Amina Doherty is a 27-year-old Nigerian feminist activist. She holds a BA in Political Science & Women’s Studies from McGill University and an MSc in Gender, Development and Globalization from the London School of Economics. Prior to her current role setting up a fund that provides small grants and capacity building opportunities to young feminists under 30, Amina worked in the women's rights grant-making program at the London-based human rights funder The Sigrid Rausing Trust.  She has also worked at the Directorate of Gender Affairs in Antigua where she conducted research for the national report to CEDAW, the Caribbean Policy Development Centre (CPDC) and the Caribbean Association for Feminist Research and Action (CAFRA). She has interned with several organizations including the Feminist Majority Foundation in Washington D.C., and the London-based creative network Arts & Business. As a daughter of the diaspora, Amina has lived and studied in Africa, the Caribbean and Canada. She currently lives in London.

Tell me about the early years of Amina
Well, I am originally Nigerian – so I grew up in a part of Northern Nigeria called Kaduna. I loved living in Nigeria and have really fond childhood memories. I left Nigeria when I was 12 years old and moved to Antigua with my family where I’ve lived since then. Although I have always self-identified as African and more specifically as Nigerian, over the years Antigua has come to represent “home” for me in many ways. Growing up in Antigua and going to high school here has allowed me to develop strong relationships and deep connections with people here and to the island as a whole.

Tell me something interesting about yourself
I am an early riser! I love waking up every morning to watch the sun come up. Dawn, in my opinion is the most beautiful time of day. The world feels so fresh at dawn and it is so beautiful watching everything come alive. One of my favourite quotes is from the 13th century Sufi poet Rumi that reads: “The breeze at dawn has secrets to tell you. Do not go back to sleep. You must ask for what you really want.” That pretty much sums up my take on life. There is so much that needs to be done we just have to be willing to follow the signs and be proactive in pursuing our dreams and goals.

What is your passion?
Over the years I have worked as a researcher, grantmaker, freelance writer, and community activist and in all of those roles I have made a conscious effort to infuse my love for all forms of creative expression. I am passionate about music, poetry and spoken word, art, fashion and travel. I think beyond all of those things however, I’d describe myself as an “idea monger” because I’m always coming up with new ideas and creative projects! Driving all of my passions however, is a love for life and an overwhelming belief that we should seek to live our lives with as much courage, adventure and love as we possibly can. My passion is life itself.

What is your connection to the fashion show?
The AfroFunky event is actually not a fashion show. It’s a pop-up boutique. The idea of a pop-up boutique is not new, it is definitely a phenomenon that has seen significant growth over the past few years. The idea behind the pop-up boutique is to recreate an existing space as something that quite literally “pops-up” temporarily, quickly draws in crowds, and then disappears or morphs into something else, adding to retail the fresh feel, exclusivity and surprise that many galleries, and theatres have been using for years. The AfroFunky Boutique in Antigua is basically my attempt to build on this trend by bringing some of my own personal favourite African fashions to the Caribbean in a one-night only pre-Christmas shopping event.

What's the motivation behind the boutique?
From eclectic color-popping dresses to bold prints and shapes, African designs have been storming catwalks in recent years, catching the eye of fashionistas across the world. But for many Caribbean fashionistas, especially those with no access to shops dedicated to African brands, it can often be hard to get our hands on designer garments from the continent. The first of its kind, the AfroFunky Boutique is an opportunity for Antiguan women to shop from the latest collections from some of Africa’s most innovative young fashion designers in the heart of St. John's.

Are the fashions accessible to the average Antiguan women (i.e. with regard to pricing, sizing, availability)?
I like to think so! The great thing about African-designed clothing (and these pieces in particular) is that they take into consideration women of different shapes and sizes. From curvaceously curvy to the beautifully-bodied slim women there is something for everyone. I think this is one of the things I love most about African fashion. With regard to pricing and availability most of the accessories (earrings, bracelets, clutch purses, etc.) range from around $10USD-$60USD and the clothing all ranges from $40 USD-$70USD. There are however a very limited number of pieces so I do urge people to stop by early (there are a few complementary surprises for patrons that do come early!)

Who are some of the designers you will be showcasing at the boutique?  
There is a really exciting mix of young and emerging female designers from across the continent that are showcasing pieces at the boutique. They include The UK/Tanzanian brand Chichia London, MAKSI Clothing from Ghana, The Nigerian brand Yorubatik, Kenyan designer Adele Dejak and UK based, African inspired street-wear brand Sev*n Fold. The pieces are all very different but I think come together well to showcase the spirit of a continent bursting with so much incredible energy, colour, and texture.

Why women? Why these brands?
I have chosen to feature pieces specifically by young African women that not only reflect my own personal style but also represent the talent, dynamism and entreprenuerial spirit of African women. As a fashion-forward-feminist, I am concerned with the need to promote women’s economic independence as well as the need to foster creative connections between African and Caribbean women. One of the ways I thought I could do this was through what I recognized to be a mutual love for fashion (thus the tagline: “Connecting Africa and The Diaspora through Fashion and Funk.”) I believe that we (in the Caribbean) are too strongly influenced by North American and European fashion and spend so much money propping up these economies by purchasing clothes online and in stores. What I am hoping to create through this event is a kind of *sisterhood of the funky* that not only puts African fashion on the map in the region, but also encourages a global South-South trading network led by women.

All of the designers featured aside from being enterprising young women are committed to supporting ethically produced, hand crafted clothes and accessories using African prints and textiles. They all have a social-consciousness and that is hugely important to me. Chichia London for example, collaborates with a fairtrade manufacturing company called “Made by Africa”. MAKSI urges Ghanaians to get serious about their environment through their latest campaign “Let’s ad(DRESS) the Issue, whereby they support Energy Solutions Foundation (an NGO) seeking to build a bio gas plant in Wa, Ghana. Similarly, Christine Oshunniyi the woman behind the Yorubatik brand has worked with Africans for Development and Progress (ADAP) to support women and children living with HIV-AIDS. The garments and accessories designed by Yorubatik also support Fairtrade work in Africa and seek to build women’s skills by teaching them how to create and work with Tie and Dye.

Are you the main organizer?
When I first came up with the idea of hosting a pop-up boutique in Antigua, I started thinking about where I would host it. After lots of thought I reached out to a fellow fashion lover Toya Turner (author and creative mind behind the blog “Island Style”). Toya’s excitement and immediate desire to get involved really spoke for itself and led to us working together to host the AfroFunky boutique. Toya agreed to host the event at her store “The Little Starfish” (Birkenstock Antigua) in Redcliffe Quay and the rest as they say is history!

What are your plans for the future?
Well, I had originally envisioned this event to be a one-off, one-time pre-Christmas event–but I have received a lot of positive support and encouragement. The idea has literally caught on like wildfire with similar events being held in the United States, and requests to host future events in Jamaica and Barbados…so who knows what the future may hold!