This photo, shot by Jordan is from the album book for K' Pelle. I've been wanting to share the story behind the title. K'Pelle is the name of the tribe my father's family comes from in Liberia. When I set out to make a record about global unity, peace, and our shared humanity, I realized I couldn't speak about those things honestly without first embracing who I am and where I come from. I was born in Geneva, Switzerland, because my diplomat grandfather fled Liberia as a refugee before eventually becoming an Ambassador to the UN. His journey helped shaped my family's story, and in many ways, it absolutely shaped mine Since 2012, I have dedicated much of my life to advocating for UNHCR and displaced people around the world. That work has taught me something simple: home is not just a place. Home is each other. What's especially meaningful about this photo is that it was taken while I was pregnant with my son Spero. I avoided traditional maternity shoots because I wanted these images to say something bigger. This album is about the future we are creating together, and as we developed the visual identity for K'Pelle, I wanted to literally carry that future with me. We placed the shoot in a Black barbershop and drew inspiration from African dandyism, traditional hairstyles, and the pride, elegance, resilience, and care that have always existed within our cultures. I wanted to celebrate the beauty of Africa not through struggle, but through identity. For so long, the continent has been defined by conflict, instability, and hardship in the global imagination. I wanted these visuals to reflect something else: dignity, creativity, style, strength, heritage, and joy. My hope is that by embracing who we are and where we come from, we can create space for others to do the same. Different languages. Different cultures. Different histories. One world. One song. ♥️🌍
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