Today, we're featuring Emmanuelle Sounjata, a passionate champion of natural beauty!
Could you introduce yourself to our Zenaba readers?
Hello, my name is Emmanuelle Guye (my real name), I am 28 years old. My mother is Martinican and my father is Senegalese. I completed my law studies, specializing in social law, in 2010. Currently, I am training to become a Naturopath in Paris.
What is your professional background, in a few words?
Communications officer for four years, with various private organizations (Associations, ready-to-wear companies, event venues...), including three years with So&So / Ethik Concept, with whom we worked on several projects.
- Mainly involved in T-Urban Style workshops (the art of tying a turban) for 2 years; organized by Ethik Concept since 2009, on average once a month.
- Salesperson / host at Beauty and Natural Wellness booths at fairs such as the Foire de Paris, at the booth but also in ready-to-wear at festivals, for example: the "Africa Month" event in Guadeloupe.
- Coordinator with Ms. TOUNKARA Aissata for the first PROUD TO BE NATURAL! exhibition in Ile de France in June 2011, dedicated to promoting natural beauty and highlighting young entrepreneurs, designers, and project leaders in the field of natural beauty and wellness: Organizer of ready-to-wear showrooms for young designers in the Antilles.
- Creator of the project "PAPAYAA ….BE NOT CONFORMED!" which is a platform whose purpose is to say NO to the Norm!!! So that we can all agree, there is no model to follow, no better way to be, than to be ourselves. By inviting all original, free, atypical, highly creative spirits, all those who refuse to fit into the mold they want to impose on them, to express themselves freely, while also offering multicultural, original, and healthy products and services.
You seem drawn to the art of "headwrapping," why?
Yes, it's true, I am drawn to the art of "Headwrapping." I don't really have an explanation for this passion I have for this art. It's true that I've always loved fabrics, whatever they may be, their patterns, their specificities... which allow creativity to express itself freely, without limits, without constraints. Fabric evolves with societies, history, and individuals; it's a tool of man, made by man and for man, therefore universal.[/p]
This love for fabric led me to turban tying, also called "Headwrapping" in English, which I didn't know about until someone told me that's what these techniques were called. Headwrapping describes the multiple ways to tie a scarf to use it as a hair ornament, a head covering to change one's look.[/p]
A little story: during the 1st edition of the Proud to be Natural exhibition in June 2011, I met a long-lost friend who told me: "I'm really not surprised that today you're doing 'Headwrapping' workshops because you've been wearing a turban since middle school." It seems obvious to me that this attraction I have for "Headwrapping" must be linked to my origins; indeed, this technique is one of the many elements of African hairstyling that can rightly be considered an art.[/p]
What do you offer in the "headwrapping" workshops?
During the Headwrapping workshops, I offer different ways to wear the turban, through various folding techniques, with the aim of achieving traditional and modern ties. It's an opportunity to discover styles that will adapt to all seasons (colors, texture, shape, and type of fabric for each face), and most importantly, to let your creativity speak![/p]
What do you think of the "nappy attitude"?
For many years, natural kinky hair was completely excluded from the beauty world because it could not be considered as such.[/p]
Today, we seem to be gradually emerging from this exclusion: hairdressers, laboratories, manufacturers, and Black women themselves are increasingly interested in the treatment of natural kinky/curly or coily hair.[/p]
I can only approve of such a change, which, in my opinion, is an expression of self-esteem.[/p]
Why?
Aesthetic reparation is a necessity.[/p]
One only needs to look at the media and the image of Black women portrayed there to see that very little space is given to dark-skinned Black women with kinky hair.[/p]
After celebrating last May the ten-year anniversary of the "Taubira Law," which recognizes slavery and the slave trade as crimes against humanity, and especially after hearing extensively about reparations in this context, beyond political considerations, I wonder, as a Black woman, if there shouldn't be a true reparation regarding the image of Black women.[/p]
Is it easy to hold these workshops in Paris/IDF?
Yes and no. What's difficult are the rooms to book in Paris/IDF, which are often fully booked. Fortunately, I work in partnership with various organizations, notably the So&So/Ethik Concept boutique located in Châtelet les Halles.[/p]
What difficulties did you encounter in setting up this event?
This event was initially set up thanks to Ms. Tounkara Aissata (managing director of the So&So / Ethik Concept boutique) and myself (Ms. Guye Emmanuelle), as we were working together on a project centered around natural beauty and wellness.[/p]
As I mentioned above, it's the rooms and venues that are difficult to secure in Paris and elsewhere.[/p]
Can you tell me about the "Proud to be Natural" exhibition?
The concept was born from the conviction that beauty should not be formatted or reduced to a single definition, the idea being to advocate for "free beauty." It's an exhibition dedicated to the representation of plural beauties. During this event, two main themes are developed: natural beauty & wellness, and the promotion of cosmetic and/or organic entrepreneurs. This project was undertaken with Ms. Tounkara Aissata and myself (Ms. GUYE Emmanuelle) as coordinator.[/p]
The exhibition took place in Paris (Châtelet les Halles / creator space level-1) at Ethik Concept in June 2011.[/p]
When will/would it take place?
The next one will take place during the summer holidays.[/p]
What would you need to help you set up this event?[/p]
We would need financial or in-kind sponsors.[/p]
To be sent back with a high-definition photo of yourself (300dpi minimum) and of your workshop if possible.[/p]
The next Headwrapping / maré Tét workshop will take place on Sunday, November 13, 2011,[/p]
from 1 PM to 2:30 PM, by registration only, 30 euros per workshop (two turbans offered).[/p]
Links:[/p]
http://proudtobenatural.wordpress.com[/p]
Facebook link for "PAPAYAA ...BE NOT CONFORMED!":[/p]
http://www.facebook.com/#!/osez1?sk=wall[/p]
