Mohamed Lewis x Drew Botcherby | INDIVIDUALITY AND REBELLION

Growing up in modern Africa is challenging enough. Adding religion, with all its rigorous systems of designated behaviors, practices, morals, ethics and world views can, at times, be quite exasperating especially to a whole generation engaged in a globalised online community. 

Model, designer and academic, Mohamed Lewis was born in The Republic of Guinea, the largest county in the gulf of Guinea. Growing up in a country with a muslim majority can also have its own drawbacks on a young man, unconfined by his immediate surroundings, opting to colour his hair and wear ‘provocative’ clothing. 

The English term Guinea comes directly from the Portuguese word Guiné, which was popularised in the mid-15th century to refer to the lands inhabited by the ’Guineus’, a generic term for the black Africans south of the Senegal river, in an effort to differentiate them from the Moors further north.

Based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA, Lewis teamed up with US photographer Drew Botcherby in Brooklyn, New York, USA to create ‘INDIVIDUALITY AND REBELLION’, a series that aims to inspire individuals of darker skin tones and complexions to disregard Western society’s standards of beauty and to shout triumphantly, ‘I AM BEAUTIFUL’.  

“I was often bullied in my childhood years for being this complexion but after tremendous amount of self love therapy I overcame my insecurities. I strive to promote individuality and transmit this message in all of my work.”, Lewis told Ocean Africa.  

Photographer: Drew Botcherby

Muse: Mohamed Lewis

Wardrobe: Malama Empire

Retouched: Kristy Lawrence

Special thanks: Holyrad Studio, Brooklyn New York

Follow Drew Botcherby on Instagram

Follow Mohamed Lewis on Instagram