The AFAA East Africa Fashion and Art Expo 2024 in Nairobi: A Resounding Success

The African Fashion and Art Awards (AFAA2024) is organizing its annual continental events including the East Africa Fashion and Art Expo held in partnership with the 4Real Fashion Festival (4FF), which concluded triumphantly on May 11, 2024, at the Best Western Meridian Hotel in Nairobi, Kenya. This remarkable event brought together an eclectic mix of designers, models, and fashion enthusiasts from across the East Africa region, creating an unforgettable celebration of African creativity and talent.

[PHOTO: The African Fashion and Art Award (AFAA2024)- East Africa Fashion and Art Expo in Nairobi}

The East Africa Fashion and Art Expo 2024 featured an impressive lineup of 13 fashion designers from Kenya and South Sudan, showcasing their unique collections to an eager audience. Among the standout designers was the 9Lives Brand Known for their avant-garde approach, they captivated the audience with innovative and bold designs. There was also the House of Barikay who displayed their mastery of intricate patterns and vibrant colors, embodying the spirit of African heritage.

[PHOTO: 3rd from the right on the photo Mr. Kingsley Amako CEO and founder of the African Fashion and Art Awards with fashion designers, his team, and models ]

Among other names showcased in the AFAA2024 Nairobi edition included; ANIEZ Unique Designs, Emerald, Twitch Stitches, Taj Luxury Collection, House of Zahra, Billions, Jane's Fashion, KB Fashion, Just Luxury, Rieldo and the Kenyan Raw An incredible designer with a collection that reveals his creativity in recycled fashion.

The event organizer Kingsley Amako who is the CEO and the founder of the AFAA emphasized that the primary aim was to help these designers showcase their creations and generate sales. To bring the collections to life, approximately 30 models were hired to present the various designs on the runway.

[PHOTO: The African Fashion and Art Awards (AFAA2024)-East Africa Fashion and Art Expo in Nairobi}

One Kenyan model expressed satisfaction with the event, stating, "The event was good, I can say, and models were very happy because they did their part and we were all paid." This model also sent an encouraging message to aspiring models, urging them to "keep chasing that dream."

[PHOTO: The African Fashion and Art Awards (AFAA2024)- East Africa Fashion and Art Expo in Nairobi}

The AFAA East Africa Fashion and Art Expo was a vibrant celebration of African fashion and art, highlighting the diversity and creativity that defines the continent's fashion industry. It provided a platform for both established and emerging designers to showcase their talent and connect with potential customers and industry professionals.

However, despite the overall success of the event, some fashion enthusiasts in Nairobi pointed out areas for improvement. One attendee suggested that future events could benefit from earlier and more extensive advertising: "We all understand the energy the organizers used to put together the AFAA 2024 Nairobi edition, and big up to the organizers. But next time they will need to do advertisement earlier to help fashion people know event's details ahead of time."

[PHOTO: The African Fashion and Art Awards (AFAA2024)- East Africa Fashion and Art Expo in Nairobi}

Another challenge noted was the venue's location. A fashion enthusiast commented on the difficulties posed by holding the event in Nairobi's Central Business District (CBD): "Scheduling an event downtown in Nairobi [CBD], you have to be very careful with the traffic. Some people were willing to attend the event, but thinking of parking and reaching the hotel during rush hour, some decided not to attend."

These insights highlight the importance of strategic planning in event organization, particularly in bustling urban centers like Nairobi "Future editions of the AFAA Expo or other fashion events coming to Nairobi might consider factors such as accessibility, parking availability, and traffic patterns when selecting venues to ensure maximum attendance and participation" says expo and events organizer in Kenya 

[PHOTO: The African Fashion and Art Awards (AFAA2024) -East Africa Fashion and Art Expo in Nairobi}

Despite these challenges, the AFAA East Africa Fashion and Art Expo successfully showcased the vibrancy and creativity of the African fashion scene. It provided a valuable platform for designers to display their work, connect with industry professionals, and potentially make sales. For models, it offered an opportunity to gain exposure and earn income, contributing to the growth of the local fashion industry.

The event also served as a precursor to the upcoming African Fashion and Arts Award in Cape Town, South Africa, scheduled for later in 2024. According to Kingsley, "The AFAAWARDS 2024 promises to be even more grandiose, as a gathering where fashion and art creatives will be rewarded and celebrated with an array of new designers and artists set to showcase their work."

[PHOTO: Kingsley Amako CEO and founder of the African Fashion and Art Awards ]

This upcoming event in Cape Town is expected to build on the success of the Nairobi Expo, further elevating the profile of African fashion and art on the global stage. It will likely attract an even wider range of designers, artists, and industry professionals from across the continent and beyond.

[PHOTO: The African Fashion and Art Awards (AFAA2024) - East Africa Fashion and Art Expo in Nairobi}

The AFAA events play a crucial role in promoting African fashion and art, both within the continent and internationally. They provide a platform for talented designers and artists to showcase their work, fostering creativity and innovation in the industry. Moreover, these events contribute to the economic growth of the fashion and art sectors, creating opportunities for employment and entrepreneurship.

As the African fashion industry continues to grow and evolve, events like the AFAA East Africa Fashion and Art Expo are becoming increasingly important. They not only celebrate the rich cultural heritage and creativity of African designers but also help to position Africa as a major player in the global fashion scene.

[PHOTO: The African Fashion and Art Awards (AFAA2024)-  East Africa Fashion and Art Expo in Nairobi}

Looking ahead, the organizers of AFAA events are considering incorporating more digital elements to reach a wider audience and overcome logistical challenges. “Yes, we are aware of the virtual fashion shows, online marketplaces, and live streaming options and these will be among others to improve in the future by allowing our designers to connect with a global audience and potentially increase sales opportunities” added Kingsley

[PHOTO: Kingsley Amako CEO and founder of the African Fashion and Art Awards with his team after the event in Nairobi}

The African Fashion and Arts Award (AFAA) is an event designed to recognize and celebrate the creativity of young Africans in various verticals of the creative industries. AFAA is committed to driving economic development through fashion and arts, creating opportunities and platforms for emerging fashion entrepreneurs, creative visual artists, models, writers, poets, photographers, graphic designers, sculptors, podcasters, and more.

In 2022, AFAA received several endorsements from established Nigerian Government Ministries, Departments, Agencies, and Cooperations, which granted Nigeria the hosting rights for AFAA-2022 and 2023. The 2022 event was held in five different venues in Abuja and welcomed participants from Ghana, Zimbabwe, Egypt, Turkey, Côte D’Ivoire, Lebanon, and different parts of Nigeria.

 THE RCFS'S MEDIA