Biographies of Shoko Press authors
Mario Epanya
Born in Cameroon, Epanya started his career as a self-taught hair and makeup artist in 1996. In 2000 he moved to France where he studied and became a professional makeup artist. In 2007 Epanya made the transition to photography and set up his studio, Studioepanya creating his iconic images that are shaping the modern face of African beauty, fashion and style.
In 2010 Epanya garnered widespread attention for his creation of fictional Vogue Africa covers celebrating black beauty. Following this, Epanya created an online magazine, Winkler, and held his first photography exhibition, GLAMAZONIA, a series of black and white images dedicated to black beauty, which travelled the world. BEAUTIFUL is his first book.
Mario resides in Paris, France.
Tapiwa Matsinde
Tapiwa Matsinde is an author, independent curator, blogger, and consultant of Zimbabwean heritage. She writes about design, craft, sustainability, and Africa’s growing contemporary creative industries for her blog, Atelier 55. Fashion Illustration Africa is her second book.
Tapiwa resides in London, UK.
Find out more about Tapiwa here
Zakirah Rabaney
Zakirah Rabaney is a fashion editor, stylist and trend analyst who has many years experience working in the South African fashion industry. She is the contributing author of Fashion Illustration Africa.
Zakirah currently lives in Munich, Germany.
Photo credit: Niquita Bento
Godson Ukaegbu
Godson Ukaegbu is a photographer, writer and artist, and is the editor-in-chief of MANIA, Nigeria’s premier fashion magazine. He is the author of Fashion A Second Language.
Godson lives in Lagos, Nigeria.
Photo credit: TY Bello