What went down at the birthday party we threw Aweng Chuol 

South Sudanese supermodel Aweng Ade-Chuol celebrated her 27th birthday in Efie Gallery last night surrounded by friends and family. The Dazed MENA Issue 03 cover star, shot by London-based photographer Liz Johnson Artur, arrived in Al Serkhal in style via Wheely, the luxury chauffeur car service to the stars.

Here’s what went down last night: 

DJ set by Cascou

The Kuwaiti DJ, began turning tables at 8 pm. Known for this eclectic music taste and sporadic performance style, mixing “Solo” by Frank Ocean, “Illegal” by Pink Pantheress and “Heroes” by David Bowie, among other tracks that night. A sonic risk taker and vibe curator, DJ Cascou’s set left the room buzzing with excitement.

And thanks to the Rekord Gallery’s signature Hi-Fi 360° speakers, guests indulged in a special listening experience; I mean, it was a special occasion after all. Drinks flowed and so did we, dancing all night before a glowing projection of Aweng’s cover shoot in South London, the behind-the-scenes video looped in neon, flickering like digital waves, as the music crashed into us.

It just had to be Efie

Amid their immense vinyl collection display, Aweng’s Issue 03 cover and select prints from the photoshoot lined the walls. The room was small, but the energy was anything but. Canapés disappeared. The vibes did not. People lingered well into the night, and Aweng stayed behind to autograph copies.

Guests could also get a sneak peek of the gallery’s new exhibit, “The Shape of Things to Come,” curated by Japan-based American art critic Dexter Wimberly. Featuring work by renowned Ghanaian sculptor El Anatsui, Ethiopian fine arts photographer Aïda Mulaneh, and Malian artist Abdoulaye Konaté’s textile tapestries, the show will open on Saturday and run until January 10th of next year.

Fire fits section
Call it Dazed MENA-core, but our guests know how to put that shit on. Especially Aweng, who stole the show with a chocolate crocodile leather dress and silver earrings. She was glowing. Blazers, blazed, sleeves cuffed, and compliments gushed like a faucet. The hair was immaculate swooping, braids\ed, laid edges, the works! Though dark inside, our silhouettes shone clearly. The camera flash stays on. So does the fit. Wine glasses were held with a ring on each finger as we held each other with hugs and kisses before leaving. Of all the events to dress up for, this one took the cake, literally.