Beauty in the motherland redefines African beauty sector

Stepping into the Eko Convention Centre in Lagos where ‘Beauty in the Motherland’ took place during the week with a troop of guests from all walks of life navigating their path into the different sessions of the event would make you wonder if truly the event was in its maiden edition.

“Nigerians have been waiting for ‘Beauty in the Motherland’ , an all-encompassing event that speaks to everything that forms the African human body structure from hair to toe.”

These were the words of Adefunke Olatunbosun, one of the guests who attended the two-day event that featured conferences, exhibitions and Gala Night.
The different sessions of conferences addressed the entity of beauty and the necessity to revamp the African beauty industry especially Nigeria’s as a number of black people from the grassroots to the to the top class go all out to acquire beauty product for skin bleaching, hair relaxers, and body parts and shape enhancers that are detrimental to their well being in the name of enhancing their beauty.

Speaking at the event, the Convener of Beauty in the Motherland Linda Edozien, said: “Beauty in the Motherland was initiated to provide a platform for beauty industry operators to showcase their products while echoing the essence of black skin and its beauty to the world. More importantly we want to change the narrative of the Nigerian beauty industry that avails people the opportunity to question the beauty in the black skin, hair, etc. This is why the exhibition is by our people and for our people and that is why it is called ‘Beauty in the Motherland’, it is about us.”

On the advocacy of using health detriment beauty products, Linda said, “We didn’t just bring in industry operators but also regulators together in a room to clampdown on the rising use of dangerous skincare products. That is why we have the representative of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) to educate and talk to us on how we can collaborate to save lives and move the beauty industry forward.”

Some of the exhibitors at the event were House of Tara, Amoke Skincare, YangaBeauty, CeraVe, Zaron, Modara Natural Skincare, Truth, Dabota Cosmetics, Nuban Beauty, Adefunkeee, Touch, Zikel Aesthetics, among others.

The event also featured a Gala and Awards Night for recognition of industry icons as Chief Mrs Opral Benson and Elegant Twins for pioneering the beauty industry in Nigeria. Brands and other personalities who are currently shaping the industry were also presented with awards.