By| Goodluck E.Adubazi, Abuja
The second edition of the Fashion Fables Runway Africa (FFRA) has spotlighted inclusivity, sustainability and African heritage, with organisers calling for greater opportunities for people of different body types and abilities to participate in the fashion industry.
The youth-focused Pan-African fashion initiative, held on Sunday, August 30, 2026, at Jabi Lake Mall, Abuja, featured an audition and exhibition involving more than 300 models, including children, teenagers and adults.
The Convener of FFRA, Obinna Obitaris, said the event was designed to change the narrative around African fashion by encouraging Africans to tell their own stories through fashion, fabrics and ancestral heritage.
Obitaris said the initiative, formerly known as Fashion Fusion Africa, was rebranded as Fashion Fables Runway Africa to strengthen its vision and impact.
According to him, FFRA is an inclusivity-based platform focused on impact, sustainability and green initiatives, while creating opportunities for people who are often excluded from mainstream fashion shows.
“We are here to tell our story around African stories and African ancestors, telling stories around fabrics, telling our own stories by ourselves, not just strangers telling our stories,” he said.
He said the audition attracted male and female models, children, teenagers and adults, adding that the platform was also challenging stereotypes about who could participate in the fashion industry.
“We are changing the narrative that says that the black child cannot be seen. You can be seen, and it doesn’t matter how you are,” Obitaris said.
He noted that the show had accommodated models with albinism, vitiligo and other special needs, describing inclusivity as a central pillar of the initiative.
According to him, FFRA made history last year when an autistic model, Toby, of African descent, travelled from the United States to participate in the runway.
He added that this year’s show would also feature a model undergoing chemotherapy for cancer, saying her participation demonstrated the platform’s commitment to giving everyone an opportunity to be seen and celebrated.
“Our aim is to create a space where everybody feels accepted and involved — a non-judgmental space,” he said.
Obitaris further said the fashion industry should go beyond employment creation by providing an avenue where creativity could flourish and people of different backgrounds, ages, body types and abilities could be recognised.
He also commended the Minister of Creative Economy, Hanatu Musawa, for supporting the initiative, noting that the ministry provided technical support to last year’s edition and endorsed this year’s event.
He acknowledged the support of sponsors and partners, including AIT, Africa News Nation -ANNTV, Auto Space, The Blank Grand, Jabi Lake Mall, DNT Autos and amongst others.
Also speaking, one of the judges at the event, Precious Momoh, described FFRA as a departure from conventional fashion shows, saying the platform was deliberately created to break stereotypes within the modelling industry.
Momoh said the event featured people who were traditionally underrepresented on fashion runways, including plus-size and petite models as well as people with albinism.
“At Fashion Fables, the whole idea is inclusivity. We’re trying to bring people that are not the regular people you would see on the runway,” she said.
She recalled that the previous edition featured the first autistic model to walk the FFRA runway, adding that the 2026 edition would continue the tradition of showcasing diverse models.
According to her, the initiative seeks to inspire people to develop confidence in themselves and their bodies, regardless of their physical appearance.
“You don’t have to limit yourself to your body size or how you look. You can achieve anything you want,” Momoh said.
She added that the show would also reconnect contemporary fashion with African heritage, describing the runway as a celebration of colours, different body sizes and diverse identities.
The Brand and Technical Director of FFRA, Genesis Akpoloyowa, said the 2026 exhibition was centred on sustainability and the need for Africans to take ownership of their stories.
Akpoloyowa said FFRA was established as a platform for expressing African stories through fashion while demonstrating to the world that Africa had long embraced sustainable practices.
According to him, the initiative seeks to challenge the perception that sustainability is solely a Western concept, stressing that African societies had developed sustainable ways of living long before colonisation and modern global trade.
He said the platform would continue to use fashion as a tool for cultural expression, youth empowerment, creativity and the promotion of African identity.
The organisers said FFRA would continue to provide a platform where young people and individuals who might otherwise be excluded from the mainstream fashion industry could take up space, showcase their talents and contribute to the growth of Africa’s creative economy.
