Ankara Festival Los Angeles 2025: Unity Over Division in African Fashion & Culture
- Sahndra Fon Dufe
- 31 minutes ago
- 4 min read
Ankara Festival Los Angeles 2025 Celebrates Diversity In Style
By Sahndra Fon Dufe | Black Film Wire
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA,
Looking back at —The Ankara Festival Los Angeles has always been a mirror of the diaspora, but in 2025, its reflection was sharper than ever. Held at the Sunset Room Hollywood on August 31, the 16th annual showcase unfolded under the theme Unity Over Division—a theme that resonated beyond the runway.
“There is strength in unity. There is power in diversity. There is comfort in celebration,” said founder and creative director Peter Lentini. “With the mix of cultures and styles within the fashion designers, to the East African (Kenya) and West African (Nigeria) hosts, this year’s show had an emphasis on what we can do when we work together as one.”
That ethos was not just spoken—it was sewn into the garments themselves. From Nubian-inspired silhouettes to handcrafted West African textiles, each collection pulled from distinct corners of the continent, weaving together Africa’s geopolitical regions into a single tapestry of style.
Fashion as Cultural Cartography
The night opened with Nubi Collections by Elinyamal Both, whose pieces carried the history of Nubia into contemporary Los Angeles. Boldly patterned fabrics were cut into structured, ready-to-wear looks, their clash of texture and print echoing the balance of heritage and modernity.
From Ethiopia, the show traveled to Côte d’Ivoire through Bogolonfini by Bambadjan Bamba, one of the evening’s most resonant highlights. Bamba, an actor and cultural advocate, rooted his Assinie Travel Collection in bogolanfini—Malian and Ivorian mud cloth textiles hand-crafted and naturally dyed. Flowing coats, soft linens, and tailored leisure sets in earthy browns and deep indigos revealed the artistry of the hand-dyed process, their imperfections celebrated as signatures of heritage. These were not just garments but living documents of craft, carrying the slow, tactile wisdom of West African artisans into a diasporic conversation about luxury.
From Cameroon came Carl-Winston by Theo Tayo, garments charged with biography and resilience. His collection, named after his cousin Carl, blended sharp tailoring with bold African prints—a fusion born from his own journey of self-discovery between Cameroon and America. Each piece felt like a wearable memoir, stitched with intention and social purpose.
Finally, Nigeria closed the runway with a powerhouse: Bekeé by Sylvia Nwanmadi. The headlining designer commanded attention with gowns and aso-ebi ensembles that seemed sculpted for royalty. Metallic-thread embroidery shimmered against deep jewel tones and luminous whites, embodying the name “Bekeé”—Igbo for pure. Her designs moved fluidly between wedding aisle, red carpet, and ancestral homage, a clear declaration that African fashion belongs unapologetically on the global stage.
A Celebration Beyond the Runway
Between shows, DJ Disturbin LA electrified the atmosphere, spinning Afrobeats and amapiano in Ankara attire, her presence an embodiment of the festival’s cultural remix. The hosts from Survival of the Creatives kept energy high, bridging fashion with sharp humor and commentary about diasporic resilience.
The weekend itinerary reminded attendees that AFLA is more than a fashion show—it is a cultural festival. Friday’s Owambe Fashion Party and Saturday’s Culture Vybes Day Party: East Africa vs. West Coast built momentum for Sunday’s fashion concert, headlined by Kenyan star Bien, whose performance closed the festival in a blaze of sound and solidarity.
A Tapestry of Unity
What struck most this year was the geographic sweep of the designers—spanning East, West, Central Africa, and the diaspora—each bringing fabrics and techniques as varied as mud-dyed bogolanfini, Nubian-inspired prints, Cameroonian tailoring, and Nigerian aso-ebi. Together, they mapped a vision of Africa’s diversity while proving the power of shared storytelling.
For co-producer Svenya Nimmons, the festival’s success underscored its theme: “If we are resourceful and lean on our community, our needs will be granted—and they were. Beautifully and intentionally.”
Sixteen years in, Ankara Festival Los Angeles has grown into something larger than a showcase. It is a reminder—fashioned in hand-dyed cloth and runway-ready gowns—that unity is not just a message. It is the fabric that binds us.
A Salute to the Collaborators
This year’s festival magic was powered not only by the designers and performers on stage but also by the dedication of the Ankara Festival Los Angeles executive team—Peter Lentini, Svenya Nimmons, Ruby Okeke, Stacy Uzuh, Desniege Joseph, and Chijioke Umeh. Their vision, grit, and commitment brought warmth, precision, and true hospitality to African press, talent, and community.
Black Film Wire at Ankara Fest 2025
Final Word
The Ankara Festival Los Angeles 2025 was more than a fashion show. It was a reminder that Black culture and African creativity are global forces—threads that tie Lagos to Los Angeles, Nairobi to New York. When we come together, borders blur and heritage shines brighter. From handcrafted fabrics to contemporary silhouettes, from the runway to the afterparty, this was unity in its most stylish form.
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