Pure African beauty

Aiwekhoe lyahen is an economist, entrepreneur, adventurer and publisher. She's also the creator of a defiantly African skincare range that shines a fresh light on the continent's untapped riches.

- KEITH BAIN

Aiwekhoe's voice is like a warm hug. The timbre and lilt that's been fashioned from her mixed Nigerian Caribbean upbringing emanates from her like a nourishing balm. It's a soothing presence as she talks about her home country.

"One of the distinct things about Lagos is the hustle," says Aiwekhoe, who now lives in Cape Town. "There's an energy, a creativity, an approach to problem-solving and getting things done that I think is endemic to who we, as Nigerians, are."

She channels that energy and creativity into her latest enterprise, a skincare range that values Africa's lesser-heralded natural resources. She launched her brand, Chill Cape Town, in October 2019, just six months before the pandemic struck. Despite various lockdown restraints, her business survived and is still flourishing four years later. Her remarkable products have been discovered by a growing number of people who feel disillusioned by the proliferation of inferior, and sometimes damaging, skincare products.

The entrepreneur laughs when asked if she has a background in cosmetics and beauty. "No," she says, "I'm from the other end of the spectrum." An economist by training, she comes from a fast-paced corporate environment. Her brand was developed after relocating from Johannesburg to the Mother City, after years spent living and working in Europe. "I suffered from skin allergies and sensitivities, and became aware of the growing number of people around the world experiencing similar reactions to the chemicals in cosmetics. I have always blended my own skin creams using African botanicals - such as shea and mango butters - to treat my eczema. At some point, I realised that these products might benefit many other people, too."