For GUAP 25, an Alté museum came to life with cover stars Odeal, Gabzy & Boj.

After a strange year where it appeared normality had resumed before we were then hit with yet another coronavirus variant, we brought the G-List back to its roots in music. It’s been a while since we’ve done a music cover, but now more than ever, it made sense to highlight the growing Alté scene and some of its premium talents – Boj, Odeal & Gabzy. We’ve seen Alté artists have a global impact this past year and the sound that’s been bubbling seems to have finally burst into the mainstream consciousness.

Alté is the alternative movement stemming from the African continent taking additional inspiration from music and cultures across the globe. R&B, Pop, Dancehall, Rap, and more all play a role across the spectrum of Alté music, but it is the Afro-sound that unites everything together. It is by no means a new sound, with pioneers DRB Lasgidi (Teezee, Boj, Fresh L) experimenting with the sound for years alongside names like Cruel Santino (formerly Santi) and Zamir.

The groundwork laid by these early pioneers has brought us contemporary names like Lady Donli and Odunsi (The Engine) and made a space for Afro-fusion sounds. In a year where Tems has taken the world by storm with her blend of Afrobeats and R&B, there is really no time like the present to dive into the world of Alté and meet a trio of the sounds future icons.

To truly capture how important a moment in time we’re at with Alté, it was only fitting to capture the stars in a museum-gallery hybrid. Paired with the bold looks that tap into couture fashion, this is yet another cover to remember.

Credits:

Clothing:
Boj – Labrum London
Odeal – Labrum London
Gabzy – Tokyo James supplied by Jendaya

Team:
Creative Direction – El-shaddai Nyagodzi
Stylist – El-shaddai Nyagodzi
Stylist Assistant – Adeola Johnson
Set Designer – Maureen Kargbo
Set Design Assistant – Shania-Mae Wright
MUA – Tiara Wada
MUA Assistant – Modupeola Soetan
BTS Photographer – Rae Ashton
Photographer – Terna Jogo
Videographer – Sam Adjaye
Assistant – Shenell Kennedy
Words by – Zweli Chibumba 
PR – MYBLAQBOOK