Thou Art Kwasi
Model, creative director and stylist Nana Kwasi Wiafe sat down with Lethabo Nxumalo aka @leewritesalot to chat fashion, working with Beyoncé and bringing Ghanaian talent to the world stage.
Gideon Akwasi Wiafe aka Nana Kwasi is part of a class of Ghanaian powerhouses making their mark in fashion. He’s worked with some of the biggest names in the industry, including pop royalty and is bringing the talent Ghana has to offer to the world.
As a model, creative director and stylist, Wiafe has developed a keen eye for aesthetics, using fashion as a vehicle to tell unique stories. Through his agency, Thou Art Kwasi, he’s collaborated with the likes of Amaarae, Skepta, Michaela Cole and Beyoncé. He’s also produced editorials for Variety and Nowness alongside campaigns and spreads for Diesel, Ozward Boateng, Studio189, Marianne Fassler, Loza Malèmbho, and Jermaine Bleu to name a few. Whoever the client is, his approach is simple: express Africa and its art in its truest form.
This philosophy is prominent in the ‘Already‘ music video. The song is part of The Lion King soundtrack
and the visuals of ‘Black Is King’. He got the opportunity to style for
the video because of his connection to well-known Ghanaian
photographer, Joshua Kissi. The mandate from Beyoncé’s team was to
showcase the best of Africa and that gave Wiafe the ability to exercise
his creative license.
Speaking about his contribution, he says “With this project,
they basically wanted to show our people. Part of what they wanted was
the energy and rawness of the people. That is where I come in and I put
our culture [in the video] with specific pieces, symbols and rings.
Those things really added to the whole project and I was able to style
it in a way that still kept to the bigger vision.”
What inspires your work?
“What inspires my concepts is being able to use my voice to tell my story and be able to use it to change the narrative of what has been, especially as an African where the stories that have been told aren’t showing us in the best light. I want to inspire people and create a new representation of us as a people,” said Wiafe.
What are your thoughts on Ghana’s fashion industry?
Wiafe is consistently challenging himself by venturing into different aspects of fashion, and he’s one example of the creativity and flair that exists within Ghana. In the digital information age where cultural exchange happens fast, Wiafe is optimistic about the influence and presence that Ghana and Africa can have on the world stage.
