Hennessy launched In The Paint back in 2021 to foster community development through a blend of art and sports. So far, seven courts have been unveiled and are in use all over the world from Nigeria to Ghana, Tanzania to South Africa, Barbados, Mexico and Hong Kong. By bringing Joakim Noah on board, Hennessy hopes to move from just building physical structures that local communities can enjoy, but establishing programmes that would also elevate and empower its members.

Noah is no stranger to sports and arts. The former basketball star who is renowned for his grit and tenacity on the court, as well as his contribution towards his teams’ successes has been busy since his retirement in 2021. His personal project, the Noah’s Arc Foundation (which he co-founded with his mother, artist Cécilia Rodhe) combines arts and sports to help people living in underserved areas discover who they really are outside of the physical realities they live and deal with. He is also heavily involved in other initiatives like the One City Basketball League in Chicago, the Basketball Africa League, and, the NBA.

This October, Joakim Noah came to Lagos, Nigeria to launch the latest Hennessy In The Paint basketball court located in VGC Lagos. We sat down with him to talk about his life and pursuits and find out more about this new initiative.

In conversation with Joakim Noah begins now …

ALM: You come from a strong professional athletic family. Did this in any way pressure you into sports?

JN: I don’t think it pressured me into sports. I think sports is what I’ve always wanted; basketball is what I’ve wanted. And I was blessed to see … at a young age, I was able to see my father train. And you know, just being in that kind of environment, it definitely shaped me. So I knew what it takes, the sacrifices it takes to become a professional athlete. And it’s not easy.

So I’m happy that, even though that part of my life is over now, it’s [now] about mentoring and partnering with the right people and building infrastructure.

ALM: What has been the downside of coming from such a strong, athletic background?

JN: Downside? No! I am living out my dream. Ever since I was a kid, my goal was to become a professional basketball player and I was able to do that. Now, it’s about transforming my experience into inspiring the youth, and, being able to partner with initiatives like In The Paint and Hennessy and big platforms like this only make the work easier because they are building the right infrastructure for these kids.

ALM: With the type of work you’ve been doing with different brands (the NBA and BAL (Basketball Africa League) to develop basketball as a sport, what has been the greatest achievement(s) for you so far?

JN: The biggest achievement has definitely been investing in the NBA African League … because a lot of these initiatives, especially when I was younger, as a player [did not exist and] I was alone. And you know, that’s always tough. So just connecting with the right people [has been great] but I think, so far the one that I am most proud of is the [court] that we built in Cameroon on my great-grandfather’s land.

So, we built a beautiful court and the team – we have a local team – just made it to division 1 last week. Being able to partner with these initiatives like In the Paint is only going to make it better. We’re just trying to grow basketball in the continent as much as possible and all around the world.

ALM: What is it about sports (basketball) that keeps you coming back? How important, in your own perspective, is sports in character and career development?

JN: Well, I think that basketball gave me the opportunity to live out my dream, so I think that these are things that kids can really explore on the continent. I think we’re still in the early stages when it comes to basketball. So the more we can highlight basketball and put the light on basketball, the more the kids will be inspired. And the more we grow the game, the more opportunities will come for people on the continent. I think that’s what it’s all about.

ALM: So apart from the opportunities, how do you think basketball can help with career development and personal improvement on the continent for our people? 

JN: I think that basketball is not only about becoming a professional basketball player. It’s the whole ecosystem around it that you can learn from. The values from the game are so important. The team building — you know, when you’re working for a company, you’re not going to be alone, it’s not just going to be your thoughts. So, it’s about teaching people how to work together, so I think that using sports to build communities makes so much sense because it’s the ultimate unifier. When I think of the top unifiers, I think of music and I think of sports. So, not everybody is going to be a musician, not everybody is going to be an artist, not everybody is going to be a top basketball player, but the values you can get from it can help you in the next endeavour.

ALM: Now that you’ve put it this way, with the basketball team you’re building in Cameroon, what are the things you’ve seen that make you think, ‘this was a good thing to do?’

JN: Well, I just see the growth; I see the talent is growing. I see it’s going to be the year for the NBA Africa league, so I see the top players playing on the continent, on government investment. I see government investment in different countries: Congo is building stadiums; Rwanda just built a beautiful stadium, Senegal – the NBAs just made a big investment with the academies. Our goal is to build an academy in Cameroon.

So I just see basketball really growing on the continent. Not only can we bring the people together through basketball, but I think that we can also add workshops and really localise some of the things to make the communities better. I think a great way to do it is to bring the youths into sports initiatives.

ALM: Sometimes we focus too much on the players, forgetting that there is an entire ecosystem: you have the referees, you have the coaches, you have the physiotherapists and all of that. What are the plans for people like that to come and support the court and actual players?

JN: Well, I’ll give you an example. There is a kid in Cameroon who really had the ambition and dreams to play in the NBA. So he was posting videos of him playing basketball. And he would go viral all the time because of the structures which were very limited. And he was doing whatever it takes. We were able to use him as an influencer in the BAL and utilise his platform to kinda help grow the sport [locally].

So I think what is beautiful is the relationships that you build during these community events, and then you can incentivise the kids as well: OK you guys come in, this is more than just a basketball tournament. We are not here to find an NBA player. This is about building and coming together, having a good time, and seeing what kinds of relationships you can make out of it.

ALM: What was the one principle you applied while playing professionally that you can say contributed greatly to your success?

JN: I think a line I always go with is, “Humble yourself or the game will humble you” because a lot of the time, people come and think they’re the best because they’re the best in their region but you’re always going to find somebody who is better than you. You’re always going to be in a position where somebody might dunk on you and embarrass you on the court. But you have to move back quickly. So it’s important to have a humble soul and just live in the moment.

ALM: So what is one special moment you look back and think, “I’m glad that I did that?”

JN: Well, I was just saying that when I built my court in Cameroon this is something that took a long time, that was not easy, you know, just bringing all the resources from America and bringing it to Cameroon and getting that kind of access was very hard. But, when it got done, to be able to go home – see, the court is near my grandmother’s school that she had built 65 years ago, still going on today – it’s something I’m very proud of. This is my responsibility. I was able to build a court, my father was able to build a tennis court, and my grandmother built a school … this is all part of our roots and our tradition.

ALM: What is it about the In the Paint and all these collaborations that made you think it is a good fit for you?

JN: I think that this initiative with In the Paint and Hennessy makes a lot of sense to me. Art and sports are the main things about my foundation. So I think this initiative makes a lot of sense because I see them using local artists to build the courts, and expression is something that is very important for us. So I just think this partnership came very organically. I’m really excited to go to the court today and feel it out and see the vibes and then we go from there because at the end of the day, I work with the NBA and to have a partnership like this that focuses on sports and arts. It was just a no-brainer.

ALM: Are you an artist in any way? Do you draw, do you paint? Do you sculpt?

JN: My mother is an artist. My initiatives were a lot in the city of Chicago, so my mum does sculptures with the kids; it’s art therapy. And I understand how therapeutic sports and arts can be. I really believe in these core values, and I think that’s why I’m here.

ALM: What is the toughest challenge you faced in your basketball career? How did you overcome it?

JN: Honestly, there were a lot of highs, and there were a lot of lows. It was a career that I wouldn’t trade for anything — you know, I played at the highest level against Lebron James and Giannis and all these great players. I also played with the youngest MVP, Derrick Rose, playing for one of the most prestigious teams in the world, the Chicago Bulls, but it wasn’t easy. There were suspensions and some tough moments: losing is hard sometimes. You know, I was a very emotional player and it’s tough. While I was playing, I didn’t sleep well throughout my whole career. I sleep a lot better now!

ALM: What do you think would be a natural progression on the continent now with what Hennessy is doing?

JN: I think the progression is happening. Infrastructure is very important; they’re building sustainable models where we can follow up and make sure the kids are getting the right coaching. I think that that’s something that is great. But for me, this is my first day working with Hennessy so I’m not over here trying to say what we should and shouldn’t do. For me, I just want to be here and pay attention and see where I can make myself the most helpful as possible.

ALM: Is this your first visit to Nigeria? What has your experience been like so far?

JN: Yes, this is my first visit to Nigeria and I’m really excited to be here. I’ve spent a lot of time in Cameroon and this is the country down below. But when I think of Nigeria, I think of Lagos; I think of Fela Kuti and I really hope we have enough time while I’m here to go check out the shrine.

ALM: What are your 3 favourite cities in Africa and why?

JN: I mean, I’m going to definitely say Yaoundé first because Yaoundé is … that’s my root and my heritage. You know, I kinda have a few spots over there that I know where to go to and see my friends.

I love going to Dakar, I think Dakar is a beautiful, beautiful city. We were also able to bring some kids from Chicago on our last trip over there. We went to Gorée Island and I think that was a really powerful trip for the youths … for them to feel their roots and their heritage even though they’re not sure exactly where. It is definitely empowering so I was very proud of the Dakar trip.

And Kigali. We just came back from Kigali. Kigali is a beautiful, beautiful place, the heart of Africa. We went to see the gorillas as well. You know, a vibrant city, but a little more chill. I think that Nigeria has a lot more action, a much faster tempo but I’m used to it.

And you know, I love Morocco as well. There’s so much to see.

Complete the following sentences

If it wasn’t basketball … I think I would have enjoyed coaching or being a part of working in a community centre with kids. I love working with kids.

I cannot go into a meeting without … talking points!

I cannot leave home without … my debit card.

My favourite thing in the world to do is … to chill on the beach.

‘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.

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The Johnny Footwear company (which by the way aptly rhymes with journey!) was created by Canadian designer Luc Houle and named after Johnny Appleseed, the nurseryman largely credited with introducing apple trees to the United States. Houle was worried about just how long it will take for the average footwear to biodegrade once it is tossed away (1000 years) and wanted a solution that would 1) decompose faster, eliminating harmful and toxic waste and 2) not harm the environment in any way from conception to death.

That solution is the Johnny sneakers made from organic cotton coated with beeswax for waterproofing and natural cork for the insoles to eliminate foot odours and provide comfortable and custom cushioning. It also has an inbuilt collapsible heel that allows you to slip in and out of the shoes without having to tie and untie laces.

But how does it turn into an apple tree when you bury it or throw it out for an onward journey to the landfill? Well, each pair has an apple seed encased in a pod which is in turn planted into the midsole. When the shoes get buried into the ground, the biodegradable process starts, and eighteen months after, the pod breaks loose, releasing the seed in a haze of fertilizer which will aid its growth into a tree.

Simply because the sneakers are biodegradable does not mean they will not last long. The brand has promised that you can wear them as long as you like and the decomposing process will only start once it is buried in the ground.

The Johnny sneakers launched on Kickstarter in November and has so far raised $73,022. With all the interest and support it has received, it appears as though it is only a matter of time before other fashion brands, including those in the luxury space, switch to materials that mimic those used in the footwear. Maybe in future, we can expect our shoes to become whatever fruit tree we desire when we are done with them.

You can preorder a pair there in either white or black, or on the brand’s website here for $125. Orders are scheduled to ship out in June 2022.

The post Next Gen Shoes: A Footwear that grows into an Apple Tree at the End of its Life? first appeared on Aspire Luxury Magazine.

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Pink Amenity Kits

Qatar Airways has teamed up with Italian luggage brand BRIC’S to offer pink limited-edition amenity kits. Made from vegan leather, these will be provided in two different designs: A pink and white kit for female passengers and a black one for male passengers. Both of these kits sport a small pink breast cancer ribbon-shaped zipper handle.

Inside, passengers will find products from Italy’s Castello Monte Vibiano Vecchio, an environmentally friendly olive oil company, including lip balm, hydrating facial mist, and anti-ageing moisturizer in special limited edition ‘pink’ branding.

This full breast cancer awareness kit from Qatar is restricted to premium class passengers only. A simpler version will be offered to economy class passengers on select long-haul and ultra-long-haul flights.

Pink Foods

If you think that this is all the pink you’ll be getting, you’re wrong. For flights departing from the carrier’s hub at Doha, first and business class passengers are offered a refreshing pink mocktail, as well as a special ‘Think Pink’ menu featuring a themed afternoon tea, and desserts featuring the breast cancer ribbon made from sugar paste. For passengers seated in economy class, an exclusive pink-themed cheesecake is served.

On the ground in Doha, passengers will have a unique ‘Think Pink’ experience at both Al Safwa First Lounge and Al Mourjan Business Lounge. This will include a bespoke signature ‘Pink Berry’ mocktail, a ruby hot chocolate topped with pink marshmallows, and a ‘pink themed’ afternoon tea assortment “that includes delicious finger sandwiches, scones, and pastries.”

Says His Excellency Mr Akbar Al Baker, Group Chief Executive, Qatar Airways: “We value the health of our passengers and women worldwide, and are proud to demonstrate our commitment by raising awareness of the importance of self-assessment during our annual support for Breast Cancer Awareness Month.” 

Source: Simple Flying

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Shariff Vreugd, co-founder of the self-acclaimed ‘Afropolitan’ brand explained why: “The basic concept behind Reframd is that good design is empowering and reflects the rich diversity of society. Our idea started with the aim to design eyewear products for people with low and wide nose profiles – nose profiles found on many Black people.”

Three main factors make the unisex sunglasses more comfortable for wearers. Firstly, the bridge has been lowered and widened so that it fits more snugly around broader noses. Secondly, the nose pads are a different shape than ones used in other sunglasses so that they fit ‘shallow’ or wide-angled noses – noses that slope less steeply. And finally, the pantoscopic tilt — a measurement taken from the bottom of the glasses to the top of the frame — has also been adjusted in Reframd’s sunglasses.

“Regular frames tend to rest on cheekbones on lower nose profiles. To avoid this, we reduce the frames’ pantoscopic tilt,” Shariff said.

Wearers can scan their faces on the brand’s website using their selfie camera. An algorithm analyses the image and reproduces frames for them to try on virtually before customising it. accordingly. As a result, Reframd creates sunglasses that “genuinely fit everyone.”

“We felt that if we could get fitting correct with our initial Black customers, we would extend our designs to people with different nose profiles. So we set out to optimise our frame-generating algorithm to accept variable data for any nose profiles,” said Shariff.

Although originally designed by black people for black people, the founders wanted to create more inclusive products. The glasses, which are being launched via Kickstarter and will be available in October, come in four colours and designs called Liptitika, Moni, Planga, Umoyo.

“Quite quickly, it became clear that other overlooked groups would benefit from our products as well, such as people from East Asia and people with Down Syndrome. And so, we set out to create eyewear products designed to fit people and not the other way around,” Shariff adds.

Reframd isn’t the only brand using 3D printing to create sunglasses but it is the first to target specific communities. Sharrif is confident that this is the right step. “More and more overlooked communities want to see themselves represented and are economically willing and able to support brands that represent them. People want to know what brands stand for and who is behind those brands. Most importantly, the communities are driving the changes they want to see in the world.”

Source: Dezeen

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Applications for this year’s program are open from Monday, June 28, to Tuesday, August 31, 2021. The emerging creative brands selected will be offered personalized support to help develop their business by a dedicated team of experts in the main areas that a creative company needs including

• Defining and strengthening a brand platform
• Strengthening the creative process
• Targeting a relevant audience
• Determining a consistent marketing strategy
• Planning and organizing collections
• Distribution strategy
• Communication policy
• Online presence and strategy
• Financial management

As part of their participation in the program, brands will also benefit from funding and advisory services from Birimian.

This Birimian x IFM acceleration program will start and end with a Parisian experience that aims to immerse the selected brands in the fashion and creative capital of the world and give them unique and privileged access to the main stakeholders in this ecosystem.

Birimian has also formed a partnership with WSN (Who’s Next), a prominent and strategic actor in the international fashion scene specializing in the exhibition and distribution of emerging and independent creative brands. Their aim is to increase the visibility of African brands and expand their opportunities for international distribution. For example, Birimian and WSN plan to organize events as part of the acceleration program launched with IFM alongside Paris Market Week and Paris Fashion Week, highlighting the brands and designers in the program.

Speaking on the partnerships, Laureen Kouassi-Olsson, Chair and CEO of Birimian, commented, “The partnerships announced today meet the objectives we set for ourselves when we launched Birimian: first, to support and train the new African creative cohort by strengthening their skills and expertise to ensure their level of excellence and second, to accelerate their development by helping them integrate into the fashion ecosystem and the international creative scene. In this sense, the two partnerships announced today complement each other perfectly, serving the influence of the history, tradition, and savoir-faire of African heritage in the international creative scene.”

Source: Pulse Kenya

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Our introductory article on this special feature gives an insight into the work that went into our selection. In this edition, we start with the iconic Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala who candidly, needs no introduction.

Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala

February 15 was a typically ordinary day until it wasn’t. For the first time in its history, the World Trade Organisation appointed its first female Director-General. This woman, who also happens to be the first African to occupy this seat is none other than Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, popularly called NOI.

NOI is constantly shattering glass ceilings. She was Nigeria’s first female Finance Minister, a position she held at separate times, first was during the Olusegun Obasanjo-led regime and then during the Goodluck Jonathan presidency. She was also briefly the Minister of Foreign Affairs in the country, again the first woman to hold this position. As Finance Minister, she negotiated the cancellation of 60% of Nigeria’s external debt, a huge feat that was done just two years into her tenure and which has not been replicated since.

Her 25-year career at the World Bank was no less impressive. Her tenacious resilience saw her rise to become Vice-President and Corporate Secretary in 2002 for the World Bank Group as a whole, liaising between the board of governors and all of the Bank’s disparate units. After her first tenure as Finance Minister, she became the Managing Director of the same organisation, responsible for an $81 billion operational portfolio across Europe and Central Asia, South Asia, and Africa, a position she held from 2007-2011.

She sits as a chair for numerous organisations, including GAVI, (the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunisation) and the Board of the African Union’s African Risk Capacity (ARC). She is co-Chair of the Commission on the New Climate Economy and is a board member of the Rockefeller Foundation, the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, Harvard University, the Oxford University Martin School Advisory Council among other institutions and organisations.

Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala continues to live a life that challenges not just women, but everyone who can see themselves in her, which includes minority groups and people from disadvantaged countries/backgrounds.

Kola Oyeneyin

Kola is a people person, and it reflects in his businesses and the organisations he has either founded or worked at. He is the founder of Venture Creation and Investment Company, Venia Group, and co-founder and partner at Volition Capital, a Private Equity company.

Perhaps, there is no clearer example of Kola Oyeneyin’s commitment to doing away with gender bias and inequality than his actions during the #EndSARS protest in 2020, where he not only stepped back for younger people to take the lead but also gave women the platform to lend their voices to the movement.

Kola continues to work with people of all ages as director and founder of various establishments including the aforementioned Venia Group and Volition Capital, as well as GenVoices and the Adullam Network. He also keeps advocating for social justice and good governance on his social media pages.

Amanda Gorman

If we are focusing on women/people who choose to challenge on International Women’s Day, Amanda Gorman, who is also a lady of many firsts, would definitely have to make the list. First youngest poet to read a poem at a presidential inauguration; first poet to be commissioned to write a poem that was read at the Super Bowl, and, the first-ever National Youth Poet Laureate of the United States. For anyone, these are impressive achievements but when they belong to a 22-year old, they are phenomenal.

Yet, Amanda has not been without her fair share of challenges. She and her twin sister Gabrielle, an activist and filmmaker, were born prematurely. In kindergarten, she was diagnosed with an auditory disorder that gave her a speech impediment. In fact, in a recent interview with Michelle Obama for TIME, she admitted that she only learnt how to properly pronounce her surname three years ago. It took her teachers’ hard work and her love of poetry to get her through the early difficulties she faced.

Amanda’s life, work and achievements challenge people the world over, both young and old. She stands as an inspiration especially to the ones who look like her – young Black women who may themselves be navigating their own hurdles and are wondering how they could ever rise above them. Whether or not she has chosen to do it, she stands as a symbol to everyone who is blessed to occupy the same time and space as she, as well as future generations for whom she has shone the light.

Chief Atedo Peterside

Atedo Peterside is not an unfamiliar name in the finance world, but what many people may not know is that Stanbic IBTC, which started out as IBTC bank in the 90s when he founded it, has the highest percentage of females on its board and management.

Chief Peterside explains the reason for this uncommon situation in the Nigerian banking world at least. From the beginning, he had insisted on merit over any other thing, and if the person who was qualified to do the job was a woman, then she was given the job. This singular decision led to women, who had faced discrimination in other banks on account of their gender, to move over to IBTC where their talents were sure to be recognised.

Chief Peterside’s principle of merit first continues to help Stanbic IBTC to be the successful financial institution it is, and the fact that it has remained standing with its higher percentage of women in management roles while others have faltered is a lesson to similar institutions that still struggle with equality and inclusion.

Long before gender equality became ‘fashionable’, Atedo Peterside was quietly enforcing it in his own corner. He chose to challenge early on, and others have learnt from him as a result.

Toyin Sanni

Another financial guru, Toyin Sanni is the CEO of Emerging Africa Capital Group, a wealth management and investment facilitation firm that provides business and governance consulting, as well as investor representation services.

She is also the Founder/Chairperson of Women in Finance Nigeria (WIFng) – an advocacy and development platform for women in the Nigerian financial sector. She has been unequivocal about her support for women, especially when it comes to excelling in their chosen careers and their finances.

This Women’s Month, we celebrate Toyin Sanni who every day proves just how competent women can be in leadership roles and in the financial world while pursuing ways to propel women along the corporate ladder.

Dr. Myma Belo-Osagie

Dr. Myma Belo-Osagie is well-known and respected in the legal world – she is a beacon of hope.

Dr. Myma Belo-Osagie served is founding partner at Udo Udoma & Belo-Osagie, a corporate law firm in Lagos, Nigeria and until her retirement practised for 33 years. Under her watch, the law firm was recognised as an equal opportunities organisation for its equal number of male and female partners which earned her an IFLR1000 Women Leader award in 2018. In her profile, the international law firm rankings body said that the organisation had “more female than male associates… [implemented] policies that support female employees, such as a 6-month paid maternity leave (100% more than the statutory requirement)… [had] a staffed creche/playroom on the premises… [and sponsored] the attendance and participation of female members of staff in professional associations and events tailored to women – such as Women in Private Equity (PEWIN) and Women in Management, Business and Public Service (WIMBIZ).”

She is retired now, but she continues to quietly impact women’s lives personally and professionally, helping them attain heights and overcome barriers they may have never been able to do on their own.

Kamil Olufwobi

For almost two decades, Kamil has used his expertise and network to elevate people to a global stage so that an aspirational audience can see themselves in these people and relate with their lives, struggles and accomplishments – using their stories as a blueprint for success.

He calls his method ‘connectology’, an art he has employed in his company, Most Influential 100. He is also the founder of the Most Influential People of African Descent (MIPAD), “a global civil society initiative in support of the United Nations International Decade for People of African Descent that identifies and recognises high achievers of African descent worldwide pairing those based across the Diaspora with their counterparts inside Africa, across various verticals, annually until 2024.”

In his recognition of high achievers of African descent, he has constantly ensured that men and women are equally represented. MIPAD challenges the way the world views people of African descent, especially the women who make up this often ignored group.

Melanie Hawken

Chances are that, if you’re searching for the profile of an African woman who is excelling in business or some other field, you’ll find something on a website called Lioness of Africa. Melanie Hawken is its founder, and her goal, in the beginning, was to positively impact 1 million African women entrepreneurs (the most underserved on the planet) by the end of 2018.

She has since reached that goal and even surpassed it, successfully fostering a community of female entrepreneurs in Africa working in synergy to grow and scale their businesses while empowering the new generation to walk in the same path.

Melanie has not stopped in her pursuit for a strong and thriving community of female African entrepreneurs, however. In her words, “… if we can move the African continent away from requiring financial injections from big global governments [then] we can reach the goal of making it self-sustaining. Entrepreneurship ‒ and particularly women‘s entrepreneurship ‒ is key to that sustainability.” 

Ivana Osagie

Ivana Osagie has had a rich career. For the earlier part, she worked in management consulting where she specialised in business transformation, strategy and change management assignments. Later on, she switched over to investment banking where she occupied managerial roles in three well-known investment banks – Merrill Lynch, Morgan Stanley and HSBC. It was in these roles that she saw firsthand the challenges women face in the workplace and in leadership roles.

These challenges caused her to roll up her sleeves and seek ways to support women in leadership roles and make workplaces more gender-sensitive. In 2013, she founded the Professional Women Roundtable (PWR) – a non-profit focused on building female leadership capacity and accelerating gender parity towards achieving the UN SDG5. Every month in the last 8 years, PWR has brought together young career women for an intimate roundtable event (a max of 25 in order to achieve an intimate and ‘safe’ space where people can open up, speak freely and have real conversations) .They meet inspiring guest speakers and dialogue on personal and professional issues, engage in training, exchange ideas and experiences, as well as network.

She also sits on the board of directors of Rising Tide Africa, a female angel investors’ network and a mentor/adviser to entrepreneurs and start-ups. She continues to personally mentor many young women and match those she cannot take on with other suitable female mentors.

Tyler Perry

Whenever discussions of Tyler Perry movies come up, what usually follows is a controversial debate on his depictions of Black women and how this helps the world to not only view but understand them. In fact, his movies have grown so contentious that projects and articles have been written on them.

So, how does his name appear on a list of people who choose to challenge gender bias in celebration of International Women’s Day?

One actress who has featured repeatedly- three times in fact- in Tyler Perry movies is Taraji P. Henson. She is the first actress to admit that Tyler Perry was “the first person to pay me what I thought I deserved at the time.” She insists that it was his fairness that increased her worth in the American movie industry. “Now I’ve proven my worth, so I say No a lot. You want a discount price? Get a discount actress,” she said.

Just before her passing earlier this year, Cicely Tyson released a memoir, Just As I Am. One of the things she touched on was Tyler Perry’s generosity to her. “When [Perry] heard how little I was paid for Sounder and The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman, his mouth fell open. From then on, he decided to double, and sometimes triple or even quadruple, my asking price for any role he requested that I play,” she wrote in her memoir.

Tyler Perry has had a direct impact on Black actors and actresses in Hollywood, and especially his fairness towards the latter. He has taken a strong stance against the bias this group has suffered for years in the industry, and we celebrate him for that.

The post IWD 2021: Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala and Others Who #ChoosetoChallenge (Part 1) first appeared on Aspire Luxury Magazine.

The post IWD 2021: Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala and Others Who #ChoosetoChallenge (Part 1) appeared first on Aspire Luxury Magazine.

By now, you might have browsed our previous articles which all form part of our 14-day Valentine Edit that has so far covered wellness; food and recipes as well as bubbly drinks that spice things up; luxury scents and self-care products; luxury experiences that can be enjoyed at home or in Dubai, and, fine, diamond-encrusted jewellery. If you’ve missed any one of these stories, simply click on the links above to read up.

I don’t know about you, but there are few things I find as pleasurable as knowing my money wakes up every morning and goes to work for me. And while you may still have PTSD from 2020 and would like to forget all about it, it did remind us of an important lesson: having some serious hardworking funds stashed up somewhere is just as vital as being able to breathe.

Emerging Africa Capital Group Limited – which has as its subsidiaries Emerging Africa Asset Management Limited, Emerging Africa Capital Trustees Limited, Emerging Africa Capital Advisory Limited and Emerging Africa Capacity Building – is an investment banking services group whose dedicated Wealth Management Experts and Portfolio Managers (for HNIs), as well as well-trained Personal Financial Planners and Fund Managers for retail investors, will provide bespoke investment management services for you.

Looking for extra-unusual but thoughtful gifts for Valentine’s Day? Move some funds into any of these investment packages from Emerging Africa Asset Management for yourself or loved ones.

Eurobond Fund

A dollar-denominated fund that provides competitive returns and needs a minimum entry amount of $500 and then in multiples of 5 units at $100 per unit thereafter. Earning in foreign currency has never been this easy.

Bond Fund

With a minimum entry amount of N10,000 and then in multiples of N1000 thereafter, invest in a diversified portfolio of high-quality bonds of government, supranational and corporate issuers, including Federal Government bonds, State Government bonds, corporate bonds and other fixed-income securities.

Balanced Diversity Funds

Mitigate risk with this flexible, open-ended trust scheme that helps you grow your capital over time with an investment in equities, money market securities and fixed-income securities. You’ll need a minimum entry amount of N10,000 and multiples of N1000 thereafter to get this.

Money Market Fund

Are you looking to preserve some capital that also doubles as a steady stream of income (quarterly) derived from investments in money market instruments? Then the Money Market Fund is for you, and with a minimum entry amount of N5,000 for 5,000 Units, and subsequent multiples of 5,000 Units thereafter, you can access it.

If you’re feeling a bit more altruistic and looking to diversify your love to reach a larger group of people, you’re in luck because Emerging Africa has other deals that help you to do just this. There is the Emerging Dreams Trust that acts as a savings account; an Emerging Eagles Investment Club designed for persons younger than 24 years; an Emerging Stars Education Trust geared towards the education of your kids or ward; a Staff Trust Scheme for employees as well as a Gratuity Trust Scheme that allows employers effectively keep money aside for severance payments to qualified employees at the end of their service due to resignation, retirement, redundancy, or demise.

Visit any of Emerging Africa Capital Group’s social media handles or go to their website today to find out what package would be right for you or your partner this Valentine’s Day.

The post ASPIRE Valentine Edit (Day 10): Mutual Funds by Emerging Africa Capital Group first appeared on Aspire Luxury Magazine.

The post ASPIRE Valentine Edit (Day 10): Mutual Funds by Emerging Africa Capital Group appeared first on Aspire Luxury Magazine.

Typically, at about this, there is some excitement in the air. Your organization may probably have a culture of giving out gift baskets; festive food for the holiday season; or sharing profits with staff members, and understandably employees would be looking forward to these perks. But in the face of so much uncertainty, and with companies recording huge losses as a result of the pandemic, as well as the resulting blow to weak economies, the anticipation is at an all-time low.

How then could you creatively and thoughtfully say ‘thank you’ to your staff who have weathered the storm with you throughout this tumultuous year while motivating them to work even harder?

Offer gift vouchers or prepaid cards.

Giving out hampers or foodstuff is wonderful, but even better would be allowing your staff choose what they really want themselves. By offering gift vouchers, you are giving them the liberty to get what they or their families truly want and need this season.

But because these vouchers might be tied to a particular store, thereby limiting their choices, it may be best to get a prepaid gift card from a bank. This card will offer your employees even more buying freedom and would most likely make them happier and more productive in the coming year.

Plan a luxurious staycation.

In spite of tempting travel offers, quite a number of your staff may be unable to travel this year as the world tries to find a healthy way out of the jaws of COVID-19. If you are a small business, a perfect way to get your staff to relax and unwind after a rather stressful year is to plan a weekend retreat at a luxurious resort. Give them the option of bringing along members of their immediate family or a partner and plan fun activities around the weekend.

This would be a great way to get everyone to really relax, and also to bring everyone closer together. Having a productive team is great, but having a cohesive and productive team is even better.

Close earlier than you normally would for the year.

Maybe your business cannot afford gift vouchers and weekend staycations at luxury resorts. You can decide to close operations earlier than planned at the end of the year. Let your staff know that they would have to round up activities as quickly as they can so that they can get extra days off, and see them become more efficient than ever!

Reward them with additional days of paid leave.

If you cannot shut down your business at the end of the year or you cannot close operations earlier than planned, another creative way to thank and appreciate your staff would be to extend their leave days at no cost to them. Even if they would not all be taking their leave by the end of the year, you can stretch the validity of this offer to a fixed time in the new year.

Personalise gift packs.

Perhaps yours is a larger organisation that cannot afford the above-mentioned options and gift hampers or packs are your best bet. Instead of just generic gifts and festive food, why not include a personal touch to these gifts?

Writing a personal, heartfelt note to each employee and including your signature would turn any bland gift to the most valuable gift ever.

The post 5 Creative Ways to Appreciate Your Employees this Christmas first appeared on Aspire Luxury Magazine.

The post 5 Creative Ways to Appreciate Your Employees this Christmas appeared first on Aspire Luxury Magazine.

“I chose the name ‘Pepper Row’ to signify a spicy (pepper) brand that [is so interesting that it] gets people’s attention”, Omafume Niemogha, the creative director of Afrocentric neo-luxury fashion brand, Pepper Row, tells me in a phone interview. But beyond wanting to be the go-to authentic luxury fashion brand in Africa and the world, Pepper Row is, and would always remain, a sustainable luxury fashion brand, towing the lines of other similar brands like Valentino that recently banned the use of alpaca wool and Prada which announced this month that it would be ditching the use of Kangaroo leather.

“The fashion industry is perhaps the greatest producer of waste. This was one thing I wanted to stop with the creation of Pepper Row. Vertical Integration is our in-house production team, but I personally monitor everything they do, in addition to sourcing for organically-produced materials (hand-woven and hand-dyed fabrics) from local artisanal communities. Instead of binning scrap materials, I ensure they are put together to create a whole new garment. Every piece of ‘waste’ is carefully managed and reduced to the barest minimum.”

So, we know what Pepper Row stands for and what it is about, but how did it start? What was the inspiration? “My father,” Niemogha tells me. “His work in the advertising industry stirred my creative side, and after my education, I decided to go into fashion. But I did not start with the ready-to-wear-line first. I actually started with bridal wears.” A year after a successful stint with Pepper Row Bridals, Omafume decided it was time for the ready-to-wear line of Pepper Row. She kickstarted it with the Reighé collection in 2018.

And she has not looked back since then. In 2019, Pepper Row, in partnership with Vlisco, international producers and distributors of mostly African wax prints, released a capsule collection dubbed ‘A Floral Story.’ Featuring Vlisco’s wax printed fabrics, it was a bold patterned affair, replete with structure and a mix of other fabrics including aso-oke, chiffon and lace. The SS20 ‘Afrofuturism’ collection is her latest ready-to-wear-line. It is the depiction of a “beautiful utopian world where Africa is celebrated and is a source of inspiration globally,” a future that is dominated by African designs. Featuring even more aso-oke fabrics, the collection is yet another burst of bright colours knitted into contemporary and futuristic designs that immediately grab and hold your attention.

At this point, I have to ask: how does Pepper Row manage to thrive in a business climate as unique as Nigeria’s? How does it manage to work with local artisans in Nigeria and Africa in spite of the unpleasant stories we hear every day? “I try not to focus on the negatives,” says Niemogha. “I look out for all the help I can get either from the government or private entities. I always try to remain consistent and I keep pushing. And this is my advice for anyone looking to start a business in Nigeria: start small. Keep going. Be strategic. Adapt. Build a solid brand and keep pushing.”

And in the spirit of pushing forward, Niemogha says we should be expecting a new collection from Pepper Row soon. The pandemic was the perfect opportunity to sit down and think, and now, she is working on something new that would once again involve local artisans: this time, bead makers from Ghana. “I want to empower the artisanal community and make a difference in the world through fashion, and if I were not doing Pepper Row, I would be working in my field of study while helping people succeed and live their best lives.”

As we wrap up the conversation, Niemogha reminds me, “Don’t give up, keep pushing, Be consistent, and always look to the positive side of every situation.” Perfect advice that encapsulates everything Pepper Row is.

Five fun facts about Omafume Niemogha

ON: I love the colour pink, and you can see it almost everywhere in my work!

ON: On things I cannot do without, I say “Never say Never!” But, if there is something that I would not give up, it would be my Bible, Diary and sketchbook. Well, that’s three things!

ON: The one thing people don’t know about me? I love dancing!

ON: Designers that inspire me? Locally, I would say Lisa Folawiyo. Internationally would be Gucci, Prada, amongst others.

ON: My typical day is wake up, pray, work out, breakfast (I try to eat healthy) and then work, work, work, work, work! It is work all the way. But sometimes, I try to hang out with friends in the evening. That’s it!

The post ASPIRE Ones to Watch: Pepper Row is a Fusion of Style and Sustainability first appeared on Aspire Luxury Magazine.

The post ASPIRE Ones to Watch: Pepper Row is a Fusion of Style and Sustainability appeared first on Aspire Luxury Magazine.

His tragic death with his daughter Gianna and seven others earlier this year stunned the whole world, and weeks after their death, millions remained inconsolable. To honour this legend and continue his legacy, Nike has announced a week-long programme named “Mamba Week”. It will involve a $1 million donation to the Mamba and Mambacita Sports Foundation, an amplification of Kobe’s message through the Mamba League, and an extension of Kobe’s legacy of inspiration and innovation through select Kobe products.

Providing inspiration through Kobe products.

Explaining further, Nike says it “will continue to release Kobe Protro shoes, allowing the millions of fans he inspired around the world to keep Bryant’s legacy going. Nike will also continue to work with the NBA to release limited quantities of Bryant’s iconic Los Angeles Lakers jersey.”

The posthumous collection will feature Kobe 5 Protro with three in-line styles and two UNDEFEATED collaborations, alongside a special snakeskin-printed jersey. The Kobe 5 Protros “Big Stage” which follows Nike’s pre-existing budget-friendly takedown shoe, dubbed Mamba Rage, will be presented in victorious white, black and gold colour scheme – utilizing bold “Parade” print in black instead of PE blue on the left shoe’s lateral side and the right shoe’s medial side, as a crisp tonal “Big Stage” is plastered along the left shoe’s medial half and the right shoe’s lateral half.

In an ode to Kobe’s fifth NBA championship and his accomplishments in the 2009-10 season, the Kobe 5 Protros “5x Champion”, will showcase a purple, gold and black colour, taking inspiration from Jeff Hamilton’s bespoke jackets with a sleek finish – whilst the “Girls EYBL” will take the form of a scaly green, gold and white, sneaker-Medusa capable of freezing opponents with a single stare.

Further supplemented with apparel by long-time Nike Basketball partner, UNDEFEATED, the “What If” pack reminisces Kobe’s fateful journey into the Lakers. Having first been drafted 13th overall by the Charlotte Hornets in the 1996 NBA Draft, Kobe was swiftly traded to the team he eventually brought significant glory. As a result, the “What If” apparel showcase both an assemblage of colours associated with the 12 teams that passed him up, and pay respect to the legend’s unparalleled work ethic and championship greatness.

With a staggered release schedule, the Kobe 5 Protros “Big Stage” will be the first to drop on 23rd August 2020, followed by the “5x Champion” and special jersey one day later, the release of UNDEFEATED’s “What If” pack on August 27th, and finally the “Girls EYBL” on August 29th. The full collection will be available on Nike SNKRS.

Source: Nike

The post Nike Honours Bryant with Posthumous Collection first appeared on Aspire Luxury Magazine.

The post Nike Honours Bryant with Posthumous Collection appeared first on Aspire Luxury Magazine.