Dian wears OLIVIA PHILIBERT top, SHAYDN GILL skirt, TIM RUEHL shoes, stylist’s own socks.
THEE DIAN
Singer and songwriter
Q: Share some good qualities and flaws you live well with.
A: Generous, meticulous. I am over-sensitive.
Q: How do you challenge the perception of the Black body and experience in your practice?
A: I grew up in Paris and Senegal and often found it hard to label myself. I don’t consider myself to be Black or White, I do not consider myself to be a man or a woman, I am not French or African. Yet the obsession with appearances and how a man and woman should look and behave reduced my interpretation of what I could become. As a result, my art practice steers away from portraying conventional beauty codes and focuses on ways I can perform my self-acceptance.
Q: What can you tell us about your community?
A: I am grateful to all the individuals who contributed to my being and I wish I could have reciprocated their attention more at times. We are all mirrors of each other and I want to reflect positive feelings and be supportive of others through cultivating my spirituality and openness. I worked in fashion and switched to music during the lockdown which was spellbinding.
Q: What do you hope individuals take away from experiencing your work?
A: I would like for people who come to see me perform or listen to my music to feel encouraged to improve their sense of self and the quality of their existence by choosing what brings balance and harmony in their life.
Q: What are you working on at the moment?
A: I just signed with a major record company and look forward to fulfilling my vision thanks to the resources made available to me. It feels like a new beginning and I feel fortunate.
Q: Can you share some music that is meaningful to you?
A: ‘Some Unholy War’ by Amy Winehouse, ‘If You Wanna be My Lover’ by Grace Jones and ‘L’eau à la Bouche’ by Serge Gainsbourg.
LYDIE LA PESTE
Singer, performer, dancer and MC
Q: Share some good qualities and flaws you live well with.
A: Mindfulness and generosity. I get attached to people too quickly. I’m too empathic and let things get to me emotionally.
Q: How do you challenge the perception of the Black body and experience in your practice?
A: To exist and express oneself without being apologetic for the space I occupy. As a Black woman artist, I refuse to have negative connotations placed on me and my art. I accept that I am a political being just by existing and being visible, whether you like it or not.
Q: What can you tell us about your community?
A: My community is made of artist friends who grew up together and support each other. As we progress through the ranks, we still collaborate on each other's projects and share our successes. For example, I assisted Nic [Huchard] on Ib Kamara’ s first Off-White show. Together we are stronger.
Q: What do you hope individuals take away from experiencing your work?
A: I love it when people find some additional joy. I want to pass on strong and positive emotions. When they tell me ‘I love it, please continue what you are doing’, it’s so rewarding.
Q: What are you working on at the moment?
A: Right now, I am working on my pregnancy! It makes me ask myself many questions on how to raise a human being who can be kind to himself and good to others. I am also writing a one woman show, which incorporates dance, singing and storytelling.
Q: Can you share some music that is meaningful to you?
A: ‘No Wahala’ by 1da Banton – a hymn to living life like you have no problems. That is my philosophy of daily life.
Lydie wears OLIVIA PHILIBERT top, LUDOVIC DE SAINT SERNIN dress,
own jewellery, stylist’s own socks, NODALETO shoes.
Behind the scenes
DANI BUMBA
Songwriter, producer and poet
Q: Share some good qualities and flaws you live well with.
A: Generous, passionate and determined. A perfectionist, which might make me spend more time than I need on details.
Q: How do you challenge the perception of the Black body and experience in your practice?
A: As a product of Congolese education and culture, my art is naturally infused by my African-ness. To create from my Blackness is my comfort zone without it being its ‘raison d’être’ or a challenge I consciously pursue.
Q: What can you tell us about your community?
A: I feel privileged to be part of a community of artists who address important issues. For example, in my performances I am keen to discuss men’s mental health. Here in Paris, we find strength in coming together despite not necessarily sharing the same philosophies and art practices. Our leitmotiv is, ‘Let love rule and express it’.
Q: What do you hope individuals take away from experiencing your work?
A: I hope that the public, especially Black men, are inspired to look deeper into their interiority and allow themselves to journey through their emotions to embrace their vulnerability and beauty.
Q: What are you working on at the moment?
A: A single (Rosa Remix) is out now and I am working on my EP coming soon. I am also preparing a poetry anthology.
Q: Can you share some music that is meaningful to you?
A: Anything by Stevie Wonder and Michael Jackson will always do!
Dani wears DOLCE & GABBANA vintage jacket,
stylist’s own trousers, own jewellery and glasses, ADIEU boots.
Enfant Précoce wears RENAISSANCE RENAISSANCE top,
SHAYDN GIL trousers, own jewellery, glasses and shoes.
ENFANT PRÉCOCE
Fine artist and dancer
Q: Share some good qualities and flaws you live well with.
A: Joyful, reserved and patient. I am also an airhead!
Q: How do you challenge the perception of the Black body and experience in your practice?
A: To me, the Black body and experience is a sacred space often viewed as an enigma that is fetishised and feared. Historically and scientifically, Black is divine: we are the beginning of human civilization and we are still here. We should appreciate and celebrate this aspect of Blackness more often.
Q: What can you tell us about your community?
A: My uncle is my biggest inspiration. He continues to hone his craft and shares it with others despite no longer being very active in the art scene. He encouraged me to persevere even if it is not financially rewarding: the reward is to develop the ‘self’ that feels wholesome and not dictated by society’s definition of success. I have many friends who keep close to their authenticity and values. Sharing is at the heart of it: I grew up in Cameroon seeing my family organising meals to share with everyone in our village. I am grateful to all of them for instilling this virtue in me.
Q: What do you hope individuals take away from experiencing your work?
A: My paintings originate from my desire to share brightness and warmth to those who come in contact with them. Standing in front of a painting can trigger many questions but can also bring respite. I hope they feel at ‘home,’ as I do when I create my paintings.
Q: What are you working on at the moment?
A: I am working on a series of surrealist paintings titled ‘Road to Paradise’, which depict the African experience in Europe. It’s a documentation of how Africans continue to build Europe without getting any recognition. I want to shine a light on these unsung yet dignified heroes who keep on building an ideal for their families.
Q: Can you share some music that is meaningful to you?
A: The ‘Sweet Motha’ playlist by Enfant Précoce on Spotify.
GLEN MBAN
Stylist and artistic director
Q: Share some good qualities and flaws you live well with.
A: Loyal, passionate and truthful. Indecisive
Q: How do you challenge the perception of the Black body and experience in your practice?
A: I felt comfortable growing in my Congolese culture and I always look to stay close to my community while opening up to newness and being inspired by other cultures. But I need my work to represent who I am and was cruelly made aware of this when I experienced ‘tokenism’ working with non-diverse teams.
Q: What can you tell us about your community?
A: My ‘ride or die’ is high-school friend Diamante Ka with whom I form the creative duo 4s10. I’m inspired by friends who dig deep to get their true sense of self. My mentors Ib Kamara and Nic [Huchard] have opened doors for me. I have a lot of admiration for Raya Martigny and for my boyfriend who has taught me to take my time and let ideas mature.
Q: What do you hope individuals take away from experiencing your work?
A: I am an image lover and beauty is at the centre of what I do. I hope it inspires others to know that if a boy like me can be a tastemaker, so can they. Everything is possible when we work for it and ask for help. It is crucial to include others in your path to self-realisation; more often than not people will be supportive of your dreams.
Q: What are you working on at the moment?
A: I have just finished a shoot as artistic director with the photographer Gabriel Moses which I am pleased about. For now, I am letting myself be inspired by movies, music and my recent holidays.
Q: Can you share some music that is meaningful to you?
A: ‘Pearls’ by Sade for moderate melancholy. ‘Nigga What, Nigga Who’ by Jay-Z for power. ‘Me, Myself and I’ by Beyoncé and ‘Roga Roga’ by Bokoko to be enjoyed anytime of the day.
Jérémy wears ANN DEMEULEMEESTER full look,
own jewellery and glasses, PO CHIEH CHIU boots.
JÉRÉMY KOUYATÉ
Talent manager
Q: Share some good qualities and flaws you live well with.
A: Joyful, generous and funny. Too straightforward sometimes!
Q: How do you challenge the perception of the Black body and experience in your practice?
A: I give priority to individuals who have not had the chance to experience a management which is adapted to them. I stay loyal to the career goals of my clients by overseeing the selection of projects, the creative teams they are involved with and the events they are invited to attend, so they are not typecast into stereotypical roles.
Q: What can you tell us about your community?
A: We are very tight and support each other: we advise and motivate each other and share opportunities. So many of us are now reaching exciting heights in our careers and it brings me so much joy. On a personal level, my chosen family is indispensable: it is thanks to them that I walk with my head high and feel good on the daily.
Q: What do you hope individuals take away from experiencing your work?
A: Don’t try to blend in and realise that your uniqueness is your asset. I have often been the only black person in the room, the tallest, the loudest, and I tried to fit in but I got tired and decided to honour my true self. Do what comes natural to you, listen to yourself first. Saying that, it is important to respect others; there is nothing sexier than humility.
Q: What are you working on at the moment?
A: In my line of work, there is stabilisation of representation, although post-BLM fatigue is palpable following an overuse of Black models and personalities by brands. There is less demand but as minorities we are organising ourselves to continue to build on the gains we made in terms of visibility in all industries. The future is bright.
Q: Can you share some music that is meaningful to you?
A: 'Diaraby Néné’ by Oumou Sangare reminds me of my childhood. I recently rediscovered this song and the emotion in her voice is so overwhelming.
Behind the scenes
Malik wears OLIVIA PHILIBERT jumper, stylist’s own trousers,
LUDOVIC DE SAINT SERNIN boots.
MALIK LE NOST
Choreographer
Q: Share some good qualities and flaws you live well with.
A: Creative, radiant and kind. Disorganised.
Q: How do you challenge the perception of the Black body and experience in your practice?
A: When I feel my body is being fetishised as a dancer, I tend to be more generous in my movement to widen the range of emotions it suscitates. I want to be valued for my skills and creativity.
Q: What can you tell us about your community?
A: I have been dancing with Lydie [La Peste] and Nic [Huchard] for the past 15 years. We have shared so many professional and personal adventures; we are always connected and inspire each other. What I loved about us is that despite being ambitious, we are not in competition but elevate each other. I am very proud of our long-standing friendship.
Q: What do you hope individuals take away from experiencing your work?
A: My mission is to move my audience through my dancing. When I feel down, I often remember the great feedback I get from members of the public; it definitely uplifts me.
Q: How do you visualise the future for Black creatives?
A: I hope that we are continuing to widen the path for Black creatives to have the same opportunities as others to showcase our beauty, intellect and craft.
Q: Can you share some music that is meaningful to you?
A: ‘Hyper ballad’ by Björk. It is such a wave of poetry, tragic and soft at the same time.
YOUSSOU CAMARA
Model and visual artist
Q: Share some good qualities and flaws you live well with.
A: Creative, funny and kind. I love to sleep.
Q: How do you challenge the perception of the Black body and experience in your practice?
A: Many people hold on to the idea that Black people are not refined. My art reflects the fact that I can be chic and ghetto and that I accept my multifaceted persona with pride. When I am on photoshoots, I like to accentuate my dark skin having felt very self-conscious about it in the past.
Q: What can you tell us about your community?
A: I love to show up for my community. When my good friend Thee [Dian] is performing, our crew like to turn up and make sure we bring the right mood to her event. It is about the energy of connecting and feeling good about it.
Q: What do you hope individuals take away from experiencing your work?
A: The message I embody is that there are no limits. I grew up in Senegal where there were many things I didn’t have access to, so not trying is not an option. My younger brother is my biggest fan and wants to become a model too. I love that my experience has inspired him. Our talent is our superpower as long as we work to master it.
Q: How do you visualise the future for Black creatives?
A: It’s important that creatives realise that inspiration is everywhere: a fold, the way someone says hello to you, how a sound can become a drawing and then a piece of clothing. There is no limit.
Q: Can you share some music that is meaningful to you?
A: ‘Sa lii Sa liéé’ by Coumba Gowlo. At a time when skin bleaching was the norm, she preserved her ebony complexion. She was fearlessly avant-garde and displayed a sexual energy that she was shunned for. But now she is a celebrated icon.
Youssou wears RENAISSANCE RENAISSANCE jacket, D'HEYGERE earring,
JUSTINE CLENQUET choker and necklace, STEVEN PASSARO shorts, stylist’s own shoes and socks.
Dian wears OLIVIA PHILIBERT top, SHAYDN GILL skirt,
TIM RUEHL shoes, stylist’s own socks.
Lydie wears OLIVIA PHILIBERT top, LUDOVIC DE SAINT SERNIN dress,
own jewellery, stylist’s own socks, NODALETO shoes.
Behind the scenes
Dani wears DOLCE & GABBANA vintage jacket,
stylist’s own trousers, own jewellery and glasses, ADIEU boots.
Enfant Précoce wears RENAISSANCE RENAISSANCE top,
SHAYDN GIL trousers, own jewellery, glasses and shoes.
Jérémy wears ANN DEMEULEMEESTER full look,
own jewellery and glasses, PO CHIEH CHIU boots.
Behind the scenes
Malik wears OLIVIA PHILIBERT jumper, stylist’s own trousers,
LUDOVIC DE SAINT SERNIN boots.
Youssou wears RENAISSANCE RENAISSANCE jacket,
D'HEYGERE earring, JUSTINE CLENQUET choker and necklace,
STEVEN PASSARO shorts, stylist’s own shoes and socks.
