It was all about fun, unification and celebration of cultures as Africans gathered for Africa Celebrates 2022 held in Addis Ababa. Africa Celebrates, an annual event aimed at celebrating Africa’s unity in diversity, foster integration through our rich cultural heritage which can be explored as a catalyst for our social economic growth, promote intra and inter African trade and tourism and encourage Africans and the rest of world to patronize “Made in Africa” by eating our food, wearing our clothes, appreciating our local music, dance and performances.

The opening, the second and third days of Africa Celebrates 2022 moved to Skylight hotel from the African Union. The 2nd day kicked off with Africa Fashion Business Summit. In attendance were fashion designers and entrepreneurs from all over Africa.

Also, special guest of honour for the Africa Fashion Business Summit was H.E. Amb Albert Muchanga, Commissioner of Trade, Industry, Entrepreneurship & Tourism of the African Union. He spoke about the need for branding and copyright.

The first panel discussion with the theme “Promoting Manufacturing in Africa as a Tool for Job Creation and Training/Building Capacity to Support Manufacturing in Africa” was moderated by Dr Oswald Chinyamakobvu of the African Union. Panelists included Ms Jacqueline May, Design Futures Digital Lab (South Africa), Persil Telewa, Business Development Officer, Micro and Small Enterprises Authority, Kenya, Silvia Tonui – Kenya – Creative DNA programme consultant, Joyce Nyasha Chimanye, Creative Director of Zuvva, Zimbabwe and Farai Bayai Ncube, Regional Arts Director, Sub-Saharan Africa of British Council.

Africa Celebrates 2022 presented the cultural night of music, dance, cuisine and exhibition of arts, culture and heritage in the evening of the 2nd day. Performances were presented by the various participating countries while guests had the opportunity of sampling cuisines from across Africa. The 3rd and final day were the gala fashion event where designers from across Africa showcased African inspired designs from their various countries. Some of the designers that showcased included Zuvva from Zimbabwe, Eko Atlantic Jeans, Nigeria/UK, Eloli, Cameroon, Interfashional Africa, Zambia, Muni Designs & Epica Jewelries from Kenya, Afrosparkles, Zambia, Nadiaka, Togo, Skasebata, Zimbabwe, House of Randa, Sudan, Forest Spirit, Cameroon, Maimour from Mali, Zargue’sia, Zimbabwe just to mention a few.

The highlight of the gala fashion event was when H.E. Amb Albert Muchanga, Commissioner of Trade, Industry, Entrepreneurship & Tourism of the African Union and H.E Hon Haidara Aїchata Cissé, Honorary Vice-President of the Pan-African Parliament were both honoured as Patrons of Africa Celebrates.

Africa Celebrates was organized and packaged by Legendary Gold Limited in collaboration with the African Union, Embassy of Nigeria in Ethiopia and Pristine Marketing Group. Partners included British Council, Coca-Cola, Ethiopian Ministries of Foreign Affairs, Culture & Sports, Tourism, Kana Tv, Kuriftu, Kennis Fm, Best Western Plus, Skylight Hotel, Mezo production, Mac Entertainment & Debredamo hotel.