Found this report on Mail Online and they titled it "Nigerian doll created by man who couldn't find a
black toy for his niece is so popular in his country that it's
outselling Barbie". Never heard of these dolls but they are lovely and it's an interesting read. Find below...
A man who couldn't find a black doll in the shops as a gift for his niece decided to take matters into his own hands.
In
2007, Taofick Okoya, 43, created his own doll that Nigerian girls could
identify with by recreating their skin colour and style - and it is now
so successful that it is outselling Barbie. The doll, which is called Queens of Africa, comes with traditional outfits and accessories and costs around £4.50.
The dolls'
look is modelled on three of the country's biggest tribes and aims to
promote strong feminine ideals, like love, peace and endurance.
The
doll is now so popular that, according to Reuters, it is selling up to
9,000 units a month - a staggering 15 per cent of the country's toy
market.
But the Queens of Africa aren't just selling in their home country. Thanks to the doll's online presence, customers are coming from as far as America, Brazil and Europe.
Speaking to ELLE
about his dolls out-selling Barbie in his native Nigeria, Okoya (pictured above) said:
'My mission is to make the Queens of Africa a symbol of hope, trust, and
confidence by promoting African history, culture, and fashion.'
One
person that Okoya really hopes the dolls will have a positive impact on
is his daughter, who, he explains, once wished she was white.
He explained
that even though they live in Nigeria, there was a lot of Western
influence. He said: '[This] might have been responsible for her wishing
she was white. It made me aware that I needed to make her proud and
happy being a black African girl, and not limit it to her alone as this
was a common trend among the younger generation. The Queens of Africa
became a platform to achieve this.'
Unfortunately,
Okoya has been told that he won't be able to sell the dolls on the
shelves of mainline stories in America and will have to limit his
business to specialist stores.
But he is determined to see the decision overturned, he said: 'I am looking to prove them wrong.'
119 comments:
Wow. Creativity on its pick. Nice one. #oneandonlynwa@gmail.com#
Nice concept. At least sumtin different from what we hv bin seeing. #oneandonlynwa@gmail.com#
Yes prove the Americans wrong. Carry on bro.
He must really luv his niece. Nice one.
@Sophia Stephen
Haven't seen them as well, but they sure look lovely.
Yes I know them.bought several times for daughter,niece,friends daughter etc
Way to go! Let's show them that black is beautiful. God bless your work.
Awwww I love this, they re even more beautiful than d whites
Woooooooooooooow!!!!! Creative,original and undeniably beautiful!!! I'll get one for my lovely dovey lil sisters!!
Oh Wow, isn't this so Amazing?? Nice One Brov.
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.NOTE: Raise Your Words, Not Your Voice. It Is Rain That Grows Flowers, Not Thunder..
Me likey.
Shalom in Nigeria, Amen.
I love this!
We'v got it in Us. All we need is a supportive environment
LIB's Last Born
Wow this is lovely....i love his dream.
Nice one!
U just have to think outside the box @time. Creativity rules the world. Nice job from him
Naija I hail thee.
Buhari is an evil old man.
thats nice and inovative!
Wow!!! Lovely!! Dis is very creative, pls bring it down 2 9ja
That's a Good innovation, and thank God he didn't limit himself to only what men can do, cos some people in Nigeria would say men are not supposed to play with dolls and all!! Congrats.
Real talent. Awesome. Hardwork pays
Oyinbo people & their jealous mindset. Not to worry, Okoya. God go bring your own customers. Linda take note!
Nice.
All i see is that the man is soo fine..
We are talentedly blessed in Africa!
OKORO UPGRADED **
Damn!! They are so beautiful!
Why can't he sell em in main stream stores in America?! I must say this is the first time I am hearing about the African dolls but I have seen the African barbie.
MR EDDY said this heat wan kill person o.
Wow. These are so lovely.
^
^
^™THAT EDO BOY.COM~
Awwwwww... So lovely.
Awwwwww... So lovely. At least children will learn that not only lightskined people are beautiful.
This is really lovely! I must confess this Queens of Africa fashion is d bomb
Very ingenious indeed.
£4.5 ??? Wow!! That's some dough.....I still prefer barbie though
••••••QUEENMAYA•••••••
How can we get the dolls please
Wow, this is creativity
Whites, racists since 201BD. Nice invention. All these oversabi whites that thinks blacks can't invent anything. Ntoorrrr
lovely dolls indeed. great idea.
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Liflblog.WordPress.com
This is Very cool!
Wao.....it's a good thing to think out of the box. This is inspiring.
Busy Fingers.
Creative Minds
Very innovative and creative at the same promoting African culture n heritage.
Nice 1
Good job, Taofick. There's no point waiting for Daddy Dearest to give you crumbs. Make your own money. Ingenious idea.
Wow! I love creativity. No dulling. All you need do is give it a shot. Awesome work.! ~ ceze
Wow....i'm so proud of this. nice one samuel_augustina@yahoo.com
Nice i love it
... *at its peak.
Nice one..It really looks good........................#KingOfKings #6God
Just like your father is.
nice one
keep it up
#Commenting thru Glo 4G LTE
It's a nice concept, but he needs to work on the dolls' eyes so they're in colors usually found on black people.
Lol. Scholastica
Wowwww This is really nice.It feels good to see a nigerian who has creative ideas.
Mumu
So very true,I mean this is mind blowing,so so creative and lovely.
Sis Linda how do I get one please ???
Linda, thank you for this story but where is his online presence? At least give us some kind of contact. Thank you.
Yea cin d dolls b4 nd dey luk 9ice bt linda hw com u neva hear of taofick okoya b4?
Nice one. So proud of this. samuel_augustina@yahoo.com
They are lovely. Proudly Nigeria
Nice concept
I don't think it was coincidence, looking for a black doll and all for his niece. It was intended right from the start as a business venture. He is Rasaq Okoya's son. Smart business move, though.
You are hopeless.
Wow...What an Inspiration and creativity!
Love these, am proud to be a Nigerian
Lol. Was going to say the same thing at Chikaka. He looks very different in that pic though.
Creative. #happysunday
Appealing 2d eyes **Ogelucy.
they are nice
.....
Linda, thank you for this story but where is his online presence? At least give us some kind of contact. Thank you.
Nigeria got talent..
this is awesome, this is what Nigeria needs, we also need to learn how to patronize our own as well
Really nice
Over dolls" matter? Na wa for una o!
So creative! am happy for him.keep doing thing your Mr,
Nice one keep it up
dey re lovely dear
Linda but that's not taofick in the photo
That's creativity! Telling us the black that black is beauty.
Yes he is evil. He pardoned corrupt convicts, he is sponsored by ibori. He did nothing about about Boko haram. He refused to find the missing girls. He said stealing Nigerians money is not corruption so that $20bn is gone. Oh sorry that's your father GEJ.
Wow! So impressive.
This is what I called being creative,am really loving this
I have also never seen them, are the sales restricted to Lagos only ??? Just asking
But it's a wonderful talent & they look so adorable
Wow!
Dis is great and wish them well.
Nice one and thumbs up.
Fantastic!! We got very brilliant pees in this country
Perfect n lovely, really looks better than the white barbie, this is creativity. Congrats man
Imagine!!!! Nigerians hardly accept good things. DISAPPOINTED!
Really nice...creative...
Grow up fool with dis ur take note of a tin
I so love it, it's worth every dime sooooo cute some Americans will always find a way to tell u abt racism or inferiority complex is different ways
WOW! Its about time for this. Our children need to start playing with dolls that look like them. He still need to work on the noses though as most Africans have broader ones. Good job
Erm but that is not Taofik in the photo...
And I suppose ur 'lil sisters' will share 'one'? Pathetic
Lovely
So cool me like
Dis Is wat I call creativity!
Yeeeeeeeeesssss! Finally, good change. The prevalence of white dolls has contributed to the erosion of the sense of identity and self-esteem of blacks, starting unfortunately from as early as childhood. There's research out there supporting the fact and Oprah Winfrey has also spoken about it on one of her shows. Kudos Taofik
Wow! Wudnt mind getting one of this for a cousin.
Wud sure be getting one for my future daughter.
A very lovely n gud initiative!
Niece and creative..bub the king ogbanje spirit wey go enter this one go even kill chucky self..beware and be warned
Not bad
Aww beautiful
I don't mind getting one for myself. Will learn to braid with it
Very nice,but I think some of the dolls should have natural hair/Afro style instead of long braids. @ Bia Bia.
Creative. I was about to complain about the colour till I saw darker shades of the doll. Nice one
Well if he can afford only one, let him get it. As his pocket permits pls.
Great Concept #Naija nd proud!
African Americans would loooooooove this but I can see white Americans influence to try to keep it from flooding American, they lie, God big pass them.
yes oooo
www.udokajane.blogspot.com
woooooow.
www.udokajane.blogspot.com
dat is Racism, why can't they grant him the opportunity to sell in USA
good idea. he should also make dem of varying body sizes. dat wld b superb.
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Outselling barbie?!! And we are just hearing about it?! Hmm...!
Wooow.
Where can I buy one in the United States. bj472000@yahoo.com
Dt's exactly why he is d son. Creativity in d genes. Ideas rules d world. We shld learn to appreciate good innovations. Proudly Nija.
So creative......nice
Wow ! what an interesting blog.Thanks for sharing this information.Your information is really informative for us. Nice blog on online shopping toys. Shop Online Dolls-and-Accessories
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