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Spice up your Instagram for the holidays (no filter needed)

Will Worley, for CNN

Updated 1301 GMT (2101 HKT) December 15, 2015

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<a href="https://www.instagram.com/mmontagueliving/" target="_blank"><strong>Maryam Montague</strong></a><strong>, interior designer and hotelier, Marrakesh, Morocco.</strong><br /><br />By the poolside at Montague's boutique hotel, Peacock Pavillions. "I love creating a Moroccan lounge-y feel for parties outside," she says. "The relaxed bohemian vibe, with plenty of color and pattern, makes everyone want to dance!"
Photos: Holiday chic from Africa's best Instagrammers
Maryam Montague, interior designer and hotelier, Marrakesh, Morocco.

By the poolside at Montague's boutique hotel, Peacock Pavillions. "I love creating a Moroccan lounge-y feel for parties outside," she says. "The relaxed bohemian vibe, with plenty of color and pattern, makes everyone want to dance!"
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To encourage her guests to give thanks, and write down their thoughts, Montague sets the table with a craft paper tablecloth and provides a pen.<br />The only other decorations are olive branches and candles.
Photos: Holiday chic from Africa's best Instagrammers
To encourage her guests to give thanks, and write down their thoughts, Montague sets the table with a craft paper tablecloth and provides a pen.
The only other decorations are olive branches and candles.
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This table takes inspiration from the colors and patterns used across Morocco.
Photos: Holiday chic from Africa's best Instagrammers
This table takes inspiration from the colors and patterns used across Morocco.
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<a href="https://www.instagram.com/banksbmpro/" target="_blank"><strong> Banke Meshida Lawal</strong></a><strong>, makeup artist and founder of BM Pro Make Up, Nigeria. </strong><br /><br />December is wedding season in Nigeria and one of Banke's busiest periods.<br />Here, bride-to-be, Folake Ogunde wears dark eyes paired with soft pink lips - a "fashion savvy look," Banke says.
Photos: Holiday chic from Africa's best Instagrammers
Banke Meshida Lawal, makeup artist and founder of BM Pro Make Up, Nigeria.

December is wedding season in Nigeria and one of Banke's busiest periods.
Here, bride-to-be, Folake Ogunde wears dark eyes paired with soft pink lips - a "fashion savvy look," Banke says.
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Temi Ajibola wears the Edo bridal traditional regalia of coral beads.
Photos: Holiday chic from Africa's best Instagrammers
Temi Ajibola wears the Edo bridal traditional regalia of coral beads.
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Brides spend hundreds of pounds on makeup artists like Banke to ensure they are picture perfect on their big day.<br />
Photos: Holiday chic from Africa's best Instagrammers
Brides spend hundreds of pounds on makeup artists like Banke to ensure they are picture perfect on their big day.
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<a href="https://www.instagram.com/enjuliving/" target="_blank"><strong>Jacqueline Kaliisa</strong></a><strong>, owner of </strong><a href="https://www.instagram.com/iya_buea/" target="_blank"><strong>IYA restaurant</strong></a><strong>, Cameroon</strong><br /><br />This is Mbongo Tchobi, which Jacqueline recommends for over the festive period. It's a traditional black fish sauce, made with a blend of local spices that are charred to release the aroma and to lend the soup its black color. Traditionally eaten with coco yam, cassava or plantain. Also here is in the same image is grilled chicken. The dish on the bottom on the right hand side is called Mbanga soup, made with palm nuts, cray fish, smoked fish, and a blend of local spices.
Photos: Holiday chic from Africa's best Instagrammers
Jacqueline Kaliisa, owner of IYA restaurant, Cameroon

This is Mbongo Tchobi, which Jacqueline recommends for over the festive period. It's a traditional black fish sauce, made with a blend of local spices that are charred to release the aroma and to lend the soup its black color. Traditionally eaten with coco yam, cassava or plantain. Also here is in the same image is grilled chicken. The dish on the bottom on the right hand side is called Mbanga soup, made with palm nuts, cray fish, smoked fish, and a blend of local spices.
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Mafe Sauce, or what is commonly known as 'peanut stew' in Cameroon, can also be enjoyed during this time. This was developed by chef Dieuveil Malonga. It is made with chicken and is being served with okra. This can be served with a variety of root vegetables or plantain as a side.<br />
Photos: Holiday chic from Africa's best Instagrammers
Mafe Sauce, or what is commonly known as 'peanut stew' in Cameroon, can also be enjoyed during this time. This was developed by chef Dieuveil Malonga. It is made with chicken and is being served with okra. This can be served with a variety of root vegetables or plantain as a side.
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Another variation on Mafe, which is popular not just in Cameroon, but in much of West Africa.
Photos: Holiday chic from Africa's best Instagrammers
Another variation on Mafe, which is popular not just in Cameroon, but in much of West Africa.
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instagram xmas morocco 3 instagram xmas morocco 2 instagram xmas morocco 4 nigeria make up reupload nigeria make up reupload 2 nigeria make up reupload 3instagram xmas africa cameroon 4instagram xmas africa cameroon 1instagram xmas africa cameroon 2

Story highlights

  • No kitsch knitwear, mistletoe or eggnog, African creatives will celebrating the holidays their own way
  • Think big weddings, lots of flavors and an elaborately dressed table

(CNN)Christmas: friends, family...and Instagram. With parties galore, there's no better time to capture your pictures and post them to the popular social networking site.

To help you get it right, we caught up with some of the continent's most creative Instagrammers to see how you can make the most of the holiday season.

    Jacqueline Kaliisa, restaurateur, Cameroon

    Restaurateur Jacqueline Kaliisa
    Restaurateur Jacqueline Kaliisa
    What do you love most about the holiday season?
    My favorite thing about working during this season is the energy and the spirit that fills the air. Families are reunited with their loved ones from diaspora. Everyone is in a celebratory mood, there are parties everywhere and people are spending money which obviously boosts the economy.
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    Sweet plantains marinated with ginger and hot chili peppers. Mainly known as kelewele. #iyabuea

    A photo posted by IYA (@iya_buea) on

    I will be spending my Christmas serving guests at IYA Buea, and getting them to try the Mafe sauce -- commonly known as peanut stew in Cameroon -- created for us by renowned chef Dieuveil Malonga.
    What are your top tips for surviving the holidays?
    Preparation is key. We need to ensure that all our food and drinks are well stocked! When hosting at home, it's good to create exciting menus for guests to try out and provide entertainment.
    What would you recommend for an Instagrammable Christmas?
    Visit stunning locations for beautiful shots. One of the places I can recommend in Cameroon is Seme Beach.

    Banke Meshida Lawal, makeup artist, Nigeria

    Makeup artist Banke Meshida Lawal
    Makeup artist Banke Meshida Lawal
    What do you love most about the holiday season?
    The weddings! In many parts of Africa, this time of year is seasonal not for Christmas, but for the many weddings that take place. Even though it can be very draining as the workload is huge, it's a great feeling to know that you have been an integral part of one of the best days of a woman's life.
    What are your top tips for surviving the holidays?
    Wear long-lasting lipsticks! They are the easiest and fastest things to rev up any look. Mix different colors or rock the dark lip look which is very popular right now. We have the most beautiful lip colors around these days!
    Also, get your skin perfect for the holidays. Use a great moisturizer for facial skin (Nigeria's dry Harmattan weather can be unforgiving), exfoliate and have a relaxing facial as well.
    What would you recommend for an Instagrammable Christmas?
    If you decide to go away on holiday, take beautiful photos using the 'sun' filter. Works all the time! There are also lots of wedding parties this time of the year so get your makeup done for picture perfect selfies!

    Maryam Montague, hotelier, Morocco

    Interior designer Maryam Montagu
    Interior designer Maryam Montagu
    What do you love most about the holiday season?
    The holidays are all about gatherings with friends and family, so I know when I am designing that it will be appreciated by those I love most. That's a great motivator to go the extra mile!
    What are your top tips for surviving the holidays?
    Avoid the standbys like holly, pine, and tinsel and introduce more original elements. Hang Marrakesh tassels instead of ornaments on your tree, wrap napkins on your table with African glass beads and serve eggnog in brightly colored Moroccan tea glasses."
    As there are a lot of evening events during the holiday season, I love to create some high drama with moody dark colors (black, indigo and eggplant) crossed with metallics, especially gold and copper. I also adore using vintage Moroccan candelabras on coffee tables to amp up the glamor.
      What would you recommend for an Instagrammable Christmas?
      Natural light is always best, so if you are creating beautiful table dressings for the holiday, make sure to set the table during the day so that you can take your pictures when there is still plenty of light."