Last week Arise Fashion Week made a comeback in Nigeria after six years and they did so by making one big statement having Naomi Campbell walking in the catwalk shows. Naomi visited Lagos in honour of the fashion week and Boy Better Know Africa’s Homecoming pop up show, a music festival including performers Skepta, Wiz Kid and J Hus.
Arise Fashion Week is a prestigious event when Africa’s most esteemed fashion designers exhibit their clothing collections, including designers such as Tiffany Amber and Oswald Boateng. Naomi’s presence in AFW was expected due to her promotional duties and even saw her meeting with Nigeria’s president Muhammadu Buhari. However, Campbell walking in the fashion shows was completely unexpected and was an exciting surprise for the audience. She opened the show for designer Lanre Da Silva Ajayi, wearing a shimmering metallic gold gown and a fringed gold skirt.
Speaking emotionally of her return home she says, “the energy was amazing… I received so much love that it was overwhelming.” Naomi also highlighted the potential for Africa within the fashion industry, stating “Africa as a continent is on the tip of explosion. There needs to be an African Vogue. It’s time.”
Whilst in Lagos, she also opened British grime artist Skepta’s BBK homecoming music event. Skepta and Naomi recently collaborated earlier this year in March for a GQ cover shoot and interview expressing the difficulties they have both faced on their roads to success regarding racism and abuse of power. So it was no surprise that Naomi attended the pop up concert to show her support. Whilst there, she met dance organisation Dream Catchers, a group of underprivileged children from Ikorodu.
They have recently risen to fame over the Internet with their talented, dance routines going viral. Naomiwas touched by her meeting with the gifted children, “I left with my heart full of so much happiness; I didn’t want to leave. I haven’t felt that love in a long time, and it made me realise that, all the 32 years I’ve been in this business, they’ve been worth it.” Naomi was also seen visiting Lekki Market in Lagos, stylishly of course!
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HAPPY GOOD FRIDAY