Words Carinya Sharples Photography Micaela Rossato Styling Helen Jennings Model Kim Gordon at Saint International/Elite London
Ozwald Boateng, Tiffany Amber, Tsemaye Binite, Maki Oh, Gavin Rajah – remember these names because they're going to be on everyone's lips come 6 September when ARISE presents its fifth collective show at New York Fashion Week. The five African designers share their lookbook sketches and the inspirations behind their SS13 collections – from drums and the work of Cy Twombly to flowery Victorian poetry.
Also preparing to wow NYFW is leading Nigerian designer Duro Olowu, who styles Noisettes frontwoman Shingai Shoniwa in this issue. Better known for her outrageous style and electric stage presence, Shoniwa lets the clothes do the talking while Olowu speaks to ARISE editor Helen Jennings about his mother the muse, famous fans (Iman, Michelle Obama, Shala Monroque…) and collaborating with L'Uomo Vogue's Franca Sozzani.
Still on the fashion front, the A-Z of AMFW looks back at the second ARISE Magazine Fashion Week, which hit Lagos in March. And sandwiched in between – hot fashion shoots on location in Angola, Jamaica and Lagos. Beats an anonymous studio any day.
Lenny Kravitz may be approaching 50 but the man New York Times once crowned an "international love god" shows no sign of losing his title. After two years chilling in the Bahamas, daddy cool is back with a new album under his arm and more strings to his bow – from acting and interior design to, believe it or not, writing musicals.
Elsewhere in this issue, Morgan Freeman draws on his most empowering roles – Lucius Fox, Nelson Mandela, God – to assess the most powerful man on the planet right now: Barack Obama. Freeman doesn't need a script to get going, as he rips into the US rightwing and reminisces about dropping in on Madiba and dodging riots in Soweto.
Another man turning up the heat is celebrity chef Marcus Samuelsson, who has cooked up a storm with the release of his sizzling memoirs – and gives a flavour of his amazing journey from Ethiopia to Harlem via Sweden.
But hold up, this isn't a man's world. The sisters are doing it for themselves too – not least Joyce Banda, Malawi's first female president. Six months into the job, how is she doing? From politics to pop, Santigold is bringing the beat back – with a little help from Jay Z and a healthy dose of Muhammad Ali's self-belief.
Downtown, the underground stars of South Africa's booming house music scene step into the spotlight to chat township talent, turntables and changing tempos. A different kind of revolution has transformed lives in North Africa, but a year on was the so-called Arab Spring a false dawn? Experts, pundits and cerebral celebrities answer this issue's Big Question.
Plus: the anchorwomen changing the face of news from the US to China; the impact of low-cost African airlines; the people, passions and politics behind Paul Simon's seminal Gracelands album; and not one but two living icons with one foot in Nigeria and the other in the UK: artist Yinka Shonibare and sultry soulstress Sade.
Discover all this and much, much more in the latest issue of ARISE magazine, in stores now. Visit our Stockists' page to find your nearest vendor.