“Queens Of Africa,” a well-known, Nigerian-made doll collection, is making its debut in the United States just in time for the summer.
The collection was created in 2007 by Taofick Okoya, a Nigerian entrepreneur seeking to celebrate African and Black beauty with the motto, “Empowering the African girl child.” The collection features dolls with varied skin tones and coils ranging from dark to light shades and different hair textures, representing the various women throughout the African continent. The dolls will be displayed wearing contemporary African fashion in an array of patterns complete with headdress, crowns and handmade accessories.
According to Huffpost Black Voices, in 2014 the “Queens of Africa” collection outsold top doll manufacturer Mattel in the Nigerian market, making it the number one seller in its region.
Okoya recently announced the dolls will embark on a “Coming To America” tour throughout the US, making stops in Atlanta, New York and Chicago. The tour will begin in May and end in July, although the specifics have not been announced.
