Daniel Obasi brings the Antebellum to Nigeria in ‘Embers Of Bloom’
Daniel Obasi is on to something big
Fashion is always evolving to reflect the times. There used to be a season when exclusivity and inaccessibility defined high fashion and the houses went to great lengths to keep their work out of the reach and purview of their perceived proletariat. Then there was the era where all the power in fashion was ensconced in the hands of a handful of gatekeepers across the world, all powerful women in charge of the world’s most influential magazines. They determined what was fashionable and what was not, and everyone in fashion cowered before them. Technology has ushered in the age of the fashion democrat; with social media and accessible digital media tools allowing every fashion lover forge their own path and create their own visions of what is fashionable. This new age has especially been important to the Nigerian fashion industry, bypassing conventional structure and introducing us to peculiar talents like Daniel Obasi.
As a fashion editor for Fashion Business Africa, Obasi showed us he has an innate understanding of the intricacies of fashion business and merchandising, but it is his work as a creative director, photographer and stylist that is truly enthralling. Obsessed with whimsy, andgroyny and fragility; Obasi’s work is always imbued with a delicateness that carries, and stays with you. For his newest project “Embers Of Bloom” Obasi taps two of the most interesting new faces in the Nigerian fashion industry, Ifeoma Nwobu and Daberechi Ukoha-Kalu both of Few Models, and brings the stoic beauty of the American Antebellum South, juxtaposes it against the urban decay of Lagos.
“Let’s pretend no one else is here”
Inspired by friendship and the fantasy of becoming someone else through fashion. The film is a visual experience of what finding your self could look like, a momentary realization and escape through emptiness, expressions and metaphors into something different, something that makes you bloom!
Mary Akpa’s song “Collide” from her new EP ‘Unseen’ is really the glue that holds everything together, indie roots grounding the music and the models as they strut in bubble sleeved gowns and electric geometric dresses adorned with unconventional baubles as detailing. Sepia dyed cinematography harkens to older times and the styling reinforces this juxtaposition of the past with the future.
Vulnerable can be beautiful, especially in fashion.
Watch “Embers of Bloom” here.
Find the ‘Unseen’ EP here.
CREDITS
Creative Direction/Styling: Daniel Obasi
D.O. P : Dola Posh
Models : Daberechi Ukoha-Kalu and Ifeoma Nwobu
Make up: Lauretta Orji
Hair: Austine Afaha
Editor: Robert Matuloko
Designers : Gozel green, Titi belo, FRUCHE, Gogoya
Edwin eats his rice and cabbages. Tweet at him@edgothboy
See 7 of the best photos from World Press Photo Foundation Masterclass, West Africa
Fanti Carnival Returns to Lagos This Easter with a Vibrant Celebration of Afro-Brazilian Culture
The historic Fanti Carnival is set to make its grand return on Easter Sunday, April 20, 2025, bringing the...
The historic Fanti Carnival is set to make its grand return on Easter Sunday, April 20, 2025, bringing the streets of Lagos Island alive with colour, music, and culture. With roots dating back to 1890, the Lagos Fanti Carnival is one of Nigeria’s oldest and most vibrant cultural traditions, celebrating the deep ties between Nigeria and Brazil through a dynamic fusion of Afro-Brazilian heritage and modern creativity.
This year’s edition is supported by the Lagos State Ministry of Tourism, Arts, and Culture, in partnership with Robert Taylor Media and the Brazilian Descendants Association of Lagos. Together, they aim to honour the legacy of the Afro-Brazilian community in Lagos — descendants of formerly enslaved returnees who shaped the city’s culture, religion, and architecture.
The carnival procession will kick off at 12:00 PM, starting from Old Defence Road and will end at the JK Randle Centre, with accreditation beginning at 10:00 AM. Attendees can expect a stunning showcase of traditional costumes, Afro-Brazilian drumming, dance, and performances from local creatives reinterpreting heritage for a new generation.
Whether you’re drawn to the dazzling pageantry, the live performances, or the chance to connect with a rich cultural history, the Fanti Carnival is an unmissable event this Easter.
Tickets are now available, and more information can be found via the official Fanti Carnival website or their social platforms.
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Vlisco’s “The Garden Of Sisterhood” Campaign Comes To Life in New “MAYANGA” Video
A celebration of creativity and cultural
Dutch textile brand Vlisco recently unveiled its latest campaign ‘The Garden Of Sisterhood,’ as part of its women’s month celebration. The campaign, which looks to extend Vlisco’s rich legacy in African fashion and its ongoing celebration of creativity and cultural storytelling, takes inspiration from Congolese musical icon Fally Ipupa’s latest single, “Mayanga.” The song’s accompanying music video was shot in the Ivory Coast, and seamlessly balances Ipupa’s signature soulful Rumba music with intricate floral motifs and soft, elegant colour palettes that celebrate the strength and individuality that blossoms through community.
In addition to Fally Ipupa, Vlisco also tapped up Ivorian fashion designer Loza Maléombho and Nigerian director Daniel Obasi to contribute to ‘The Garden Of Sisterhood’ campaign. Maléombho’s unique designs and Obasi’s striking storytelling helped contribute to actualising Vlisco’s distinct aesthetic and vision of merging heritage, creativity and fashion.
In a statement discussing the collaboration with Vlisco, the Congolese superstar described it as a beautiful experience. “They understood my vision of working with talented artists and honouring the beautiful women who wear Vlisco fabrics. By creating exclusive designs for me and the remarkable women in the cast, Vlisco really brought our artistic vision to life, harmoniously fusing music and fashion,” he said.
Similarly, Marlou van Engelen, the creative director of Vlisco, expressed that it was an honour working with Fally Ipupa. “His song ‘MAYANGA’ perfectly reflects our admiration for the women who shaped us, inspire us, and mean so much to us. For us, it’s not just about fashion; it’s about the stories told through our beautiful prints. And I believe the best stories are always told together,” she said in a statement.
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NATIVE PREMIERE: Rigo Kamp Runs Ahead Of The Pack With The Visuals For “Marathon”
Rigo Kamp’s Marathon video is an intimate Afro-juju revival that pays homage to Sir Shina Peters and stamps...
Last Friday, Rigo Kamp, a NATIVE uNder alum and one of the architects of an equal parts nostalgic and refreshing sound released his self-titled debut EP, delivering a propulsive fusion of Alte, R&B, Funk, and Soul-infused rhythms.
Featuring previously released singles “Morning Sun” and “Summer”, the six-track eponymous EP executively produced by Odunsi The Engine sees Rigo lean heavily into his element as a sonic alchemist, jumping from silky falsettos to gritty grooves without losing an ounce of cohesion, and ultimately stamping the Abuja-born, Lagos-based singer-songwriter as a mad scientist of sound.
Just last November, Apple Music named Rigo Kamp as its Up Next artist, an acknowledgment that underscored his potential and confirmed what the tastemakers and underground scene already knew. Weeks later, he delivered an exhilarating live set for Spotify Fresh Finds in Lagos, proving he’s just as compelling live as he is in the studio.
On “Marathon”, the refreshing opener to the Rigo Kamp EP, Rigo borrows the bounce and swagger of Afro-Juju legend, Sir Shina Peters’ golden-era, fusing nostalgia with re-imagination to birth a vintage performance that feels like a private party for two, where it’s just Rigo, and you.
Get an exclusive first look at the video for Marathon here:
Listen to the Rigo Kamp EP:
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