L’Uomo Vogue Dedicates May Issue to ‘Rebranding Africa’
She may be a fashion editor, but Franca Sozzani’s never been afraid to raise eyebrows with her Vogue Italia covers, whether it’s her now-famous July 2008 using exclusively African-American models or the August 2012 cover that referenced BP’s oil spill disaster.
For the May 2012 issue of L’Uomo Vogue, of which Sozzani is also the editor, she’s getting political once again: the magazine is dedicated to "Rebranding Africa", and features Ban Ki-moon, the Secretary General of the UN, on its cover.
“Joining forces with civil society and private sector, including non-traditional players, like the fashion industry, has become indispensable,” said Ki-moon in a release. “Sustainable development is my top priority."
The issue focuses on the “continent in progress,” putting a spotlight on the development of Africa.
"The whole issue is packed with portraits of local personalities: not just presidents, first ladies and queens, but also artists, singers, musicians, actors, stylists, writers, models—every one of whom has been portrayed in a positive light," said Sozzani.
"They all agreed to take part in the issue precisely because presenting a positive image of the continent means focusing world attention on an area that has been hitherto excluded, with the exception of a number of countries where development has been possible thanks to tourism. But each of the African nations is endowed with enormous potential."
