Olivia Yace, Miss Côte d’Ivoire 2021, has taken to her Linkedin page to tell a fascinating story of an exceptional outfit of AKAN women of Côte d’Ivoire.
She mentions that this traditional outfit, as shown in various section of this report, tells the story of the AKAN woman of Côte d’Ivoire.
‘‘This costume, which was totally handmade and carefully crafted with AKAN woven loincloth, celebrates the woman as a child-bearer and a life-giver and represents the beauty, femininity, and braveness embodied by the women of this ethnic group,’’ she further enlightened.
A recent College Graduate with a degree in Business management ( concentration
in marketing, and Currently working towards two masters in event and luxury
management, the delectable model explains further that :
‘‘The cowrie shells that make up the center piece come from the ocean and symbolize creation, life, and protection. They are interlaced and run all along the body to portray the beautiful waves and waterfalls of Côte d’Ivoire.’’
On what the headdress represents, she explains that it is a calabash full of water that the AKAN woman carries on her head as she returns from the river. It is a source of life, and it symbolizes hard work.
Truly, Africa has some great stories to tell the world. Here, art is not just for the beauty of it. Our culture is deep-seated with the philosophies, experience, and values of our people.
All Pictures credit to Olivia Yace.