WHAT IS AFRICAN BEAUTY: A PHOTO ESSAY

What is African beauty? And what does it mean for modern women today? Content producer and photographer Nombuso Kosazana posed this question to several women from Johannesburg, South Africa and this is what they had to say.

By Nombuso Kosazana from This is Africa

What is African identity and beauty?

Poet and artist Kristi van Sly: African identity is being true to who you are and your roots. She uses a traditional printed Ndebele shawl on top of her outfit to illustrate this. Photo by Nombuso Kosazana

Siyanda Mbuzo is a writer and content producer at Live Magazine in South Africa: African identity is all about how you represent yourself to the world. I do it with my fashion, I love incorporating elements of Africa prints by wearing doeks. I think it brings the best out in me. As a Xhosa woman, I admire the way our grandmother’s used to dress, but I think I bring a youthful element to it now. Photo by Nombuso Kosazana

Beauty writer for Elle Magazine SA, Buhle Lidwa: I disagrees that make-up is not seen as African. Beauty is from within and someone’s Africa identity emanates from who they are, then you can really see identity in different ways. Photo by Nombuso Kosazana

Visual artists and content producer, Nombuso Bhogolo: As a Ndebele woman, I grew up with colour around me, and being exposed to people like Esther Mahlangu, international celebrated artist, who is from my hometown. I started creating my own African beauty out of my cultural origins. I love playing around with colours. Even if I’m not wearing my cultural clothes, when people ask about my fashion style, I tell them I’m Ndebele and explain what that means which makes it easy for them to understand. Photo by Nombuso Kosazana

Projects assistant at Digify ZA, Mpho Seoposengwe: African identity is about appreciating your own beauty as an African. I love hand made Africa jewelry and handbags and by purchasing those locally produced items, it always makes me feel closer to home, where ever she would be. Photo by Nombuso Kosazana

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