Africa is a bustling creative hub and one of the main avenues of expressing that creativity is through fashion. The continent boasts a fashion industry that has seen the rise of world-renowned fashion designers, models and stylists; the likes of Iman and Oswald Boateng. Seeing an opportunity to put Uganda’s and Africa’s fashion scenes on the map, the organizers of ASFA birthed the Abryanz Style and Fashion Awards in 2013 with the aim of giving Uganda’s fashion industry the world-class recognition it so badly deserved. The ASFAs came onto the scene purely to celebrate Africa’s fashion industry stakeholders including fashion designers, models, stylists, hair and makeup artists, media personalities, and influencers.

The ASFAs have had some iconic moments since 2013 such as Her Royal Highness, Princess Elizabeth Bagaya Nyabongo of Toro Kingdom being honored with the Lifetime Style and Fashion Icon Achievement Award for having made history as the first black model and African to feature on the cover of the Harper’s Bazaar magazine in 2015. In 2016, ASFAs became Pan African turning its attention beyond the borders of Uganda and opening up to the rest of Africa. This year, the ASFAs are set to return with what is expected to be the biggest edition yet. Returning with a new theme “The Starz”, the 7th edition of the ASFAs has a multifaceted mission. Other than highlighting creativity, achievement and excellence in the African fashion industry on a global scale, the awards also seek to “highlight the tradition of selflessness amongst the African nations to uplift one another through the advancement of adaption, and the modern generation that tirelessly challenges the socio-political global status quo. With compelling ideas between self-identity and recognition of ownership, this theme seeks to emphasize that this new outlook of the future African generation is for “us by us” hence the name The Starz”. -ASFAs

This year, African creatives will be celebrated across 14 categories. Nominations for this year’s nominees started on the 20th of September and will be running until the 8th of October. So, if you haven’t made your nominations, head on over to ASFAs website ASAP. The Abryanz Style and Fashion Awards is arguably the biggest event in Uganda’s fashion calendar. Last year’s edition saw some of Africa’s biggest stars such as Vanessa Mdee and Octopizzo take home awards from the prestigious event. We are definitely on the lookout to see who will be named the movers and shakers of the African fashion industry this year. This is not one to be missed! Click here to get your tickets to a wondrous night filled with glitz and glam!