BY MODUPEOLUWA ADEKANYE/ GUARDIAN.NG

Milan Fashion Week is here. The digitally-focused schedule is stacked with brands on the half-hour, starting with Missoni, Alberta Ferretti, and Kim Jones’s highly-anticipated ready-to-wear debut for Fendi.

Born in different parts of Africa but all operating under the Made in Italy brand, here are the five designers who opened Milan Fashion Week as part of a collective Wednesday:

Fabiola Manirakiza, 50

Fabiola Manirakiza Image AFP

She was born in Burundi but it was in Zaire, which became the Democratic Republic of Congo, that she learned how to sew, in a school run by Italian nuns. A doctor by training, she used this skill when she founded her label Frida Kiza in Italy in 2016, the name a tribute to Mexican artist Frida Kahlo.

Fabiola Manirakiza’s Piece Image AFP

She describes her work as a “mix between Africa and Italy”, like her silk scarves with Masai prints inspired by Botticelli’s painting, “Primavera” (Spring).

Claudia Gisele Ntsama, 29

Cameroonian fashion stylist Claudia Gisele Ntsama (C) from the collective “Black Lives Matter in Italian Fashion” poses with her models on February 17, 2021 in Milan/ AFP

She was born in Cameroon, has since childhood wanted to be a designer and particularly in Italy, as “fashion is Italy”. She spent eight years learning Italian before moving to Italy in 2012, where she worked in odd jobs, in cleaning and at football stadium entrances among others, before getting a diploma in design from Bologna. She “fell in love” with hemp, “one of the most ecological fibres”, and built her own label.

Mokodu Fall, 45

Senegalese fashion designer, Pape Mokodu Fall/ AFP

He is originally from Senegal, has worked as a cartoonist, actor, and then painter. He came to Italy at the age of 22 “to experience the art and culture”. “My collection reflects my African origins,” explained the diplomat’s son who splits his time between Rome and Dunkirk in the north of France. “They are works of art that I transpose onto clothes.”

Models present creations by Senegalese fashion designer, Pape Mocodou Fall, aka Mokodu from the collective “Black Lives Matter in Italian Fashion” on February 17, 2021 in Milan during the filming of the fashion show that opens the Milan Fashion Week on February 24, 2021./ AFP

Joy Meribe, 43

Nigerian fashion stylist Joy Ijeoma Meribe Image AFP

She left Nigeria where she was born because there, “designers have no status”. She obtained a master’s in international business before entering fashion, adding: “I’m not an ethnic designer, I live in Italy, I studied in Italy and I produce in Italy.

A model presents a creation by Nigerian fashion stylist Joy Ijeoma Meribe from the collective “Black Lives Matter in Italian Fashion”/ AFP

” Her inspiration? “Strong, intelligent African women, like my grandmothers.”

Karim Daoudi, 27

Moroccan shoe designer, Karim Daoudi from the collective “Black Lives Matter in Italian Fashion” / AFP

He born in Morocco 27 years ago, arrived in San Mauro Pascoli in northern Italy at the age of 13 with his family, “looking for a better future”. “At 17, I started working in a workshop making shoes for major brands,” before winning a competition on shoe design in Rome. His collection, entitled “Journey into the forest”, brings together shoes in bright colours that remind him of Morocco. To finance his passion, he works as a postman.

By Alao Abiodun/ THE NATION

The 14th edition of the prestigious Headies award held on Sunday.

The event, which was virtual due to COVID-19 pandemic, was hosted by funnyman Bovi and Nancy Isime.

Fast-rising singers like Fireboy DML, Bad Boy Timz and Omah Lay received their first plaques.

Fireboy was the biggest winner at the 14th Headies on Sunday night snagging four awards — including the ‘Best R&B Single’, ‘Best R&B Album’, ‘Headies revelation’, and ‘Best Pop Album’ categories.

Here is the full list of the winners:

Producer of The Year

• Pheelz – Billionaire by Teni

Best Vocal Performance (Female)

• Niniola – Addicted

Best Vocal Performance (Male)

• Praiz – Under The Sky

Best Street Hop Artiste

• Mayorkun – Geng

Rookie of The Year

• Bad Boy Tims – MJ

Best Pop Single

• Nobody – DJ Neptune feat Joe Boy and Mr Eazi

Read Also: 14th Headies: Wizkid wins artiste of the year

Best Collabo

• Ladipoe and Simi – Know you

Best Alternative song

• Moelogo – I wonder

Best Rap Single

• Falz – Bop Daddy feat. MS Banks

Best R&B Album

• Fireboy DML – Tears, laughter and goosebumps

Best Alternative Album

• Roots – The Cavemen

Next Rated

• Omah Lay

Viewers Choice Award

• Wizkid

Songwriter of the Year

• Simi – Duduke

Best Pop Award

• Fireboy – Apollo

Lyricist on The Roll

• Ilbliss Goretti – Country

African Artiste Recognition Award

• Master KG

Headies Hall of Fame

• King Sunny Ade

By Samuel Oamen/ THE NATION

Nollywood veteran actor, Victor Decker, was found dead in his apartment on Monday by his neighbours at about 5 pm.

The Nation gathered Decker’s neighbours broke down the door to his apartment before they found his lifeless decomposed body in his sitting room.

He was 72 but the cause remains unknown.

Mayor of the Actors Guild of Nigeria, Abuja, Jesse Nazareth, confirmed the incident.

“Yes, Victor Decker is dead. I am in the mortuary where they want to embalm him. I am not aware of the cause of his death. I just got a call that his neighbours did not see him for days so they got concerned.

“They went to his house, knocked on his door but got no response so they had to break down the door. That was when they saw him sitting on his chair lifeless.

“He was already smelling as he was decomposing. I rushed down there to arrange the necessary things.”

She added that several hospitals rejected the body of the late actor because it was already decomposing.

“I had to obtain a police report and cars to convey him to a hospital. I took him to several hospitals but they rejected him because his body was already decomposing. At about 3 am this morning, we were referred to a private hospital in Bwari, Abuja, where they accepted his body. This morning, they are embalming his body but they need to first reduce its size as he has swollen.”

Decker starred in films like Double Strings, If I am President and Lotanna.

As the world celebrates St. Valentines Day, some women in Jos say they would prefer ”meaningful gifts” than receiving flowers, cards and chocolates, usually accepted as standard lovers’ day gifts.

A survey of both married and unmarried women also indicated their preference for spending quality time at home, than going out to fancy restaurants, due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Valentine’s Day is a holiday when lovers express their affection for one another with greetings and gifts, and lately this had expanded to expression of affection between relatives and friends.

Other activities identified with the holiday, believed to have its origins in the Roman festival of Lupercalia, held in mid-February, is in simply spending time with loved ones and reading romantic Valentine’s Day quotes; or posting a Valentine’s Day caption on a cute couples social media photo.

Mrs Ajalah Omusa, said: “I don’t want any flowers for Valentine, it really doesn’t mean so much to me, flowers to me are not special, I want other gifts that I will see every day to remind me of the special day.

“I don’t get to receive gifts very often from my husband, so I will want something very special on a special day like Valentine,” Omusa said.

Mrs Amy Cassidy, on her part, said she would prefer to be pampered and would not mind getting a credit alert from her husband.

“I don’t want any flowers, I just want to be pampered at home like having dinner in bed and spending quality time with my husband, as we don’t get to do this all the time due to the nature of our jobs.

Mrs Gift Udom said she would prefer her husband taking the kids out on an outing, while she relaxes at home all by herself.

Udom said, resting at home, without the kids for some hours, would help her rejuvenate and also afford the kids the opportunity of spending quality time with their father.

She also noted that a credit alert would also brighten up her day and make her happy.

Miss Mary Izang, stated that she would prefer the roses to come with a proposal, than just roses and chocolates.

“Last year, my boyfriend bought me rose flowers and chocolates, we also hung out and I appreciated it, I would want the roses to come with something different.

“It will be romantic if he bought the flowers and hid a ring in it. We will go out later today, so I hope that happens,” a hopeful Izang said.

Some men who spoke to NAN, however, expressed displeasure on receiving no gift at all, while some stated they only received singlets and boxers all their lives.

“I will not stress myself too much about Valentine this year because I don’t get gifts at all, Jonathan Iliya said, adding, “I always do the buying and get a hug and a thank you at the end of the day, it should be reciprocal, that will make it beautiful”.

Mr Isaiah Badung, said women were fond of buying boxers and singlets for their men as Valentine gifts, a norm which he said should stop.

He stated that he would celebrate Valentine at home due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

NAN observed in Jos, at the weekend, that several eateries, hang out spots and shopping centres were decorated in red with several shoppers queuing to buy gifts, while a few residents were spotted in red attires. (NAN)