Welcome to New African Woman.

Women are changing the future of Africa. For this reason, black women, particularly in Africa, are crying out to have their story heard. In an era drenched with women's publications of all sorts, the majority of African women still find it hard to come across publications that seriously tackle real issues pertaining to their lifestyle, beauty, fashion and cultural needs, let alone adverts that target their actual requirements. It is an undeniable fact that the majority of women's publications are aimed at either the white, African-American or Caribbean markets, which give no or very little coverage of issues affecting continental African women including those living outside Africa.

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Our mission at New African Woman therefore, is to enthusiastically, boldly and positively fill this void with new vim and vigour. We want to prove that the African woman's story is not just about exotic beauty; it's not just about back-breaking housewifery or single parenthood; it's not just about suffering and despair.

In these pages we will provide our esteemed readers (men included) with inspirational, all-encompassing stories. Tales of hope and courage, success and motivation, resilience and zeal. We shall endeavour to be the flagship that headlines real, in-depth and serious issues that relate to the African woman worldwide.

Although, by and large, Africans both at home and in the diaspora, have a shared history, New African Woman will be sensitive to the fact that black women come from different regions, with different identities and experiences; as well as different cultural and social backgrounds. They all have unique needs and challenges, which call for a broader coverage of issues that the current media market has failed to address. We shall therefore avoid blanket reportage of women's issues, which in many of today's publications imply they all involve similar problems requiring similar solutions. The story of the African woman incorporates all fields--politics, education, business, music, science, fashion and sports, etc. It is our intention that our net will extend to each and every one of them.

Through wide-ranging interviews, we will provide "in their own words" accounts of the most admired, influential African women intellectuals, health practitioners, political leaders, authors, entrepreneurs and executives, fashion icons and designers, who by sharing their wisdom we hope will inspire many others--young and old--to emulate their paths to success.

We shall salute nspirational, successful African women, who in the most challenging of times are increasingly becoming Africa's agents of change, building castles out of ruins through sheer courage and determination to make things better. Our coverage shall prove why women are an indispensable element of Africa's economic and political development. This will be embedded in a monthly profile column--Women Who Inspire. Through their stories and achievements, we will help empower our readers and black women at large.

Fashion, beauty, lifestyle and women's health shall also be among the cornerstones of New African Woman. But bearing in mind the overabundance of such topics already burdening many African women, our coverage will have a different and unique, practical twist, which you will look forward to reading every month.

We promise that our reporting on fashion, beauty, lifestyle and health will inspire rather than impose; expertly advise rather than dictate; and will tastefully portray the abundant and diverse beauty of the African woman, rather than cheapen it.

We will also provide a platform for leading business people and decision-makers, to get to know the under-reported yet influential African women (politicians, businesswomen, intellectuals etc.) and their growing influence on the continent. Our message is that these successful African women make very good and serious business sense.

New African Woman pages will also celebrate the African woman's prestigious role in the continent's history by paying homage to African women history-makers past and present. We shall remember and bring to the fore African women who were in the forefront of liberation struggles that brought Africa's political freedom. In other words, we shall remind our readers why our history should instil pride in our black heritage.

African youth will also have a lot to gain in these pages as it is an undeniable fact that young people look up to their mothers as role models and mentors.

We also want to promote dialogue with our readers and therefore invite you to share your ideas and wisdom. We shall accept and incorporate your comments as part of our nurturing of this new venture. Enjoy our first issue and let us know what you think--good or bad.

Welcome

Regina Jere-Malanda, Editor