Sustaining Balance

Sustainability is the capacity to endure. For humans, sustainability is the long-term maintenance of well-being, which has environmental, economic, and social dimensions, and it encompasses the concept of stewardship; the responsible management of resource use. Everything in the universe that we can study is about balance; that is, it requires balance to maintain. Without balance, there is no such idea as sustainability-well there is the idea, but it is insane. If something gets smaller and smaller until it disappears, that is not sustainability; if something gets bigger and bigger until it is bigger than the earth — that is not sustainability (but it does describe modern corporations, doesn’t it). Balance is where its at if we wish to survive.

I am not good at physics or biology; I could probably quote something there if I was. But I do know that all of life is about balance- just as the balance of salts in our blood. Therefore the obligation of stewardship is to understand the balance. Do not assume everyone and everything is just like you. Study facts, also study convictions and opinions; and as you do be wary of the desperate extremes of people who are so afraid of life that they can’t listen to reality but instead make up pretty stories (or horrid stories if they want other people to join them in their pit of fear). If we really want sustainability, we will have to nurture the balance of life.

With that said, welcome to the 6th issue of AfroStyle Magazine. In this issue, we explore the concept of Balance and Sustainability (as you may have been able to tell from the above). We bring to you this concept through our articles “Eternal Springs: The Libation Ritual” in which we look at the importance of cultures pouring libations to ancestors, gods or loved ones to show respect; love; and to maintain connection, balance and sustain a relationship between with both worlds. As well as in the article “Chaos in the Niger Delta” where we address the oil disaster that has prevented a lot of the people from living a stable and sustained life through their means of livelihood. For our photo shoot AfroModa, shot on location at a solar plant called ESOLAR, we highlight the optimistic impact solar energy is having around the globe from the United States to India to Africa. In AfroTraditional, we are excited to show our first black and white spread highlighting the country of Ghana. Enjoy our interviews with three outstanding gentlemen; producer and writer Michael Ajakwe, political analyst seen on CNN, CNBC and others-Jamal Simmons and renowned Italian artist Mattia Biagi.

I am proud to say that we are the very first fashion magazine allowed to shoot on location at Esolar. For this, the ASM Team is thankful to Michael Bass, Joe Long and the rest of the Esolar staff for giving us the opportunity. We thank all our contributors and we thank you for taking the time to checkout the magazine. 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 this issue of AfroStyle Magazine!

Amaka M. Onyioha
Editor-In-Chief