Frequently Asked
Questions

Meet Africa Fashion Festival.

Meet Africa Fashion Festival (MAFEST) is a pan-African creative economy platform established to promote Africa's fashion, textile and garment industries while creating opportunities for trade, investment, tourism, youth empowerment and cultural exchange. The festival brings together designers, manufacturers, investors, policymakers, diplomats, development partners, celebrities, media organisations and consumers from across Africa and beyond.

• The festival is a three-day show, comprising of:
• Business-to-Government (B2B) Policy Conference
• Textile and Garment Exhibition
• African Model Competition
• Fashion shows and Awards
• Eco-Fashion Workshop (Masterclasses)
• MAFEST Festival Village and Roadshow

• MAFEST Grand Finale, Crowning and Award — Transcorp Hilton, Abuja
• Conference — International Conference Centre, Abuja
• MAFEST Festival Village — Old Parade Ground, Abuja
• Workshop — 3Js Utako, Abuja
• Note that all venues mentioned above may change. Full confirmation including the HOST City to be made in March 2027.

September 2027. Full Details to be announced March 2027 at a World Conference.

A total of no fewer than 50 fashion designers would be featured on the runway; 25 models for each day.

• Each designer would showcase 15 pieces of well-tailored designs — size 6.
• Each to create 5 costumes:
• Casual
• Evening
• Beach Wear
• Corporate Wear
• Bridal Wear

70 percent African fabrics, 30 percent others.

No, please. The organisers would provide all the models, both male and female. Their vital measurements would be sent to all participating designers.

A full week or three days to the show.

No fewer than 100 Models — both upcoming, professionals and Super Models will be featured, both female and male.

Yes, please. All Models that will participate in all our runways must go through our castings (online and physical) for selection. The dates and period of the castings would be communicated to all Models who register for the selection process.

Between 10 days and a week to the show, accommodation and feeding would be offered to both Models and Fashion Designers.

Yes, provisions are being made for 10 days camping for the Models, crew and Designers.

We would provide return tickets to all invited Designers and models as well as provide local transportation within Abuja.

The MAFEST African Model of the Year competition is a flagship pan-African talent discovery platform under the Meet Africa Fashion Festival (MAFEST). The competition seeks to identify, celebrate, and promote emerging modelling stars across Africa and crown one of them as the African Model of the Year.

This is the only competitive segment of the Meet Africa Fashion Festival (MAFEST), open to all emerging Models from across Africa. Entry is strictly by registration online and official selection both online and physical castings.

Purchase the participation form and pay ₦20,000 or its equivalent in USD (non-refundable participation fee).

Yes, for now only female Models are eligible to participate, except we secure sponsorship that can fund both male and female prize categories.

• Must be 18–25 years old.
• Must be a citizen or resident of an African country.
• Must provide a valid government-issued ID.
• Must provide a modelling portfolio (minimum three photos).
• Must sign image rights and participation consent.
• Must not be tied to any contractual disputes.

• Each applicant must submit:
• A professional headshot.
• Full-body photo.
• Video introduction (optional but encouraged).
• Biography (150–200 words).
• Contact information.
• Signed declaration of authenticity.

• A screening panel evaluates applicants using the following criteria:
• Runway presence.
• Editorial (photogenic) versatility.
• Camera engagement.
• Communication & personality.
• Professionalism.

• Star Prize — $5,000 USD
• 2nd Prize — $2,000
• 3rd Prize — $1,000
• Plus consolation prizes.

There shall be public voting for the finalists, in addition to a selection Jury that scores the contestants relying on laid down rules that would be communicated to both the contestants and the public.

• Public Vote — 60%
• Jury Score — 40%
• Total = 100%

• The jury includes:
• Renowned fashion designers.
• Top modelling agents.
• Media & fashion editors.
• Creative directors.

All data shall comply with NDPR (Nigeria Data Protection Regulation). Contestant and voter data will only be used for official purposes.

One day Main Grand Finals and three days run at the MAFEST Festival Village. The MAFEST Festival Village runway shows are strictly for the emerging Models — male and female.

• Workshop (Masterclasses) — 2 days
• MAFEST Festival Village — 3 days
• Roadshow — 1 day
• MAFEST B2B Policy Conference — 2 days
• Exhibition — 3 days
• Fashion Runway — 4 days

Unveiling of the 2027 edition: 3js Hotel, Utako, Abuja on September 8, 2026.