Diaspora Shoot
Cotonou, Benin | August 2019
Manifesting this diaspora fashion shoot was one of the most healing and empowering experiences for everyone involved. Too often, African fashion has been appropriated, ridiculed or bypassed in favor of Western apparel, so much so that even residents of the African continent sometimes prefer to dress in Western attire rather than proudly rock their traditional wax clothing.
But what many don’t realize is that wearing traditional West African clothing is not only unbelievably stunning, but it’s also a form of protection. Each wax print tells its own story, and to have humans of the African diaspora — both those who live here and those who have returned — proudly rocking this attire allows us to remember who we are and reconnect with each other as a global African family.
African-Americans need to know that it is their birthright to reconnect with their African roots, and fashion is one of the most powerful and visibly influential ways to do so. While diaspora wars may have previously caused tension between African-Americans and Africans, my hope is that this diaspora shoot helps us heal and remember that we are one. We should continue to celebrate each other and our rich heritage, while honoring our ancestors who have paved the way, protected us, and led us back home.
My hope is that this shoot inspires everyone of the African diaspora to keep normalizing wearing our traditional fashion. Not only in the Motherland, but globally. As we strut through these streets in our royal garb, our mere presence reminds the world that we are here, we are uniting, and we’re not going anywhere.
CREATIVE DIRECTION
Elicia KOUTON @mai_kouton
Oronce HOUNKPONOU @oroncehphotography
PRODUCTION
Daniel MALANGUE @cotonouboy
PHOTOGRAPHY
Oronce HOUNKPONOU @oroncehphotography
MUAS
Nadjida ADAMON @nadjidath
Liliane TOSSOU @sfg_pro_mkp
FACE PAINTING
Lionel Davinci ATERRE
SET DESIGN
Elicia KOUTON @mai_kouton
Rochel KOUTON @jinnie_rk
STYLING
Kuamba KUAKUVI @kuamba_kuakuvi
Teed CREATIONS @teedofficiel
HEADWRAPS
Rochel KOUTON @jinnie_rk
MUSES
Ebonee DAVIS @eboneedavis
Elicia KOUTON @mai_kouton
Carinna MARTIN-CORREA @carrycorrea
Dossé-Via TRENOU @dossevia
Leslye HOUENOU @leslyehouenou from Angels Models Management @angels_models_africa
Lincoln MITCHELL @weakst_linc
Shakeria REED @s.a.reed
Dorothy McGHEE @dondotty_
Emmanuel McGHEE @ethaog
Janelle ROUSE @janellenaomi