this was such an awesome read! glad i stumbled upon it and your substack! been lately looking for more niche ghanaian history somewhat detached from colonialism to further my knowledge about my motherland
This was such an interesting read! I had never thought of this connection between beauty pageants and legitimising statehood! I’m also really interested to look at similar threads in Kenya’s history and also in looking at how the evolution of fashion/style legitimised nations in newly independent African states. Would love to know what inspired you to look into these connections!
Thank you and yes it is quite niche but it's there so I'm glad you enjoyed it! I watched the theatre production of the 'School Girls; Or, The African Mean Girls Play' and the research on the relationship between beauty pageants and (national) identity really just blossomed from there. Generally, I would say I am a cultural historian so I really enjoy looking at how the cultural (music, literature, fashion etc.) validates/invalidates the political, with a specific focus on nationhood, feminism and anti-colonialism.
I look forward to reading your piece on the evolution role of fashion/style in legitimising African nations, I'm working on a similar piece in relation to Ghana so perhaps we will come across some similarities and will be able to learn/compare the different ways fashion contributes to ones' identities :))
Hey Rachel. Thank you for this thoughtful response. I see the cultural historian threads in your work, hence the excellent analysis! I likely won't be writing about it, just curious to read and learn more about these connections, so glad I found my way here. I look forward to reading your next piece in relation to Ghana!
love this exploration! really interesting to read about the link between Beauty and nation making and how an un/intended aim was to legitimise the new Ghanaian nation on a global stage!
this was such an awesome read! glad i stumbled upon it and your substack! been lately looking for more niche ghanaian history somewhat detached from colonialism to further my knowledge about my motherland
Ah I'm so glad you enjoyed it and yes that's right up my street, Ghanafuo stand up ✊🏾🇬🇭!!
This was such an interesting read! I had never thought of this connection between beauty pageants and legitimising statehood! I’m also really interested to look at similar threads in Kenya’s history and also in looking at how the evolution of fashion/style legitimised nations in newly independent African states. Would love to know what inspired you to look into these connections!
Thank you and yes it is quite niche but it's there so I'm glad you enjoyed it! I watched the theatre production of the 'School Girls; Or, The African Mean Girls Play' and the research on the relationship between beauty pageants and (national) identity really just blossomed from there. Generally, I would say I am a cultural historian so I really enjoy looking at how the cultural (music, literature, fashion etc.) validates/invalidates the political, with a specific focus on nationhood, feminism and anti-colonialism.
I look forward to reading your piece on the evolution role of fashion/style in legitimising African nations, I'm working on a similar piece in relation to Ghana so perhaps we will come across some similarities and will be able to learn/compare the different ways fashion contributes to ones' identities :))
Hey Rachel. Thank you for this thoughtful response. I see the cultural historian threads in your work, hence the excellent analysis! I likely won't be writing about it, just curious to read and learn more about these connections, so glad I found my way here. I look forward to reading your next piece in relation to Ghana!
thank you for this.
love this exploration! really interesting to read about the link between Beauty and nation making and how an un/intended aim was to legitimise the new Ghanaian nation on a global stage!
thank you!!💝