African Body Adornments

Think of African jewellery and most visualise a cacophony of colourful beads as seen in the elaborate neckpieces of the Maasai in Kenya, or alternatively large, bold bangles in wood or horn To reduce contemporary African jewellery in this manner is to not fully reflect how it has evolved, distilling history and culture as well as the modern mores, desires and aspirations of a continent and its diverse people Akudo Iheakanwa the creative director and founder of Shekudo, a Nigerian interdisciplinary design house, interrogates fiercely cultural and societal norms via her designs.

For Satta Matturi, her eponymous fine jewellery house is clearly focused on the luxury market, creating exquisite pieces using diamonds and other precious stones from her native Sierra Leone and other parts of Africa Of particular note is the fact that the Africa is central to the narrative of each artist Adele Dejak, the founder of his eponymous cult Kenyan jewellery brand notes: "The Adele Dejak story started in 2008 and has been about creating beautiful, thoughtful, afro-inspired handcrafted accessories for the modern, style-conscious woman.

Our aesthetic has evolved but Africa still remains our point of departure; for inspiration and production." This vision is evident and the sophisticated clientele who find their way to the Dejak atelier, particularly those seeking an arresting articulation in recycled materials such as brass and aluminium that has now become a house trademark Jewellery in Africa, as with the rest of the world, sits within the nexus of fashion and art, being both wearable and decorative and acting as a visual expression of taste and identity. . Source