M.A.G. blog, signed by Lydia

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: Embracing Boldness: Contemporary African Designers Redefining Fashion, The gynecologist, Is good food and a balanced diet too expensive? and Cyril Bar and Grill? _

347Embracing Boldness: Contemporary African Designers Redefining Fashion. In the vibrant tapestry of global fashion, contemporary African designers are weaving bold narratives through their craft and design. With a rich heritage that influences their creations, these designers are not only celebrating traditional techniques but also pushing the boundaries of modern aesthetics. From striking colours and innovative materials to intricate craftsmanship, the work of these artists is a testament to the dynamic and evolving nature of African fashion. Let’s explore some of the designers who are making waves and redefining the global fashion landscape. Brother Vellies (Aurora James): Founded by Canadian-born, New York-based designer Aurora James, Brother Vellies is a pioneer in sustainable luxury fashion. Inspired by the traditional footwear of various African cultures, James blends age-old techniques with contemporary design. The brand emphasizes craftsmanship and works closely with artisans from North Africa, incorporating vibrant colours and rich textures that speak to a global audience. Each piece tells a story, combining functionality with an artistic flair that is unmistakably African. Tiffany Amber: Nigerian designer Tiffany Ambrose is known for her ability to fuse contemporary and traditional styles. Her collections are characterized by bold patterns, rich textiles, and vibrant colors that celebrate African culture. Ambrose’s work often features intricate embroidery and luxurious fabrics, reflecting the heritage of Nigerian craftsmanship while appealing to global trends. Her designs empower women by embodying confidence and elegance, making her one of Africa's most celebrated fashion figures. Laduma Ngxokolo (Maxhosa Africa): Laduma Ngxokolo, the creative force behind Maxhosa Africa, has gained international acclaim for his knitwear that draws on the Xhosa culture of South Africa. His designs incorporate patterns and motifs inspired by traditional Xhosa beadwork, celebrating heritage while adopting a modern silhouette. Maxhosa resonates deeply with those looking for authenticity in fashion, with garments that not only look stunning but also encapsulate a rich narrative rooted in African identity. Laduma Ngxokolo (Maxhosa Africa) Gert-Johan Coetzee: South African designer Gert-Johan Coetzee is known for his bold glamour and innovative use of fabrics. His designs often feature eye-catching patterns and vibrant colours that draw immediate attention and provoke intrigue.

107 The gynecologist. I don't think that any of us fancies going to a gynecologist, but sometimes you have to. Most of us will rather prefer a female. But still, some of these females can be quite unfriendly and unaccommodating, as if you were bringing something dirty. And that is exactly something we did not need at such moments. So ask around, now, who is a good professional and friendly at the same time. Ask your friends and colleagues at work, ask your ordinary doctor. So that the day you need it, you know where you will go. And the same goes for midwives, some can be outright blunt.

283 Is good food and a balanced diet too expensive? A friend of mine recently fell seriously sick, and spent about 1800 GHS on hospital and laboratories, and medicines. She somehow got a little better, though the real cause of the ailment evaded everybody. I discussed her diet with her, which turned out to be mainly milk and wheat products like Milo, bread, biscuits, pastries, spaghetti, and Indomie. She rarely took fruits or vegetables. First of all, I told her to take out the milk products, 80% of West Africans have lactose intolerance, there's a certain sugar in cow milk which our body does not digest and which affects the well-functioning of our intestines (and thus obstructs proper food digestion). Now she is eating akple (corn banku), banana, banku & okro stew, beans, chicken light soup, chicken soup, coconut, fufu (pounded yam & cassava), gobe (beans with gari), green green (jute leaf soup), khebab, mango, mashed yam, oats, oranges, pawpaw, pear, rice pudding, rice balls & groundnut soup, ripe plantain, spinach stew, tom brown, vegetable rice, vegetable salad, watermelon, and yam pudding. As you can see, she's also left out the wheat products because she thought that maybe she had gluten intolerance. Once she's fully recovered, we'll reintroduce that one and see what happens. She has not been sick since and claims to feel better than before she fell sick. And she now spends about 100 GHS more on food a month. Maybe indeed a balanced diet is cheaper than hospitals?

217 Cyril Bar and Grill? (10 Kakradamu street, East Cantonments, Accra). This is a restaurant bar run at the Bulgarian cultural centre, but apart from some pictures on the wall and the semi-Bulgarian menu, I don't see much of that cultural centre, which is fine with me, the food is an experience. They serve a good cold draft beer at 35 GHS and a virgin Mojito cocktail at 50 GHS. We had turkey wings with boiled potatoes, garlic bread (theirs is a bit fluffy like a flat egg cake but without the egg, nice when fresh), kebabche, which is not kebab but grilled spicy short minced meat sausages, nice, and mussels (180GHS, a big portion). The mussels were the main reason I went there, amongst the reasonably priced restaurants in Accra, I don’t know of any other that serve it. Though not too common, one can find mussels in Ghana as well, on the rocky outcrops along our beaches, especially during low tides in April and October. They are generally smaller than what Cyrils serves. But unless you are a good swimmer, I do not suggest you go mussel hunting; then better to arrange with the local boys and stay safe. Whilst they harvest them, you make a small fire and eat them fresh on the beach. You will never forget.

# Lydia...

Do not forget to hit the subscribe button and confirm in your email inbox to get notified about our posts.

I have received requests about leaving comments/replies. For security and privacy reasons my blog is not associated with major media giants like Facebook or Twitter. I am talking with the host about a solution. for the time being, you can mail me at wunimi@proton.me

I accept invitations and payments to write about certain products or events, things, and people, but I may refuse to accept and if my comments are negative then that's what I will publish, despite your payment. This is not a political newsletter. I do not discriminate on any basis whatsoever.