Lydia's Weekly Lifestyle blog is for today's African girl, so no subject is taboo. My purpose is to share things that may interest today's African girl.

This week's contributors: Lydia, Pépé Pépinière, Titi, this week's subjects: Elevating Elegance: African Luxury Purse Designers to Watch, What's wrong with my hair extensions? Watch that child, South African wine, Prost, and Full moon

Elevating Elegance: African Luxury Purse Designers to Watch. When it comes to luxury handbags, the world has long been dominated by European and American brands. However, a new wave of African luxury purse designers is making its mark on the fashion scene, blending traditional craftsmanship with contemporary aesthetics. These designers are not only redefining luxury but also celebrating cultural heritage through their innovative creations. In this blog, we’ll explore some standout African luxury purse designers that are elevating the industry and what makes their work truly unique. K phải H: Founded by the talented South African designer, K phải H is renowned for its elegant and bold handbags that reflect the rich tapestry of African culture. Each piece is handmade using traditional techniques, marrying local craftsmanship with modern design sensibility. K phải H often incorporates vibrant colours and intricate patterns inspired by African art, creating statement pieces that are both timeless and contemporary. Malaika: Malaika is a luxury handbag brand from Nigeria that focuses on sustainability and ethical production. Their purses are crafted from high-quality, locally sourced materials and often feature beautiful handwoven elements. Malaika not only supports local artisans but also empowers women by providing them with trade skills. The result is a collection of handbags that are not only stunning but steeped in social impact. Siyanda Chalabi: The South African designer Siyanda Chalabi has taken the luxury handbag market by storm with her distinctive designs that choose unexpected materials and innovative shapes. Chalabi’s work is deeply influenced by her Zulu heritage, which is reflected in her use of beadwork and leather, resulting in purses that are both fashion-forward and culturally rich. Her pieces often double as art, making them perfect for women who appreciate fashion as a form of expression. Owen O’Brien: Based in Kenya, Owen O’Brien creates exquisite handbags that embody the spirit of Kenyan culture. His collections often utilize kanga fabric—brightly coloured cloth that is a staple in East Africa—infused with modern silhouettes. Each purse tells a story, representing the heritage and artistic flair of the region. O’Brien’s commitment to ethical production ensures that local artisans are fairly compensated,” and that traditional crafts are preserved, fostering a sustainable economy that empowers communities while delivering unique, high-quality products to conscious consumers.

What's wrong with my hair extensions? Fashionable words these days are sustainability, forever chemicals, micro plastics, carcinogens (chemicals that can cause cancer) and endocrine disrupters (chemicals that influence your fertility system). US non-profit organization Consumer Reports had a look at ten of the most popular brands of synthetic braiding hair, and found that all of them contain carcinogens and, in some cases, lead (which causes brain and nerve problems). So now people are looking for brands made from natural hair or biodegradable synthetic hair made from collagen fibre. This will cost you about 2.5 times more. Presently Ghana imports 900 million Dollars worth of wigs and extensions yearly (smuggled 70% and duty paid 30%, though often under invoiced, and thus less duty). A rough estimate gives tens of thousands earning their living from trading in hair pieces or working in hair dressing salons, so they are not going to tell you of the dangers, rather tell you that it is safe, that it is just a rumour. Heaven knows where we are going, Osibisa sang.

Watch that child. Narcotic drugs are a menace, and let me assure you that if your child gets hooked (addicted), you will not only seriously risk losing that child, but before that happens your life and that of anybody nearby will turn into hell on earth. They lie, steal anything not firmly bolted to the floor, plead, beg, borrow money from the entire neighbourhood, and so forth. The classic drugs are cocaine and cannabis (weed, hash, ganja) and the health workers somehow understood how to deal with these. Synthetic drugs like speed and LSD have never really caught on here, but opioids have, and recently a big consignment was intercepted here, origin India. So some criminals think Ghana is a ready market. And now there is an additional one, called Kush, which is destroying the Gambian youth. Some girls are making a living on a matras to pay for their addiction. No problem, that is far away. But seizures of kush have already been made in Senegal and Guinea as well, and once successfully introduced, no successful businessman in his right sense will stop there. So watch that youngster, talk with him or her, explain the dangers, check their pockets, find out where and with whom they hang out, talk to the other parents and so forth. About 17 % of Americans are addicted to drugs. Your child will never do a thing like that? You'll be surprised how children can surprise you.

South African wine, Prost. (I'm teaching you your first South African words, “prost” is borrowed from German, meaning cheers). Now that we do not need a tourist visa for South Africa again, Ghanaian tourism to that country has recently doubled. One of the favourites is Stellenbosch, founded in 1679, where French religious refugees (Hugenots, those wanting to become protestants because they felt Catholics were too forgiving for sins committed) started to plant wine in 1690. There are many interesting wine tours to take, and you can return to Ghana as a true connoisseur. But beware. South African wine labourers have recently started making a lot of noise because of the chemicals used to keep insects and fungi away from the grapes, and claim they are being poisoned. Many chemicals which have now been banned in Europe because of the danger they pose to users and consumers, are still being produced and imported into South Africa, where it seems anything goes. Personally I had 2 unpleasant experiences with South African wine. On one occasion, my companion, who had drunk 2 glasses of South African white and who was used to drinking wine during meals, wanted to get out of the car on our way home. Not really a problem, except that I was driving 70 miles an hour and we almost had an accident. On another occasion, again after 2 glasses of white, I couldn’t find him in the house. Eventually I realized that the bathroom window was open, he had gotten out through that and was standing on a narrow concrete ridge, swaying and looking down. On the 4th floor.....Op jou gesondheid (to your health)

Full moon this Sunday, but you can already enjoy it today and tomorrow. And it will most likely be dry here in Accra, so I’m planning a romantic beach walk.

Lydia...

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