashion Film from HVS TV on Vimeo.

Double Yoke A Novel By Buchi Emecheta

Written By: Nicole Parker-Jones—Set on the campus of a Nigerian university, Double Yoke tells the story of two undergraduates who must confront the conflicting demands of tradition and modernity. While Nko pursues an education despite the resistance of those who feel a woman's identity is assumed in traditional marriage, Ete Kamba's love for her is severely tested as he is himself locked into the rigid attitudes from which Nko is attempting to break free. Nko must further contend with unscrupulous professors who would take advantage of her tenuous role as a woman in a male-dominated environment. As the author candidly portrays the status of women in emerging African nations, the choices facing Ete Kamba and Nko are neither clearcut nor perfect. In Double Yoke, Buchi Emecheta faces them head on.

(Photo Credits: Book Cover Art)

Happily Ever After: Bunmi Koko Bridal

Written By: MIM!—Bunmi Olaye is expanding her line Bunmi Koko into bridal wear. Take a look at some of the beautiful pieces from her look book.

Written By: Nicole Parker-Jones—It is the mid-1980s in Lagos and the government’s War Against Indiscipline and austerity measures are fully in operation. Tolani Ajao is a secretary working at Federal Community Bank. A succession of unfortunate events leads Tolani’s roommate and colleague, Rose, to consider drug trafficking as an alternative means of making a living. Tolani’s subsequent struggle with temptation forces her to reconsider her morality and that of her mother Arike’s, as she embarks on a turbulent journey of self-discovery. This sets the stage for chartered accountant and CPA turned literary talent Sefi Atta's uniquely narrated novel, Swallow.

Sefi Atta's first novel, Everything Good Will Come, won the Wole Soyinke Prize for Literature in Africa, and Swallow is also earning critical acclaim. Read an excerpt from Swallow: A Novel below.