Since its unveiling in 2022, Africa Fashion has become more than a museum exhibition; it is a cultural phenomenon, capturing the global zeitgeist of the moment. It is the exhibition that European and American audiences have been craving: an unapologetic and joyful celebration of Black pride, beauty, creativity, and innovation, under the guise of exploring Africa's historical and contemporary fashions. This is not to suggest that both iterations of the exhibition are infallible; instead, it underscores the importance and relevancy of an exhibition devoted exclusively to African fashion.
The original exhibition, curated by Christine Checinska and Elisabeth Murray at the Victoria & Albert Museum, consisted of 254 objects from over twenty African nations. Located in the unconventional, yet dynamic space that is Fashion—Room 40, the exhibition was divided over two floors: the first focused primarily on historical fashions, enhanced by complimentary photography and material culture; the second floor devoted exclusively...