Jan 2023 Issue
Table of Contents

Jan 2023 Digital Cover Experience

“We’re very proud first-generation Africans.”

Sabrina Elba
NOTES FROM THE

Editor

 
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We’re ringing in 2023 with our favorite jet-setting power couple, Idris and Sabrina Elba. The pair have built a romantic partnership that is rooted in purpose and giving back. From their humanitarian work with the United Nations to their partnership with Farm Africa, the duo are using their platforms for the greater good. The Elbas share how their Ghanaian-Sierra Leonean and Somali heritage has been a source of connection and shaped the vision for their EBONY Beauty Award-winning wellness brand S’ABLE Labs.

In late January, we’re also debuting ‘Africa Now,’ EBONY’s new digital content hub which celebrates the beauty and innovation of the Mother Continent. We explore Africa’s youth boom, and global innovators throughout the diaspora. Plus, how cultural festivals like Afrochella and Afro Nation are connecting citizens of the continent to its descendants abroad.

 
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Cover Story

Idris Elba and Sabrina Dhowre Elba are on the move. Within the last two years, whether together or apart, the power couple has been busy: in London, celebrating the launch of their multifaceted wellness brand, S’Able Labs; in France, speaking with President Emmanuel Macron about funding sustainable agriculture in Africa; in Sierra Leone, meeting with farmers about the impact of the rural poor stimulus facility they launched with the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), in 2020; in Egypt, convening with leaders in the fight for climate justice; in Hollywood, posing on red carpets for movie premieres and award shows; in Washington, D.C., discussing the future of Africa.

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Video: Making the Cover Featuring Idris & Sabrina

2022 EBONY Power 100 Dynamic Duo honorees Idris and Sabrina Elba embody all things #BlackLoveGoals, though the pair are admittedly hesitant about being referred to as a “Power Couple.” “I don’t know what a ‘power couple’ is, but it feels really good to say,” Idris says. The pair met at a party in 2017 and wed in Morocco two years later. Throughout their journey, the duo have used their platform and jet-setting lifestyle for the greater good. They’ve been on a mission to champion the cause of rural, smallholder farmers, traveling the globe for speaking engagements and mission-based work in Africa. We caught up with the stars while in Washington, D.C. for the U.S. Africa Leaders Summit. Join the them for this exclusive behind-the-scenes video at their EBONY cover shoot.

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The Elbas’ GroundBreaking Work on The Continent

Committing to social impact is more than a fad for Sabrina and Idris Elba— it’s a lifestyle. Beyond the couple’s aspirational relationship, they are revered for their genuine concern for the human condition and bettering the lives of others all over the world. As the progeny of African immigrants, the Elbas consciously leave a positive imprint that will generate significant changes for generations to come. Here are some charitable actions that Sabrina and Idris Elba have executed that better the lives of people across the continent of Africa and beyond.

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“We need sustainable ways of helping people take care of themselves.”

Idris Elba
The Elbas’ Top African Escapes

Although demanding schedules limit the Elbas’ desire for frequent vacations, they’ve learned to make the most out of business trips—whether that’s fitting in a nice restaurant or site-seeing when they can. But, there’s always this pull that draws them to the Mother Continent. “Africa is the future. We love the beauty of the land and the people, not to mention the countless opportunities,” Idris and Sabrina Elba share. “Anyone who hasn’t been yet is really missing out. There’s truly something for everyone. It’s a chance to connect with cultures and people whose beauty is unimaginable.”

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Photo by Manoj Shah/Getty Images.

“Skincare is
at the core
of everyone’s
wellbeing
journey.”

The Elbas
How S’Able Labs is Reclaiming our Roots

The skincare industry has become very saturated, and it seems like new brands pop up every day. The popularity of skincare has risen within the last few years, especially since the pandemic. The economic boom of this sector of beauty alerted many to venture into this flourishing market, including major conglomerates, indie brands and celebrities. Actor and humanitarian, Idris Elba, and his wife, model Sabrina Dhowre Elba are championing A-Beauty—a movement that highlights ingredients sourced from Africa—via their wellness brand,  S’Able Labs. The unisex lineup of ethically made skincare uses recyclable packaging, with options for easy refills.

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Video: Inside the Issue with EBONY Editor-in-Chief Marielle Bobo

At the close of 2022, the EBONY team traveled to Washington. D.C. on a brisk December evening to photograph power couple Idris and Sabrina Elba. In town for The U.S. Africa Leaders Summit, the British actor’s schedule was jam-packed with a dizzying lineup of meetings with dignitaries, entrepreneurs, and philanthropists. He would deliver remarks at the global conference on the importance of investing in Africa–something that is near and dear to both the film star and his wife. As the first generation children of immigrant parents, Idris (who is of Ghanaian-Sierra Leonean heritage) and Sabrina (whose family hails from Somalia) find connectivity in their humanitarian work on the Mother Continent. The Global Citizens share their journey and kick off the debut of EBONY’s Africa Now hub–a digital destination which celebrates why the future is Africa.

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Video: The Elbas on African Beauty Rituals and Building a Wellness Empire

The Elbas are championing ‘A-Beauty’ with their 2022 EBONY Beauty & Grooming award-winning skincare brand S’ABLE Labs. Short for ‘African beauty,’ the term is used for wellness products that originate from Africa and its diaspora. Inspired by the rich biodiversity of the African continent the genderless line is comprised of ingredients sourced from the motherland. The unisex lineup uses recyclable packaging, and is rooted in sustainability. Watch the Elbas discuss the vision for their pioneering brand in this exclusive video.

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