Lubumbashi: 5th Fashion Week focuses on raffia and afrofuturism

In Lubumbashi, kuba raffia and natural fibers served as the central theme for the 5th Lubumbashi Fashion Week, held from September 14 to 19, 2026. Centered around afrofuturism, this edition invited designers to reinterpret Congolese heritage through contemporary codes.

The 2026 edition was built around a call for authenticity. Organizers urged stylists and artisans to return to the forms, gestures, and materials associated with Congolese cultures, and then reinterpret them with modern cuts, uses, and silhouettes.

Kuba raffia holds a special place in this initiative. The programming also highlighted wood, natural fibers, and other resources sourced from the local environment. The aim is to avoid confining these materials to decorative crafts, instead integrating them into clothing creations that can engage with contemporary codes.

The Fashion Week extended beyond the runway. Workshops focused on entrepreneurship, craftsmanship, and creation accompanied the fashion shows, along with collective exhibitions and a designer market. This format directly connects stylists, artisans, project leaders, and the public.

The event is notably supported by Lydia Katanga, founder of the AGORRA agency and director of the Lubumbashi Fashion Week. The launch of this fifth edition was presented as a new milestone for a local scene seeking to better structure its talents and provide greater visibility for the city’s creators.

The program included workshops, collective exhibitions, and a major show dedicated to interpretations of afrofuturism by the designers. The 5th edition was scheduled to run until September 19, 2026, with activities taking place at the Academy of Fine Arts and the French Institute of Lubumbashi.