THE ROMANTICISM ISSUE
CONTENTS
This illustration by Precious Opara yearns for the great outdoors
The celebrated musician revels in Black gay love on his latest album
Listen to two heartfelt poems by this Kenyan poet
Dakar-based architect Mamy Tall’s film and photo series on Senegal’s built environment
Hajer Ben Boubakar of the Vintage Arab podcast on this seminal Algerian film
Nathan Klein and Olivia Lifungula’s fashion story channels the transformative power of love
TEAM
Founder
ALASSANE SY
Creative Director
MARIE GOMIS-TREZISE
Editorial Director
HELEN JENNINGS
Associate Editor
MIRIAM BOUTEBA
Design direction
EUGENE EKUBAN
BENJAMIN JOHNSTON
Managing Director
SCOTT KRAENZLEIN
Account Director
CONSTANZA SPERAKIS
Art Directors
DELALI AYIVI
ISABELA LIMA
PRECIOUS OPARA
Social Media Editor
XANTHE SOMERS
Assistant
BLESSING BORODE
UDOCHUKWU EMEKA-OKAFOR
Contributing Editors
AMBER NICHOLE ALSTON
BINWE ADEBAYO
STÉPHANE GABOUÉ
WANJERI GAKURU
CONTRIBUTORS
Olivia Lifungula
Olivia is a Belgian-Congolese photographer and filmmaker based in London. Her work revolves around themes of intimacy, beauty and the construction of Black femininity in arts and media. She was recently featured in Vogue Italia on the list of 20 female photographers to watch and has worked with publications including Harper's Bazaar UK, Refinery29, Marie Claire US and Vogue Italia.
Nathan Klein
Nathan is a south London based stylist whose work is inspired by the cultural and social richness of his upbringing. Starting out as a photographer he slowly transitioned into styling as a result of his love for creating and shaping his subject through clothing. He’s lent his eye for bold colours and textures to brands such as SSENSE, Off-White, Kenzo and Tommy Hilfiger. He also contributes to a number of publications including Modern Weekly China, Atmos, Dazed and Luncheon. For our debut digital issue he conceptualised our cover story.
Maganga Mwagogo
Maganga was born and raised between Nairobi and Mombasa, Kenya, where he learnt photography at a young age through his father, an amateur film photographer. His professional career sprouted in 2016 working on The Nest Collective’s fashion book ‘Not African Enough’ and has since then gone ahead to work on several campaigns and editorials for both local and international brands and publications. He currently Iives and works in Nairobi.
Amidat Giwa
Amidat was born and raised in London and started her career early in the family run salon. After assisting Duffy she quickly established herself as part of the new wave creatives in London and collaborated with photographers Ronan Mckenzie, Campbell Addy, Jackie Nickerson and Julien Martinez Leclerc. Her work can be seen in publications such as i.D, Dazed, The Face and Vogue. Commercial clients include Dior, Glossier, Ralph Lauren, Tommy Hilfiger, Net-A-Porter and Farfetch.
Wanjeri Gakuru
Wanjeri is a journalist, essayist and filmmaker. Her writing can be spotted in Transition Magazine, The Africa Report, The Elephant, LA Times Magazine and CNN. She was selected the 2018 Literary Ambassador for Nairobi and in 2020 appointed Nataal’s Nairobi-based contributing editor. In this issue she speaks to writer and poet Ngwatilo.
Mamy Tall
Mamy is a Senegalese architect, art director and photographer who advocates for locally inspired aesthetics and materials. She is also the co-founder of the LIVES platform documenting life and culture in Dakar, Conakry, Bamako, Lomo and across Morocco. For Nataal she ruminates on how Senegal has an accidentally romantic approach to the built environment.
Thank you
Aliyah Johnson
Amidat Giwa
Avrelle Delisser
Ayesha Marr
Barbra Broadley
Bevan Agyemang
Bianca Saunders
Braylen Dion
Elena Scanagatta
Feven
Gabrielle Oke
Hajer Ben Boubaker
Halo
Haruna
Irene Arraez
Jennie Wright
Lennie Ballack
Luis Cabral De Barros
Maganga Mwagogo
Mamy Tall
Mary Jane Gotidoc
Miguel Cabral De Barros
Muriel Cole
Nathan Klein
Ngwatilo Mawiyoo
Olivia Lifungula
Penelope Akinde
River
Stephanie Kane
Stephseeks
Tenille Foster
Tytiah Blake
Zion Akinde