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CONTENTS

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14noela: beyond beauty In the spirit of the plight of women in eastern DRCongo, the country's model dedicates the Cover Shoot to highlight that plight

3 Editor’s note 6 Readers’ views 8 One-to-watch: Nana Afua Antwi 10 Osworld’s African beat: celebrity news and events COVER PHOTOSHOOT 14 Noella Coursaris – Looking good, doing good

CONGO SPECIAL 26 Who will heal Congo’s women? 30 ‘We owe it to the women of the Congo’ 34 Escape to nowhere

AWDF SPECIAL FOCUS 36 10 years of empowering African women 42 Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf pays tribute 44 Passion against patriarchal oppression

FASHION IN FOCUS 46 Maksi: Under Ghanaian skies 50 Vlisco’s gallery of poems 52 Trendsetters: Beauty meets wearable art

40 EMPOWERING African WOMEN Liberia and Africa's first female President, Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf was a special guest at the African Women Development Fund (AWDF) 10th anniversary celebrations which took place in the Ghanaian capital, Accra. She speaks about African women's participation in politics.

HAIR & BEAUTY 58 Natural hair special: Your crowning glory 62 Get the look – the natural way 64 Lock it, twist it, curve it 66 Calamity Jane: Hair & Beauty limbo 68 Salon profile: Setting trends

74 FOR THE DISCERNING WOMAN NEW AFRICAN WOMAN Isue 8

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56 HAIR REVOLUTION A special focus on why a lot of Black women are going back to their natural "roots" with an ever-growing number ditching the chemical relaxer and "human" hair weaves. But is the natural look here to stay?

HOT ISSUE 70 ‘We’re proud to be African and gay’

LOVE IS IN THE AIR 76 Here’s to the ultimate Valentine! 78 Treats for your sweetheart

HEALTH CORNER 79 Gift yourself a health lift 80 Depression: a question of gender 82 Are you an introvert? So what! 84 Dr Dube: Contraception and you 86 Fit dance movements

FOOD & DRINK 88 Chef Ola: Can Cook, Will Cook!

ARTS & CULTURE 96 Book Review: Power to the kinky!

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