EdiTOR’S nOTE

Issue No 5 • New African Woman • December 2008

cOnTenTs

5 Your Views

Cover Story 6 Obama’s rock 10 The first wives’ club

Beauty and Fashion 12 Good Scents: moschino’s Glamour 13 Time matters: Great watches

Hair and Beauty 14 The politics of Black women’s hair

Celebrity Interview 20 Dakore egbuson: Nigeria’s Halle Berry?

Well-being 24 ethical beauty and shopping this christmas 26 Ten Simple ways to eco-friendly beauty

Fashion and Design 26 oumou Sy: Africa’s fashion design queen

Women who Inspire 30 meet Africa’s humble queen of academia

Tribute 32 Miriam Makeba: farewell, mama Afrika!

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Group Publisher: Afi f Ben Yedder Publisher: Omar Ben Yedder Art Director: Jason Venkatasamy

editor: Regina Jere-Malanda editorial Assistant: Carole Lambert Production manager: Michael Messam

All pictures AfP unless indicated. registered with the British Library.

House! celebrations are still reverberating across the world as the momentum to President Barack obama’s inauguration builds up. while we await that momentous day (20 January) my simple message this month is dedicated to my black brothers. i don’t care who you were rooting for in the November US election, but in all honesty you have to admit: michelle obama iS the type of woman you would all want to marry, or bring home to your mum. right? Her attributes undoubtedly embody the clichéd idea that beside every great man is a great woman. from her wonderful pull-yourself-up attitude, her intellect, her academic accomplishments, her eloquence, beauty and fashion sense, to her adoration of the role of “being just mummy” michelle is truly a woman the world’s most powerful man needs by his side. The good news, my brothers, is that there are a lot of michelles out there waiting for their Baracks. indeed, while the obama phenomenon has shown the whole world how the hitherto impossible was made possible, we are also admiring the fact that michelle and Barack are a strong black couple who have no qualms displaying their affection publicly – a heart-warming demonstration of great love. while she is entering an unchartered political arena that has usually streamlined, intelligent, accomplished, presidential spouses into a sort of one-dimensional politically palatable, just-in-the-wings-wifey mould, michelle may seem like a woman taking on the impossible. But as we report in our main story the white Housewifery will never be the same again when mum-inchief michelle ( who has always been an equal partner in her marriage) takes the reins. Therefore, as we congratulate michelle for helping her husband attain the highest offi ce in global politics, it’s reassuring to know that she complements him well, as a woman of substance with positive attributes. Staying on the celebratory path, some good and exciting news from its publishers. Your favourite women’s magazine will, as of April 2009, become a stand-alone quarterly publication. for the past six months,

Yes, we are still in that “it hasn’t sunk-in-yet, oh-my-goodness” mode – America will have its fi rst ever Black family in the white House! celebrations are still reverberating across the world as the momentum to President Barack obama’s inauguration builds up. while we await that momentous day (20 January) my simple message this month is dedicated to my black brothers. i don’t care who you were rooting for in the November US election, but in all honesty you have to admit: michelle obama iS the type of woman you would all want to marry, or bring home to your mum. right? Her attributes undoubtedly embody the clichéd idea that beside every great man is a great woman. from her wonderful pull-yourself-up attitude, her intellect, her academic accomplishments, her eloquence, beauty and fashion sense, to her adoration of the role of “being just mummy” michelle is truly a woman the world’s most powerful man needs by his side. The good news, my brothers, is that there are a lot of michelles out there waiting for their Baracks. indeed, while the obama phenomenon has shown the whole world how the hitherto impossible was made possible, we are also admiring the fact that michelle and Barack are a strong black couple who have no qualms displaying their affection publicly – a heart-warming demonstration of great love. while she is entering an unchartered political arena that has usually streamlined, intelligent, accomplished, presidential spouses into a sort of one-dimensional politically palatable, just-in-the-wings-wifey mould, michelle may seem like a woman taking on the impossible. But as we report in our main story the white Housewifery will never be the same again when mum-inchief michelle ( who has always been an equal partner in her marriage) takes the reins. Therefore, as we congratulate michelle for helping her husband attain the highest offi ce in global politics, it’s reassuring to know that she complements him well, as a woman of substance with positive attributes. Staying on the celebratory path, New African woman has some good and exciting news from its publishers. Your favourite women’s magazine will, as of April 2009, become a stand-alone quarterly publication. for the past six months, New African woman, has brought you insightful topics as a free supplement. But overwhelmed by positive feedback from our readers and advertisers, suggesting and calling for a bigger coverage of African women’s issues, as we have been doing, we believe we can only offer you more by taking this route. So thank you for supporting us, New African woman will return as a 100-page action-packed stand-alone magazine in April 2009. it will be a treat worth waiting for. merry christmas!.

Regina Jere-Malanda - Editor r.malanda@africasia.com

December 2008 New AfricAN womeN | 3