Top Make-up Artists in Africa

Joy Adenuga is an award winning, Nigerian and London based professional make-up artist. She specialises in bridal make-up, and is an expert in her own right and is very talented. 

She is also a melanin specialist, a beauty expert and an educator. She has worked at so many beauty companies hosting teaching events and helping brides look their best on their wedding days. 

Joy’s skills have no limits and she is internationally recognized. Makeup for Joy was innate. She had so much passion for makeup and especially for the black skin after she took a course in makeup that didn’t cover the black skin. 

The coloured people weren’t totally accepted in the makeup and modelling industry because of their colours. This was so much that some industries put black magazines off their PR lists. She wanted so much to work on the colour she learnt. However, she was always rejected as a black makeup artist. This made her start her own makeup line which was inspired by the black skin. 

Now, the black skin is getting the recognition it deserves. 

Bebe Omagbemi, popularly known as Bibyonce is a Nigerian make-up artist who slays all looks. She is based in Lagos. An industrious makeup artist, who is really good at what she does, be it for weddings, events and a casual face-beat. She has become the go to make-up artist due to her beautiful work. 

Her work has graced the faces of so many Nigerian celebrities and top personalities. She has a taste of excellence which is very obvious in the works she does. Her works really depict her personality and passion for makeup. 

She has a distinct makeup style which has distinguished her in the makeup industry and apart from being a makeup artist, she is also a photographer who knows her onions well. 

One Nigerian makeup artist that has managed to keep a signature look is Bibyonce. Celebrities she has worked with don’t leave looking the same after she has worked on them. For Bibyonce, it is all about the eyes as she is very particular about doing makeups that make the eye pop out.

With her renowned Barbie doll looks, she has been able to gather a presence in the makeup industry locally and internationally.  

Nomsa Madida is another make-up artist flourishing abroad. She has been nominated by the international cosmetics brand NYX to represent South Africa in Hollywood. 

She started her makeup artistry in 2006 and has worked with some of the country’s popular celebrities and specialised in on screen make-up. Her craft is incredible and she has been recognized as a high-quality artist.

Nomsa from a young age ventured into modelling. She was crowned Miss Jam Alley in 2000 and it is very obvious that Nomsa Madida is very goal driven. She is a go-getter and loves looking good. 

She said she doesn’t like people who don’t take care of themselves because how you look defines you. Nomsa’s passion for business made her venture into the makeup world. She also does a little bit of acting. 

Njanja Kimani Koby is a Kenya based facebeat Queen. She loves to make unique looks depicting pop culture. She is respected in the industry and continues to make great strides.

The owner of ‘Makeup by Koby’ always has this infectious smile and joy that she is always so full of life. She is a wife, mother and a career woman. What inspires her to keep on making beautiful pieces out of people is seeing ladies wearing their makeup professionally. She derives a whole lot of joy seeing their beautiful faces. 

For women she said, makeup boosts their confidence and the way they talk, smile and walk changes when they are wearing makeup that they are very pleased with. Njanja has worked with so many top musicians and celebrities as well as top brands like Coca-Cola. 

Joyce Jacob is one of the prominent makeup artists, not only in Nigeria but also Africa. Her brand is all about confidence, self esteem, self worth and value. Her desire is to turn the insecurities of her clients and black women at large, into confidence. She wants them to be able to walk around with their heads held high. She finds her joy in the confidence of others. She was also listed as one of the prominent makeup artists in Africa by Forbes. Her makeup looks are well known for their striking yet subtle looks.

Despite the fact that her brand started out in 2009, it has since then been making major waves. She is very ambitious and is already building her brand to be one of the strongest brands in the world.