African Royalty – Culturally African, authentically yours

BY SIMONE J. SMITH

For anyone who has started a business, you know that it is full of exciting challenges and potential learning opportunities gained from the risks that come with it. To be an entrepreneur means to be someone who takes on challenges.

The young, brilliant entrepreneur that I had the honour of interviewing knows just how challenging starting a new business is. Efia Tekyi Annan is the mother of three beautiful children, and the ingenious mind behind African Royalty, a Black-owned, authentically sourced, Canadian run brand that pays homage to the rich culture and history of Africa.

African Royalty allows Efia to interact with people from all walks of life who are interested in learning about African culture. She was born and raised in Canada and proud of it, however she was raised in a Ghanaian household and identifies strongly with the Ghanaian culture.

Through frequent trips and teachings in her home Efia’s parents made sure that she did not lose her connection to their country.

“On every trip I would bring back pieces of Ghana to reminisce and share with my friends,” Efia tells me.

Efia shares that her grandma was a merchant in Ghana bringing back gold and other accessories from the Obuasi gold mines to sell in the streets of Kumasi. Her mom made sure to tell her stories about the trips her mom took, and all the goods she brought back. It was only fitting that Efia would follow in her footsteps.

It was once believed that one good idea could serve a business for three generations. Today, it is more likely that each generation needs to champion at least three innovations, and Efia has taken up this responsibility with enthusiasm.

“I have always been a hustler. My first business was Efia’s Cupcakes and Tings. I would sell it to students and teachers, but they stopped it because they said I couldn’t sell stuff in school. They may have stopped it for that time being but entrepreneurship has always been a part of me. At eight months pregnant, I used to do private basketball training; imagine me running training with a big belly.”

African Royalty was started back in 2014 on a trip to Ghana as Efia toured the markets of Kumasi looking for gifts to bring home to my friends. It dawned on her that it was not just her friends who needed to see and feel Ghanaian culture; it was something that needed to be shared with the world.

“When you purchase items from African Royalty you are also pledging to learn more about African culture and traditions. I have a responsibility to educate and share the history and the beauty of my parent’s homeland, expressed through the colours in our fabrics, and our beads.

In the last two years, I became aware of appropriation. Some people would buy waist beads just because they look nice, but that is not what I wanted.

Those who purchase from African Royalty not only admire the beauty Africa has to offer but also want to understand our history.  African Royalty is a combination and acknowledgement of traditional African culture and modern style. Every item purchased comes with a card that gives our customers a little history lesson on the significance of the items they are purchasing.

Let’s take waist beads for example: they are about rights of passage, and weight monitoring. To be honest, it is up to the person to decide what their journey is. It is femininity and sensuality. It is supposed to be worn under your garments. You are not supposed to expose it. It is like undergarment.”

There is a lot  to juggle if you are hoping to build a business; you will be wearing many hats, and probably doing tasks you never imagined. Yet, you can’t allow that to rob you of time for a full life either. Efia explained some of the struggles she has had.

“Time is always a challenge and of course money. I have been self financing and I have had to reinvest into my company. Before the George Floyd murder, people were not into the Blackness Movement, but it appears that it is cool to be black again, so business has picked up. People are not afraid to wear a sweater with the continent on it.

I just launched my website in 2022, but now it’s about sending people to the website, having a physical page that people can go to.

The direction of the company has shifted; our waist beads, sweaters, and fans are the most popular sellers, but now I am experimenting and working with African prints. I can take anything you like, and give it an African flare. I am coming out with a lot of new ideas, but finding the time can be challenging. I want the world to understand how beautiful African culture is. At first I was just selling African things, but now I am focusing on branding African Royalty

I am working on a partnership with YAAACE for Black History Month. I am going  to be creating sweaters with Y in Kente Print for the basketball program. I am thankful to Mr Jones for partnering with me on this.”

During our time, Efia gave me the 411 on Kente. It is no ordinary cloth and is easily recognisable worldwide. The method of producing Kente is called strip weaving, and has existed in West Africa since the 11th century. In 1697, the King of the Ashanti Kingdom, Osei Tutu, selected several weavers from nearby towns and villages to travel to the neighbouring Ivory Coast to become experts in the complex art form.

Once they returned to Ghana, they started to weave the beautiful and colourful cloth exclusively for the King because Kente was originally made and worn only by royals. The weavers started to create their own unique designs, which are now well known worldwide as ‘Ashanti Kente’.

Today, the Ashanti royals still wear the sacred cloth usually draped across their shoulders or worn like a toga. It is worn for prestigious occasions: ceremonies, worship, outings, marriages and funerals. There are over 350 patterns for Kente Cloths.

“We need to start celebrating our wins. We have a rich culture, which I believe African Royalty is celebrating. Keep pushing, it is going to be hard, but if you believe in yourself, your business will flourish.”

You can purchase your very own African Royalty piece at https://www.africanroyalty.ca/, and her pieces can also be found at Xcentric Beauty Supply located at 645 Markham Rd Scarborough, ON.