Editor’s Note
For a long time, I have been looking for a path that fits me without conforming to the expectations that people might have for me. When in 2020 I gave myself permission to explore my creativity - little did I know that it would lead me to create a publication.
Showcasing beauty through design, art, and architecture with an African perspective is a mission I am passionately dedicated to.
The first edition of Nela magazine was published in the fall of 2021 - and what an adventure it has been! Made of encounters, lessons, and successes.
We've drawn on all these experiences to create the foundation and continue our mission to bring the best of what creative people in design, art, and architecture are doing to beauty lovers.
Our theme for the new season is in line with this.
“Boldness is the key word for this fall”
"Boldness" is the key word for this fall and the creative industry in Africa and its diasporas are not lacking!
This end of the year we honor the creators who through their achievements, their choices, and their unique views on their industries show boldness.
Henri Matisse said "Creativity requires courage" - and indeed it takes courage to carry a project, a work, a different perspective, to share it, and to accept to be vulnerable in front of the world.
The challenge of a paper magazine was daring but we took it! For our first issue, we were selected for the Montreal Design Fair, distributed exclusively at the Souk Habitat experiential space or at the Dakar Art Biennale.
These victories encourage us and we are working hard to make the next issue even better.
While waiting for the second paper issue, you can find:
• the latest news on design, art, and architecture on our website,
• exclusive content, recommendations, interviews, and analysis, on our newsletter "Nela's Letter",
• initiatives to help you discover the works and talents of design, contemporary art, and architecture
For you art and design lovers, looking for inspiration, we are launching the 3-part "Bold Creatives" series, each of which will feature a portrait of a creative from the continent or the diaspora, who is making a mark on their industry and challenging the status quo.
We'll see you in our October newsletter, don't forget to subscribe :).
Have a good fall,
Talk to you soon!
- Marylène
Founder & Editor-in-chief