So far, the Group’s footprint in Africa has grown to nearly 100 hotels in operation and development, placing it well on track to reach its goal of 150 hotels within the next five years and further establishing it as the hotel company with the largest market presence in Africa.

In Nigeria, Radisson Hotel Group continues to hold a leading position with a portfolio of 13 hotels in operation and under development, including five new hotels signed in 2023. The new signing of the Radisson RED Hotel Abuja has further bolstered the Group’s presence in the city, bringing the total number of hotels under development in Abuja to four.

Over in Morocco, the Group has pursued the same efforts with a clear transformation plan, growing its presence from one hotel in 2020 to over nine hotels in operation and four hotels in development currently. Casablanca represents a strategic hub among multiple continents, and the new signing of Radisson Blu Hotel & Apartments Casablanca Finance City and Radisson RED Hotel Casablanca Finance City solidifies the Group’s ambitions to reach over 25 hotels by 2030 across the country.

Ramsay Rankoussi, Vice President, Development, Africa and Turkey at Radisson Hotel Group, said, “The seven new hotels align with our expansion strategy, demonstrating significant growth in key African markets such as Morocco, Nigeria, Tunisia and Ethiopia as well as our highly anticipated debut in Tanzania. These hotels also highlight our conversion strategy and our commitment to diversifying our portfolio by introducing new brands and cementing our presence in these important markets.”

Here’s everything we know about all seven hotel signings

Radisson Blu Hotel & Apartments, Dar es Salaam (Tanzania)

Marking the Group’s debut in Tanzania, this 138-room hotel, featuring 94 guestrooms and 44 three-bedroom apartments, is set to open in 2025 as part of a mixed-use development in Dar es Salaam’s CBD. The hotel will occupy the top 14 floors of a 33-floor tower, one of the tallest buildings in the area, and is within walking distance of the ferry terminal to Zanzibar Island.

The hotel will offer a diverse array of dining facilities, including a lobby café, business class lounge, all-day dining restaurant, speciality restaurant, outdoor pool, and pool restaurant. Additional amenities include retail stores, a ladies’ salon, indoor parking, a gym, a steam room and sauna, a kids’ playroom, and eight meeting rooms.

Radisson Hotel Mwanza (Tanzania)

Supporting a strong market entry, this 196-room hotel currently under construction will launch the Radisson brand in Tanzania in 2025. Mwanza, Tanzania’s second-largest city, is renowned for corporate meetings and events and is the ideal starting point for tours to the Serengeti National Park. As the only branded hotel in Mwanza, it will feature a lobby café and bar, an all-day dining restaurant, sports bar, outdoor pool bar, executive lounge, and two speciality restaurants: Balaustine, a ‘casual-fine dining’ experience inspired by the Barbary coast, and, the Levant and Filini, offering a delectable dining experience of fresh, simple, and delicious Italian-style cuisine.

The meetings and events space includes a triple-height ballroom, a business centre, boardrooms, and a conference room. The extensive wellness facilities will comprise a gym, spa, outdoor pool, and kids’ playground.

Radisson Blu Hotel & Apartments, Casablanca Finance City, and, Radisson RED Casablanca Finance City (Morocco)

Enhancing the Group’s Moroccan portfolio – which currently includes eleven hotels in operation and under development – is the addition of two new branded hotels and a serviced apartment. These new builds, including the first Radisson RED hotel in North Africa, will feature a total of 381 rooms and are set to open in late 2027. They will be located in Casa Anfa, at the heart of Casablanca Finance City, the city’s new financial hub, recognized as Africa’s leading financial centre, on par with London and La Défense in Paris.

Providing guests with an array of dining and wellness facilities for an ideal stay, the Radisson Blu will offer guests an all-day dining restaurant, a speciality rooftop restaurant, and a rooftop bar. Meanwhile, the Radisson RED hotel will include a restaurant and a pool bar. At the Radisson Blu’s wellness facilities, expect a spa, a fitness centre, and an outdoor rooftop swimming pool. The Radisson RED will have nearly the same features with a fitness centre, an outdoor pool and a rooftop swimming pool.

For meetings and events, in addition to the five meeting rooms at the Radisson Blu, there will be a 1,100-square-meter conference centre comprising an auditorium, a large ballroom and three meeting rooms, making the complex the future meeting destination.

Radisson Blu Hotel & Conference Center, Tunis (Tunisia)

This 305-room hotel, a conversion of an existing property, will soon premiere the Radisson Blu brand in Tunis, complementing the Group’s footprint in Tunisia as its seventh hotel in the country and fourth in Tunis. Located just ten minutes from the airport, the hotel will come equipped with dining outlets such as a lobby bar, shisha bar, all-day dining restaurant, and three speciality restaurants.

The expansive convention centre will include multiple meeting rooms, boardrooms, a VIP room, an executive lounge, a business centre, and a 1,400 sqm ballroom, making it the largest conference centre in the city.

Radisson RED Abuja (Nigeria)

The 105-room hotel, set to open in 2028, will be Radisson Hotel Group’s 13th property in Nigeria and the second Radisson RED in the country, introducing the upper upscale brand to Abuja. Located in Wuse, Abuja’s main commercial and social district, the hotel will be surrounded by corporate offices, popular estates, shopping malls, and nightlife venues. The hotel will feature a bar and terrace, an all-day dining restaurant, and a pool bar and grill. It will also offer 238 square meters of meeting space, including three meeting rooms, a pre-function area, and a fitness facility.

Park Inn by Radisson Addis Ababa (Ethiopia)

Scheduled to open in 2025, this 120-room hotel will be the Group’s third hotel in Ethiopia, all located in Addis Ababa and will introduce the Park Inn by Radisson brand to the country. Dining options will include a breakfast hall, restaurant hall, coffee shop, and four soft drink bars. The meeting and events space will consist of a large and medium conference room and four meeting rooms. Guests can also enjoy two gyms, a spa, a business centre, sports facilities, a kids’ entertainment area, a retail space, and a co-working space.

Since 2022, the Group has opened a total of 14 hotels, including the debut of the Radisson brand in Morocco (Radisson Hotel Casablanca Gauthier La Citadelle) and Tunis (Radisson Hotel Tunis City Center). These openings have diversified the Group’s portfolio with the first safari hotel in Africa, Radisson Safari Hotel Hoedspruit; the first resort in Livingstone, Radisson Blu Resort Mosi-oa-Tunya, and, the debut in Reunion Island with Radisson Hotel Saint-Denis. This achievement has set a record for the Group in terms of realizing its pipeline into openings, translating into a commendable 15 per cent annual net operating growth in its African portfolio.

“With a strong first half of the year, we plan to continue the momentum in the second half by focusing on expanding our presence in key markets such as Morocco and South Africa, where we’ve recently announced our ambition to reach 25 hotels by 2030, doubling the portfolio in both countries. We thank each of our partners for their valued trust in us and our brands,” concluded Rankoussi.

The post From Tunisia To Tanzania, Radisson is Growing Its Footprint in Africa first appeared on Aspire Luxury Magazine.

The post From Tunisia To Tanzania, Radisson is Growing Its Footprint in Africa appeared first on Aspire Luxury Magazine.

As early as 6:30 am, golfers and visitors began to troop into Ikoyi Golf Club 1938, which was the venue for the day-long event. Registration was the first activity of the day and it was immediately followed by a hearty breakfast to get players and guests energised for the activities ahead.

After the hearty meal, everyone followed the 116 participating amateur golfers to the course for the first game of the day: the tee off. Among the players representing the Nigerian community were renowned sports legend, Segun Odegbami; Deputy Governor of Edo State, Comrade Philip Shaibu and the captain of the Ikoyi club 1938, golf section, M.I Okoro.

The highlight of the tournament was the Putt for Charity, a specially curated activity where golfers played for a million naira cash prize to be donated to any of the following prior selected not-for-profit organisations: Evolve; the Chioma Ajunwa Foundation; Nucleus Africa, and, Visit a Hospital Today.

Mr Odegbami emerged as the winner for team Nigeria while Comrade Shaibu made a personal donation to the four nominated charities.

Speaking on the importance of the event, Mr Okoro stated that “it was held to foster global unity and it was exciting to see golfers who are giants of industries come together for good”. Mr Dan Ngerem, founder of the Dan Ngerem Sports Foundation which was the main sponsor of the tournament, further explained that “for the charity aspect of the event, we were careful to pick organisations that have served as advocates for several causes ranging from youth empowerment to girl child education”.

The Nigeria and International Community Golf Tournament is an annual golf game that brings golfers together to play for a charitable cause. The maiden edition held in 2021 at the Ikoyi Golf Club 1938 and this year’s edition, which had as its headline sponsor the Dan Ngerem Sports Foundation and J Lindeberg, held at the same venue.

Below are more images from the event:

ASPIRE Luxury Magazine is proud to be the Online Media Partner for the event.

Photo credit: Dami Taiwo Photography

The post Face-off for Charity: Nigeria vs International Community first appeared on Aspire Luxury Magazine.

The post Face-off for Charity: Nigeria vs International Community appeared first on Aspire Luxury Magazine.

100 remarkable years later, the French cognac distiller is celebrating this milestone occasion with a limited-edition design of the Hennessy V.S.O.P Privilège, an ode to a century of commitment to delivering exceptional cognac to Nigeria and craftsmanship that transcends borders and unites cultures.

From the heart of the Charente River in France to the shores of Nigeria, this limited edition bottle is a tribute to the Nigerian joie de vivre, its resilient spirit, and a pledge to continuously deliver excellent cognacs and create magical consumer experiences. According to Sebastien Chouen, GM, Moet Hennessy Nigeria, “This bottle is a testimony to Hennessy’s long-standing relationship with Nigeria as well as an ode to all stakeholders that have contributed in one way or another to making Hennessy a firm favourite within the spirits category.”

The Maison Hennessy has been welcomed in the hearts of Nigerians and in turn, has made the nation its home, celebrating with its citizens milestones that have happened over the 100 years of Hennessy’s presence in Nigeria.

The limited-edition V.S.O.P Privilège bottle is a colourful mix of red, white and green, with the Nigerian flag represented on its lower anterior part. Just above it are the words “celebrating 100 years of Hennessy’s presence in Nigeria.” The designer of this bottle is not yet known, neither is the number of bottles that will be available to the public.

“The 100th year limited edition bottle design is inspired by Nigerian symbols synchronized with codes unique to Hennessy’s identity, marking our pride in our extension of family, despite borders and distance,” says Laurent Boillot, chairman, and CEO of Hennessy.

Hennessy V.S.O.P Privilège is a rich harmonious cognac of incomparable vitality. In perpetuating the legacy of the original V.S.O.P, generations of master blenders have perfected the art of subtly balancing power and finesse. Based on a selection of firmly structured Eaux-de-vie, aged largely in partially-used barrels in order to take on subtle levels of oak tannins, this highly characterful cognac reveals balanced aromas of fresh vanilla, cinnamon, and toasty notes, all coming together with seamless perfection. These characteristics make it the perfect representation of a country that embraces excellence and is made rich by its diversity. Just like Hennessy, Nigerians never stop and never settle.

About Hennessy

The leader in Cognac, the Maison Hennessy has shone around the world with its exceptional blends for more than 250 years. Built on founder Richard Hennessy’s spirit of conquest, the brand is present in more than 130 countries.

Based in the heart of the Charente region, Hennessy is also a steadfast pillar of the regional economy, the standard-bearer for a sector rich in expertise. The House’s success and longevity are rooted in the excellence of its cognacs, each of which is born of a unique process of transmission from generation to generation.

The first spirits house to be certified ISO 14001, Hennessy unites its capacity for innovation and the support of all of its partners to protect this exceptional area.

As the crown jewel of the LVMH Group, Hennessy is a major contributor to French international trade, with 99% of production sold in export, and a worldwide ambassador for the French art de Vivre.

The post Hennessy Celebrates 100 Years in Nigeria with a Limited-Edition V.S.O.P Privilège Bottle first appeared on Aspire Luxury Magazine.

The post Hennessy Celebrates 100 Years in Nigeria with a Limited-Edition V.S.O.P Privilège Bottle appeared first on Aspire Luxury Magazine.

What exactly did the report say?

The highlights of the Q4 2020 Consumer Expectations Survey (CES) states that “Majority of consumers believe that the next 12 months would not be an ideal time to purchase big-ticket items like motor vehicles and house & lot.” However, the same report also says that “consumers have a positive outlook for the next quarter and the next 12 months.”

Should the Nigerian luxury industry expect dismal sales in 2021?

Maybe.

Even with the promise of effective vaccines going global, consumer spending and discretionary spending habits have changed drastically this year. While certain sectors within the luxury industry will experience increased sales in the new year, others will struggle to make profits until economic activities stabilise globally and people adjust to new habits occasioned by a new way of living.

However, the report also offers a glimmer of hope. In the first place, the “big-ticket items” here are cars “consumer durables [and] house & lot.” Consumer durables range from cars to jewellery and generally refer to goods that can be used over a long period of time. House&lot are basically houses and lands. The luxury industry, on the other hand, offers everything from products to services. If only certain sectors of this industry will be hit, it does not mean every luxury-facing business would be affected.

Besides, the survey involved only 2,070 households, of which 2,039 responded. While there are no reliable stats to prove just how many Nigerians indulge in luxury goods, the singular fact that there are quite a number of businesses providing luxury offerings is a strong indicator that 2,070 households may be grossly inadequate to provide a rounded analysis of consumer spending habits in this sector.

Lastly, anyone who has had any sort of experience in managing luxury brands will tell you that the story behind a product, as well as a deep understanding of the customer and the overall experience they will enjoy from the moment they make enquiries about a product, are just as important as the product itself. If Nigerian luxury consumers think that they would not be making luxury purchases, brands need to ask why. The answers they will come up with would most likely have nothing to do with costs.

The post Should the CBN’s Negative Report for Luxury Goods Alarm the Industry? first appeared on Aspire Luxury Magazine.

The post Should the CBN’s Negative Report for Luxury Goods Alarm the Industry? appeared first on Aspire Luxury Magazine.

In a world filled with motivational phrases and examples of people who have literally changed the world, it is not out of place to see businesses and people breaking new boundaries. But it is not every day you hear a bold and assertive statement such as this; which is why when you do hear it, you can believe that whoever made it means business.

“I’ll say I’m a go-getter. I think I’m ambitious, very ambitious. And then… I’m curious. I’m inquisitive, I want to know, I want to learn, I like to explore. I want to see everything,” says Og Okonkwo, Founder and Creative Director of Style Temple.

You may not know Og, but you would have heard of Style Temple or at least seen an ST piece on some of the best-dressed female celebrities in Nigeria and even abroad. When we sat down to talk with Og, one of the things we wanted to find out was the idea behind her bold new vision.

“No, I never thought about it,” explains Og when we asked if she had always known that she had realised her first goal before she announced her newest vision for Style Temple. “You know, it’s what I keep saying about being present. I had a goal: I wanted my dresses everywhere, I wanted women to wear the dresses, and I was caught up in building a brand, that I didn’t realise that this goal had been realised, not until my strategy team said Ok, so what are your goals? What is your mission, vision and I am like shit, this is done already. So I think I was so busy, that I did not realise that what I wanted so badly years ago, had already been achieved. I was so busy, with life and work, that I didn’t realise what I hoped and prayed for all this time had happened.”

Fashion is my religion

“I have always made clothes growing up. I made clothes for my dolls, for my sister, so for me, Style Temple is like the actualisation of a dream. So yea, I think that is what I am happiest about, and what I am most grateful for, that I get to live my dream.”

“I started the business from my home towards the end of 2011, and in 2012, I registered my company. So officially, I started in 2012. Fashion is my religion. Fashion is something I have done all my life, so Style Temple is kind of like a play on religion, fashion and style,” says Og, explaining the reason behind her business name and how it all began.

Some years after Style Temple was birthed, critics accused Og of creating pieces that catered only to slim women. “Majority of my clients are from size 12 to 18, so no, I don’t think so. The styles are usually flexible, and can mostly work with anybody, most body types. I am so huge on the feeling as against the design. I want women to feel seen, I want women to feel powerful. And sexy, I want women to feel feminine, and powerful, and strong and sexy. And I want women to feel seen. In our funny society, guys don’t see women, especially like, you know, if a guy walks in to a setting, they shake all the guys and go past the women.

You can’t miss a woman in Style Temple. That’s the feeling that I want.”

On Style Temple’s signature style, Og says, “I think [it is sexy]. I am huge on that; I like feminity. My design style is statement piece, sexy, and structural. Yes structural, I’ll like to think structure and movement as well. So most of my designs have either a lot of movement or a lot of structure. And then underneath all of that, it has to be sexy.”

I don’t have a process.

“Every Style Temple piece – from maxi dresses to free-flowing shirt dresses – is so structured that it immediately takes on the personality of its wearer. We asked if there was any particular process in her designs.”

“Maybe because before our Ready to Wear business, I had started out doing a lot of bespoke for my clients, so I interacted with a lot of women who were already my clients. When I design, it is more or less what they want to wear. So I’ve taken all the feedback from what I’ve gotten doing their bespoke – they would have this wedding and they wouldn’t have what to wear and I’m thinking, I need to create stuff for people to wear to weddings, I need to create stuff for people to wear to parties. So that’s the theme. I think filling the need is, you know, that’s it. It just comes. I don’t have a process per se. I see a fabric, I like a fabric, and then I am thinking like how can I make this beautiful because you know, my clients want beautiful clothes. That’s it. There’s no process per se. I just create as the spirit leads. I do believe in energies, so yes, when it is time, it comes.”

My pieces are like my kids

Most designers do not have any favourite from their collections, and Og Okonkwo is no different.

“They are like all pieces of me. Like I put my soul into every design, so I can’t say this is my favourite. I love all of them. They are like my kids and I love them all equally.”

But definitely, there are some designs that have stood out above the rest. Og agrees, saying that the Bow Skirt is the most popular piece from all her collections. “ I think every Style Temple woman owns that.” Then there is White Kimono with the tribal belt which “everyone is still buying.” Also, the Sunshine Shirt Dress which was part of the Autumn/Winter 19 collection. It was so popular it found its way to Beyonce’s website.

In the end, if she were to choose one piece from all her collections to wear every day, it would definitely be the “White Pants with the buttons all the way up… It’s a white pair of pants with the buttons from the feet all the way up to the waist. I could wear it every day. I love the pants.”

There’s no fabric I particularly like

It is easy, as a designer, to fall in love with a certain type of fabric or textue for whatever reason. But Og does not seem to have a favourite when it comes to fabrics. “There’s no fabric that I particularly like, I mean, as long as it speaks to me, I’m using it. I’ve used organza, I’ve used crepe, I use chiffon. I use whatever. I would always use the fabric that works best for the style I’m trying to create.”

How then does she get all her fabrics? “From everywhere- locally, internationally. From Abuja, Lagos, Aba, Istanbul, Dubai, China – everywhere. I do a lot of research. So I physically go to the market cos I like markets and fabrics, and I get a lot of inspiration from there.”

What about accessories? Is there a favourite here at least? “Lately, I’ve been obsessed with buttons. They always look dainty, like wedding dresses always have these tiny buttons. I’ve been playing a lot with buttons lately so I’ve been using a lot of buttons.”

You have to believe impossible is nothing

As we talk, Og, dressed in white, is constantly active (my mind is constantly working and thinking, and the only way I unwind is by sleeping). And while she may not require this same energy from everyone that works with her, she does demand that they see impossible as nothing. “You basically have to believe that impossible is nothing, You have to not have the limiting belief that oh no, this is not possible. Everyone I’ve worked with is basically like me, they believe that nothing is impossible. If not, most of the things I’ve tried to create, people are like, oh no, that’s not possible. And I don’t like to hear that. So yea, I think for me, you have to believe that impossible is nothing. That, or I make you believe it.”

And has she been lucky enough to get such people to stay with her? “Yes, I currently have a team member from 2012. She was the first staff that was hired. She was like my first staff, she was hired as a cleaner basically, but now she’s in charge of procurement. I have another person who was hired in 2014. She left to go to school and then got married, but now she’s back. I also have tailors who have been with me like forever, since 2014, 2015.”

In addition to designing clothes, Og also runs trainings every three months. This is where she usually picks up her mentees. “I have to walk them through [even after the training].” She also has mentors which include Mai Atafo.

How did the pandemic affect Style Temple, and how was it able to bounce back? “There was this phase where everybody was confused, like what are we wearing now; we are not going out? So these really dressy dresses, where am I going to wear them? I had like a whole month trying to convince my clients to… I mean you can still all dress up. Trying to explain that you can still dress up. You’re going to have weddings and events, which is what most of my dresses are for.”

“Things are picking back up. I introduced a new range of kimonos which is easier to wear and less stuffy than all my other designs. Now I am creating more transitional pieces, cos life isn’t what it used to be. People are staying at home more as against going out a lot, so you have to design bearing that in mind.” In addition, she is working hard to ensure her dream of building a fashion brand worth USD 1 billion comes to pass soon. “I have been told this is too ambitious, and with Africa’s lack of structure and low productivity, there are a lot of reasons why that can’t happen. But I think I am going to try to prove that it can absolutely happen. I hope in the next 5 years I would have achieved that”

Does she have any brand she looks up to for inspiration? “Locally I’d say Deola Segoe, Lisa Folawiyo. [In fact] all the brands that have been there for decades, for over 10 years, I am inspired by them. Fashion is not known for longevity especially in Africa, and Nigeria to be precise. So I think with all the older brands, I am inspired by them. Despite everything, and all the bottlenecks running the fashion business in Nigeria, they are still at it, years later. So yea, I think they inspire me.”

“Internationally, I do like Elie Saab, I like the play of fabrics, it is always very detailed. I love that. House of CB is another one that I like but not so much the clothes, as the business model. Her business model is different for fashion, but it is working. And then, I like Dior. I am obsessed with Dior.” However, if she were to ever collaborate with another designer on a collection, it would be with LVMH, “so they fund the collection!” she laughs..

As we round up the interview, we wanted to know what’s next for Style Temple and Og. “Well, we have a new vision now. So the future is trying to achieve the vision, trying to get listed in Nigeria’s Stock Exchange. I want to prove that fashion is serious business, and it can be serious business in Nigeria. [For me], I’ll design till I’m ready to retire. I’ll probably still be designing even when I’m retired. And have fun while at it. Just that.”

Interesting facts about Og

The most expensive thing she has ever bought herself is a Rolex.

She cannot work without food. “I can’t function when I’m hungry.”

Her favourite piece of clothing is lingerie. If Style Temple were to have a spinoff, it would  be“probably lingerie. Most likely.”

She never leaves home without her phone. “Cos my phone is an extension of me. I mean, emails, everything is on my phone.”

If she did not have Style Temple, she would be a professional makeup artist, or a painter, or some professional in the arts.

She used to do makeup professionally.

If she could end one fashion trend, it would be “Peplums and tutu skirts. I’ll end them.”

She studied Medical Laboratory Science in University.

Her three absolute favourite cities to travel to: Zanzibar, Ghana, Cape Town. Out of Africa, it would be Istanbul, Mykonos (I plan to maybe retire there) and Bali.

If she were to dress two people for free, it would be Melania Trump and Michelle Obama. Locally, “I think I have dressed everyone I want to dress.”

A typical day for Og: “Get up, meditate, go to work. So work could be production with my tailors, it could be consultation with my clients, it could be shooting, like photoshoot and product shoots. I don’t design till I get back home. My home… is really a blank canvas cos I bring work home… My home is an extension of my work. I think my home says, workaholic.”

You can shop Style Temple pieces on www.styletemple.ng or via their Instagram page @styletemple. You can also follow Og Okonkwo at @og_styletemple for new and exclusive styles.

The post I Want Women to Feel Powerful and Sexy, When They Wear Style Temple – Og Okonkwo first appeared on Aspire Luxury Magazine.

The post I Want Women to Feel Powerful and Sexy, When They Wear Style Temple – Og Okonkwo appeared first on Aspire Luxury Magazine.

In a manner never seen before since Nigeria returned to civilian rule in 1999, protests spilt from the pages of social media to the streets. By Thursday 8^th of October 2020, unorganised protesters began to converge in Ikeja, the capital of Lagos, demanding that the government puts an end to SARS. Hashtags of #EndSars and #EndPoliceBrutality have since flooded the internet, travelling beyond the continent from Lagos to London, Oyo to Houston, Port-Harcourt to the Gambia and beyond. In spite of assurances by the government that the demands raised by the protests would be addressed, with it going as far as changing the name of the Unit from SARS to SWAT (Special Weapons and Tactics Team), Nigerians remain unsatisfied, citing different times in the past when names have been changed and promises made with no actual change.

Currently, protests are still ongoing, with 10 people confirmed dead and fresh violence breaking out every day against protesters, either from armed security forces or armed unnamed groups.

A day after Nigerians took to the streets to protest against police brutality, Namibians followed the same route, only that their protest was against femicide and sexual and gender-based violence. The #ShutItAllDown protest started when it came to the public’s notice that the police had received an anonymous tip on the whereabouts of the body of 22-year old Shannon Wasserfall who had been missing since April 2020. Wasserfall is one in many thousand cases yearly of femicide and SGBV.  Reports earlier this year said police were receiving at least 200 cases of domestic violence monthly, while more than 1,600 cases of rape were reported during the 18 months ending in June 2020.

Protesters believe that the police are not doing enough to help women, and want the government as well as the country’s security operatives to step up and protect women more. Sadly, as has been in the case in Nigeria, they have been assaulted, teargassed and arrested. Like Nigerians, the fight to make their voices heard and for justice continue unabated.

In the Democratic Republic Congo, the situation is slightly different. The agitations are online for now, with the hashtag #CongoIsBleeding trending as a way to raise awareness over the killings ongoing in the cobalt-rich country. Cobalt is used mostly in electronic devices, including smartphones and electric cars, but has recently fallen in value mostly due to the Coronavirus, but also because supply has now surpassed demand.

Sadly, the violence in the country has not fallen as well. Different parts in Congo continue to experience killings which the media reports as ethnic skirmishes, but which the people say is tied to their mineral resources. There are reports of genocide currently ongoing, and even though most remain largely unconfirmed, the hashtag continues to exist online.

This is what has been happening and enough is enough, we are tired of being quiet #genocidecongo #Congoisbleeding #Genocideincongo pic.twitter.com/Oskoz9Ybb1

— #GenocideInCongo (@sarah_pembele) October 13, 2020

It has certainly being a tumultuous yet historic week in these countries whose youths have decided to take a stance against injustice and inequality fostered by oppressive systems. At ASPIRE, we believe in the values the youths are demanding – justice and equality – and stand in solidarity with the struggle. As part of our commitment to the protests, our social media page will feature no posts until further notice, so that these agitations can receive the attention they need.

Regardless of the outcome, we are proud of this generation that has refused to be silent and has decided to stand on the right side of history. If you wish to find out more about these movements and how you can help, kindly follow the hashtags on Twitter. You can also visit the Twitter pages of FK Abudu, Aisha Yesufu and Mochievous for more information.

The post ASPIRE Special Release: Ongoing Protests in Nigeria, Namibia and Congo first appeared on Aspire Luxury Magazine.

The post ASPIRE Special Release: Ongoing Protests in Nigeria, Namibia and Congo appeared first on Aspire Luxury Magazine.

Speaking on this new development, Elie Younes, executive vice president & chief development officer, Radisson Hotel Group, said: “We believe in the vast potential of Africa. The addition of the six hotels, following the announcement of Radisson Hotel Saint Denis earlier this year, places us firmly on track to reach over 150 hotels in operation and under development across the continent within the next five years. The new hotel announcements include our debut in new markets, the introduction of additional brands and the strengthening of our presence in cities we have identified for scaled growth. We thank our hotel partners for their invaluable trust in Radisson Hotel Group and its people”.

The six hotels are

Radisson Collection Hotel Bamako, Mali 

Currently undergoing renovation, it is set to open in 6 months. Radisson Blu Bamako boasts of 200 rooms and proximity to the city’s international airport.

Radisson Blu Hotel Abuja, Nigeria

Looking to open in 2024, it is the group’s first hotel in the city, but not in the country. Located in the heart of the central business district of Nigeria’s Federal Capital, the 225-room hotel will boast five different food and beverage outlets from a speciality restaurant and all-day-dining restaurant to a lobby bar & café, a picturesque pool terrace and a premium business class lounge. The leisure facilities will include a 555sqm wellness spa, a gym and a swimming pool to maintain guest’s wellness.

Radisson Hotel and Convention Centre Johannesburg, South Africa

This will be the hotel’s first outlet in Johannesburg, and it is set to open before the end of the year. Situated on a private estate in Bredell, Kempton Park, the hotel is approximately 10-minutes drive away from the O.R. Tambo International airport.

In addition to its 289 rooms, the newly built hotel will offer an array of dining options, including four restaurants, three bars, an entertainment deck, and, an executive lounge.

Radisson Hotel Addis Ababa

This would be the hotel’s 5^th outlet in the country and is scheduled to open in 2021. Built just 4km from Ethiopia’s Addis Ababa Bole International Airport terminal, the 114-room hotel will boast a wide variety of food and drink outlets. These will offer guests a truly local experience in a traditional Ethiopian setting, as well as appease international taste buds.

Radisson Hotel and Apartments Accra, Ghana

The hotel, scheduled to open in 2023, is a full renovation of an existing 121-room hotel and construction of an additional tower that will offer 54 hotel apartments, creating a mixed-use development.

From an all-day dining restaurant, lobby bar and rooftop restaurant, bar and pool terrace, every culinary preference will be catered for. The versatile meeting and events facilities are made up of 12 different venues. The hotel will also include a gym, spa and swimming pool.

Park Inn by Radisson, Durban Intl. Airport Dube, South Africa

The newly-built hotel introduces the upper-midscale Park Inn by Radisson brand to Durban and joins the company’s current portfolio of 15 hotels (3,007 rooms) in operation and under development in the country.

The 168-room hotel, scheduled to open in 2022, will have a lobby bar, rooftop all-day dining restaurant and rooftop pool terrace with eight different meeting & event venues.

Source: Business Day

The post Radission Brings Luxurious Hospitality Closer with New Outlets in 6 African Cities first appeared on Aspire Luxury Magazine.

The post Radission Brings Luxurious Hospitality Closer with New Outlets in 6 African Cities appeared first on Aspire Luxury Magazine.

“At El Padrino, we have a clear ambition to offer an exclusive experience for those who revel in fine living from drinks, dining, decor, jazz, and of course cigars! Our clients come from all over the West African region, notably Nigeria, Cote D’Ivoire and of course, Ghana where the audience is growing for those who appreciate having a dedicated venue specializing in their interests. We also have quite a number of women clients who enjoy cigar culture especially cigarillos which are smaller versions of the traditional cigars,” shares Paolo Borgi, General Manager of El Padrino.

El Padrino, which means “The Godfather” in Spanish, pays homage with framed images of some of the world’s most notable cigar aficionados such as Samuel L. Jackson, Michael Jordan, Angelina Jolie, and Jay Z on it’s “wall of fame” lined along the entrance. At its rear is a glass-enclosed temperature-controlled chamber, a walk-in humidor that displays an expansive selection of Cuban cigars and cigarillos.

“Although nowadays cigars come from many regions of the world, including some African countries, we chose to focus on Cuban cigars such as Cohiba and Montecristo as these are the most popular and range in aroma, strength, flavor, and combustion. Our bar is complete with single malt whiskeys, cognac, and vintage rums and the chef prepares continental cuisine that enhances the pairing experience. At El Padrino, every novice and aficionado can indulge in the absolute highest quality in taste, aroma, and ambiance,” adds Borgi.

A weekly live Jazz & Blues event featuring the De Dynamics band on Thursday evenings and the Smoke-Free dining room ensures El Padrino is welcoming to all tastes. Since its opening, it has quickly become a hub for like-minded individuals to relax, network and get together with friends in a luxe environment. The outlet is open daily from noon for lunch and will also host special events including cognac tastings, new product launches, corporate dinners, and a ‘Ladies of the Leaf’ event catering to women enthusiasts.

El Padrino
The Atlantic Tower, Airport City
Accra, Ghana
@elpadrino.lounge

The post El Padrino is Accra’s New Haven for Luxury and Cigar Aficionados first appeared on Aspire Luxury Magazine.

The post El Padrino is Accra’s New Haven for Luxury and Cigar Aficionados appeared first on Aspire Luxury Magazine.

That Felipe Pantone achieved star status without ever publicly revealing his face makes him an exception on the contemporary art scene. Moreover, letting his art speak for itself grants him the ultimate freedom: the entire world has become his canvas.

The artist flows through time zones and mediums with the greatest of ease, leaving his mark on top art destinations and seemingly arbitrary, unexpected places alike. One might see Felipe Pantone’s signature blend of vibrant color and dynamic lines in museum exhibitions and on buildings from New York, Madrid and Paris to Bangkok, Shanghai or Tokyo, glimpse them in forgotten corners of urban cityscapes, or spy them as embellishments on a subway station or a racecar.

Though he stands at the forefront of the contemporary art scene, Felipe Pantone cultivates a deep appreciation for the past. That understanding and respect form the baseline for the two original artworks he created for the Maison Hennessy.

In Conversation with Felipe Pantone begins now…

ALM: What do the different people you meet find the most surprising about you when they meet You?

FP: I really don’t know I guess you have to ask them, I never ask that question to anybody I’m sorry I don’t have an answer for that.

ALM: Regardless of the medium what are the 3 things that inspire your art?

FP: The medium doesn’t necessarily affect the art too much I guess as the word says it’s a medium to represent ideas. So the main things I always try to reflect in my work to convey is transformation, dynamism. In general I would say an idea of present times I mean what I gather from living the times I’m living those are the main things. I think art always could be a good representation from whatever the artist is living in other to be honest and speak about that and the medium is just whatever you use so you select the best medium to represent the ideas in the best way possible.

ALM: What medium are you itching to get your hands on?

FP: I use a variety of mediums and I started doing graffiti on the streets so spray paint is very important to me like I think it’s a really really cool tool. It’s very versatile tool I actually use it nowadays to paint my paintings which is obviously small sizes and you use the same tool on really massive buildings so its very versatile and nowadays i try to keep an eye open and try to find new technologies whatever is coming out I try it now I experiment alot with printers and laser cutter and cnc cutters and instead of painting on canvass I’m painting on aluminium. And stuff like that. I’m always trying to keep an open mind in other to break new grounds and one of the things I’m exploring nowadays is a lot of digital art things.

In fact here in Nigeria with us is Russendo Merrel whose a collaborator of my studio and with him he’s like a next level geek, he’s always going to every sort of conventions and trying to find new things that are coming out infact we are presenting here in Nigeria an interactive wall which is something! It’s a new sensor that came out that you can basically turn whatever wall up to 10 metres in a touch screen and that’s something that he developed he just got his hand on the sensor and he developed the whole software for us to create something interactive with it so that’s mediums that I’m really interested in.

ALM: How do you like people to feel when they see your art?

FP: I try my best to get them a feeling of the way I perceive the present times from my personal perspective which i don’t know if its i hope it’s interesting for people but you never know but anyways it’s my own perspective. It’s the perspective from someone that’s constantly traveling the world. I’m talking to different cultures. I’m in touch with different countries and I think I’m also a part of the generation that belongs to ‘I was born in the local world and I made a transition to the digital world’ and I think I kind of like manage to do the transition in a smooth way and I’m very comfortable with what’s happening nowadays. I try my work to represent that you know to represent new technologies, new digital revolutions. The fact that i believe the people that share this with me are connected I think nowadays there are no barriers in terms of location or geography . I think there are barrier in the terms of generation, generational barriers but the thing is we are all connected. Nowadays maybe I have more to do with a gal, a street artist in LAGOS and i might have more to do with a man that is fisherman in Valencia like now we can be connected and work together in pursuit of the same things we want to achieve.

And I try my best to represent that with my work although you never know what your going to get it just makes me really happy when a young person looks at My work and there like it doesn’t say too much, it doesn’t overwhelm me but when my grandma looks at my stuff and says she can’t really look at it and says it’s too much information and she really can’t look at that and that to me makes a lot of sense. That’s exactly what i want to achieve.

ALM: If you weren’t doing this what would you be doing?

FP: I would probably be an uber driver *laughs*, but I couldn’t do anything else. No, I have never tried anything else as I started doing graffiti when I was 12 and I never stopped ever since and then I went to art school and then very smoothly I transitioned into art but I mean in fact I think I could make music but I just literally don’t have time. Maybe in a different lifetime I’m too focused in what I’m doing…. I’m too invested in what I do right now.

Art has taken this lifetime.

ALM: What are the 3 misconceptions about what you do?

FP: I wouldn’t say there’s any. I would say my work since its abstract the meaning is not really clear it can be blurry and I’m happy with that. I’m not trying to impose like a direct order or convey a direct message, it’s very indirect, it’s very loose, its very blurry, it’s just that whatever you perceive from my work and I’m very happy for you to feel that. Abstract art I obviously select my elements and the composition also have a meaning or like I say I try to put meaning in my work it’s always very loose but like I said again I’m happy for you to feel whatever you feel like. No misconceptions whatsoever, everything works.

ALM: Describe a typical day in your life?

FP: I’m usually on a plane but when I’m at home or in the studio.. when I’m in the studio
I wake up in the morning we have a very organised studio setup it’s basically we do like office hours. 
Because I have a team. So you have to be organised for them to do their hours. So I wake up in the morning and I go to the studio and we work 9-6 and then I go to the gym in the evening or do something to stay healthy or maybe go to the beach but I’m always thinking about art that’s for sure but the rest of the studio they can go and rest I on the other hand I’m always thinking about my work. 

ALM: What artists inspire you?

FP: I started doing graffiti like I told you at age 12 so yes the modern New York graffiti scene has always been a big inspiration to me. I think graffiti is the ultimate representation of what’s happening nowadays, it’s very direct very immediate, anyone can do it. 
I always say graffiti to art is like Twitter to newspapers. Everyone can do it it’s like disposable, ephemeral very immediate anyone can write it. So thats been a big inspiration i feel its very CONTEMPORARY graffiti could only belong to this very century.
But as I grew older I started looking at kinetic art and optical art and I would say Carlos Cruz Diaz who sadly passed away literally like 3 days ago he’s been a massive inspiration to me and other than him minimal art, kinetic, optical art and nowadays digital art and all these are always very inspiring.

ALM: What do you do when you get into an ‘Artist Drought’?

FP: There’s is this Japanese novelist Haruki Wurakami who only writes novels except for one essay and he has only one essay and it’s titled “what i talk about when i talk about running” he basically tells a story about him been a novelist and also a long distance runner. He says for me as a runner I’m not a long legged Jamaican runner, I’m a short Japanese long distànce runner.
So meaning I have short legs but they run every day and I can run a lot. As he says as an artist I’m the same – I’m a short legged Japanese runner, meaning I work everyday so I’m never uninspired I don’t need to have long legs and wait for the muses to come visit. I just train hard everyday so I’m always inspired and I feel very much connected to that thing. I work a lot so I always know how to start a new novel.

ALM: Have you been to Africa before now?

FP: This is my second time in AFRICA but I’ve only been to North Africa, Morocco so it’s my first time up in here so I will say this is my favourite city now.

ALM: What do you think about Nigeria?

FP: Honestly I can’t give an opinion. I don’t have an informed opinion I have just been here for 24 hours and the past 12 hours it was dark and I’ve been sleeping but I’m loving it so far 

ALM: What will be difficult to forget about Nigeria?

FP: People are being really friendly right now I have been here for such a short time.
I’m looking forward to meeting new people and getting inspired. As an artist or for anybody I think it’s good to be inspired, it’s good to get things thrown in your face that you were not expecting.

ALM: What are you looking forward to on this trip?

FP: To be out of the comfort zone is always interesting. To see how other people do things is always inspiring. I’m looking forward to that

ALM: How do you think this new bottle design speaks to both young and old?

FP: Like i said earlier my work speaks a lot to my generation but I feel this is the whole thing about our whole motto which is to remix the present. In order to do that you have to look back and basically when I went to archives in Cognac I looked at the old graphic design and the whole thing and I came up with this design that takes a lot from tradition you know how Hennessy very special was called Hennessy three stars I got the 3 stars, I made use of the quilted pattern which is every where on the old work is in the current design. There’s a lot of the past in this work/orthodox even though its very modern work. I think in order for you to create the New, you must look at the past. I think in order to thrive in the arts is to look at the past and then remix the whole thing which is what I think Hennessy is always doing cause they are always making new cocktails so I believe to create new art you must look at the old traditions and customs. In other to be modern and unusual you have to look at what’s been done before. 

ALM: What would you tell your 25 yer old self?

FP: Like Hennessy says ‘Never stop Never settle’ always keep an open mind and always take risks, get out of your comfort zone. Success to me is to remain unsuccessful. Always keep looking, if you get comfortable its over. I think that it’s the same thing with every work of life.
To be successful you have to keep learning 

ALM: What do you say to young artists?

FP: Well pretty much what i just said also to look at what’s been done before. I think its very important to look at what’s been done before. For me I went to arts school and i wasted my TIME which is just horrible they would make Me like paint the same patterns over and over again and paint like style life’s and models and stuff like that. To me the only good thing I learnt from art school is to look at arts history, art history was actually the only thing like wow I got to learn about the past.
Arts is like science you know so if pennicillin had been discovered you would want to move on and find a cure for cancer to create something new you need to know that pennicillin had been created. So you look at arts history. I think it’s very important to respect the past and tradition 

ALM: Complete the sentence,  I never leave home without…….

FP: Oh wow! I’m going to go very basic here cause I’m thinking about of a lot of things. I can’t leave home without my internet, I think it’s very important I’m not even talking about phone and computer. If I don’t have the internet I get really shaky.

‘In Conversation with’ by ASPIRE Luxury Magazine celebrates stars, influencers, celebrities and public figures, shining a spotlight on their lives and the incredible stories they have to share.

The post In Conversation with Globally Renowned Artist, Felipe Pantone first appeared on Aspire Luxury Magazine.

The post In Conversation with Globally Renowned Artist, Felipe Pantone appeared first on Aspire Luxury Magazine.

Tanitoluwa reportedly learned chess a little over a year ago, yet praises of his exceptional skills go before him. He was taught by his part-time chess teacher at school, and within this short time, he has won seven trophies.

Just eight years old, Tanitoluwa lives in a homeless shelter in Manhattan together with his parents and elder brother. His family fled Nigeria in 2017 because of the Boko Haram crisis, but are now settled in the US under very unfavourable living conditions while awaiting their asylum request. – Nicholas Kristof, NY Times’ columnist writes. Tanitoluwa got enrolled in a local elementary school, P.S.116, where he first stumbled upon the chess game. Apparently, his wit inclined towards the game and with his mom’s permission, he joined the chess club. “I want to be the youngest grandmaster,” Tanitoluwa told Nicholas.

Tanitoluwa could not afford the fees for the chess program for obvious reasons. His father is only an Uber driver operating on a rented car, but he has also become a licensed real estate salesman to support the family. His mom, Oluwatoyin Adewumi, wrote the chess club explaining their position and why she was unable to pay the fees. Seeing the young boy’s drive, Russell Makofsky who oversees the P.S. 116 chess program, waived the fees, giving the kid the opportunity to develop his talent for chess unhindered.

Not relying on the power of his talent alone, his hard work sets an exemplary record. His mom takes him every Saturday to a three-hour free practice session, and she attends his tournaments. He lies on the floor of their shelter and practices chess for hours each evening, using his dad’s laptop. Indeed the kid’s drive is phenomenal.

Last year, Tanitoluwa took part in his first tournament with the lowest rating of any participant, 105. His rating is now 1587 and rising fast. (By comparison, the world’s best player, Magnus Carlson, stands at 2845.)

Despite the challenges his family is facing, young Tanitoluwa continues to display an exceptional character. Alas, the 8-year-old has turned to a celebrated chess champion in one of the greatest cities in the world. With his energetic drive and supportive parents, he is on the path to becoming a renowned world player.

Tanitoluwa is currently preparing for the elementary national championship in May.

Source: Ventures Africa

The post Tanitoluwa, a Nigerian Child has Won the New York State Chess Championship first appeared on Aspire Luxury Magazine.

The post Tanitoluwa, a Nigerian Child has Won the New York State Chess Championship appeared first on Aspire Luxury Magazine.