THE EVOLUTION OF CONTINENTAL Couture

FIFTY FOUR MAG

Our Mission At Fif ty Four mag, our

CONTRIBUTORS

Fifty Four mag’s cover features contemporary jazz artist

EDITOR’S LETTER

The beautiful thing about heritage is its fluid nature. Neither predetermined nor prescribed, heritage is a living, breathing medley of what’s been given to us and what we choose to collect.

The Unyielding Spirit of the Black Renaissance

How Afrocentric style became a symbol of empowerment and identity through the ages.

2204 ONES TO WATCH IN

Day after day, headlines drop and an African is winning big. In the fashion industry 2023 has been a monumental year.

Kuwala is Re-Greening Urban Spaces

Sustainability is a word thrown around by many to come across as the ‘good guys’. So it’s exciting to find a brand with heart, impact and a vision for people and the environment.

Origins: Impepho

Found in the Cape Provinces of South Africa, there is a plant used by traditional healers to chase away dark energies and invite light. Is burning impepho a call to our ancestors?

YOU ARE ENOUGH

If comparison truly is the thief of joy, are we deprived of the beauty around us because we fall into the same old trap?

Beauty Food Amasi (Sour Milk)

Milk has been enjoyed by many for thousands of years, but did you know it can help with allergies?

The Beauty of Heritage

How beauty brands are keeping culture, story and knowledge present in their product journeys.

OUR WORDS ARE ALIVE

How Setswana riddles and proverbs continue to influence the preservation of ancestral memories.

EMBR ACING HERITAGE

Influential artist Charlene Komuntale’s Inspiring Personal Journey.

THE WILD COAST a Journey Home

What the Eastern Cape of Africa lacks in tourism infrastructure, it makes up for in warmth and authenticity. Dan Carter travels to parts of his current home he’s yet to fully discover.

SACRED SPACES

The spiritual heritage of African shrines and temples.

RED ALERT

With species under threat in the Zanzibar Archipelago, is extinction inevitable? Jo Johnston looks at life for the Zanzibar red colobus and how they can be safeguarded.

Connecting with the red people of NAMIBIA

The Himba people have faced many threats to their welfare over decades but they’ve been living in harmony with the seasons for centuries.

Harmonising HERITAGE

Mmamello Matake goes on a musical journey with contemporary jazz artist Mandisi Dyantyis.

The Sacred Artistry of Xhosa Tradition

Nurturing the umzi, communicating with ancestors and the thatch that binds.

PASSPORT! YOUR AFRICA FESTIVAL GUIDE

At the crisp dawn of the new year, Africa beckons with a captivating trove of events that will carry you on a breathtaking adventure. Imagine yourself dancing to the infectious beats of Afrobeat in Lagos, marveling at world-class art exhibitions in Cape Town or going on a safari to witness the wild wonders of the Serengeti.|Africa is your canvas, and the upcoming year is your opportunity to paint it with unforgettable memories.

54 AFRICAN MOVERS AND SHAKERS

Eight heavyweights making an impact across tech, politics, economics, and more.

Untouchable VA LUE

For all of us, heritage is the fabric that connects the past, present and future – the cultural lighthouse that points your soul in the direction of authenticity.

What to Watch

The films and series we’re buzzing about this

BOOKMARKED: WHAT TO READ

Written by talented African authors, these literary works showcase the diversity, resilience and complexities of African heritage.

DREAMS

Luxury African Experiences Crafted by your Wildest

DANCING TO THE BEAT OF AFRICA

From sonic journeys with Blinky Bill to living histories with dancer Sherrie Silver, African-inspired music and dance embody a diverse heritage. photo: Shem Obara.

FROM CAPE TOWN TO COVENT GARDEN

Actor and singer Sandile Gontsana traces his career path from a South African township to starring in one of the West End’s greatest musicals.

Heritage Cuisine

Africa’s next greatest export

For Generational Wealth

Heritage as certain as the heart heaving in