{"id":136865,"date":"2021-04-21T12:00:00","date_gmt":"2021-04-21T16:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/models.com\/oftheminute\/?p=136865"},"modified":"2025-01-24T11:05:01","modified_gmt":"2025-01-24T16:05:01","slug":"how-digital-scouting-has-kept-these-west-african-mother-agencies-afloat","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/models.com\/oftheminute\/?p=136865","title":{"rendered":"How Digital Scouting Has Kept These West African Mother Agencies Afloat"},"content":{"rendered":"<style>\n.centerimg {padding:4em 7em;margin:20px 0;}\n.centerimg2 {padding:4em 4em;margin:20px 0;}\n.centerimg3 {padding:4em 3em;margin:20px 0;}\n.sidetxt {padding:16em 2em 16em 2em;;margin:20px 0;}\n.centerimg img {margin-bottom:0px;}\n.instagram-media {margin:auto !important;}\n#wp-content hr {margin: 40px auto 80px auto;width: 80%;}\n<\/style>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i.mdel.net\/oftheminute\/images\/2021\/04\/New-Project.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1446\" height=\"664\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-136895\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i.mdel.net\/oftheminute\/images\/2021\/04\/New-Project.jpg 1446w, https:\/\/i.mdel.net\/oftheminute\/images\/2021\/04\/New-Project-640x294.jpg 640w, https:\/\/i.mdel.net\/oftheminute\/images\/2021\/04\/New-Project-1280x588.jpg 1280w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1446px) 100vw, 1446px\" \/><br \/>\n<small><em>Calling in from Europe<\/em> <a href=\"\/\/models.com\/models\/cherif-douamba\">Cherif Douamba<\/a> and <a href=\"\/\/models.com\/models\/mensah-benjamin\">Mensah Benjamin<\/a> of Yafan | <a href=\"\/\/models.com\/models\/eya-mariam\">Eya Mariam<\/a> of Anani<\/small><\/p>\n<p><strong>Wondered how the life of the international models and agents has been like during this global pandemic? With limited runways to walk and shoots, lives have certainly been affected, especially if you factor in the nomadic models essential to new exclusives every fashion week season. The model mother agencies in West Africa, specifically in Ghana and Nigeria, like most members of the fashion and beauty industry, have had their fair share of repercussions from the novel coronavirus pandemic; back payments, ever-growing, resulting in layoffs of both staff and model representation; lockdowns, safety measures, and visa regulations stranding models at home; little to no bookings for their signed models stuck abroad. Models have always worked under the unfavorable condition of chance discovery but the pandemic only worsened scouting chances. For an industry that thrives on constant travel, convergence, and getting up close and personal, strict lockdown orders and travel bans caused havoc that might be irreversible. Slashed advertising budgets only led to more canceled runway slots for shows and traditional, in-person photoshoots became more cumbersome to shoot.<\/p>\n<p>One could simply conclude that with these problems this might be the apocalypse of the industry. Yet surprisingly as the world enters this new abnormal normal, international mother agencies say they\u2019re finding creative ways to get their models the work they need, resorting to new digital means. With images shot by <a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/kam.del\/?hl=en\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Delwin Kamara<\/a> for Models.com, correspondent <a href=\"\/\/models.com\/people\/ekow-barnes\">Ekow Barnes<\/a> spoke with some fast-rising models and five agency directors from Yafan, Star, Fuse, Cast, and Anani mother agencies in Ghana and Nigeria &#8211; from a safe distance, of course &#8211; on what the current situation looks like for them and how they\u2019re locking in coveted debuts and key placements.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><center>Photographer &#8211; <a href=\"\/\/models.com\/people\/delwin-kamara\">Delwin Kamara<\/a> for Models.com | Writer &#8211; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/ekowbarnes_\/?hl=en\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Ekow Barnes<\/a> | Editor &#8211; <a href=\"\/\/models.com\/people\/irene-ojo-felix\">Irene Ojo-Felix<\/a> | Photo Assistant &#8211; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/nelson_oghenekewe\/\">Nelson Oghenekewe<\/a><center\/><\/p>\n<div class=\"centerimg\">\n<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i.mdel.net\/oftheminute\/images\/2021\/04\/Seth2_Yafan.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"783\" height=\"1181\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-136886\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i.mdel.net\/oftheminute\/images\/2021\/04\/Seth2_Yafan.jpg 783w, https:\/\/i.mdel.net\/oftheminute\/images\/2021\/04\/Seth2_Yafan-424x640.jpg 424w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 783px) 100vw, 783px\" \/><br \/>\n<small><em>Shot in Accra<\/em> <a href=\"\/\/models.com\/models\/bedzo-seth\">Bedzo Seth<\/a> of Yafan Models<\/small>\n<\/div>\n<p>Ghanaian model <a href=\"\/\/models.com\/models\/bedzo-seth\">Bedzo Seth<\/a> signed with <a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/yafanmodels\/\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Yafan Models<\/a> in Accra and was soon represented worldwide with a debut season walking Louis Vuitton, Missoni, Botter, and Acne yet has had a hard time while sidelined in Accra. \u201cI\u2019m motivated by the fact that things are not going to be like this forever,\u201d Seth explains. \u201cI believe we will someday regain our freedom (and) life will come back to normal.\u201d Rising star <a href=\"\/\/models.com\/models\/quaye-dennis\">Quaye Dennis<\/a> also had a very successful first season at Louis Vuitton, Loewe, and debuting at Prada. Influenced to become a model by fellow Yafan  co-worker <a href=\"\/\/models.com\/models\/ottawa-kwami\">Ottawa Kwami<\/a> and Senegalese model <a href=\"\/\/models.com\/models\/malick-bodian\">Malick Bodian<\/a>, Dennis went on to appear in different fashion campaigns and editorials but has since been sidelined since the pandemic started. With tricky navigation of visa laws, travel bans, quarantine, testing, and limited housing for the many models that got their start last year, they\u2019re in limbo. \u201cThis current crisis has affected my career because I\u2019m not able to travel to go and work,\u201d Dennis explains. \u201cI have hope that things will change and everything will get back to normal.\u201d<\/p>\n<div class=\"centerimg\">\n<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i.mdel.net\/oftheminute\/images\/2021\/04\/YafanGroup2.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1075\" height=\"712\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-136893\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i.mdel.net\/oftheminute\/images\/2021\/04\/YafanGroup2.jpg 1075w, https:\/\/i.mdel.net\/oftheminute\/images\/2021\/04\/YafanGroup2-640x424.jpg 640w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1075px) 100vw, 1075px\" \/><br \/>\n<small>Yafan Model Development Board<\/small>\n<\/div>\n<p>Having a conversation with Yafan&#8217;s Director of Men&#8217;s Division, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/yafan_communication\/?hl=en\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Monde Gcisa<\/a> tells us that one positive aspect of the past year was the pandemic did not dampen demand. \u201cCOVID-19 didn\u2019t have much impact on the placing of models as agents, we are always very excited to represent our boys in their markets. When you have a strong enough face you will have agencies all bidding to represent your model for the days post-pandemic.\u201d Those strong faces have included Kwami, <a href=\"\/\/models.com\/models\/cherif-douamba\">Cherif Douamba<\/a>, and <a href=\"\/\/models.com\/models\/mensah-benjamin\">Mensah Benjamin<\/a> who have been locking down campaigns for Louis Vuitton, Prada, and Jil Sander while in Europe. Francis Nordzo, Yafan CEO and Founder also cautioned, &#8220;for us, it was not the placing of models that was much of an issue as compared to how we get our models back into Europe. We are an international agency which means we depend on various markets to keep the lights on. As a team, we had to find creative solutions on how to keep our models working with their European clientele whilst they were home in Africa.&#8221; Those solutions boiled down to focusing on the surge of work that could be done locally aligning with campaigns and lookbooks for <a href=\"\/\/models.com\/client\/daily-paper\">Daily Paper<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/CIsIkboM4FL\/\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Post Imperial<\/a>, and a Gucci advertorial sponsored by <a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/CGFlBtesC2_\/\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Manju Journal<\/a>.<\/p>\n<div class=\"centerimg\">\n<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i.mdel.net\/oftheminute\/images\/2021\/04\/Dede_Fuse.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"871\" height=\"1091\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-136874\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i.mdel.net\/oftheminute\/images\/2021\/04\/Dede_Fuse.jpg 871w, https:\/\/i.mdel.net\/oftheminute\/images\/2021\/04\/Dede_Fuse-511x640.jpg 511w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 871px) 100vw, 871px\" \/><br \/>\n<small><em>Calling in from New York<\/em> <a href=\"\/\/models.com\/models\/dede-mansro\">Dede Mansro<\/a> of Fuse Models<\/small>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"\/\/models.com\/models\/dede-mansro\">Dede Mansro<\/a>, a Ghanaian breakout model who graced the cover of Vogue Italia got signed during the lockdown last year by her mother agency, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/fusemanagement\/?hl=en\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Fuse Models<\/a> in Lagos, Nigeria, who later connected her to Next Models for worldwide representation. Having to shoot her first worldwide campaign for Nike, Mansro talked about her goals now that she\u2019s attained that career milestone, &#8220;Seeing Black Women on covers and billboards when I moved here made me feel inspired to do that for young girls when they look at my work.&#8221; Fuse founder, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/kwenmaye\/?hl=en\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Kwen Maye<\/a> explains how fulfilling it\u2019s been to see Mansro\u2019s growth, &#8220;being a model booker can be exhausting sometimes, but whenever I get overwhelmed I just go back to our archives and see how it all started.\u201d For Maye it\u2019s been the best time to scout models like Mansro and <a href=\"\/\/models.com\/models\/michele-opiyo\">Michele Opiyo<\/a> then place them abroad as \u201ca lot of agencies abroad are taking this time to sign new faces and they\u2019re paying attention to models&#8217; submissions unlike before when they were always super busy.&#8221;<\/p>\n<div class=\"centerimg\">\n<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i.mdel.net\/oftheminute\/images\/2021\/04\/AnaniGroup.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"981\" height=\"783\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-136871\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i.mdel.net\/oftheminute\/images\/2021\/04\/AnaniGroup.jpg 981w, https:\/\/i.mdel.net\/oftheminute\/images\/2021\/04\/AnaniGroup-640x511.jpg 640w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 981px) 100vw, 981px\" \/><br \/>\n<small><em>Shot in Lagos<\/em> <a href=\"\/\/models.com\/models\/queen-onyemaechi\">Queen Onyemaechi<\/a> (center) and Anani Model Development Board<\/small>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"\/\/models.com\/models\/queen-onyemaechi\">Queen Onyemaechi<\/a> of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/ananimodels\/?hl=en\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Anani Models<\/a> in Lagos noted that the pandemic further bolstered digital scouting methods mentioning \u201cplacing the new faces with international agencies is a different game on its own. Scouting continues and there\u2019s definitely no end to it right now.\u201d Already successful in getting models like <a href=\"\/\/models.com\/models\/eya-mariam\">Eya Mariam<\/a>, <a href=\"\/\/models.com\/models\/janet-jumbo\">Janet Jumbo<\/a>, and <a href=\"\/\/models.com\/models\/victoria-fawole\">Victoria Fawole<\/a> placed, the added development time as vaccine distribution makes its way through global markets means more time for education and a matured focus on the business of fashion. \u201cWith the new norm right now the plan is to further develop and prepare them while waiting for the slightest opportunity we get.\u201d Yet it all comes down to the bottom dollar and traveling is a direct connection to higher-paid work. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/starmodelafrica\/\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Star Models&#8217;<\/a> founder Aisha Bello, who helped internationally place <a href=\"\/\/models.com\/models\/caren-jepkemei\">Caren Jepkemei<\/a>, <a href=\"\/\/models.com\/models\/adhel-bol\">Adhel Bol<\/a>, and <a href=\"\/\/models.com\/models\/precious-kevin\">Precious Kevin<\/a>, along with head booker David Okposo noted \u201cIt&#8217;s been super frustrating representing these rising models who couldn&#8217;t travel because all embassies in Africa are shut down. Our young models are super stunning and did local jobs but our main target is also to see them on the international platform.\u201d<\/p>\n<div class=\"centerimg\">\n<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i.mdel.net\/oftheminute\/images\/2021\/04\/New-Project-2.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1059\" height=\"664\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-136897\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i.mdel.net\/oftheminute\/images\/2021\/04\/New-Project-2.jpg 1059w, https:\/\/i.mdel.net\/oftheminute\/images\/2021\/04\/New-Project-2-640x401.jpg 640w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1059px) 100vw, 1059px\" \/><br \/>\n<small><em>Shot in Lagos<\/em> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/preciouseke__\/\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Precious Eke Kalu<\/a> of Star Models | <a href=\"\/\/models.com\/models\/janet-jumbo\">Janet Jumbo<\/a> of Anani Models<\/small>\n<\/div>\n<p>The pandemic challenged the modeling and fashion industry to adapt to ensure long-term sustainability. \u201cThe pandemic has affected the traveling opportunities of our great talents but it has also given us the management time to restructure,\u201d Lord Ameyao Gidiglo, Director from Cast Models in Ghana who represents models like <a href=\"\/\/models.com\/models\/akon-changkou\">Akon Changkou<\/a>, <a href=\"\/\/models.com\/models\/grace-quaye\">Grace Quaye<\/a> and <a href=\"\/\/models.com\/models\/olaide-zainab\">Olaide Zainab<\/a> narrates. \u201cTo the management, it\u2019s been frustrating representing the models but they understand the situation at stake.\u201d Accra stands as a green industry for modeling with not that many lucrative opportunities for talent yet local productions for <a href=\"\/\/models.com\/client\/off-white-off-white\">Off-White<\/a> x <a href=\"\/\/models.com\/client\/daily-paper\">Daily Paper<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/CKBEqbaDKGm\/\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">capsule collections<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/CK0ytBkDr9s\/\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Studio 189<\/a>, and local fashion weeks kept them afloat. As we await a return to full freedom of movement and a full recovery to take hold, models will need to ramp things up in the next year and a half to make up for any of last year&#8217;s contract losses. <\/p>\n<div class=\"centerimg\">\n<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i.mdel.net\/oftheminute\/images\/2021\/04\/CastGroup.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"819\" height=\"1026\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-136872\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i.mdel.net\/oftheminute\/images\/2021\/04\/CastGroup.jpg 819w, https:\/\/i.mdel.net\/oftheminute\/images\/2021\/04\/CastGroup-511x640.jpg 511w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 819px) 100vw, 819px\" \/><br \/>\n<small><em>Shot in Lagos<\/em> Happy Momoh, <a href=\"\/\/models.com\/models\/olaide-zainab\">Olaide Zainab<\/a>, and <a href=\"\/\/models.com\/models\/tosin-o\">Tosin O<\/a> of Cast Models<\/small>\n<\/div>\n<p><!--pp-thumb-start--><!--PictPress found no dir \/2021\/04\/136865--><!--pp-thumb-end--><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Calling in from Europe Cherif Douamba and Mensah Benjamin of Yafan | Eya Mariam of Anani Wondered how the life of the international models and agents has been like during this global pandemic? With limited runways to walk and shoots, lives have certainly been affected, especially if you factor in the nomadic models essential to&hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":436,"featured_media":136871,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[10527,10414,16],"tags":[12117,12918,14714,12684,10448],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/models.com\/oftheminute\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/136865"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/models.com\/oftheminute\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/models.com\/oftheminute\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/models.com\/oftheminute\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/436"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/models.com\/oftheminute\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=136865"}],"version-history":[{"count":29,"href":"https:\/\/models.com\/oftheminute\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/136865\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":165836,"href":"https:\/\/models.com\/oftheminute\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/136865\/revisions\/165836"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/models.com\/oftheminute\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/136871"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/models.com\/oftheminute\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=136865"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/models.com\/oftheminute\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=136865"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/models.com\/oftheminute\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=136865"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}