54 Magazine Photoshoot & Afrotourism Futures

In January 2025, I travelled to Lamu, Kenya — a timeless cradle of Swahili culture — for a special editorial photoshoot with 54 Magazine. Lamu is a place where tradition, spirituality, and African futurism coexist in harmony, and this photoshoot was designed to capture exactly that energy. The styling, colours, and environment reflected the spirit of a continent rooted in ancestry yet moving forward with confidence, creativity, and cultural pride.

Beyond the photoshoot, this visit was a deep exploration into the future of Afrotourism — understanding how destinations like Lamu are redefining travel, heritage, architecture, and experience for Africans and the diaspora. From the dhow-lined shores to the ancient stonework and handmade crafts, Lamu represents the type of tourism Africa deserves: ethical, community-led, culturally immersive, and economically empowering.

This mission was an opportunity to showcase Africa’s beauty through a new lens — one that honours the past while creating a visual language for the continent’s future. The editorial story we built in Lamu celebrates African identity, craftsmanship, and the elegance of slow, intentional living. It stands as a tribute to what Afrotourism can be when culture, storytelling, and legacy come together.

Lamu reminded me that culture is our greatest soft power — and when we document, protect, and elevate it, we give the world a new way to see Africa.