Koloqua Update: Dialogue Worthy Moments We Missed

by Karkay Adrienne Tingba · September 22, 2021

Wow! Exactly how long has it been? Trust me, you couldn’t have missed my words more than I missed writing them, but alas, here we are, BACK!

While I have not been actively reporting on all the dialogue-worthy news, this does not mean Liberians around the world did not make and break the airwaves with iconic moments across the board. From Olympic-level takeovers that brought us together, to award-worthy experiences, and even some major moves challenging the everyday status quo. See, told you Liberians have been busy. Let’s catch you up to speed with all the dialogue worthy moments since our little break, shall we?

Newsworthy Moments You May Have Missed

The opening of the Koloqua Kollective

We’re going to start with our own news because I’m shameless with the self-plug, obviously. Within this relaunch of the Koloqua Dialogues brand, which honestly feels like the millionth, is the birth of our flagship retail/office space, the Koloqua Kollective. The retail space houses a collection of all our favorite things found in and around Monrovia. From collector’s thrift goods, skincare products and custom traditional-inspired home décor accessories, to our highly coveted customized African fashion brand, Young Geh Lappa Suit. Additionally, we utilize the office space to render our services, such as: Influencer marketing, content creation, personal styling, writing/journalism, home décor, among others. Located in Duport Road, Paynesville, Liberia, this retail space offers a unique shopping experience with one-of-a-kind African fashion and thrifted pieces, as well as goods sourced from other African fashion and home décor creatives.

Partial view of the Koloqua Kollective Shop

Liberian Entertainment Awards in Liberia

The USA-based Liberian Entertainment Awards (LEA) is coming to Liberia! And no other than LEA favorite, Angie H. Couture was revealed as the event’s collaborating designer. The LEA team made the announcement via social media with visuals shot in Liberia by King’s Xperience, featuring Designer, June Damey wearing evening gowns designed by Angie H. Couture. Could this mean we should eye June as this year’s host? Only time will tell. At the same time, with the LEA stepping fashionably into town, it will be interesting to see how they measure up to the organized and show-stopping experience brought by the MTN Liberia Music Awards (MLMA) the last few years. Meanwhile, the MLMA team is hosting their annual pre-awards press conference this Friday, where we can expect to be told what’s to come in this years’ experience.

President Weah as a Fashion Influencer

There are many things going on in the Liberian political sphere that deserves our side-eye, but today, I’ve decided to keep things light. While the Collaborating Political Parties (CPP) prepare for their fast-approaching primaries, it appears likely that the two opposition front runners will be; Businessman, Alexander B. Cummings and former Vice President, Joseph N. Boakai. Meanwhile, President Weah, although seemingly silent, is showing up regularly to social media with new outfit posts and selfies. President Weah has proven to be many things, but as it appears, we need to add Style Influencer to that list.

Telfar X Team Liberia at the Olympics

Our little ole mama Liberia was the talk of the town when it came to Olympic fashion in mid-July. Telfar Clemens, a Liberia native and creator of the most popular handbag in the last decade, AKA the “Bushwick Birkin” for its affordable pricing, sponsored the 3-member Liberian Olympic team to represent the country in Tokyo, Japan. The gender non-conforming designs for the Olympic Track Team’s official uniforms caught the attention of major fashion media outlets around the world, including the likes of The New York Times , US Style Magazine, Essence Magazine, Fashion Bomb Daily, among others. Judging from the looks themselves, I would say all the rave was dialogue worthy. Meanwhile, Artist, MC Caro recently tweeted a screenshot of a video call with the famed designer, which has us wondering what other collaborations may be up his sleeves.

Big Zor Stylist Takeover

Liberian celebrities are now seeking out stylists to elevate their daily/red carpet looks, and the leading man behind the stars is no other than, Solomon Didier Smith, AKA, Big Zor. With big named clientele like Benita Urey, Stunna, C.I.C, Barkue Tubman, Helen Eid-Hariz, and even a uniform design collaboration with Loop Academies, this young man is proving that Liberian stylists deserve a topic of their own in the fashion dialogue. I personally can’t wait to get my hands on the popular Jay-don suit by Big Zor.

The Style Evolution of Benita W. Urey

The CEO of the Liberian Influence, IModils, and Healing Liberia Foundation, Miss Benita Urey is solidifying herself as arguably one of the most influential youth in modern Liberian history. After taking a few years to focus on her businesses, Miss Urey is now showing her many critics that she is here to stay professionally, socially, and fashionably. She is showing with her brand of celebrity that, not only is it possible to be a young lady about your business while healing the country, it’s possible to do so while wearing a bomb-ass , well-tailored, pink suit, with a bow. Period.

Fast Fashion Boutiques Takeover

Though we the custom and couture fashion lovers hate to admit it, fast fashion has taken over the world. There! I said it! As bitter of a pill that is to swallow, we love to see young Liberian queens taking over the boutique fast fashion market. In Liberia, we have brands like Beawor Beauty House, Cam’s Fashion Designs, C Swag City, among others, who have all the big jues swooning. In Stateside, we have online boutiques like Airebil Apparel, Silhouette Styles, among others, providing convenient and trendy looks to the girls at affordable prices.

Airebil is Liberia spelled backwards, which is a clever take while delivering trendy everyday apparels to the doorsteps of its world-wide consumers. On the other hand, Silhouette Styles has shown that there is an ease and beauty in simplicity. By using niche visual marketing, the brand has solidified itself in the digital world so much so, that many social media users have grown accustomed to their – often viral – brand images. Show me any photo from the Silhouette Styles boutique and I will recognize it even before you tell me where it is from. THAT my friends, is visual retail power. Kudos, ladies.

Whew! I told you all that the dialogue worthy moments were many! There are so many more, but we can’t give yall all the gees in the first post back, can we? For more on the happenings of Liberians in and away from Liberia, keep tuned to this website and our social media for regular updates, roundups, and opinions pieces. We intend to keep to our core categories including, Cultural Education, Fashion roundups, Beauty Tips, Travel guides, Entertainment News, Social Commentary, and more. Before then, be sure to comment and share this post with anyone you think may like it.