The First Lady of the Republic of The Gambia, Mrs. Fatoumatta Bah-Marrow, has lauded the ingenuity and cultural significance of Nigerian fashion during her visit to April by Kunbi, a leading fashion and design flagship store in Lagos.
During her tour of the facility, Mrs. Bah-Marrow praised the New York-trained Creative Director of the brand, Mrs. Olakunbi Uzochukwu, for her innovative approach to promoting African culture while creating job opportunities for youth.
“I have seen quality, inspiration, and determination in what I see during the tour of the facility, and they align with my style,” the First Lady remarked. “I prefer to dress modestly being an African, and I believe we should have our own taste before importing and integrating other cultures that are not ours. Let us maintain our culture. Human beings without culture are nothing.”
The store, which relaunched on December 8, 2024, houses three distinctive brands:
Stan & Beth: A children’s fashion line inspired by loyal customers seeking elegance for little ones.
Kunbi Lagos: A slow-fashion ready-to-wear brand featuring timeless designs that transcend fleeting trends.
Odiuko: A luxury fabric store offering exclusive materials for discerning clients.
Mrs. Kunbi Uzochukwu, an alumna of the prestigious Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT) in New York, has earned global acclaim for her designs, which have adorned brides and fashion enthusiasts worldwide.
Speaking further, the Gambian First Lady highlighted the role of April by Kunbi in job creation:
“It’s creating jobs because I am seeing only youths around the shop and the factory. That shows when you come to my country, you will create jobs, and when you go to another African country, you create a job.”
She also encouraged Africans to embrace locally produced goods:
“Let us maintain our content and consume what we produce. Africa is a blessed continent, and I believe no one can come and build our continent. We need to build it by ourselves, especially the young ones. Everyone should be proud of themselves and be proud of people who are representing your continent.”
The First Lady extended an invitation to April by Kunbi to visit The Gambia in 2025, expressing her admiration for the brand’s creativity.
“Everyone should come and have a look at fashion collections in April by Kunbi. Seeing is believing. When I came, I saw the exact things in the video that was sent to me in Gambia. I said, ‘Wow, we could have this in Africa?’ You know me, I am a jealous type. I decided to say you have to come to The Gambia. You are welcome to Gambia in 2025,” she said.
The visit reinforces the growing appreciation for African creativity and the importance of cultural preservation, with April by Kunbi serving as a shining example of excellence in the continent’s fashion industry.
More Stories
The analysis of character is the highest human entertainment