African Designers Take Center Stage at Rwanda’s First Fashion Show

The combination of sports, music and fashionIt’s a successful blend that appeals to both fans and brands, and now the Giants of Africa Festival is harnessing that enthusiasm with its inaugural fashion show.

Giants of Africa is a non-profit organization that leverages basketball to uplift young people across Africa. It was founded in 2003 by Masai Ujiri, who serves as the vice chairman and president of the Toronto Raptors. Hailing from Nigeria, his knowledge of the game stems from his experience as a player in Europe, followed by a career as a professional scout and later as an executive within the National Basketball Association.

In 2013, Ujiri made history as the first African general manager of a North American professional sports team, after being appointed by the NBA’s Denver Nuggets in 2010. Three years later, he was recognized as theNBAExecutive of the Year in 2013 for his position as executive vice president and general manager. Ujiri took on the role of team president in 2016 and left the team last month.

This year’s gathering is the second edition of the event, which has come back to Kigali, Rwanda, on July 26 and will continue until August 2. It is anticipated that 320 young athletes from 20 African countries will participate, along with over 20,000 spectators, for a week filled with activities focused on community development, cultural exchange, basketball, educational initiatives, and entertainment.

Set for Thursday, the fashion show was conceived by Ujiri’s wife Ramatu, a former model who was raised in Sierra Leone. Through this event, she is bringing attention to several designers from across Africa to demonstrate how styles differ based on the region. The focus will be on the work of Masa Mara, the designer born in Rwanda named Nyambo Masa Mara, who will be showcasing the talents of Giants of Africa’s host nation. Having lived in eight different African countries, the designer incorporates traditional craftsmanship, native patterns, and conventional clothing into their creations.

Alia Bare, who was born in Nigeria, began by making clothes for her daughters and established her own label in 2015 following her move to Dakar. Previously a wealth management consultant, Bare later attended the Raffles Institute of Design in Singapore.

Another brand named Afropian will be featured on the runway. Originating from Addis Abeba, Afropian is a Pan-African fashion label founded by designer Hortense Mbea in 2017. Intended as her “love letter to Africa,” the brand works with talented artisans from 15 African nations and uses handcrafted materials, unique beads, and other natural elements that highlight the continent’s rich history. Attendees of Threads of Africa will see the Neema capsule collection, which incorporates barkcloth and other components symbolizing the African forest.

Three designers can expect many people to view their collections, as over 600 guests are anticipated to attend the invitation-only event, according to the owners of the Giants of Africa Festival.

Although the weeklong festival has numerous sponsors for its various events, the “Threads of Africa” fashion show does not have a specific sponsor. Nevertheless, the recently opened Zaria Court has agreed to host the runway event. This open-air multi-purpose venue was redesigned by the design firm NLE. The site was initially constructed as housing for athletes because of its close location to Rwanda’s sports facilities, Amahoro Stadium and BK Arena. During the 1994 Genocide in Rwanda, it served as a temporary headquarters for the United Nations in Rwanda. The newly renovated structure features a versatile court suitable for a range of events, along with retail areas built from repurposed shipping containers, an 80-room boutique hotel, an indoor gym, co-working spaces, soccer fields, an outdoor calisthenics training area, a public park, and a children’s playground. Livestreaming of the fashion show will not take place this year.

Having spent my childhood on the continent,” Ujiri stated, “as Africans, we understand the challenges that children face. We know they dream similarly to how we did, and it truly motivates me because these kids possess so much more talent and intelligence. They have means of communication that we didn’t have back then. This festival is about demonstrating that there is a path available. We hope they never cease to dream.