EBONY‘s January cover is all about Africa, and this month the magazine is highlighting those who are making an impact on the continent. The January cover stars are none other than The Elbas, the jet-setting power couple making it their mission to help bring change to Africa. Through their humanitarian work with the United Nations, their partnership with Farm Africa, and their own wellness brand, S’ABLE Labs, Idris and Sabrina are using their influence for the greater good.
See some excerpts from the interview below:
“We’re both very drawn to the continent as a whole. We’re very proud first- generation Africans. We always knew we wanted to give back.” – Sabrina Elba
“When I was 16 or 18 years of age, Ethiopia was dying from one of the most devastating famines caused by drought, and the whole world turned on aid,” Idris recalls. “The whole world turned to incredible generosity and did what they could to reduce the impact of that famine. But 35 years on, we are still seeing the effects [of famine and drought], in not only that part of the world. I could tell you that there was a lot of money generated through aid, but that money didn’t actually solve or future-proof the problem. And that’s where innovation comes in.”
There is a “time and place for aid,” Sabrina adds. “But I do believe that model is somewhat old. We need to look for sustainable ways of helping people take care of themselves through government and through means of entrepreneurship, so they can live off the land that they own.”
The Elbas are clear that they don’t want to be the “face” of Africa or to represent the continent. Rather, they want to advocate for Africa and to encourage the world to invest in it. (Idris has a project almost four years in the making that is launching soon that will promote tourism and multi-sector investment in West Africa.) When I ask what they envision for the future of the continent, Idris says that he wants to see Africa grow, for its leaders to adapt more transparent, progressive ways of thinking, and for the massive disparity between rich and poor to end so that “everyone can at least eat and be healthy, and live in a lovely home that’s warm and dry.” In other words, the basics.
“I really don’t feel that Africa deserves to be, in this day and age, the poorest of the poor when it has so much to offer,” Idris adds. “And the rest of the world, for centuries, has taken everything: its people, minerals, everything. And yet still we’re in a situation where we’re all scratching our heads as to what we can do to strengthen Africa. I want people to visit Africa and not feel like they’re scared of it. Like the way I visit a new country and I’m just intrigued to find what I can learn about the culture. That’s what I want for Africa.”
Read the full interview HERE
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF & SVP, PROGRAMMING MARIELLE BOBO
CREATIVE DIRECTOR RASHIDA MORGAN BROWN
PHOTO DIRECTOR/PHOTOGRAPHER KEITH MAJOR
ASSOC. CREATIVE DIRECTOR/HEAD OF VIDEO STEVEN CORNELIO
VIDEO BY MEGA MEDIA
DIGITAL PRODUCEER ARTHUR WOO
GAFFER NATE AIREY
SOUND MIXER NICOLE PHILLIPS NAYLOR
VIDEO EDITOR MEGA MEDIA
PHOTO ASSISTANTS SAONI FORTUNA, BISCOE SAVOY
STYLIST ALEXANDER-JULIAN GIBBSON
STYLIST ASSISTANTS CHLOE LUCAN, PARKER HARDWOOD
TAILOR MINERVA DIANN SAVOY
HAIR STYLIST ANTOINETTE HILL
MAKEUP ARTIST RENEE GARNES WITH OPUS BEAUTY
GROOMER JESSICA SMALLS WITH THE WALL GROUP
EXECUTIVE PRODUCER TRACEY WOODS
ON SET PRODUCER PAMELA MATHIESON
PRODUCTION ASSISTANT SHANICE MARTIN
RETOUCHER DIGITAL 805 RETOUCHING
LOCATION SPECIAL THANK YOU TO HILLWOOD ESTATE MUSEUM & GARDENS AND ROSEWOOD HOTEL, WASHINGTON, D.C.
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