Business - Market for the Holidays
Beyoncé's Black Parade Route Catalog Giving African-owned Businesses a Boost By Aisha Salaudeen
ANYANGO MPINGA WOKE UP August 1 to multiple social media comments and messages informing her that her fashion brand was featured on the website of one of the most popular entertainers in the world -- Beyoncé. "There was a comment from one of my followers on Instagram that said, "Oh, your work is featuring on Beyoncé." "I was confused at first because as far as I knew, I hadn't sent Beyoncé anything," Mpinga said, laughing. The fashion designer from Kenya would later find out that her business -- Anyango Mpinga -- had been listed as part of the "Black Parade Route," (www. beyonce.com/black-parade-route) a directory of Blackand African-owned small businesses curated by Beyoncé and Zerina Akers. Akers is Beyoncé's stylist and the founder of Black Owned Everything (www.instagram.com/black.owned. everything), a compilation of businesses across various fields run by Black entrepreneurs.
Black Parade Route Black Parade Route highlights brands and businesses across different industries, including restaurants, beauty, arts, and design, as well as multiple fashion brands from different countries in Africa. The directory was released alongside a song titled "Black Parade" on Juneteenth. The June 19 holiday celebrates the end of slavery in the United States. It's the anniversary of the day in 1865 when news of their emancipation reached slaves in Galveston, Texas. "Happy Juneteenth Weekend! I hope we continue to share joy and celebrate each other, even in the midst of struggle. Please continue to remember our beauty, strength, and power," the singer wrote on Instagram at the time. "'BLACK PARADE' celebrates you, your voice and your joy and will benefit Black-owned small businesses."
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September-October 2020
Studio Imo brand. © Chidi Ashimole
Mpinga told CNN that she is a fan of Beyoncé and was excited to see that the award-winning musical artist had posted her brand on the website. Through her brand, the 36-year-old designs and produces re-imagined white shirts, bold prints, jewelry, and leather bags. "I was excited to see that my business is on Beyoncé's site. And I was also thrilled to see so many beautiful brands that she wore in her album on the
DAWN
Edwin Okolo's brand, Studio Imo, designs and produces handmade dresses and jumpsuits in Nigeria. © Debola Adebiyi
www.africabusinessassociation.org
