Ajak Deng In 'Estrela Dacente' Lensed By Jamie Nelson For Vogue Portugal April 2019

Model Ajak Deng is styled by DaVian Lain in dazzling jewelry for ‘Estrela Cadente’. Photographer Jamie Nelson captures Ajak for the April 2019 issue of Vogue Portugal, dediated to Africa as the Motherland./ Hair by Elsa Canedo; makeup by Anastasia Durasova

The April issue of Vogue Portugal is dedicated to ‘Africa Motherland’, the “blood and guts’ of Anne of Carversvlle and GlamTribal Design. Ajak’s styling and dazzling gems are exquisite and do honor Africa by design.

But does the Africa Motherland issue of Vogue Portugal address a broader story — the mining of diamonds and other precious gems in Africa. These are topics with far fewer reads on AOC, but they are fundamental to our integrity as a website.

Is there an article in the April issue of Vogue Portugal on the migration of humanity out of Africa? The scientific view of human evolution has changed dramatically since the 1970s, when it was believed that humanity originated from multiple global locations. This theory actually supported white nationalism and white superiority, underpinned by claims that white-skinned people did not call Africa their homeland. but came from the far north.

Refuting that now obsolete theory of human evolution is a near blood sport in today’s fractured world. Does Vogue Portugal tackle this topic in any way — or is Africa just a source of fashion inspo.

With the rebirth of Vogue Greece, Edward Enninful at British Vogue and (indulge me) Carine Roitfeld at Vogue Paris, and Franca Sozzani at Vogue Italia; coupled with a few other daring Conde Nast editors and writers, fashion could launch an amazing multi-year dialogue on the most important topics of our time. Sozzani and Enninful would be driving the opportunity full-stop. And never underestimate Carine to step up where she’s needed.

Meanwhile, we have a Vogue Portugal opportunity before us, and we’ll see exactly what they’ve done with the promise of an issue devoted to ‘Africa Motherland’. ~ Anne

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