"I vividly remember Vai Queen and Paramount Chief Madam Wokie Massaquoi, whose omnipotence and estimable rulership lead to the official CORONATION by the mighty British Empire and Queen of England herself (well documented historical facts). This was the first and maybe only official coronation of an African Monarch (Queen) by the Queen of England. Madam ruled, and wore the crown, from 1925 until her death on 1 August 1971, over 100 years old."
Sam Massaquoi Jnr
Please do not repost the image (a family heirloom) without authorisation
Welcome to the official website of Madam Wokie Ltd.
Madam Wokie is a Sierra Leone based fashion brand created by Marynn Kaikai in 2009 to design exclusive, stylish, durable and affordable African-inspired garments and accessories. The brand name is inspired by Marynn's maternal great-grandmother, Madam Wokie Massaquoi, one of the few female Paramount Chief’s is post-colonial Sierra Leone. "The Massaquois are a group of direct Mande descendants of Mansa Musa, the greatest King of the enduring Mali Empire who on record took more than 8 tons of gold on his pilgrimage to Mecca and also transformed the great learning centers and universities of Timbuktu, where such notable Greek scholars and intelligentia of the day studied. It is of no surprise the name ‘MASSAQUOI’ means ‘from the house of kings or rulership.’
Madam Wokie specialises in producing African inspired bridal, ready-to-wear and bespoke pieces. The brand fuses heritage Sierra Leonean aesthetics with elegant modern designs. Having started off with a ready-to-wear line, the brand has now expanded to include bespoke tailoring; styling; fashion consultancy; bag, jewellery, footwear and fabric production. All clothes and accessories sold at the shop are manufactured in Africa, with most coming from Sierra Leone.
Since 2009 Madam Wokie has become well known in the Sierra Leonean community and internationally, and has featured in several international fashion shows, events and press.
Madam Wokie has showcased its collections on various platforms including the Madeng Beach Festival Sierra Leone, Africa Fashion International Fashion Week in Johannesburg, South Africa; Africa Fashion Week New York; Arise Magazine Fashion Week Lagos; Fashion for Development, First Ladies Luncheon and Fashion Show at the United Nations General Assembly in New York organised by Vogue Italia; Fashion for Relieve on the margins of New York Fashion Week organised by Naomi Campbell; and the inaugural Bahamas fashion Week.
Madam Wokie has been featured in several publications such as the BBC World Service Business Daily in 2018, CNN'S Inside Africa in 2011, CNN African voices in 2017, Australia’s ABC Arts, The Guardian, Genevieve Magazine, Vogue Italia, Studio 53, Brussels Airlines B There Magazine; The Style Issue, Arise magazine, The Finnish Broadcasting Company Programme World Politics Everyday, The Tribune Weekend Newspaper Bahamas: Catwalk Queen at Bahamas Fashion Week, Bahamas National TV show; The Stew, Fashion Bomb Daily, E Life Magazine, Swit Salone, Go Woman Africa Magazine and New Africa Woman Magazine.
The brand has also been worn by the likes of Victoria Secret model; Selita Ebanks, Estelle, Michelle Williams of Destiney’s Child, actress; Gabourey Sidibie and several other notable individuals.
Maryann Kaikai is the founder and Creative Director of Madam Wokie. Marynn was born and raised in Freetown, Sierra Leone, and spent parts of her formative life in Ghana, The Gambia, Togo and several countries across Africa. She attended The Limount College Secondary School and went on to The Fourah Bay College, University of sierra Leone, where she studied African Studies and International Relations.
Maryann is the recipient of the NEXTE & HEIRS AFRICA Designer of the Year Award in 2015 and 2016. In 2012 Maryann won the Best Designer Award at the Inaugural Youth Excellence Award. Maryann is an alumni of the US State Department 2014 African Women’s Entrepreneurship Programme. In 2017 Maryann represented Sierra Leone at the Global Entrepreneurship Summit in Hyderabad, India.
Maryann’s passion for fashion is inspired by the history of Sierra Leone, her life experiences, her travels and most importantly her determination to project a positive image of Sierra Leone.
The Madam Wokie showroom is located at Number 14 Syke Street, Freetown, Sierra Leone.
Madam Wokie
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