Franca Sozzani, Editor Of Vogue Italia, Working On Second Africa Themed L'Uomo Vogue Issue

Our favorite diversity-loving editor Franca Sozzani revealed to Styleite.com that she plans on publishing a second Africa themed issue for L’Uomo Vogue that will hit newsstands in May or June.

The first L’Uomo issue devoted to African style which was released in November 2008 proved to be a huge success--it followed Vogue Italia's ground-breaking "Black Issue" from July of that same year.

This time around Sozzani explains the issue will be about more then just fashion:

“It will be about the presidents, it will be about the people. But in a very positive way. I don’t want to say in a glamourous way, but I wanted to show the best side, but only the good side. There are a lot of talents, a lot of talented people in art, in music, in cinema and everywhere. So I really wanted to push that side.”

Perhaps it was her recent trip to Ghana, where she mentored young designers, that has Sozzani's creative juices flowing for Africa again.

Whatever the motivation, we're excited to see yet another issue of Vogue devoted to showcasing the continent's often unseen and unspoken strengths in style and beyond.

L'Uomo Vogue Africa Issue, November 2008

Comments

[SonyaInTx]

10:15 PM on 02/17/2012

Understand my point....a basically naked African on the cover of a magazine? What's the difference between this and what National Geographic did in the 1960's with indigenous African tribal nudity?

Fail.

Put on some clothes. Isn't that what Vogue is about....the clothes?

[cleylol]

11:01 PM on 02/17/2012

Haven't you heard? No one wears clothes anymore. Jeez, get with the times.

[moionfire]

08:52 PM on 02/17/2012

Rather than marginalizing the black models, why not just attempt to reach a target percentage for black models(and other non-whites) in every monthly magazine rather than doing an all black issue every so often. I feel bad for the black models(asians and other non-whites too) who want to work, but only are used for gimmicks or fetishes.

[socialtalker]

10:10 PM on 02/17/2012

no, the real problem is black people need to fund their global fashion industry

[JohnnyAce Okeke]

03:25 AM on 02/19/2012

Yes. {{-_-}}

[moionfire]

04:24 AM on 02/19/2012

That is a good point.

[moionfire]

08:49 PM on 02/17/2012

Why can't they just have the black models wear clothes(like the white models), and not have face paint or feathers on them?? Is it really that hard???

[Rhonnybay]

06:22 PM on 02/17/2012

Gives a stereotypical vibe about African women.

[cre8tiondevine]

05:26 PM on 02/17/2012

simply Beauty-ful

[Cornelius Washington]

12:46 PM on 02/17/2012

The reason why when they celebrate male or female African beauty that they're naked is because it is the ULTIMATE statement, it is transcendent, primal and essential. It is the letter "A". It is not about tired, old concepts concerning nudity. African beauty is the beginning of EVERYTHING, particularly with what the architecture of what fashion is.
Let those with eyes see.
-Cornelius Washington, photographer

[vintage3000]

12:13 PM on 02/17/2012

With all the wonderful African designers out there from different nationalities, they could not have featured at least one of them to clothe this lovely model? I get a lil tired of Black women only getting attention when naked. Yes our skin is bella in all shades, but how gorgeous would this young lady also look wearing a Xuly Bet creation? And we know this girl's skin does not need this photoshop. IMO it would have been more creative and adhering to the editor's message of highlighting modern Africa's creativity to do something different than the expected oooh look pretty naked African girl with a crown on her head.

[Aesthete]

11:53 AM on 02/17/2012

Very beautiful cover photo! I sincerely hope that this publication lives up to the hype and is not a disappointment.

[CassTech75]

11:30 AM on 02/17/2012

As beautiful as it is, it is hard for me to get excited. I combed the newsstands in Chicago and eventually had to get someone in NY to get me the heralded "Black Issue" of Italian Vogue in 2008; only to have to wade through page after page of white models and FINALLY reach the Black section at the end of the magazine. It left me feeling pretty awful. All the hype and still relegating black folks to the back.
And now ohhhhhh four years later we get another "special issue" in limited distribution. I call that marginalization and that does not excite me.
I miss the days of the supermodel when it was all about individuality and personal style. At least in that market Tyra, Naomi, Iman and the like, had a chance at working regularly. The push for the homogenous look in and itself pushes out models of color. The white, pale, blonde waif look.....the white, dark haired, plump lipped vixen look....you get my drift.
I hope in her lifetime my brown daughter can pick up magazines that are not targeted to people of color (like Ebony and Essence) and flip through the pages and regularly see faces that resemble hers...the color of brown sugar, chocolate and cinnamon...faces that resemble the complex diversity of our world. Now that would be something for me to get excited about.

[socialtalker]

10:13 PM on 02/17/2012

i hope your daughter will grown not seeing magazine targeted to black people as some less instead of the waiting for the mags that target white audiences to reconize black model regularly.

[geddy lee is a god]

10:21 AM on 02/17/2012

Lawd h'mercy. That cover is absolutely breath-taking. Dark skinned people are too gorgeous.

[Aesthete]

11:56 AM on 02/17/2012

Has anyone here seen the gorgeous dark-skinned weekend news anchorwoman for the ABC affiliate of Cedar Rapids, Iowa?

[cleylol]

11:03 PM on 02/17/2012

Omg I love you
*kiss*

[geddy lee is a god]

01:20 PM on 02/18/2012

I'm serious. They don't have to wear heavy make-up, IF they wear any at all. No wrinkles, blemishes, marks on the skin, and most older dark skinned black people I know always look young. I've always admired and appreciated darker complexions.

Ok, enough of the computer, lol. Time for me to get ready for the Vancouver-Toronto blood bath tonight. Have a good one:)

[scholarlymama]

08:52 AM on 02/17/2012

Franca Sozzani = Awesome!! What a stunning cover photo!!

[shylosworld]

11:35 PM on 02/16/2012

i love this picture!!! a representation of black beauty!

[Leigh Odimah]

10:36 PM on 02/16/2012

Absolutely stunning image, this is a would be 'Vogue Africa' cover featuring model Maimoun Sissokho created by photograph­er Mario Epanya. It's a crying shame that when he approached Vogue publishers Conde Nast with the idea of a Vogue for Africa they declined. More inclined to think that it would have been an idea worth looking at. And maybe they will, although I would'nt be surprised if that began with a Vogue South Africa. It's worth mentioning that the original L'Uomo Vogue 'For Africa' issue November 2008 had 3 covers which featured a dapper looking Forest Whitaker, Bernard-He­nri Lévy and Nelson Mandela. I'm interested to see how Franca Sozzani treats the next Africa issue of L'Uomo Vogue. If you like Epanya's mock up, check out his Vogue Africa Facebook group he has created a whole series of beautiful would be Vogue Africa covers ! https://ww­w.facebook­.com/group­s/11077256­2985/photo­s

[Onyxist]

10:15 PM on 02/16/2012

id go half on a baby with her lol

[kel347]

09:53 PM on 02/16/2012

Didn't expect the full blown cover. Thought it was a half shot.
I wonder if it's the men who like her look. I wouldn't care much for the ladies' comments. I have no opinion. A look is just a look.