What’s Your Identity?

Identity is about positive traits; and also about the negative ones. It is a combination of things that you do. It involves your talents, strengths, and passions. It is what you love and care about. Know who you are and what you want and you will be on the right track for success in different areas of your life. There are people who have very little sense of identity. They wander through life simply being - and exerting little real influence over their destiny. Most people waste their energy on all the trivial things that do not really amount to a hill of beans. But the minority who are aware of their identity - and have a more clearer focused view of themselves as a somebody or someone, tend not to get involved in much beyond furthering their personal aims, improving on the world and seeing themselves as part of a complex yet wonderful web of creation that we are required to interact with. Labeling yourself as a victim is harmful psychologically. Seeing yourself as a victim invites others to see you the same way - and pick on you. Feeling like a failure invites more failure. Being convinced the whole world is out to get you creates that world for you. Identity is on the inside as opposed to the outside; and people can define you by the outside based all of the external things that make you think that, that is who you are. If you do not have the understanding of how to develop an internal core, then it will be very difficult to identify who you are; hence there is no foundation for growth and development. So look within and identify who you are and what you are. The rest they say will fall into place for your highest good!

It is so surreal but I am so happy to say Welcome to the Tenth Issue of AfroStyle Magazine!! In this Issue that we titled Struggle And Identity, we are delighted to have had the exclusive interview with the international Icon Dr. Maya Angelou , who gives us a great deal of knowledge on who we were, who we are and who we can become . We also fun chatting with Mr. Isaiah Washington who spoke about finding his identity by tracing his ancestry to his home, Sierra Leone. Finally, we had the honor of speaking with the amazing Ugandan activist for the LGBT Communities in Africa Ms. Kasha Jacqueline. In our AfroCouture feature, Balmain is the fashion house of focus; while in our AfroTraditional spread, the country of Ethiopia is paid homage to. Elements of Guinea Bissau and France are brought together for an amazing AfroFusion spread; and in our feature article, a closer look at Tradition is explored amongst some tribes representing different countries around the globe in the article The Coming of Age. For the first time, we are featuring three different fashion spreads from Germany, Atlanta and Florida- a fun treat!! ! We bring you firsthand highlights from the Mercedes Benz Fashion Week Africa; and featured are our ASM Picks, Must Haves, and Videos among others for your entertainment. We thank all our contributors from wardrobe stylists to makeup artists for their amazing work on all the spreads; and we thank you the readers for taking the time to check out the magazine and for supporting us. Drop us an email at info@afrostylemag.com and let us know how AfroStyle Magazine can be of service to you and the community at large.

Enjoy The Tenth Issue of AfroStyle Magazine!

Amaka N. Onyioha
Editor-In-Chief