Many African beauty brands are striving to bring the perfect products for each person closer to them, both at home and in the diaspora. These brands celebrate indigenous ingredients and sustainable practices and their names are making waves across the globe. Offering products that blend tradition with innovation, each of them carves its unique space and thrives in it.

These brands are curated without using standard criteria.

Shea Moisture

As a global beauty brand, Shea Moisture has deep African roots. This company was founded in 1991 by Liberians Nyema Tubman and Richelieu Dennis. The establishment of the brand was inspired by Dennis’ grandmother who sold shea butter in Sierra Leone, the brand uses raw shea and other African ingredients to create hair and skincare products tailored for textured hair and melanin-rich skin. They offer skin cleansing products with naturally derived formula and their products are available for adults and children.

Arami Essentials

Founded in Lagos, Nigeria, Arami champions minimalist skincare using raw, natural ingredients like shea butter, coconut oil, and black soap. Their simple yet elegant packaging and effective formulations have earned them a cult following both in Africa and abroad. Arami Essentials was established when the owner, Ore Runsewe, arrived in Nigeria from the UK, where she could not access hair products that suited her.

LIHA Beauty

This is a British-Nigerian beauty brand that focuses on natural, sustainable and ethically sourced ingredients for their products. Merging Yoruba tradition with British chic, LIHA Beauty was created by friends Liha Okunniwa and Abi Oyepitan. They utilize ingredients like raw shea butter, coconut oil, and tuberose to produce top products. LIHA Beauty celebrates African wellness with a modern twist.

Nubian Heritage

Known for its use of culturally authentic ingredients like frankincense, myrrh, and African black soap, Nubian Heritage is beloved for fusing ancient beauty recipes with contemporary science to create nourishing body care products. Nubian Heritage is inspired by African healing traditions. Here, they use organic ingredients to revitalize the skin and hair of their customers.

Skin Gourmet

This Accra-based brand creates 100% natural, edible skincare using raw ingredients sourced directly from Ghanaian farmers. With products like baobab oil and cocoa butter scrubs, Skin Gourmet is redefining luxury with authenticity and sustainability at its core. They use meticulous methods to craft their products which are free from preservatives.

These brands are redefining beauty like never before. Using natural ingredients, effective formulations and appealing packaging, they are telling African stories in their own way. Also, in the little way they can, they are empowering local communities, and showing the world the richness of the continent’s natural and cultural resources.

Wizkid and Ayra Starr Face Backlash Over ‘Gimme Dat’ Lyrics Referencing ‘Diallo’

Nigerian music stars Wizkid and Ayra Starr are under scrutiny following the release of their latest collaboration, “Gimme Dat.” The track has sparked controversy due to its chorus, which repeatedly mentions the name “Diallo” in a romantic context. Some listeners interpret this as a reference to Amadou Diallo, a 23-year-old Guinean immigrant fatally shot by New York City police in 1999.

The contentious lyrics—“Diallo, Diallo / If I give you my love, oh / Make you no disappoint, oh…”—have been deemed by some as insensitive, suggesting they trivialize a significant historical tragedy.

Following the song’s release, Ayra Starr promoted the accompanying music video on X (formerly Twitter), sharing a snapshot and inviting fans to watch. However, the post quickly attracted criticism. A user, @Catchoris, expressed disapproval in a tweet that has since garnered over 2.5 million impressions:

“Ayra Starr & Wizkid are so ignorant. Wyclef sang ‘Diallo’ about the US police killing an unarmed African in 2000. 25 years later, 2 African stars turn that sad tune about police brutality into a stupid song about sex, repeatedly calling the murdered man’s name in the silly chorus.”

While some fans echoed these sentiments, accusing the artists of cultural insensitivity, others offered a different perspective. User @menlotanna argued:

“I get your point but you’re wrong bro. Ayra’s song samples Wyclef Jean’s ft Mary J. Blige ‘911’ which is actually a love song. And the ‘Diallo’ in Ayra’s chorus doesn’t reference the song you’re referring to because the notes in these songs are totally different.”

Indeed, “Gimme Dat” samples Wyclef Jean and Mary J. Blige’s 2000 hit “911,” a song depicting star-crossed lovers entangled in drama, with the male narrator evading police while the female narrator expresses concern. The original “911” does not reference Amadou Diallo. However, Wyclef Jean did release a separate track titled “Diallo,” directly addressing the 1999 police shooting of Amadou Diallo and criticizing systemic racism and police brutality.(en.wikipedia.org, en.wikipedia.org)

The confusion may stem from the similarity in names and Wyclef Jean’s involvement in both songs. While “911” is a romantic narrative, “Diallo” serves as a protest song memorializing Amadou Diallo’s tragic death.

As debates continue, neither Wizkid nor Ayra Starr have publicly addressed the controversy. Meanwhile, “Gimme Dat” has achieved commercial success, amassing over 1 million Spotify streams within 12 hours of its release. The song’s popularity underscores the global reach of Afrobeats, even as discussions about cultural sensitivity and artistic responsibility persist.(Inside Port Harcourt)

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The big question on everyone’s mind is Trump’s Tariffs: A Threat to American Jobs or a Boost to Automation? Meanwhile, sports fans will be thrilled to know that Cristiano Ronaldo is making his Hollywood debut with an action-packed film studio venture.

In a heartwarming story, a Nigerian nurse who had been working in the US has made the bold decision to return home in search of a more fulfilling life.

This edition also shines a spotlight on Nigeria’s Diaspora Commission Chairman, who has been honoured in Saudi Arabia for his outstanding contributions.

Other highlights include an in-depth analysis of the US-China trade war, which has intensified with Trump slapping a 104% tariff on Chinese goods.

You won’t want to miss the Diaspora Watch editorial on the need for ambassadors, followed by a report on the Nigerian government’s commencement of screening for ambassadors.

In sports, Aston Villa is hoping to lure Ademola Lookman with Champions League qualification. The back page is dedicated to this exciting development.

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