Friday 25th of September 2026

Nairobi, Kenya

Tag: African Fashion

Africa’s Leading Luxury Concept Store Is Coming to the Brooklyn Museum

Posted on by Fashion Tribe Influencer

The Big Apple will soon be home to one of Africa’s most well-known shopping destinations.

The Brooklyn Museum will become home to Alára, a concept store with over 100 brands from Lagos, from June 23 through October 22. In collaboration with the museum, the upscale shop will debut as a component of the Africa Fashion at the Museum exhibition as a way to introduce New Yorkers to the fashion perspectives of Africa and the diaspora.
The exhibition, which was the biggest display of fashion and style from the continent when it first debuted to the public at the Victoria & Albert Museum in England, will also include some of the Alára brands.

Reni Folawiyo, an entrepreneur and tastemaker, established Alára in 2015.
The word “alára” means “wonderful performer, one who thrills endlessly” in Folawiyo’s native Yoruba language. Since opening, the store has provided the neighborhood with a wide range of initiatives, goods, and events. Today, it is regarded as a cornerstone of Lagos’s vibrant cultural scene, akin to Colette in Paris.
The Earthy Nigerian headquarters of the store, which includes several high-end luxury labels including Marni, Saint Laurent, Linda Farrow, and Comme des Garcons, was created by Ghanaian-British architect David Adjaye.
The shop also offers a variety of fashionable products from brands with strong ties to the African diaspora, like Kenneth Ize, Post Imperial, and Thebe Magugu.

Alára frequently organizes performances by Falana and Asa in addition to art shows including the works of artists like Hassan Hajjaj and Peju Layiwola. Even the iconic supermodel Naomi Campbell signed copies of The Art of Beauty there in 2018.

The Brooklyn Museum and Alára have not revealed what kinds of music, fashion, and design will be on display at the upscale retailer’s exhibition shop in New York City. But given its illustrious past and specially conceived Lagos shop floor, it might surpass your expectations.

This David Adjaye-designed lifestyle shop by businessman Reni Folawiyo is exceptional, just like its city of Lagos.
Adjaye states, “I wanted the space to function as something that would function as a new kind of cultural hub and destination for West Africa.” The venue would serve as a celebration of design skills.
With its geometric stamps, bi-chrome palette, and remarkable gravity, the building might appear at home anywhere along the artistic arc from Daikanyama in Tokyo to the Design District in Miami.
These objectives were realized in a spectacular façade and a worldly position.
However, Adjaye took care to ensure that every aspect of Alára’s graphic punch is infused with and supported by distinctively Lagosian characteristics.

The translucent screens gridding the entryway refer to the brises soleils of African modernist buildings, while the geometry of their patterns draws from Yoruban Adire fabrics. It unites the indigenous and contemporary architectural lineages of the city.

Along with local designers like Lanre da Silva Ajayi (wham-bam-glam eveningwear), Maki Oh (cool Brooklyn separates), and Lisa Folawiyo (sportswear), Folawiyo has filled Alára’s interior with international labels like Valentino, Alexander McQueen, and the Italian furniture line Moroso. She has also added a rooftop art gallery.
Adjaye comments on the shopping experience:

“Display platforms divide the area…
Visitors are encouraged to maneuver their way around the stock because of the cavernous interior and the triple-height ceiling volume.
Similar to Lagos, Alára’s main attraction might be precisely that: the thrill of exploration in a stunningly modern shrine to design and forerunner of Africa’s future.

Content courtesy Robb Report & NFH

 

Poor Clothing Choice Hurts Leading African Clothing Stores’ Profit

Posted on by Fashion Police

After Africa’s largest apparel retailer announced a decline in first-half profitability due to its failure to find the proper summer fashion mix, Pepkor Holdings Ltd. dismissed the president of its Ackermans division.

Pieter Erasmus, chief executive officer of Cape Town-based Pepkor, said in an interview Tuesday that the discount retailer, which began 100 years ago in rural South Africa and now has 5,929 stores in nearly a dozen countries, has hired “some new eyes from outside” to run the division as it also reviews package sizes of items like T-shirts and shorts.

Shoprite Holdings Ltd., Africa’s largest grocer, has lately built specialty clothes and infant stores in the same categories as Pepkor’s flagship Pep and Ackermans outlets, putting Ackermans under more intense competition.

“There are some very good competitors out there,” Erasmus added, mentioning the clothes division of Pick n Pay Stores Ltd. and Jet, which has better access to capital now that it was acquired by The Foschini Group Ltd. Without naming the individual, Erasmus said that the new Ackermans CEO had previously served as Pick n Pay’s chief operations officer.

New hires have been made to the women’s clothing team at Ackermans, “because that’s a key market share opportunity for us,” Erasmus added. He stated that a better performance is anticipated by the end of August and into the following summer.

Tuesday morning, Pepkor said that its net income for the six months ending in March fell by 11% to 2.98 billion rand ($151 million). As sales at Pep and Ackermans slowed, revenue increased, but inventory levels rose 12%, the business reported in a statement.

The stock experienced its largest intraday decline since September 13 as it dropped as much as 8.6% and was down 6.9% as of 11:50 a.m. in Johannesburg. With a 29% fall so far this year, it is now the worst performer among the eight stocks in the FTSE/JSE Retailers Index.

Content courtesy of Bloomberg & NFH

 

 

Beyoncé And Naomi Campbell Wear Clothing From The Senegalese Brand Tongoro.

Posted on by Oscar Alochi

There is a Beyoncé before and after for Sarah Diouf. Before 2020, Tongoro, which the now-36-year-old woman founded four years earlier, was growing with the measured pace of a new Senegalese label. Then, everything picked up speed with the release of Beyoncé’s musical feature film Black Is King at the end of July 2020. In the midst of pink flamingos, the American celebrity may be seen here sporting a pair of black and white pants that are labeled Tongoro.
The film, which was broadcast on Disney+ and had more than 11 million viewers in only two days, then strengthened the still-confidential brand and increased sales.

Dakar’s passion for fashion in the midst of the revolution
In the hallway of an apartment in Scat Urbam, a contemporary building in Dakar, where the designer has set up her office and her clothing workshop, the image of the queen of pop music can be seen alongside those of the American pianist and singer Alicia Keys or the British supermodel Naomi Campbell.

This is because Sarah Diouf employs clothing, fabrics, cuts, and volumes to convey the tale of her region, which is why these VIP brand ambassadors joined the company so soon. She claims that his clothes designs depict “Africa on the move” and that this is what draws her most attentive audience.

The young woman, who was living in Paris at the time, had the intuition that an African Renaissance was still in progress, but it was her contact with “Dakar the creative” that helped him improve his proposal.
full fire on craft in Dakar
The person who considers themselves to be “a child of Africa” notes, at the start of the 2010 decade, that “the craze for African fabrics allows a reappropriation of traditional cultures and encourages the emergence of contemporary designers Africans.” She was born in Paris to a Senegalese-Central African mother and a Senegalese-Congolese father and was later raised in Ivory Coast.

Though he is inspired by the fervor surrounding Africa and its exports and the enthusiasm for what the continent produces, it will take him a while to find his true calling.

By “Embodying African Pride”
She started her career as a communication specialist in 2009 with the launch of a webzine called GhubarA, which she named as a “space for the promotion of African and Arab artists in the world of art, culture, and fashion.” She holds a master’s degree in marketing and communication management from the Sorbonne in Paris. She continued in 2015 with Black, a lifestyle publication that discusses fashion and beauty in Africa. She enters the fashion industry through this back door.

One of the best shoemakers in Dakar is “Momo le Bottier”
She is gradually coming around to the notion of developing a Made in Africa brand, which she sees as a platform for the continent’s expertise.
According to Sarah Diouf, “I have long wished to embody African pride in priceless creations.”
Consequently, she is the writer and director of a narrative that promotes sub-Saharan Africa through her collections. Fashion seemed to her to be the right vehicle for this narrative, imposing itself on her like fabric.

She relocated to Dakar in 2016, when she fell in love with the city’s ubiquitous street tailors who worked nonstop to create the unique clothing that everyone ordered.

This undeveloped talent, which Sarah Diouf finds “fascinating,” is what she feeds off of and uses for her label. She immediately surrounded herself with four tailors, who in her workshop produced between one and 200 outfits every month.
She pulls out essential pieces from her closet, including dresses with long sleeves and broad shoulders and jumpsuits with wide legs. Noble pieces that respected the freedom to move and improved movement.

Sarah Diouf bases her visual identity on monochromatic prints of flowers or other patterns taken from traditional African imagery. Malick Sidibé (1936–2016) and Seydou Keta (1923–2001), two Malian portrait painters known as the “Father of African Photography,” served as inspiration for this design.
Tongoro, which translates to “star” in Sango, the language of the Central African Republic, adopted this design immediately. Sarah Diouf recently increased the chromatic spectrum of her works and the variety of items she produces at her customers’ request.

She also adds head jewelry and large earrings with highly styled contours to the colors that come to change her basic textiles. These accessories can highlight a hairdo and improve the posture of the head. According to the designer, who seeks to highlight in her clothing “the presence of a subtle Senegalese poetry of the volumes,” “the cultural mix in which I grew up infuses my brand.”

The challenge of producing locally
She wants to create attractive, well-finished clothing with Tongoro that can be worn anywhere, including America, Europe, and the Middle East. Additionally, the company that communicates in English currently generates 60% of its revenue in the United States, ahead of the United Kingdom and France, for the sake of efficiency.
Its primary markets on the continent are South Africa, where the company will soon expand, and Nigeria, far ahead of Senegal, which is developing slowly.

“The Africa World”
All Tongoro works are sold only on the company’s website thanks to Sarah Diouf’s use of her marketing expertise to develop the company’s digital business model.
Why limit yourself to physical stores, she wonders, when you can reach a larger audience of consumers online and do so across all continents? Since 2022, Tongoro has also been sold on the upscale products marketplace Net-à-porter, a distribution channel that has introduced it to a new Middle Eastern customer.
Due to the Covid-19 epidemic and the brand’s inability to produce two collections of 1,000 pieces each annually, the collaboration, which was supposed to begin in 2020, was delayed for two years.

In Senegal, increasing output continues to be difficult. Similar to other fashion designers in the nation, Sarah Diouf had to mentor her tailors in patronage. She intends to establish a bigger clothes unit in Senegal in order to obtain autonomy and boost production to 500 pieces per month. She is also establishing a collaboration with a Senegalese textile business that already employs 100 tailors.
“There is no fashion industry here due to a lack of formalization of the sector, but rather an ecosystem to which we must adapt,” she laments, regretful for this unrealized potential. Sarah Diouf, however, is determined to persevere and believes that other artists will be motivated by her story.

Content courtesy of  Globe Echo & NFH

 

 

Regi Reveals Stunning Chic Collection ‘Rebirth” With Eye-catching Photos!

Posted on by Oscar Alochi

Following the release of a sneak preview of their current collection to commemorate the brand’s rebirth, Nigerian womenswear label Regi has released more gorgeous images of the collection dubbed Rebirth.

“Rebirth can also mean; Renaissance, the emergence of something new, an awakening, a new era,” says designer Olufisayo Dayo-Oyelakin. Just a few words to express the emotion and creativity that goes into creating these ageless, adaptable, useful, and spontaneous creations. All of which are undeniably energizing, energizing, and stunningly appealing.

These pieces offer a preview of what the rebirth collection will include. Trust that it will be the perfect wardrobe refresh.”

The exquisitely crafted outfits have remarkable designs ranging from floral print corset tops with tie-back designs to rare but magnificent skirts to match. They are also available in a variety of colors.
REGI RTW’s latest fashion products are suitable for everyday wear and are ideal for women who value simplicity and comfort.

Content Courtesy of Designer: Rebirth by Regi & NFH

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ikojn Announces a Partnership With Ncba Bank, Introduces the Ikojnic Club, and Unveils a Cover Feature in Couture Africa Magazine.

Posted on by Ann Mumbi

The IKOJNIC CLUB, the brand’s exclusive loyalty club, was launched on Sunday, May 7, 2023, at a cocktail party and magnificent pop-up at The Social House in Nairobi.
Celebrities and fashion enthusiasts, like Pinky Ghelani, Joy Kendi, Sonal Maherali, and Victor Peace, attended the event.

Customers who use THE IKOJNIC CLUB receive free benefits for doing business with IKOJN. Every transaction a member makes results in points that may be exchanged for savings, free shipping, and other benefits.
The initiative aims to increase customer value and foster a sense of community among IKOJN supporters.

IKOJN announced a relationship with NCBA Bank in addition to the creation of THE IKOJNIC CLUB.
Customers of IKOJN will receive a 15% discount on all NCBA Card purchases as a result of the cooperation. This alliance demonstrates IKOJN’s dedication to giving its customers the greatest shopping experience possible.

“IKOJN is a womenswear brand that is 100% made in Kenya and it has a focus on sustainability. We love our customers at IKOJN we have been serving our customers for 8 years now. Our growth has been because of our customers and I thought we need to find a way to reward the IKOJN consumer who keeps coming back. They’re loyal to us and we need to give them something exciting in return,” said IKOJN’s founder, Cris Njoki.

Finally, IKOJN unveiled its cover story and fashion spread in Couture Africa magazine. The article is a significant accomplishment for the company and a reflection of its expanding reputation in the East African fashion sector.

IKOJN founder and CEO Janet Mbugua expressed her excitement about the introduction of THE IKOJNIC CLUB and her company’s collaboration with NCBA Bank.
“These alliances are proof of our dedication to giving our customers the finest purchasing experience possible. We are also delighted to be highlighted in Couture Africa.

This is a significant accomplishment for our company and a reflection of the dedication of our team.

Since its launch in 2015, IKOJN has become increasingly well-known. In addition to its bustling online store, www.ikojn.com, the ready-to-wear business has three more store locations in Nairobi Westgate Mall, Imaara Mall, and Greenhouse Mall. It is the height of femininity, with clothes that range from colorful dresses to chic co-ord shirts and bottoms. Given their superb construction, use of eco-friendly fabrics, and constantly flawless tailoring, it is easy to see why the brand has had such significant market growth since its inception and especially over the past few years.

“The IKOJNIC woman has a strong sense of self. She desires to have style. She wants to use her clothes as a means of self-expression, but she doesn’t want to stand out too much.

She wants to look classy with a bit of playfulness,” added Cris Njoki

Pinky Ghelani, Joy Kendi, Sonal Maherali, Brian Babu, and Victor Peace, to name a few renowned fashionistas, were among those present at the event held at The Social House in Nairobi, which was a big success.
IKOJN’s devoted clients had the opportunity to speak with Cris and her staff during the event while learning more about the company.
Visitors began to arrive around 3 pm and began to drink some Tusker Cider and Gordon’s Cocktails compliments of EABL as they went about their Sunday socializing and shopping.

IKOJN has established itself as a strong player in the Kenyan fashion sector, and we can’t wait to watch where they go from here.

Content courtesy of Couture Africa, Ikojn, NFH

Ikojn Kenyan Fashion Designer: Fashionistas Congregate at the Social House for an Event With Ikojn and Couture Africa

Posted on by Ann Mumbi

The Kenyan Fashion Brands Redefining Style And Glamour, Ikojn, and Couture Africa, two additional fashion and lifestyle brands, gathered together Kenyan fashion enthusiasts and supporters on Sunday, May 7th, 2023, at The Social House. EABL, who provided some cocktail service and had some chic bars, also sponsored the event and contributed to its gloss and glam.

We also got to witness a blown-up replica of the impending “comeback” print issue of Couture Africa Magazine. Ikojn, who are now selling at the hotel, had their creations on show.

We’ve taken a long break from publishing during and after the COVID-19 Pandemic, so we’re happy to be back. I think there’s still a place for print in the East African market, especially for specialized magazines, and this collaboration with IKOJN is a great opportunity to reenter the market. Founder and Chief Editor Olive Gachara made a point.
The Social House will still host the pop-up, which will stock limited-edition selections that are exclusively available there.

IKOJN, which was founded in 2015, is the perfect embodiment of seductive femininity and ladylike strength. The company’s mission is to build the continent and its fashion sector while teaching the world about cultural tales via design in the form of flawless tailoring and excellent construction.

Fashion and beauty entrepreneurs, celebrities, members of the media, content creators, and influencers from all walks of life mingled while they snacked, drank, and shopped in the Social House garden and the nearby event space, which had been converted to be worthy of the fashion content.

The chance to interact with the businesses, learn more about their vision and mission, and keep up with their most recent developments was fantastic for the guests.

The ninth issue of Couture Africa Magazine, which is currently distributed throughout East Africa, will be available in June both in print and online through the Issuu Digital Magazine Newsstand. The platform also manages the website: mycouture.africa, which hosts online content, and they just created the YouTube channel COUTURE Africa TV.

In addition, the group organizes fashion shows including the Couture Style Awards.

Content courtesy of Couture Africa, Ikojn & NFH

Nairobi Brings Fashion and Art Together: Nairobi Fashion Week And Chez Sonia Collaborate To Host A One-of-a-kind Afternoon Event On April 21st.

Posted on by Oscar Alochi

On April 21st, 2023, Nairobi Fashion Week sponsored a one-of-a-kind afternoon event that blended the worlds of fashion and art while presenting the “JUST fashion” campaign at Chez Sonia.
This event promised to be a feast for the senses and delivered, with spectacular visual art displays from Little Art Gallery, live music, and a fashion show featuring five selected designers, Deepa Dosaja, Inna Design, Kenya Nashipai Leather, Normand Ayats, and Maisha.

Nisria brought together outstanding artists and designers to create an extraordinary day of creativity and beauty.

The event also included a panel discussion on sustainable fashion moderated by media personality Yvonne Ndege, with Katrin Aidnell, the Regional Environment and Climate Change Specialist, Betterman Simidi, the General Manager of Africa Collect Textiles, and Deepa Dosaja, a pioneer in a sustainable fashion.
The conversation centered on the necessity for a fair and environmentally friendly transformation of the country’s fashion industry.

The Nairobi Fashion Week campaign “JUST fashion,” the ultimate aim of which is to support the country’s fashion sector in its JUST, i.e. environmentally sustainable and socially equitable, transition feature’s four advocacy and promotional areas throughout 2023,

focused on Just transition, sustainable fashion, and the protection of the Nairobi National Park.

Credits:
Video by Valde
Photography by: Levi King

Content courtesy of Nairobi Fashion Week & NFH

 

 

 

Made In Cameroon: The Brand Shoes By Vidal Produces Hand-made Luxury Shoes.

Posted on by Fashion Tribe Influencer

The VIDAL boot factory was founded in September 2016 in Douala, the brand offers men a range of shoes: Hand Grade.
The VIDAL manufacturer has kept the original case which guarantees the durability of its know-how. The specificity of the Goodyear fitting of these shoes, which combines style, comfort, and longevity, goes back to the techniques of the 19th century.

It requires special expertise to carry out more than a hundred manual operations requiring around two weeks of work.
As a local Cameroonian company managed by a young entrepreneur, VIDAL is committed to maintaining the highest standards of traditional craftsmanship, quality, and service that its customers have enjoyed for some time.

We re-connect with designer Vidal Kenmoe to discuss his bespoke, high-end shoe line based in Douala. Former British Royal Army soldier Vidal Kenmoe switched his military expertise to shoe soles.
He continues to advise the army, but he now spends the majority of his time in Douala, Cameroon, creating, cutting, and polishing exquisite shoes. In 2016, Kenmoe established Shoes by Vidal, claiming to make each pair the highest possible levels of craftsmanship. The whole style of his business makes it clear why these sneakers have been in such high demand. In a fashion market where its citizens seek out high-end goods elsewhere, Kenmoe thrives.

To learn more about Kenmoe’s motivation, creative process, and other topics, we re-connect.

Rene Khan: Where did the desire or passion to make shoes come from?

Vidal Kenmoe: My passion for shoes comes from two things mainly—my mother’s love for shoes and fashion, as well as my time spent in the Royal Army, where a special interest was taken towards dressing.

RK: How long have you been making shoes?

VK: I have been making shoes since 2015. I learned the craft in 2013 and I’m still perfecting it.

RK: What does it mean to you to employ the use of local artisans?

VK: It feels good being able to contribute in that sense and to share my experiences with them and vice-versa.

RK: Creating one shoe takes two to four weeks and involves over 100 steps. Is this true?

VK: Yes, it does take a few weeks on average to design and manufacture a pair of shoes, but with experience, that time can be reduced in half.

RK: Where are the majority of your customers based?

VK: My customers are spread out around the world but the majority are based in Douala, Cameroon.

Talk to me about the process of making a shoe that boasts such a high standard of craftsmanship.

It all starts with forming the right shoe last for the design required. Once the last is done, the next step is pattern cutting followed by clicking the leather (upper), followed by the sewing of the upper with the under and then molding (also called lasting), and lastly, the finishing.

RK: Do you have partnerships with raw material sellers to access genuine leather, suede, velvet calfskin, and various fabrics?

VK: No, I simply purchase what I need.

AgA by Vidal appears to have come later. Tell me about the line.

AgA is the sandals and accessories line. AgA does both male and female sandals and we’re hoping to move into belts, watch straps, wallets, key ring holders, and many other leather products. The motivation for AgA is the need to satisfy customers’ demands for leather accessories (other than shoes) at an affordable price.

RK: In 2017, you made a pair of shoes for Samuel Eto’o. Have you worked with any other notable figures?

VK: Yes, I have provided shoes to several diplomats, professional athletes, MDs, artists, and politicians.

RK: What challenges do you face, apart from power outages, that halt your use of sewing machines and finishing bands?

VK: Not many these days. We purchased a power generator, so power cuts are no longer an issue. My biggest challenge remains people’s lack of education on handmade shoemaking.

RK: You dwell in a country noted for a 1 percent that travels abroad for luxury goods and yet you create luxury shoes. How do you fare? What sets your shoes apart?

My designs are unique, and my mix of materials includes leather, suede, denim, and African fabric—the discipline I put into the making, my attention to detail, and my focus on functionality which is mainly comfort and durability.

RK: What else do you hope to accomplish as a young entrepreneur?

VK: As a young entrepreneur, I would love to see my brand spread across borders and become a standard for shoemaking worldwide.

Kenmoe recently marked Shoes by Vidal’s second-year anniversary in Paris with a meet and greet and the launch of a new suede collection.

Learn more about his new collection, his lines ShoesbyVidal and AgAbyVidal on Instagram and his website.

Content courtesy of D Fashion Magazine & NFH

 

 

 

 

The Wedding Year: The Elegant Wedding Of Akothee At The Windsor Hotel

Posted on by Oscar Alochi

Famous Kenyan musician Esther Akoth, often known as Akothee, got married.
Akothee, a musician, and Denis Schweizer, commonly known as Omosh, got married this afternoon in a stunning outdoor ceremony at the Windsor Golf & Country Club. The couple, who were both dressed in white for the event, looked stunning. Akothee wore a white Achkan, popularly known as a Sherwani, and looked lovely in her well-publicized Ksh 700K white garment.

Akothee wrote on Instagram that her biggest wish for the event—which also happened to be her birthday was to get married on her birthday. Guests were asked not to wear white to the white-themed event and were instead expected to dress tastefully in clothes with a hint of gold.

Akothee departed the Boma hotel, where she and her bridal party had been lodged, and drove to the event location in a convertible vehicle. She came to the ceremony in a chariot and made a spectacular entry, while her husband rode up on horseback.

Several of the biggest personalities in Kenyan politics, entertainment, and the media attended Akothee’s wedding on Monday at the Windsor Golf Hotel in Nairobi.
Esther Akoth, a singer and businesswoman, and her Swiss lover Dennis “Omosh” Schweizer made their entrance down the aisle together.

https://www.instagram.com/p/Cq55yLaspTS/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

Cabinet Secretary Aisha Jumwa, Governor Anyang’ Nyong’o and his wife Dorothy, MP Millie Odhiambo, Nominated Senator Karen Nyamu, musician Bahati and wife Diana, comedian Terence Creative and his wife Milly, media figures Lillian Muli, Lofty Matambo, and Wilbroda were among the celebrities present.

After saying “I DO” to her partner Denis “Omosh” Schweizer in a magnificent wedding ceremony conducted at the Windsor Hotel and Club on Monday, April 10, 2023, Kenyan singer Esther Akoth aka Akothee has officially taken herself off the market.
Madam Boss has released adorable pictures taken at the elegant event, which was attended by famous individuals.

https://www.instagram.com/p/Cq8IkNzscOj/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

The singer of the hit song “Abebo” posted a series of images on social media showing her enjoying herself throughout the wedding ceremony.

Content courtesy of Akothee & NFH

 

 

Greatest Gospel Stars From Kenya Appear In New Reality Show Coming To Maisha Magic Plus Dubbed “Oh! Sister”

Posted on by Oscar Alochi

They are Kenya’s gospel megastars and are frequently in the public eye, but never in such a way.

With the new reality series Oh! Sister, Maisha Magic Plus is pleased to share with viewers an inside look at the lives of seven music stars. On Friday, April 7, 2023, at 8:00 p.m., it makes its debut.


During this year’s content showcase, MultiChoice Kenya managing director Nancy Matimu announced the show’s debut, saying: “Maisha Magic Plus offers excellent entertainment value on both the DStv and GOtv platforms. We take pride in investing in local content and presenting excellent, authentic Kenyan tales written by our people for our people as Multichoice Kenya in cooperation with M-Net.

“We’re delighted about the new reality program concept coming to the channel,” said MultiChoice Kenya’s content marketing manager. We take pride in adapting to our audiences’ demands and regularly evaluate our viewership. Oh! For a unique Friday night prime-time slot, Sister will deliver high-quality entertainment.

On Oh! Sister, these women will let viewers into their lives:

Linet Munyali alias Size 8

With nearly 3 million followers on Instagram, she’s the true definition of a celebrity. But behind the fame and the headlines lies a woman who puts family first. Her husband Samuel Muraya aka DJ Mo will also appear on the show.

Millicent Wambui alias Milly WaJesus

One of the leading names in Kenyan entertainment, she has over 1m followers on Instagram. Family is everything to the wife and mother of two. Joining her will be her husband, Peter Kabi aka Kabi WaJesus.

Bernice Nduku alias Lady Bee

Having turned her life around by overcoming addiction, the singer and songwriter is a dedicated mother and devout Christian. She has over 200k followers on Instagram.

Veronica Mushana alias Nicah The Queen

The single mother of two finds strength in her spirituality, which keeps her going despite the pressures of social media. She has almost 200k followers on Instagram.

Beatrice Wanjiku alias Betty Bayo

With over 100k Instagram followers, she has built a name for herself, having come from humble beginnings. She is a remarried mother navigating life with a blended family.

Janet Otieno

The artist and minister are one of the most influential musicians in Kenya. She has almost 100k followers on Instagram and is a well of wisdom who has been married for over 25 years.

Priscilla Ndanu Maina

Makeup artist to the stars, the beauty entrepreneur has almost 23k followers on Instagram. Ambitious and determined, she’s working on building a name for herself in the beauty industry.

Oh! Sister Season 1 debuts on Maisha Magic Plus (DStv Channel 163 and GOtv Supa Channel 8) this Friday, April 7, at 8 p.m.

Enjoy an exclusive inside glimpse into the lives of Kenya’s top gospel artists.

Content courtesy of DSTV, Maisha Magic Plus & NFH

 

African Fashion International (AFI) Returns With 15 Iconic Designers

Posted on by Ann Mumbi

After a two-year absence due to the Covid-19 outbreak, the African Fashion International (AFI) successfully returned to Cape Town last week.
Among the 15 legendary designers that participated in the three-day event were Gavin Rajah, Kluk CGdT, Taibo Bacar, Loin Cloth & Ashes, Habits, MaXhosa Africa, Craig Port, Matt Nolim, Stefania Morland, Shana Morland, Imprint ZA, Hugo Fleur, Kat van Duinen, David Tlale, and Scalo.

The fashion and retail exhibition gave visitors the chance to not only see the clothes that had just come off the catwalk but also to talk to the designers about them.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CqVjiVYo_bB/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

The Mother City’s legendary ensemble Temple Boys appeared in a variety of performances for the guests. DJ Zinhle and Young Stunna, two luminaries in the industry, also delighted the audience.

The founder and executive chair of AFI, Precious Moloi-Motsepe, stated that the CTFW (Cape Town Fashion Week) is AFI’s platform for presenting Africa’s creative works while also creating avenues of trade interchange that would increase the industry’s economic value.

“The CTFW provides a chance for African designers to network with people in the global market as well as to promote their work. This is viewed as a means of increasing the economic worth of the sector, according to Moloi-Motsepe.

The AFI also revealed the names of the AFI Fastrack 2023 finalists, who will spend a year being mentored and receiving instruction on how to make a difference in the African fashion sector and develop into astute businesspeople.

African Fashion International is happy to report that Cape Town Fashion Week was a huge success, in large part because of the incredible talent and ingenuity of the participating designers.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CqP6hcELxgX/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

Over the course of three days, there were 18 shows by 9 designers, making it a true celebration of the best African design talent.

The fact that so many people showed up after a two-year break showed that Cape Town Fashion Week was missed. The addition of the CTFW Fashion & Retail Expo gave visitors the opportunity to connect with the designers and view the clothes as they were still being worn off the catwalk.

The CTFW also provided a venue for presenting African artists’ works while fostering commercial routes. The CTFW Fashion & Retail, Music, and Art Expo featured a variety of expo stallholders, all of which profited from participating.

According to businesswoman Dr. Precious Moloi-Motsepe, the executive chair and founder of AFI, “Cape Town Fashion Week is AFI’s platform for displaying Africa’s creative works while also developing corridors of trade interchange that will grow the industry’s economic worth.”

“CTFW provides a chance for African designers to network with people in the global market in addition to showcasing their work. This is thought to increase the economic value of the sector.

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During CTFW, the Cape Town Temple Boys, DJ Zinhle, Young Stunna, and Scorpion Kings all gave fantastic performances for the audience.

A unique exhibition honoring 15 years of African Fashion International marked the conclusion of CTFW. 15 show-stopping outfits from 15 renowned designers who have been a part of the AFI platform since its start were included in this presentation. It was a celebration of both AFI’s work as a platform for outstanding Pan-African designers as well as its function as a catalyst in the global fashion industry.

Gavin Rajah, Kluk CGdT, Taibo Bacar, Habits, MaXhosa Africa, Craig Port, Matt Nolim, Stefania Morland, Shana Morland, Imprint ZA, Hugo Fleur, Kat van Duinen, David Tlale, and Scalo were among the performers on the program.

During CTFW, AFI also revealed the AFI Fastrack 2023, finalists. They will receive mentorship for a whole year, receiving instruction on how to become successful business people and designers who will have an impact on the African fashion sector.

Everything of the clothing displayed at CTFW is retail-ready and is offered at the House of Nala store in Sandton City as well as the AFI Online Store.

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About African Fashion International (AFI)
In the past 15 years, AFI has been successful in bridging the gap between African fashion and international markets, launching and elevating designers to status on a global scale.
The goal of AFI is to create the finest business environment and platform for trade in African fashion and brands. Dr. Precious Moloi-Motsepe, an entrepreneur and philanthropist who started AFI, was inspired to work with various talents on the continent by her love of African ingenuity, craftsmanship, and culture.

AFI is regarded as a ground-breaking platform that develops, finances, and supports the best African creative talent. Customers that value custom African luxury and craftsmanship, both domestic and foreign, are the target market for our goods and services.

We help international customers find distinctive, top-notch African luxury goods from established and up-and-coming designers. The best place to find information and news about the fashion business is AFI.

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We can provide Events as a Service in lovely physical and virtual places thanks to our extensive talent and expertise in producing stylish events and curated lifestyle experiences.

Content courtesy of  African Fashion International (AFI), Sunday World, MENAFN- EIN Presswire & NFH

 

 

A Landmark Exhibition Celebrating The Global Influence Of Modern And Contemporary African Fashions Is Being Presented By The Brooklyn Museum Under The Title Africa Fashion.

Posted on by Fashion Tribe Influencer

The show, which makes its North American debut in Brooklyn, includes over 180 pieces, including apparel and jewelry from the Museum’s Arts of Africa collection as well as works in music, film, visual art, and photography.

On view June 23–October 22, 2023
Africa Fashion is the largest-ever exposition on this topic in North America, honoring the exceptional originality, ingenuity, and worldwide impact of African clothing from the beginning of the independence era to the present. The exhibition highlights how fashion, along with the visual arts and music, played a crucial role in Africa’s cultural renaissance during its liberation years and how those elements laid the foundation for today’s fashion revolution through pieces by renowned designers and artists from the middle of the twentieth century to the present.

The show is run by the V&A, and Ernestine White-Mifetu, Sills Foundation Curator of African Art, and Annissa Malvoisin, Bard Graduate Center / Brooklyn Museum Postdoctoral Fellow in the Arts of Africa, have adapted it for the Brooklyn Museum.
Arts of Africa, Photography, Arts of the Islamic World, Modern Art, and Egyptian, Classical, and Ancient Near Eastern Art are a few of the Museum’s collections that are included in the Brooklyn exhibition.
Brooklyn offers the ideal setting for examining the diversity and depth of the different histories and cultures on the continent.
It is home to one of the nation’s most vibrant African diasporic groups.

“Fashion is a fantastic creative statement that is multi-dimensional. This is captured by African Fashion in stunningly vivid and intertwining ways. To create a rich sensory experience, music, art, cultural identity, and material culture are highlighted, according to Malvoisin.

The exhibition’s immersive exhibits of apparel, textiles, photos, writings, sketches, music, films, and catwalk footage are arranged thematically. Twenty different African countries are represented by more than forty designers and artisans, many of whose creations are on display for the first time in the country. The exhibition features clothing created by mid-twentieth-century designers as well as pieces created by a current generation of African fashion designers, collectives, and photographers.

Africa Fashion starts during the post-independence period, which lasted from the 1950s through the 1990s. At this time, the continent saw a significant political, social, and cultural shift. Pan-Africanism flourished, fostering a shared sense of identity that was centered on fashion and creative expression. In the Cultural Renaissance section, ephemera like protest signs, old magazine covers, and well-known album covers are used to illustrate this period of tremendous change.
Visitors can learn about how the creation and wearing of Indigenous fabric evolved into a calculated political act by visiting Politics and Poetics of Cloth.
Wax prints, commemorative cloth, àdr, kente cloth, and bglanfini are displayed among textiles from the Museum’s Arts of Africa collection.

The Vanguard section features the first generation of African designers to receive widespread recognition.
For the first time in the country, mid-to late-20th century works by Kofi Ansah (Ghana), Naima Bennis (Morocco), Shade Thomas-Fahm (Nigeria), Chris Seydou (Mali), and Alphadi (Niger) are exhibited combined with a vibrant display of fashion photographs from the time.

The images in Catching Change cover the years leading up to independence and show the emergence of a sense of action and African-American pride. Photographs shot in homes and studios increased in number as photography became more widely available.

Its expansion is demonstrated by studio portraits created by Mali artists Seydou Keta and Malick Sidibé, as well as by James Barnor’s (Ghana) fashion photography, family photos, and other works from the Museum’s collection.
Users are encouraged to interact with the content directly by contributing their own individual and family photos that reflect the fashions of pre-independence Africa. The diasporic community will become a crucial component of the presentation thanks to these contributions of self-fashioning.
Through samples of couture and ready-to-wear clothing, embellishment, and creative projects, the section Cutting Edge highlights a new generation of fashion designers and creatives.

Structured around concepts such as “Afrotopia,” “Artisanal,” “Co-creation,” “Provocation,” “Minimalist,” and “Mixologist,” this area shows designs by dozens of current artists and collectives whose trailblazing collections hark back to their rich and specific cultural history. For instance, the Alchemy collection by South African designer Thebe Magugu and stylist and healer Noentla Khumalo focuses on African spirituality and connections to ancestors. By incorporating “feminine” textiles and hues into menswear, Nigerian designer Adebayo Oke-Lawal and his label Orange Culture challenge conventional ideas of masculinity.

The self-portraits of Gouled Ahmed (Djibouti), a costume designer, stylist, and photographer, continue this discussion. Ahmed’s artistic expression also challenges conventional cultural gender conventions, particularly the underrepresentation of nonbinary Black Muslims.

Lafalaise Dion (Côte d’Ivoire) explores the cowrie shell’s history as a symbol of wealth, success, and fertility as well as its modern use as a piece of jewelry.
The artwork A Conversation between Cultures, created especially for Africa Fashion by Moroccan designer Maison ARTC, features the hand of Fatima (hamsa), a lucky symbol.

Through the Photographer’s Vision emphasizes how modern photography and cinema can support creative communities, provide unrepresented artists a platform, and investigate a new African identity. Contemporary photographers like Stephen Tayo (Nigeria), Sarah Waiswa (Uganda), and Victoire Douniama are collection pieces by South African photographers Zanele Muholi and Omar Victor Diop (Republic of the Congo).

Global Africa serves as the exhibition’s climax. This section highlights the global significance of African innovation by examining how the internet era has expedited the growth of Africa’s fashion sector and influence.

Exhibition Catalogue

A specific exhibition catalog produced by V&A Publishing is available to accompany the display. Omoyemi Akerele, Amine Bendriouich, Gus Casely-Hayford, Sunny Dolat, Bonnie Greer, Monica L. Miller, Elisabeth Murray, Njoki Ngumi, Hadeel Osman, and Roslyn A.
Walker contributed to the catalog, which was edited by Christine Checinska. Anne Pasternak, Shelby White, and Leon Levy Director, Brooklyn Museum wrote a new foreword.

Exposition Store

Africa Fashion will make advantage of a collaboration with ALRA, a premium lifestyle concept store located in Lagos, thanks to the efforts of Rachel Shechtman, the Brooklyn Museum’s Entrepreneur in Residence, to create a special exhibition shop experience. ALRA, which was established in 2015 by Reni Folawiyo and created by architect Sir David Adjaye, combines fashion, design, food, and culture.
ALRA, which was established in 2015 by Reni Folawiyo and created by architect Sir David Adjaye, combines fashion, design, food, and culture.
Folawiyo will select the designs for the exhibition shop for Africa Fashion, which will be ALRA’s first international outing.
Over the duration of the exhibition, special merchandise including products by designers featured in Africa Fashion as well as alternating trunk presentations and programs will enhance the shopping experience.

The Brooklyn Museum Store will sell products from Brooklyn, including but not limited to children’s toys, housewares, jewelry, and books, in addition to spotlighting brands and designers from Africa.

Ticketing Details
On April 18, 2023, timed tickets for Africa Fashion to go on sale. Starting on April 11, 2023, Museum Members can reserve their complimentary tickets.
Visit www.brooklynmuseum.org/join or send an email to membership@brooklynmuseum.org to join.

The cost of a ticket is as follows:

Adults pay $20 from Wednesday to Friday; seniors pay $13, students pay $13, visitors with disabilities pay $13, and kids pay $8.
Adults pay $25 on Saturday and Sunday, seniors pay $17, students pay $17, visitors with disabilities pay $17, and kids pay $10.

Exhibition Credit
The Sills Foundation Curator of African Art Ernestine White-Mifetu and Annissa Malvoisin, Bard Graduate Center / Brooklyn Museum Postdoctoral Fellow in the Arts of Africa, along with Catherine Futter, Director of Curatorial Affairs and Senior Curator of Decorative Arts, and Matthew Yokobosky, Senior Curator of Fashion and Material Culture, are responsible for organizing the Brooklyn Museum presentation of Africa Fashion.

Developed by the V&A and traveling the globe
Sponsor in chief: Bank of America.
Substantial assistance from AL-RA.

Content courtesy of The City Life Org & NFH

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