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AFFEST 2025: The Chongai Soigné; Cheering on in Southern Colours.

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AFFEST 2025 Theme: The Chongai Soigné; Cheering on in Southern Colours.

This year, AFFEST takes a deliberate and dignified journey home, to the resilient and radiant heart of Southern Kaduna.

“Chongai” is more than a word. It is identity. It is ancestry. It is a declaration of pride for anyone with Southern Kaduna roots. It reflects a people known for their hospitality, strength, creativity and rich cultural depth.

“Soigné” meaning polished and elegant, represents the grace, dignity and style that define the Chongai people. When paired, Chongai Soigné becomes an ode to the sophisticated spirit of Southern Kaduna, expressed through our fabrics, food, language and lived experiences.

Cheering on in Southern Colours

We cheer on in Green, indigo, terracotta, sunset golds and earth tones, the colours of our land, our stories and our survival. These colours are not just aesthetic, they are ancestral. They trace back to the ancient artistry of the NOK culture, one of the earliest known civilizations in sub-Saharan Africa, located right here in Southern Kaduna.

The NOK culture, with its world-renowned terracotta sculptures, reveals that long before modern tools, Chongai ancestors were artists, visionaries and builders of beauty. Their art spoke of community, identity and power. The values we still hold dear.

This year, AFFEST becomes a living canvas where ancient artistry meets modern elegance. We’re telling our stories, wearing our truths and selling our crafts, without shame, without filter and without apology.

At AFFEST 2025, expect to:

  • Witness runway showcases inspired by ancient motifs and modern interpretations of Southern Kaduna fashion.
  • Explore art installations that pay homage to Nok terracottas and other ancestral legacies.
  • Experience cultural performances, poetry and culinary delights rooted in Chongai heritage.
  • Engage with survivor-led booths and brands that blend tradition with empowerment.

To Be Chongai Is To Be Enough.

To be Chongai Soigné is to rise, refined. To cheer on in Southern Colours is to declare: “We are still here. We are still beautiful. And we will continue to thrive!”