The Agojie were a fierce, stealth force of women warriors that others feared and rightfully so. The Agojie first formed around the early 1700s in the Kingdom of Dahomey likely under the woman king (poteeto in the Fon language), Tassi Hangbe as her royal guard. Queen Hangbe was the twin sister of King Akaba (1685-1715) and […]
Fulaba Founder, Haby Barry visited Abidjan, Côte D’Ivoire in October 2022 and creative directed a photo shoot at the iconic Hôtel Ivoire in the Cocody neighborhood of Abidjan. Haby recalls tales of Hôtel Ivoire that her mother shared of the 5-star hotel, which was the vision of Côte D’Ivoire’s first President Houphoüet-Boigny (in office from […]
We shipped out three pairs of our gold dipped Fulani earrings-small version directly to set last year in early March for ‘The Harder They Fall,’ which was necessary for the actress who would be wearing them and her stunt doubles. We had no idea who that actress would be or how many scenes she would […]
We are pleased to announce that we are officially providing custom made jewelry for women AND men inspired by African High Culture. We will help you design a unique African jewelry piece based on your family origins or connection to the continent or simply bring a design that you have in mind to reality. Our […]
We launched our first ever crowdfunding campaign earlier this month on Indiegogo and have 55 lovely souls who have graciously backed our campaign. We have a long way to go but are hopeful that we can and will make tremendous strides to reach our goal. The Fulaba x Indiegogo campaign marks phase III of our […]
Originally from Mali, the Wolof people began migrating into what is now Senegal in the 1000s. By the 1200s, the Wolof set up an empire and conquered surrounding areas with their bourba (king) Ndiadiane N’diaye ruling during the 1300s. The empire was powerful from 1200 to 1550 and covered what is modern-day Senegal. They remained […]
We wrapped up part three of the series for the Women of the African Diaspora coffee table book this past September in Paris, France. Diaraye Barry, the current face of Fulaba directed the shoot, which took place at the Louis Vuitton Foundation museum, Jardin d’Acclimatation, quartier Passy and the pont de Bir-Hakeim. This shoot featured […]
We are so honored that Alicia Keys chose to wear Fulaba gold dipped Fulani earrings in commemoration of the anniversary of her second album, “Diary of Alicia Keys.” Absolutely beautiful! We love and appreciate the purple lit background too!!💜💜✨✨ Our gold dipped Fulani earrings consist of hammered copper that is twisted with heat and plated in […]
As part of the women of the African diaspora coffee table book project Haby Barry, Founder of Fulaba and collaborator, Diaraye Barry started in Guinea; Haby directed a shoot in Oakland, CA. We were delighted to have the opportunity to feature Suakoko Betty clothing, a chic modern line of women’s wear featuring ankara prints imagined […]
Queen Amina of Zaria ruled Hausaland from 1576 to 1610 expanding its territory including the overtaking of Kano and Katsina states controlling important trade routes. Queen Amina was a Hausa Muslim warrior with much of her 34-year reign consisting of war. She led an army of 20,000 men and introduced metal armor to her army […]
The Black Panther film’s representation of Wakanda is beautiful, striking, diverse and real. The plethora of tribal references permeates throughout the film. Although, Wakanda itself is a fictitious nation and kingdom, the cultural references it showcases are not. We noticed the wise elder lady in the beginning of the film wearing traditional Fulani earrings with […]
Haby Barry, Founder of Fulaba and Diaraye Barry, project collaborator embarked on a journey to showcase women of the African diaspora in contemporary and traditional styles last month in Guinea. The project is the beginning of a series of shoots with final photo selections and supporting commentary to be compiled into a coffee table book. We are […]
The silver Fulani inspired cuff bracelet is here for our ladies that prefer silver whether it be all the time or on occasion. This handcrafted silver piece is lightweight and adds a statement to any outfit…dressed up or down. And it goes beautifully with the silver Fulani earrings in either size. Be the first to own it…we […]
Today, October 2nd marks the 59th anniversary since Guinea’s independence from France, its former colonial power. The president that day October 2, 1958 was Sékou Touré who famously said “We prefer poverty in liberty than riches in slavery.” Guinea was one of the early nations to proclaim its independence following Ghana in March 1957. The people of […]
Fulaba debuted its new gold dipped Fulani inspired cuff bracelets at New York Fashion Week last week. We received lots of positive feedback and are excited to add this beautiful innovative piece to our collection. Similar to our gold dipped Fulani bracelet, this Fulani inspired cuff bracelet is handmade with copper and plated with 22k […]
We are back in stock with nearly all of our items except the gold dipped Fulani earrings-large version* which will arrive soon! We have finally re-stocked our silver Fulani earrings-small version (pictured with silver Fulani bracelet) and as usual, we have a limited supply, so if you’ve been wanting these beautiful lightweight earrings, don’t delay. […]
There are varying accounts of exactly when the Tukulor Empire reigned but the consensus is that it was in the second half of the 19th century. The Tukulor Empire was founded by Shaykh El-Hadj Umar Tall who was from Futa Toro (present day northern Senegal). El-Hadj Umar descended from the Fulani and his father, Thierno Saidu […]
It’s that time again for our annual Fulaba Fulani earring giveaway! For a chance to win a complimentary pair of gold dipped Fulani earrings by Fulaba…just take these steps. 1. Subscribe to Fulaba’s mailing list: https://www.fulaba.com/subscribe-to-fulaba 2. Follow us on Instagram @fulaba_fulani_earrings 3. Post a picture of yourself at your proudest moment 4. Include something that you […]
Celia Sanchez, a courageous and impactful leader behind the Cuban Revolution worked closely with Fidel Castro, Che Guavara and Frank Pais. Celia worked in the early days of the revolution communicating with Fidel, organizing rebels and providing necessary supplies before even meeting Fidel in person. Once they did finally meet, they became close friends and […]
It is well known that Europe suffered a period of profound ignorance and calamity called the Dark Ages. What is not often discussed is how Europe came out of the Dark Ages and into the Renaissance (re-birth) period of profound knowledge, including artwork, music, science, mathematics and culture. What outside influence birthed such a prolific […]
In ancient times, jewelry was worn not only for adornment, physical beauty and social status but also for its spiritual and healing benefits. In ancient Egypt gold or nub (Medu Neter – Egyptian language) was considered of divine nature and associated with the sun. Gold as well as copper has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, which […]
African fashion has been known to be very traditional in its usual sense. Everything from the assortment of textiles from the different regions of Africa to the jewelry and headwraps are usually worn for some formal occasion or another. African fashion has evolved as the African woman has evolved; it has now transformed to fit […]
The empire of Mutapa was a powerful nation in modern day Zimbabwe that rested between the Limpopo and the Zambezi River and extended to the Mozambique coast from 1430-1760. The empire of Mutapa was the successor kingdom of the Great Zimbabwe and it was comprised of mainly a Karanga-speaking population that maintained the stone building […]
Southern Africa is home to many different tribes that maintain their own dialect and way of life. Because of the vast diversity within Southern Africa, many of the tribes remain in the shadows of the more noticed tribes, such as the Zulu tribe. The Swazi people, also known as the Swati people, are a Bantu Nguni-speaking […]
Miriam Makeba, also known as Mama Africa and the Empress of African song, was a popular South African singer who introduced authentic Xhosa and Zulu songs to western audiences. Born in Johannesburg, South Africa in 1932, Miriam Makeba attracted the attention of Harry Belafonte who then assisted her travel to the United States to begin […]
Menen Asfaw was born to an Oromo family on April 3, 1891. She was crowned on November 2, 1930 when her husband, Tafari Makonnen became the Emperor of Ethiopia known as Haile Selassie. Empress Menen was known as a champion for education and an advocate for women’s issues in Ethiopia. She founded the Empress Menen […]
Ethiopia is the only African nation to resist colonization by European powers, and so, has also been able to resist the distortion of their culture. Ethiopia maintains all of their traditional attires and practices. The style has become more modern overtime, but still stays true to their history. The Oromo women of eastern Ethiopia are deeply […]
Ethiopia is one of the oldest nations in the world and the only African country to successfully resist the scramble for Africa by colonial powers. Ethiopia became a symbol of hope and strength for all people of African descent when Ethiopia had beaten back attempts at colonization by Italy. The famous battle of Adwa signified […]
Ethiopian fashion is vibrant and ever-changing. Yefikir Design is one of the many brands that highlight the emerging fashion sense within Ethiopia. Made in 2009 by Fikirte Addis, an Ethiopian designer based in Addis Ababa, Yefikir Design serves as a representation of fashion for her home country. Her designs channel Ethiopian culture while mixing in […]
In South Africa Mantsho represents the unapologetically modern African woman. Created in 2004 by Johannesburg-based designer Palesa Mokuburg, this brand focuses on using African materials and transforming them into modern, edgy designs. Using fine silks and woven fabrics along with traditional African material, Mantsho combines modern fashion with reverence to African culture and history. The […]
The annual Fashion Week hosted in Nigeria provides an opportunity for Nigerian designers to showcase their work. One designer that stands out is Chioma Jennifer Emihe. Her style is a mix of traditional and modern, combining traditional African textiles with other patterns. Emihe emphasizes characteristics that are important to her: decency and comfort. She is […]
Mali became a center for African scholarly history with the birth and success of the city of Timbuktu leading up to the colonization of Mali by the French. Even after colonization, some of the most influential and important pieces of African literature were produced in Mali. Malian writers covered topics on marriage (Mariage, on Copie […]
The first settlers in Timbuktu were the Kel Tamasheq tribes and the merchants of the Jenne tribes. The destruction of the Ghanaian empire by King Sosso caused a mass exodus of scholars to flood Timbuktu. Because of this, Timbuktu became known as the divine city- a place of knowledge, trade, and hospitality. The scholars of […]
The historic city of Timbuktu- currently located in the Republic of Mali at the edge of the Sahara Desert- was founded in the 11th century by the Imagharen Tuareg. The city was named after a woman named Tin Abutut- meaning “lady with the big navel” in Tuareg language. This famous African woman would hold the […]
Pictured above is a pair of spirally twisted gold armlets with one duck-head terminal preserved and is said to be from Memphis, Egypt and is likely dated around 100-200 A.D. Memphis was once a capital of Egypt and houses the great temple of Ptah, god of creation. The city’s original name in Medu Neter (Egyptian […]
The second largest diamond ever found was discovered in Botswana last week. The diamond is 1,111 carats and its dimensions are 65 mm x 56 mm x 40 mm. It was mined by Vancouver-based company, Lucara Diamond Corp. It is the largest diamond ever found in Botswana. The only other diamond ever found that is […]
Jennifer Hudson, Kerry Washington and Janelle Monae all have distinct Fulani features…long noses, a particular lip shape and fullness as well as long faces. As a Fulani woman I recognize that these beautiful ladies are very likely descendants of the Fulani tribe. I see my aunt in Jennifer Hudson, my cousin in Janelle Monae and […]
We love the jewelry collection of Princess Sithathoryunet of Egypt’s 12th Dynasty! Pictured (from top to bottom) are a broad bracelet, lion bracelet and an anklet all made of gold, carnelian and turquoise. The bar of the broad bracelet contains the name of Amenemhat III, one of the Pharaohs who ruled during the 12th dynasty. […]
Today is International Women’s Day, which is a day to honor the contributions of women in every domain including economics, business, academia, politics, philanthropy and culture. Fulaba celebrates African women and women around the globe and we believe in cultivating the self-worth and agency in women and girls. This is why we embarked on the […]
