Are you sitting comfortably? Then let us tell you a story 10 years’ in the making…
.In 2014, when Africa Fashion Week London was still in its infancy, the then Princess Ronke recognised the shared mission of promoting African culture and approached The Africa Centre – a renowned hub for African art, culture and heritage – for a collaboration. At the time, The Africa Centre was nestled in the heart of Covent Garden, one of London’s most vibrant and touristic areas.
Together, they planned a showcase of African fashion as part of the annual Africa Centre Summer Festival. This partnership brought African design to life amidst the tourists and locals of Covent Garden and the event was a celebration of African creativity and style, right in the heart of one of the world’s most iconic cities.
This moment marked a significant milestone for Africa Fashion Week London, setting the stage for its growth into the major cultural event it is today.
Queen Ronke today says, “Africa Fashion Week London is super excited to be partnering again with The Africa Centre for our 14th edition – a decade after our historic collaboration! Together, we have threaded our friendship and African heritage into the fabric of global fashion. We have enabled fashion to meet culture and culture to meet community. We are so pleased to form a stronger bond going forward.”
The Africa Centre itself is celebrating a milestone. This year marks 60 years’ in existence and with our new partnership celebrating this fact, we are set to host training and workshops on the history and creation of Adire textile art and supporting artisans and designers who use it.
We will also be hosting an Africa Fashion Week London 2024 press conference at the Africa Centre in September that will bring more detail into the new collaboration and news on our annual catwalk and exhibition showcase.
Olu Alake , CEO, The Africa Centre says. “Partnering with Africa Fashion Week London is a matter of great joy and huge significance for The Africa Centre. We celebrate African excellence and AFWL manifests this brilliantly. Our partnership will help to showcase and provide opportunities for our fantastic fashion and wider creative sector talent”.
| The Africa Centre in Covent Garden (circa 1980) |
The Africa Centre is a registered charity in London that was founded in 1961 and opened to the public in 1964. The center’s mission is to educate, connect, and advocate for Africa and its diaspora through cultural events, conversations, and courses. The center has hosted many notable people, including Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Maya Angelou, and Wole Soyinka. The center’s original location was at 38 King Street in Covent Garden, where it had a gallery, meeting halls, restaurant, bar, and bookshop. The center’s first director, Margaret Feeny, along with Dr. Kenneth Kaunda, the first president of Zambia, and Cardinal Laurien Rugambwa of Rwanda, officially inaugurated the center in 1964. The center hosted many cultural events, including art exhibitions, conferences, and lectures. It also offered extracurricular courses on topics such as African literature, Arabic and Swahili, and African dance and drama. The center’s Friday night sessions in the 1980s with Jazzie B and Soul II Soul are considered a key part of Black British history. The center closed its Covent Garden location in 2013 and moved to its current location at 66 Great Suffolk Street in Southwark, south London. The center’s history is reflected in a mural by Mozambican artist Malangatana Ngwenya that was moved and restored from the Covent Garden location. |
