Christina Tegbe at GTCO Fashion Weekend: Celebrating African Beauty Through Heritage, Science, and Innovation
By Arikawe Femi
At the GTCO Fashion Weekend, Christina Funke Tegbe, founder and creative force behind 54 Thrones, delivered an inspiring masterclass on the future of African beauty. Drawing from her Nigerian heritage, Christina shared how her brand celebrates authentic African beauty while empowering artisans across the continent through trade—not aid.
Launching 54 Thrones in 2016 after leaving a corporate career, Christina recounted how her travels across Africa from Nigeria to Ghana, Morocco, and Egypt shaped her vision. “Everything our grandparents shared with us about skincare or wellness that’s science,” she explained. “We just need to study it, document it, and bring it to the world.”
Christina emphasized the scientific power of African ingredients, often overlooked or misunderstood. Ingredients like shea butter, jojoba oil, and resurrection plant are not only natural but clinically effective, capable of moisturizing, repairing, and protecting the skin. By combining tradition with modern research, 54 Thrones creates products that honor African rituals while delivering measurable results.
A central theme of her talk was ownership and partnerships. Christina highlighted the importance of building trade-based relationships rather than relying on aid. “We want our African artisans and cooperatives to grow alongside us,” she said, “so they can own their intellectual property, patent ingredients, and capture the value of their work.” She shared how strategic collaborations, rather than loans or handouts, have accelerated the brand’s reach and impact.
Christina also shared practical advice for emerging beauty entrepreneurs:
- Start with one problem, one product: Focus energy on creating something exceptional rather than trying to serve everyone.
- Be scrappy and resourceful: Learn, experiment, and network locally when funding is limited.
- Leverage community: Build meaningful engagement through virtual and in-person events, listening closely to your audience.
- Balance heritage and science: Combine African beauty rituals with modern skincare knowledge, ensuring products are both authentic and efficacious.
- Invest in storytelling and marketing: As with K-beauty, the world notices brands that package, promote, and tell compelling stories.
Throughout the session, Christina emphasized the importance of focus, perseverance, and adaptability. She shared that while 54 Thrones has grown significantly, she continues to learn and refine her approach, staying true to the brand’s DNA while expanding globally.
On competition, she offered a collaborative perspective: “We need each other to put African beauty on the global stage. Collaboration, not isolation, drives impact.”
The masterclass concluded with Christina encouraging attendees to believe in African beauty, invest in innovation, and capture the full value of the continent’s resources. She reminded the audience that Nigeria produces 40% of the world’s shea butter but only captures 1% of the revenue a challenge she aims to change through ownership, manufacturing, and global storytelling.
Christina Tegbe’s session was more than a lecture, it was a call to action: African beauty is heritage, science, and opportunity, ready to take its place on the global stage.
