Kekely ” from the series Denim Dreams 2023

Denim Dreams by TogoYeye, the creative duo composed of Malaika Nabillah and Delali Ayivi

Discover the story behind the project of the recipients of the Levi's PhotoVogue grant

May 20, 2023

“Bokòr (calm) ” from the series Denim Dreams. 2023,Togo Yeye

Created by TogoYeye (@togoyeye) Model: Hassimiou

Created for the Photovogue (@photovogue) x Levi’s (@levis) open call wearing Levi’s 501.

Based on:

“The strongest is, who knows how to keep his calm" This saying is being taught from an early age onwards in West African culture. It aims to teach us self-control especially of our emotions. Bokor rhymes with wisdom and greatness and is a spirituous state that only those gifted with patience can achieve.

About the project

For the Levi’s 501 Open Call, we sourced our Jeans at out local second hand market called Hedzranawoe. The market sells second hand clothing at affordable prices and you can practically find anything there.
We spend several days looking for Levi's 501 jeans, with the help of the vendors at the market. In the beginning everyone was confused why we were looking for one specific type of jeans, but the ended up taking the challenge with us. In this process we found a corner of the market where young artisans were upcycling jeans taking them apart and sewing them together again to create new designs. After we found enough jeans we then worked on creating the sculptural pieces with the jeans, seeing how we can use the original shape and give it new meaning. Studying Togolese sayings, tales and anecdotes and with paint, wire and nails we managed to create surreal characters through the use of Levi’s 501.

Our Levis 501 Story is a story of Dreams. To tell our Levis 501 Story, we visited our Local market, where local artisans upcycle Denim wear. Our project aims to tell the dreams of the Togolese
youth through the use of Togolese Fairytales and folklore. Our images aim to create a magical and utopian universe that celebrates Togolese culture and the joy of its youth and invites spectators to dream and imagine, creating a mix of tradition and modernity.

By using recycled materials, we want to show the creativity and innovation and exist in our city at every corner and how certain practices can inherently sustainable such as the recourse reuse of denim. The re-modification of these Jeans into local designs speak to the decolonial effort of local artisan to make imported products their own. We try to show a vision of Togo and youth that is often absent from the Western media. Our pictures are a testimony to the vitality, creativity and resilience of Togolese youth, and aim to inspire both pride and hope.

"Neo mayia agomayi (let me pass, if you won’t.)” from the series Denim Dreams, 2023

Created by TogoYeye (@togoyeye)
Model: Claudia(@claudia_diamond_07) and Hassim (@neumann01)
Created for the Photovogue (@photovogue) x Levi’s (@levis) open call wearing Levi’s 501. Based on:

According to Togolese folklore Day and Night represents the essence of human existence. They can be interpreted as good and evil, happiness and sadness, light and darkness. Even if day and night are contradictory they are simultaneously beautifully complementary and inseparable. A saying associated with this belief states: “No matter how long the night, the day will appear” . This is to express that no matter the trials of our daily lives, no matter how dark it is there always has a solution and a light that will appear.

“Bobonasoé (take it easily) ” from the series Denim Dreams. 2023,

Created by TogoYeye (@togoyeye) Model: Darleine Kounde (@d.a.r.l.e.i.n.e)

Created for the Photovogue (@photovogue) x Levi’s (@levis) open call wearing Levi’s 501.

Based on:

Sometimes you need to step back to jump higher and further. ”Bobonasoe” expresses this sentiment that you have to take life easy and calmly. What can feel like a setback in life can be preparation for great blessings. Another saying that describes Bobonasoé is: “you always have to bend down, to pick up something on the floor”.

“Mawudola (Angel) ” from the series Denim Dreams, 2023

Created by TogoYeye (@togoyeye) Model: Darleine (@d.a.r.l.e.i.n.e)

Created for the Photovogue (@photovogue) x Levi’s (@levis) open call wearing Levi’s 501.

Based on:

A spiritual belief is that a protecting angel watches over us from our birth. This angel assures our security and provides invisible well-beings, and guidance throughout our lives. This angel can be an ancestor or a spiritual being that is unknown to us.

“Lonlonsakon (Love intertwined)” from the series Denim Dreams. 2023

Created by TogoYeye (@togoyeye)
Model: Hassim And Hassimiou (@neumann01)

Created for the Photovogue (@photovogue) x Levi’s (@levis) open call wearing Levi’s 501.

Based on:

Love is one of the sacred values we hold dear in our culture. Lonlonsakon is used to describe people who despite their difficulties and trials continue to make an effort to love each other despite their differences. It it is easy to love but difficult to love deeply and sincerely. The Lonlonsakon find ways to love each other in such ways.

“ Lemanja (Mamy wata)” from the series Denim Dreams. 2023

Created by TogoYeye (@togoyeye)

Model: Claudia (@claudia_diamond_07)

Created for the Photovogue (@photovogue) x Levi’s (@levis) open call wearing Levi’s 501.

Based on :

Mamy Wata is a West African aquatic divinity whose practice is widespread in Africa, in its diaspora and in the Caribbean. She is described as an extraordinary and powerful woman of great beauty. According to Togolese lore her spirit abducts her followers or random people while they swim or travel the sea by boat. She takes these people to her paradise kingdom, underwater, to the spirit world, the followers return to earth with a new spiritual intelligence that is reflected in their eyes, often they get richer and become more attractive. In Ewe tradition many believe that this Mamy Wata spirit can be passed on from Generation to generation within the family.

“Venavi (twins) ” from the series Denim Dreams, 2023 Created by TogoYeye (@togoyeye)

Model: Hassim And Hassimiou (@neumann01) Created

for the Photovogue (@photovogue) x Levi’s (@levis) open call wearing Levi’s 501.

Based on:

The birth of twins is seen as a blessing from the god. In Their lives and deaths twins are highly respected and adored. In the west African tradition, twins never really die their likeness are often carved in wood and considered to be lucky charms.

Bio

TogoYeye is a creative Duo based in Lomé composed of Malaika Nabillah and Delali Ayivi. Together, Malaika and Delali find and work with innovative Togolese talent in arts and fashion. Under their creative vision and direction, they create work that hopes to document and empower their creative community at home and in the diaspora. The optimism in Togo Yeye’s imagery shines a light onto Togo’s underrepresented future generations and the dreams and hopes they hold, opening symbiotic conversations about tradition and (re-) defining togolese modernity and history.

As creative duo we seek to create work that empowers Togo’s youth and speaks to the power of collective imagination as well as the progress that comes with valuing individualism. Malaika and Delali have come to understand especially fashion as a symbol and vessel of such, which is why we work in close collaboration with young designers and streetwear stylists to create our imagery.

Our main objective is to document and celebrate those who push creative boundaries, and to support young Togolese creatives trough creative productions. We hope to reclaim and challenge historical and contemporary narratives of Togo and its diaspora. We believe that through creative collaboration we can strengthen our community and bridge the gap between the Togolese diaspora and people at home. For that reason, our work often addresses the cultural dynamics between the many facets of Togolese identity.