Fashion
Face-mask fashion makes fighting virus ‘more fun’
Making the wearing of face masks compulsory to contain the spread of coronavirus has provided a challenge to fashionistas.
Nigerian designer Sefiya Diejomaoh, pictured above sporting a diamante-studded covering, did not want to stop being stylish, she told the Reuters news agency in the country’s commercial hub, Lagos.
“When you come out in a stylish mask or with an accessory such as this, it doesn’t seem as though we’re fighting a war. It seems more fun,” she is quoted as saying.
“People going around in surgical masks is depressing,” she said. “I have to maintain status quo and who I am despite the situation.”“Everyone is on it right now including designers. It is a necessary fashion statement right now,” said Angel Obasi (above) who runs the Instagram account Styleconnaisseur.
Student Uche Helen, wears a face mask to match her head-band.
A Reuters photographer also spotted another woman in Lagos who went for the matching headgear and face mask combination:Nigeria has more than 5,600 confirmed cases of coronavirus and 176 deaths from the illness.
joynews.com
In the bustling streets of Accra, braided crowns, coiled Afros, and beaded locks are more than fashion statements. They are living testaments to heritage, resilience, and identity.
The Afro, which rose to prominence in the 1960s and 70s, was more than a hairstyle. It became a symbol of defiance against Eurocentric beauty standards and a proud declaration of Black identity.
But the story of African hair stretches back centuries. Ancient carvings from Egypt depict intricate braids and cornrows, styles that carried messages of social status, age, and even spirituality. Across West Africa, beads and cowrie shells were woven into hair, turning each head into a canvas of culture and artistry.
“Hair was never just hair,” says cultural historian Ama Ofori. “It was a language, a way of telling the world who you were and where you came from.”
Colonial rule attempted to suppress these traditions, branding natural hair as ‘unruly.’ Yet, generations later, the revival of the Afro and traditional styles has reclaimed that narrative. Today, braids, twists, and Afros are celebrated on runways, in music videos, and on city streets worldwide.
For many young Africans, embracing natural hair is both a fashion choice and a way of honouring ancestors while shaping modern identity. “When I wear my Afro,” says student and stylist Efua Mensah, “I feel connected to history. It’s not just style, it’s strength.”
As the global fashion industry increasingly embraces African-inspired looks, the Afro reminds us that beauty is not only about trends. It is about heritage, pride, and the stories carried in every strand.
By Beatrice Wornovi
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AS Ghana Month unfolds this March, the streets and schools are alive with colour, fabric, and nostalgia. Old-school outfits, once everyday wear, have returned as proud symbols of heritage, reminding Ghanaians of the artistry woven into their past.
From the crisp secondary school uniforms of the 1970s to the bold kaba and slit styles worn by mothers and aunties, these outfits carry stories of discipline, elegance, and identity. The Afro style, paired with bell-bottom trousers or neatly pressed shirts, were once the hallmark of youthful rebellion and confidence.
Traditional fabrics like Kente and Smock remain central to Ghanaian fashion. Once reserved for chiefs and ceremonies, they now appear in classrooms, offices, and parades during Ghana Month, symbolising unity and pride.
“When I wear my Smock, I feel connected to my roots,” says Kwame Asare, a teacher in Tamale. “It is more than clothing; it is history stitched into fabric,” he added.
Old-school fashion also tells the story of Ghana’s social evolution. The platform shoes and polka-dot dresses of the 1980s reflected global influences, while braided hairstyles and headscarves kept tradition alive. Today, young designers are reimagining these looks, blending vintage cuts with modern flair.
For many, dressing in old-school outfits during Ghana Month is not about nostalgia. It is a way of honouring ancestors, celebrating resilience, and teaching the next generation that fashion is culture.
“Our clothes remind us where we come from,” says stylist Efua Mensah. “They are our crown, our pride, and our story.”
As Ghana celebrates its independence and heritage this month, the revival of old-school outfits proves that fashion is never just about trends. It is about memory, identity, and the timeless threads that bind a nation together.
By Linda Abrefi Wadie
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