In case you didn’t know, Beyonce’s visual album was a Hit! A date worth remembering in black culture, Queen B dropped her visual album Black is King in the wee hours of July 31st on Disney+ – an extension of her work on the Lion King.
The groundbreaking celebration of culture featured a lot of epic Afrocentric fashion worth taking notes of. With guest appearances by her husband Jay Z and daughter Blue Ivy Cater, Lupita Nyong’o, Naomi Campbell, Yemi Alade, Tiwa Savage, Burna Boy, Nigeria’s star boy Wizkid and host of many others, the album has already been described as “a celebratory memoir for the world of Black excellence.”
Performed amidst breathtaking locations and sets the film highlights Africa and Africa diaspora. From the flawless choreography from Nigeria delivered with precise intention to the impeccable cinematography of South Africa, Germany combined to detailed fashion and braided hairstyles, one can conclude that Beyonce has outdone herself with this latest project.
In a surprisingly candid Instagram update on Sunday, Beyonce discussed the intellection behind the narrative of Black to reclaim their roots. “Black Is King is a labor of love. It is my passion project that I have been filming, researching, and editing day and night for the past year. I’ve given it my all, and now it’s yours,” she wrote. “Believe that when Black people tell our own stories, we can shift the axis of the world and tell our real history of generational wealth and richness of soul that are not told in our history books.”
It is worth celebrating because long before Beyonce and marvel Black Panther majority of western film as described by N. Frank Ukadike in his thesis portrayed Africa “as natural scenery for fiction which kept the whole world from Africa’s reality providing a false paradigmatic perspective through which the continent was to be viewed.”
With recent movements like Black lives matter (which tackles racism), although the album doesn’t make reference to any social unrest as it was filmed way back in 2019, the timing couldn’t be more perfect as it displays the glory of black, our roots, beauty and joy.
Now back to fashion, “Black is king” features spectacular number of fashion statements by designers like Burberry, Levenity by Venny Etienne, Erdem, African designerslike Ivorian Loza Maléombho, Tongoro studios, Adama Paris,Jerome Lamaar, and black owned fashion houses. Much of the creative punch can be forayed to Beyonce’s longtime stylist ZERINA AKERS who forayed the start in Afrocentric fashion.
Generally clothing tells a perfect story just as compelling as the production design and cinematography if done right. Everyone who knows Beyonce, knows that every cloth down to its color holds a deeper and symbolic meaning in her films.
In this post we’ll look at the designers behind the myriad of stunning Afrocentric fashion looks and the story behind them
Venus Latex leotard and Alon Livné ruffled jacket “Water”
Mary Katrantzou “Water”
Loza Maléombho “Already”
d.bleu.dazzled catsuit, Area bracelets, Laurel DeWitt choker, and a-morir sunglasses “Find Your Way Back”
Alejandro Collection “Mood 4 Eva”
Valentino Haute Couture “Mood 4 Eva”
Ashi Studio and Lillian Shalom rings “My Power”
La Perla, Laurel DeWitt crystal skirt, a-morir sunglasses and earrings “Already”
Balmain “Spirit”
Maison Alexandrine “Spirit”
Laurel DeWitt “Spirit”
Solace London “Spirit”
Valentino Haute Couture “Spirit”
Tongoro Studio “Spirit”
Timothy White Custom “My Power”
Timothy White Custom “My Power”
Oppo Suits “My Power”
Ashi Studio and Lillian Shalom rings “My Power”
Blue Ivy in Mugler “My Power”
Alon Livné “Otherside”
Timothy White Custom “Otherside”
Deviant la Vie / Alani Taylor and a-morir sunglasses “Nile”
Kelly Roland in Alejandro Collection “Brown Skin Girl”
Naomi Campbell in Schiaparelli Haute Couture, Beyoncé in Monsoori “Brown Skin Girl”
Tongoro Studio “Brown Skin Girl”
Adut Akech in Jil Sander “Brown Skin Girl”
Lupita Nyong’o in Rodarte “Brown Skin Girl”
Naomi Campbell in Alexander McQueen “Brown Skin Girl”
Lupita Nyong’o in Giambattista Valli Haute Couture “Brown Skin Girl”
Zimmermann “Brown Skin Girl”
Timothy White Custom “Brown Skin Girl”
Selam Fessahaye “Water”
Keama Official “Water”
Timothy White Custom “Water”
Michaela Stark denim halter and pants, Chanel necklace and earrings “Water”
Mia Vesper “Water”
Molly Goddard “Water”
in 5:31 Jérôme “Already”
S. Garvey floral catsuit and Levenity trench “Already”
La Perla “Already”
Burberry “Already”
Marine Serre “Already”
Versace “Mood 4 Eva”
Solace London and Anabela Chan earrings “Mood 4 Eva”
Alon Livné “Mood 4 Eva”
Kutja and Meri “Mood 4 Eva”
Balmain “Mood 4 Eva”
Duckie Confetti “Mood 4 Eva”
Erdem and Poppy Lissiman sunglasses “Mood 4 Eva”
Dolce and Gabbana “Mood 4 Eva”
Zerina Akers Custom Robe “Mood 4 Eva”
Timothy White Custom “Mood 4 Eva”
Vrettos Vrettakos “Find Your Way Back”
Lace by Tanaya “Find Your Way Back”
Alessandra Rich, Area crystal eyebrows, and a Laurel DeWitt turban “Find Your Way Back”
Timothy White Custom, Demode Arm Bracelet, and Rokus earrings “Bigger”