Organisers of Fashion Fables Runway Africa have said the second edition of the Pan-African fashion event will create opportunities and visibility for young people in Nigeria’s creative sector.
The event, themed “The Rebirth,” is scheduled to take place this month in Abuja and will combine fashion, art, entertainment and African cultural expression, with a focus on inclusion, sustainability, upcycling and recycling.
The Convener, Obinna Kwame Tempe Obi, said this while briefing journalists in Abuja, adding that the 2026 edition would use fashion as a platform to reconnect audiences with African identity and creativity.
Obi said the event would go beyond conventional runway presentations by giving people from different backgrounds and experiences opportunities to participate.
“This year’s event will be much more than people simply dressing up and walking the runway. We want to showcase people with passion, creativity, resilience, and stories that deserve to be heard,” he said.
He said plus-size models would also feature in the event as part of efforts to promote broader representation in the fashion industry.
“We want everyone to see themselves represented,” Obi said.
According to him, “The Rebirth” would celebrate African creativity, traditions and heritage, while participants from across Africa would be brought together to showcase Nigerian and African creative talent.
He called for more partners, sponsors, vendors and exhibitors to support the event, saying collaboration was central to the organisers’ vision.
“Collaboration is the new currency. We believe this edition will mark the beginning of something new and significant,” he said.
Obi said the organisers also sought to contribute to youth empowerment by creating visibility, opportunities, and meaningful engagement for young people in the creative sector.
“Through platforms like Fashion Fables Runway Africa, we can create visibility, opportunities, and meaningful engagement for young people in the creative industry,” he said.
The event will also feature a special runway presentation involving cake-inspired designs.
Obi recalled that the inaugural edition featured Mr Khain Tobi, whom he described as an artistic model, adding that the experience encouraged the organisers to continue exploring unconventional forms of representation on the runway.
He also disclosed that returning model Nye would participate in this year’s event, with her participation highlighting themes of resilience, hope and courage.
Also speaking, the Chief Executive Officer of One Percent International Management, Stephanie Nnadi, said the event was designed to extend beyond fashion and celebrate the wider African creative ecosystem.
“Fashion Fables Runway Africa is a Pan-African fashion and lifestyle event that goes beyond fashion. It celebrates art, entertainment, creativity, African fabrics, and the stories behind them,” Nnadi said.
She said inclusion and sustainability remained central to the event, with emphasis on green initiatives, upcycling and recycling.
Nnadi said the event would provide a platform for African designers and models to tell stories through fabrics and fashion, describing the models as “dream walkers” who would bring designers’ creations to life while communicating the stories and ideas behind the pieces.
The second edition of FFRA is powered by One International, a talent management and creative platform focused on providing visibility and opportunities for young people in fashion, entertainment and related creative fields.
Nnadi said the event was a collaborative effort involving members of the organising team and partners working to promote African creativity and talent.
She said the overall objective was to create opportunities for creatives, promote African cultural expression and contribute to the growth and visibility of the continent’s creative economy.
—By Frank Ikpefan
