Geometric pendants, abstract drop earrings, spiral rings - these are the jewelry pieces that could be considered modern art in their own rights. It's these bold pieces that add the final touch to a black-on-black ensemble or bring additional depth to a colorful outfit. When the pieces are carefully selected the artfully minded jewelry wearer becomes a bona fide curator. 

Mombasa's #arfjewelry pieces are designed in our LA studio by our co-founder Regbe Surafel.  Additionally, we collaborate with artisans in Kenya to bring  bold, Afropolitan jewelry while paying living wages to fulfill our mission of women supporting women.

Our one of a kind designs have adorned holywood celeberites such as Angela Bassett and have been featured in InStyle, People, Essence and Basic magazines.

Our Signature Collection, Safari Collection and TriBL Collection can be found on our online shop www.shopmombasa.com

Black Panther was just released on DVD and I don’t know if my space is even worthy of having such greatness grace my media console. I’m still greeting other chocolate folks with the Wakandan salute. This movie made me extremely emotional. I could barely even speak or articulate my thoughts when I walked out of the theater; and I was definitely upset that I had to go to work the next day. I felt like I needed a day to process what I was privy to experience and the emotions I felt.

Black Panther was more than just a movie filled with black people, beautiful black people (hey Winston!). It was an outward showcase of how some of us view the continent. There were so many layers of culture to be unearthed with each scene. I have never thought of Africa as this desolate, third world continent with too many issues to count. I have always visualized it through a lens that resembled Wakanda. Diverse, intelligent, beautiful, witty, strong, resilient people is how I see Africa and to see that depicted on screen gave me chills. It was like all my dreams of positive, beautiful, and complex black characters had finally come to life on the big screen and I had a hard time coming to grips with my sheer excitement.

The movie had a positive feel. Even when conflicts arose, I still felt a great sense of pride and happiness with what I was watching.  Tradition was a big theme throughout the movie. Even with Eric B. Jordan’s character Killmonger character causing an uproar, the people still maintained tradition. Danai Gurira’s character Okoye was clearly against the new king, but her loyalty was to the throne and the king. She was even willing to kill her love to ensure she performed her duties. Healthy relationships that include conflict. Seeing the relationships between Chadwick Boseman’s character T’Challa and Lupita Nyong’o character Nakia; Okoye and Daniel Kaluuya character W’kabi was great for people to see. Not every relationship is going to be perfect, as we saw in this movie. It was nice to see black relationships seen in a normal way and as equals with the freedom to make difficult decisions.

It is known, even if some do not want to acknowledge that Africa has long been and still is a great resource for natural resources but also intellectual assets. People from other continents came to Africa to learn about astrology and math. People of color have been noted to be advanced in these areas and that was depicted with Letitia Wright character, Shuri and the advancements within Wakanda. Wakanda represented to me what Africa could have become if there was no outside force to cause the lingering trauma that has stunted her growth to this moment. There is so much potential within the continent, but it must be actualized and acted upon. There is such pride within this imaginary place because this is how many of us envision Africa resembling had she not been pillaged and misused by the colonizers and greed in general. The technological advances existed within the culture and did not change tradition. It assisted in how they lived, but did not change their dealings with tradition, nature, and cultural ways.

Representation matters. Period. It gave me the chills to see women who looked like me and were stunning. They were strong innately. Their strength and confidence was not seen as aggression. When they expressed their thoughts, it was not seen as anger. There was no ‘angry black woman’ label in this film. These women were just strong because they were multifaceted human beings like everyone else. That was refreshing and uplifting. No over sexualization of the black body, male or female (though the men in this film were quite wonderful to look at). We did not get a more in depth look at the community, but each tribe played their part and worked together. It was refreshing to see a vibrant community.

 Black Panther made me proud. It made me happy for my community. It made me happy for the culture. I hope we can harness the positivity and pride brought about by this film and create change within our communities. Wakanda can exist. We just need to put in the work.

 WAKANDA FOREVER!

By Amanda White

Amanda is a registered nurse and lifestyle blogger with a love for DIY and living her best life. She likes to think of herself as a multi-passionate woman. She loves diy, travel, food and helping patients own their healthcare experience. "I just want us all to realize we can live our best lives, no matter what your starting point may be. It's time to start living!"

 https://www.newstimes.com/news/media/Angela-Bassett-talks-Black-Panther-role-and-1165120.php?jwsource=cl

Mombasa is a social enterprise that collaborates with artisans in developing countries to promote their creativity, pay fair wages and give them access to international markets.  The SAFARI Collection is one such partnership with talented artisans in Kenya.

The SAFARI Collection is designed with the global consumer in mind.   The Swahili word safari means journey, and we want to take your on a journey with us from Nairobi to Mombasa.  We curated a selection of versatile necklaces and earrings all made from locally sourced recycled brass.  Each piece is handcast, simple and ethically sourced and can be mix-and-matched to appeal to the urban woman.  From bold and chunky to unisex style necklaces, the collection is inspired by geometric shapes and nature to deliver a strong yet minimal aesthetic.

Mombasa's mission has always been to redefine luxury as handmade or hand-touched goods, with a vision to collaborate with artisans around the world and break the cycle of poverty by paying a fair wage.  We believe that when artisan entrepreneurs are given opportunity, their families benefit and their communities flourish.

We are proud to present to you our new SAFARI Collection; a new kind of luxury that is handmade, ethical fashion at accessible prices.

Love & Light,

Hanna & Regbe

Africans have used jewelry since the beginning of time.  In her book “Africa Adorned”, Angela Fisher shows the huge diversity of adornment in Africa.  African jewelry is full of symbolism and communicates the status of the person wearing it; their prowess if they are priestess or a warrior, whether single or married, dowry size, etc.  Worn by both men and women, all forms of organic materials are used as amulets or fetishes – metal, feather, leather, bone, horn, shell, wood, beads and or semi-precious stones.

The Karo tribe living along the borders of the lower Omo River in Ethiopia, incorporate rich, cultural symbolism into their rituals by using ornate body art, intricate headdresses and body scarification to express beauty and significance within their community.

The Tuareg who are among the last nomads on earth are famous for their stunning silver jewelry, hand etched in traditional designs.  The cross of the Agadez is the most famous among the 21 emblems of the Tuareg – 21 different designs, each representing a specific nomadic enclave of Niger.  One interpretation among many of their cross design is a representation of the Four Corners of the Earth – a metaphysical and spiritual compass for a people who are always on the move.

The variety of style of jewelry amongst african tribes and regions is as diverse as the continent itself.  Jewelry is integral to our identity.  It is innately in our DNA to express our creativity.  It is in the rhythm that is Africa…the music, dance, landscape, architecture and art.  It is our “Our Collective Genius”!  Our tribal style is often duplicated on fashion runways.  Billions has been made from the appropriation of our culture.  We are and have always been taste makers. 

In the words of George C. Wolfe “God created black people and black people created style.”

Love & Light!

Hanna