Naomi Campbell in Kenya
I have had a subscription to Architectural Digest magazine for as long as I can remember and it never fails to surprise. That said, one recent issue that I received included a 10-page article with fabulous photos by Khadija Farah of Campbell’s villa in Malindi – a tropical town situated on a stretch of idyllic, white sandy beaches and warm, blue tropical waters on the north coast of Kenya.
I have borrowed liberally from this piece (beautifully written by Lola Ogunnaike) simply because I know very little about this part of the world and even less about the spectacular retreat that Campbell has owned for the past 20 years. What I also learned about her career as a supermodel – it started when she was 15-years-old – was fascinating to say the least.
Keeping up with the times, Campbell is a constant presence on social media. She regularly updates her more than 10 million Instagram followers (and nearly 500,000 YouTube subscribers) with archival images from her storied career and videos from her far-flung travels. She sums up her actions with this fascinating quote.
“NEVER REST ON YOUR LAURELS – I still like what I do.” Then she adds, “I use myself as a gateway to uplift and guide my culture on the right path. This is what drives me.”
When it’s time to unplug, her idyllic retreat is the epitome of indoor-outdoor living. It serves as a haven from the pace of her native London and adopted New York City.
“IT’S A VERY CALMING PLACE,” she says. “You don’t really want to be on the phone. You’re not trying to find a television. You just want to read and be with yourself. It’s nice to just have the silence and the crickets.” (She’s right. We used to listen to the crickets at night on Block Island, Rhode Island – they’re very low key and reassuring.)
Campbell first visited Malindi in the mid-1990s and returned a few years later with a longtime friend, the owner of this Kenyan luxury resort, which houses a handful of private residences. It includes Campbell’s getaway and is just over an hour’s flight from Kenya’s capital city, Nairobi.
The beauty of Malindi has long been a favorite of the Italian jet set. “ALL THE LOCALS SPEAK ITALIAN,” Campbell shares. “It’s like LittleItaly in East Africa.”
When Campbell is in the mood to entertain, twin voile-curtained pergolas serve as the perfect space for family-style dinners. Taking a walkabout here is a delight because Campbell enjoys furniture shopping throughout Africa. She has found great success in Marrakech and Cairo. “SENEGAL HAS AMAZING FURNITURE,” she notes. “Every time I go. I buy furniture that I store away.”
Armando Tanzini designed the hand-carved wooden doors (above). They depict two men dancing in traditional ceremonial dress. The artist is an award winner who has lived and worked in Malindi for many years.
Some of Campbell’s fondest memories are tied to Kenya outings. For example, the annual Great Migration. “It’s a wonderful thing to see in July,” she says. “ALL THE ANIMALS ARE CROSSING OVER FROM KENYA TO TANZANIA.” It’s incredible! It’s like seeing National Geographic come to life right before your eyes.”
The makuti-thatched roof is made from the sun-dried leaves of the coconut palm. This type of roof has been a staple in East Africa for centuries. The leaves are hand-sewn in intricate layers. “We’ve had this one for at least 12 years and it’s still in good shape,” she says. “IT’S JUST LIKE A PIECE OF ART.”
And now we’ve come to the most recent news about Naomi Campbell. I first spotted this in the New York Post newspaper of Wednesday, May 19, 2021 where Campbell announced that SHE HAS JUST BECOME A MOTHER! Congratulations, Naomi! We wish you all the best.
WHY RATHBONE MANSIONS? We can’t promise a wildlife adventure in New Orleans like the Great Migration BUT we’re only 20 minutes away from the Audubon Zoo and their white alligators with deep blue eyes. Yikes!
Shaun Nelson-Henrick