Often dominated by cities like London, Paris, Milan, and New York, the fashion world is increasingly influenced by West African trends. Brands such as FREE THE YOUTH (Ghana), Pith Africa, Severe Nature & WAF (Nigeria) are establishing themselves locally and building bridges with international brands such as Patta (Netherlands). Their growth is driven by a dynamic, highly connected youth market—half of the African population is under 25—and a growing middle class, representing nearly 35% of the continent's population.

By gathering diverse perspectives, we aim to help our sector, global institutions and policy makers on the continent to better understand the challenges faced by creatives while identifying actionable solutions to transform the potential to enable prosperity.

As I left the John Randle Center for Yoruba culture that day, I passed a group of children participating in a creative workshop. Their enthusiasm reminded me why all this matters: these works are not just objects; they are mirrors through which our children can see their history, identity, and potential.

The return and preservation of African artworks on the continent are not merely questions of historical justice—they are necessities for inspiring future generations. And it starts with us—collectors, institutions, entrepreneurs—who have the power to change this narrative.

The end of AGOA would mark a major turning point for African countries that have structured their textile industries around exports to the United States. The strategies adopted by Rwanda, Kenya, Benin, and Lesotho offer valuable lessons on resilience and vulnerabilities in this scenario.

Design in Africa reflects a constant dialogue between yesterday and today, between know-how, innovation, and contemporary perspectives or designers of our generation.

As the world younguest’s continent economy is emerging, a powerful narrative is unfolding with stories such as Eki,s. While conventional wisdom often casts doubt on creative pursuits, viewing them as risky career paths, a new generation of visionaries is rewriting the rules of success.

Imagine pouring your heart and soul into building a brand, only to find it stuck in a rut. This is a reality many brands face when they hit a growth plateau. It can feel disheartening, especially when the market is buzzing with new ideas and fresh faces. But don’t lose hope ! This is the perfect moment for a brand to take a step back, reflect, and reinvent itself.

In the world of fashion, few materials carry the weight of history and culture quite like raffia : the humble yet extraordinary fiber from the raffia palm, has been woven into the cultural fabric of African heritage—adorning ceremonial attire from Benin to Cameroon, and masquerade costumes from Burkina Faso or Nigeria.

In today’s competitive market, branding is more than just a logo or a catchy tagline—it’s about telling a story, connecting with your audience, and standing out in a meaningful way. One powerful way to achieve this is by incorporating Adinkra symbols into your branding.

Simply throwing money at the problem, as Shein is attempting to do, doesn't address the root causes. I mean we have seen this kind of “aid to development” distracts from the fact that those who give from the front door to aid Africa’s development are actually taking more from the back door.

This Beninese cultural renaissance is a model that many countries could draw inspiration from, demonstrating that with ambition and creativity, it's possible to transform a rich heritage into a powerful lever for the future.

From the moment I arrived at the airport, my stay in Cotonou started on a discordant note. My luggage, misplaced somewhere between Geneva and Cotonou, was nowhere to be found. A mishap that I hoped wouldn't set the tone for the rest of this short four-day trip.

While African countries, individually, regionally, or on a pan-African scale, are still struggling to adjust their policies and recalibrate their strategies to effectively protect their domestic market, it is crucial to act quickly at the business level. Pending a coordinated and effective response from governments, it is imperative to propose concrete strategies to strengthen the resilience of local brands and reposition them distinctively in the market.

Our mission extends beyond individual success stories. We're building an ecosystem that nurtures talent, fosters innovation, and creates lasting economic impact. By doing so, we're not only empowering creatives but also reshaping the narrative of an entire continent.

Collaborating with nearly 150 brands and creatives over different categories has not only allowed us to contribute to generate revenues for the creatives but also the learn to become who we are today. Yes this journey has transformed us and though us invaluable lessons that we have incorporate to the foundation of the organization we want to build for the future.

For the first time, the official program includes a section dedicated to design. Under the curatorship of Ousmane Mbaye, a self-taught Senegalese designer, the biennale enriches its exhibition offerings with new creative sectors that highlight the interconnection between contemporary art, design, fashion, and the diversity of crafts in Africa.

Faced with major challenges, African producers and artisans must get into step and adapt to a dynamic that has become internationalized and is coming close to home with the transformation of the distribution sector. Here are some ideas:

Alara Lagos

The objective, to catalyze a creative synergy within the Foumbanese community: to bring together the different actors of crafts - established artisans, students and apprentices - from various specialties such as foundry, pottery, sculpture and manual engraving. By bringing them together in a space dedicated to innovation over a concentrated period, the program seeks to stimulate collaboration...

In this digital-focused perspective, crafts are often overlooked. They are not integrated into this vision of development and do not benefit from specific programs, adequate funding or in-depth training.