The A Girls!

New 18-inch vinyl dolls, The A Girls, Amani, Arefa, and Ayah!

Introducing Amani, Arefa and Ayah – The African girls! They are 9-year-old sisters who were born on the same day, which makes them triplets. Together, the trio call themselves “The A Girls.”  The A Girls may have been born on the same day, but each one is unique with her own personality and interests: Amani likes the outdoors, Arefa is a book worm, and Ayah likes fashion.  Still, they love and support each other like only sisters can. Their family motto is: “We are better together!”

As described by the creator of the dolls,

The A Girls are exceptional vinyl dolls that stand 18 inches tall with sturdy vinyl limbs and a huggable cloth body.  They can stand on their own.  The dolls represent the diversity of our African girls. As parents, we know that the dolls we buy often become our child’s introduction to beauty and self-identity. The A Girls collection depicts African girls with different skin tones – each one beautiful and vibrant like the African child – and each features different hairstyles. We believe that the most important thing to a small child is that her dolly is beautiful just like her.

Cloth and rag dolls are an undeniable art. The African Girls collection complements these vintage dolls by bringing in user-friendly, vinyl products. They match up with the versatile nature of the African child and depict the different hairstyles that African girls rock without a fuss about wearing the hair curly or straight.

--Bakani July Johnson

Arefa says:  Hi, I'm Arefa!  My name means "God has Given" in my mama's language.  My dream is to be a doctor, just like Mama.  I love reading books, meeting new people and writing about our travels together.  My family says I am a storyteller.  Let's tell some great stories together! Amani says:  Hi, I'm Amani (A.K.A. Peace)!  Mama and Papa say I am a tough cookie because I love climbing and camping.  I just love the outdoors!  I also have a passion for cooking and foods from around the world.  One day, I am going to be a chef just like my papa.  Join me in the adventure!

 

Ayah says:  Hi, I'm Ayah! My name means "bright" and I love all things bright and beautiful.  My sisters say I am the fashionista of the family because I love making jewelry and playing with glitter. Some day, I want to make sparkly dresses for all the girls of the world.  Let's make the world bright together!

The Dolls’ Back Story

They live in Botswana, a beautiful country in southern Africa known for its wildlife and diamonds. Their mama is a medical doctor who works for a humanitarian organization and travels all over Africa helping people. Their papa, who comes from Kenya, is a professional chef who specializes in traditional foods from around the continent.

The girls were born in Gaborone, the capital city of Botswana, but they have seen so much! Their family takes amazing journeys together, from Cape to Cairo, seeing new places and meeting new people. They would love to share their adventures with you!

Johnson’s Inspiration for Creating The A Girls

In 2007, I was working in a clinic for children living with HIV. During a session about personal hygiene with a sweet 9 year old I found myself talking about cleanliness and hair care using a white dolly. Oblivious to what’s out there, I went out to buy a black doll to use in my counselling sessions, but to my surprise I could not find even one. In search, I came across many beautiful white dolls, but none of them reflected the black skin tones of the African girls I was counselling. I started to talk to friends about this “black doll issue” and most agreed that doll makers should be doing something about it.

Flash-forward to 2010, when I moved to the U.S. and found black dolls existing in some retail stores. Instead of staying angry at the gaps that existed in Africa, I decided to do something about it. This was the beginning. Today, five years later, we are introducing the unique and beautiful A Girls to the world.

About the Company

The A Girls is a family-owned company that makes and sells original vinyl dolls designed by Ms. Bakani July Johnson. The girls are 18 inches tall with interchangeable hair, costumes and accessories. The A Girls collection fuses modern and traditional clothing and gives the versatility of the African girls of today.

Cost, Shipping, Ordering, Contact:

Price:  Dolls are $35 each plus shipping

Shipping by Post (2-3 weeks): 1 doll shipping $29; 2 dolls shipping $33; and 3 dolls shipping $38

Expedited shipping prices (3-4 days):  Single doll $48 same as shipping two dolls (they fall in the same weight category); shipping three dolls $72

Payment method accepted:  Paypal

For additional information and/or to place an order, send an email to:  theafricangirls@gmail.com or bnjuly@gmail.com

To view more photos of the dolls and their accessories, visit The A Girls on Facebook and "Like" their page for future updates. 

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