Fashion For Peace – May 24 Gala Event

The most glamorous event of the year will take place in Kenya on May 24th, 2008 in the Nairobi National Park when FAFA (Festival of African Fashion and Arts), in collaboration with the Kenya Tourist Board (KTB), hosts Fashion for Peace, a fashion show and gala dinner which brings together some of Africa’s world-famous fashion designers and models on the catwalk.

Conceptualised by Ann McCreath, creator of Kenyan fashion label KikoRomeo and founder of FAFA, the objective is to draw attention to the immense creativity and sophistication which exist in Kenya and on the African continent while building on hope and promoting peace.

FAFA is bringing together a wide range of participants including jua kali artisans (cottage industry), visual artists, designers, musicians, writers, sportsmen, professionals in the tourism sector, environmentalists, media and business people.
“We need to encourage people to come together and show the wonderful richness that exists in cultural diversity, and in doing so, restore people’s faith in Kenya. Harnessing this energy provides us with an opportunity to present the country as a modern, dynamic, destination. ” says Ann McCreath.
The event is being organised in collaboration with the Kenya Tourist Board (KTB) and is part of a joint effort by artists and from Kenya and the continent to help re-launch tourism and through it, business in Kenya.
“Many Kenyans, from all walks of life, have been deeply affected by the recent crisis. As a result, more innovative ways of marketing Kenya are needed both within Africa and beyond, and a concerted effort from the different business sectors to pull resources to achieve this goal is vital. We are confident that this unique avenue will send a positive message to our target audience abroad”, said Dr. Ongong’a Achieng, Managing Director, Kenya Tourist Board.

The Fashion for Peace event will also raise funds for the victims of the crisis; Proceeds from ticket sales will go towards the “Alternatives to Violence Project”, Kenya, which runs training on conflict prevention and reconciliation in affected areas of the country.
FAFA is using fashion and the arts as a means to impact positively on communities affected by the violence and is involved in a series of initiatives with strong social and environmental impact.
The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) is partnering with FAFA in the “Fashion for Peace” event. Environmental activities in support of peace-building amongst communities that have been most affected by post-election violence in Kenya will include tree plantings, clean-up campaigns, art competitions and sports activities for children and youth in IDP camps. This will help draw attention to the environment and bring communities together for a common cause.

Top Kenyan model Tess Njuhi will be collaborating with Peace One Day who will be documenting all FAFA and UNEP events. Peace One Day, which began 5 years ago, brought together the likes of Nelson Mandela, Kofi Annan, Richard Branson and the Dalai Lama to achieve a World Peace Day on 21st September, which is a day of global ceasefire. They have singled out FAFA as a great ongoing initiative which contributes to long-term peace and which can be used as an example in other countries.

Women and girls affected by the violence throughout different parts of Kenya are involved by making patches from scraps and recycled materials which are being integrated into the giveaway bags and in some of the designer collections. Other groups are making “Peace Trees” from recycled metal, which communities and dinner guests can put peace messages on. These activities are creating income and helping poorer communities get back on their feet.

The following top African designers from around the continent will join Kenyan designers in displaying their creative talent: Paris based designers Alphadi of Niger, Imane Ayissi of Cameroun and Paul Herve Elizabeth of Martinique, as well as Pathe’O of Ivory Coast, Tribe of Ghana, Modela Couture of Nigeria, Espace Fagueye of Senegal. Participating Kenyan designers, who also have an international following will also show their latest collections. These include Moo Cow, KooRoo, Sally Karago, John Kaveke and KikoRomeo.

Former international Kenyan top model Waridi Schrobsdorff will be hosting the fashion show. International African models Tess Njuhi, Belinda Baidoo, Kine Diouf, and Ajuma, among others, will be gracing the catwalk and will lend their support for peace in Kenya.
Top Kenyan TV and radio personality Patricia Amira, who sits on FAFA’s organising committee, says about the event: “The wonderful opportunity a show like this gives us is that it not only reiterates what we Africans know – that there is a tremendous amount of talent and creativity on this continent, but also that it provides a forum to portray an Africa that can come up with its own innovative solutions through the exciting, multi faceted world of the arts worldwide. It is time we realise the important role that contemporary arts and culture can play in marketing our country abroad”.

FAFA is a newly created association which is made-up of a multi-disciplined coordination team dedicated to the promotion of peace through art, fashion and music.