I signed up to join TikTok during the 2020 lockdown (cause like many others I’d run out of memes to watch on Instagram) and needless to say, I’ve been hooked since.
Between the dances, hilarious audios, internet beefs and educational videos I found myself spending hours' worth of watch time sifting through these 15 to 60sec videos.
Of the never-ending trends, however, two jumped out to me.
The first one was the “Black girl luxury” or “Blackwomen in luxury” trend. If you’re on OG on YouTube you probably already know this consists mainly of luxury unboxing, lifestyle, fashion, and beauty videos except for the first time, hashtags and other metrics helped niche down this type of content exclusively to the black female demographic. And with it, demonstrating just how large and truly influential this group is.
The second trend is the “That girl” or “Becoming that girl” trend. Similar to the previous trend, it focuses on often younger women focusing on self-development through “aesthetic” (or cute) 5-sec videos like cleaning, self-care, cooking, working out, working, dressing well, etc.
So what made these trends stand out to me? They encapsulate (to me) the current vision of what “Coming of Age” looks like for the 2020+ young woman.
So what made these trends stand out to me? They encapsulate (to me) the current vision of what “Coming of Age” looks like for the 2020+ young woman.
Getting your period just isn’t going to cut it anymore Hunny. Neither is getting married.
Since entering my own "young woman" years I've found myself drawing new references of what success both material and not.
And listen, it's been a confusing journey, to say the least.
As someone who still strongly identifies as African (born and raised) but is living in the West (London specifically), I find I've drawn my influences from groups that till this day do not collide at all sometimes.
And from it, somehow, I've shaped a view, an idea, a dream of what womanhood should look like for me without a single idea of how to realize any of it (ha!).
And so, inspite of all the wonderful and inspiring content available on Instragram, Youtube and TikTok combined I've found myself desperately trying to find examples I can look up to.
And so, inspite of all the wonderful and inspiring content available on Instragram, Youtube and TikTok combined I've found myself desperately trying to find examples I can look up to.
So in short, here is a small but growing list of my current internet crushes. They all are in my mind, women I not only admire but gladly take as examples to follow and learn from.
I've called them my "African Aunties" (because I refuse to not owe them the respect I'd give an elder back home - irrespective of age).
In no particular order ...
1.Dumebi Andrea Iyamah
Why I love her: Andrea is the founder of the incredibly popular Resort & Swimwear brand of the same name. Currently based in Nigeria, her brand is worn but the highest and the finest fashion lovers across the world proving to me and many other aspiring African creatives that luxury African brands with worldwide reach can work.
About her: Andrea Iyamah is a clothing line that is strongly inspired by color and ethnic cultures. Most of her work is popularly recognized for its eccentric and unique take on swimwear, using vibrant colors and cuts inspired by an array of African cultures, the brand also specializes in ready-to-wear and custom-made special event dresses.
Learn more about Andrea here
2. Francine Niyonsaba
Why I love her: Arguably Burundi's most renowned athlete to date, Francine Niyonsaba is a beacon of hope and inspiration to every Burundian with dreams of standing out not just nationally but internationally.
Her story towards competing for the Olympics is one worthy of a Netflix documentary and I've been lucky enough to meet her in person, a memory I'll never forget.
About her: Francine is a Burundian runner who specialized in the 800 meters, and moved to long-distance running in 2019. She is the 2016 Rio Olympics silver medalist in the 800 meters. Her silver medal was the first Olympic medal for Burundi since 1996. Niyonsaba won a silver in the event at the 2017 World Championships. She is a two-time 800m world indoor champion, having won 800m in 2016 and 2018. After her move to longer distances, Niyonsaba finished fifth over the 10,000 meters at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. She holds the world record in the 2000 meters and seven Burundian records.
In 2019, World Athletics had announced that Niyonsaba would not be allowed to compete under the female classification in events between 400 meters and one mile due to its regulations on XY DSD athletes with naturally high testosterone levels.
Learn more about Francine here
wikipedia.org/wiki/Francine_Niyonsaba
Francine Niyonsaba’s reinvention as a world-beating distance runner
3.Laura Kabasomi Kakoma ("Somi")
Why I love her: I discovered Somi while randomly listening to a jazz playlist in my uni days. I'll never forget hearing Till the rain comes (one of my favorite songs to date) for the first time and the pleasant realization parts of the song were in Kinyarwanda. A sister language to my own, Kirundi.
Her music speaks often of the immigrant (often African) plight while living far from home. A victim of Rwanda's genocide herself, Somi's music holds a special place in my heart as her songs have often verbalized feelings and lived experiences like homesickness, separation, racism, fleeing war, and much more.
Her song "Ginger Me" featured on Issa Rae's Insecure (and is also a favourite of mine too).
About her: Somi is a Grammy-nominated American-born singer, songwriter, playwright, and actor of Rwandan and Ugandan descent. Somi has built a career of transatlantic sonicism and storytelling.Often referred to as a modern-day Miriam Makeba, JazzTimes magazine describes her live performance as “the earthy gutsiness of Nina Simone blended with the vocal beauty of Dianne Reeves,” while Billboard exclaims that she’s “all elegance and awe…utterly captivating.”
Learn more about Somi here
4. Dr. Dambisa Moyo
Why I love her: I first learned about Dr. Moyo in university while taking a Development Finance class. That class was my first introduction to economic development theories and how entangled with external factors like our colonial past and politics, has led to this structural poverty faced by many modern-day Africans (in spite of the continent's natural resources and populous workforce).
Her first book Dead Aid, was an intellectual take, on a sentiment I grew up hearing a lot - that foreign economic aid/ policy doesn't work. She argued that it harmed our continent, forcing it into debt and weakening future generations' economic ability to develop their continent. This is one of the few books I read cover to cover in university (if i'm being honest).
About her: Dambisa Felicia Moyo is a Zambian-born economist and author, known for her analysis of macroeconomics and global affairs. She serves on the boards of Chevron Corporation, Condé Nast and the 3M Company.
Learn more about Dambisa here
wikipedia.org/wiki/Dambisa_Moyo
xxx
Jolly