Liputa Fashion Week: A Peaceful Gathering Of Designers In Goma

On Friday, a fashion show in the spirit of peace brought together designers, models, and artists in the eastern Congolese city of Goma, the epicenter of a conflict that has raged for decades.

Liputa Fashion Week, now in its tenth year, attracted designers from eight nations, including the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Senegal, the United States, Uganda, and the Ivory Coast. The purpose of this yearly occasion is to raise awareness of the African fashion sector.

There has been military warfare and bloodshed in the eastern Congo for a long time. There are numerous armed factions vying for control of the mining resources, which is leading to widespread displacement and fatalities. Liputa Fashion Week presents itself as a representation of fortitude and harmony in this regard. This year’s organizers aimed to send a clear message: culture in general and fashion in particular can be potent messengers of harmony and social togetherness.

Senegalese designer Pape Songhé Diouf, better known by his business name Papino Creations, traveled to the fashion show to showcase his creations. As I often say, Africa is capable of self-improvement. And culture is the only way to accomplish this. You have your culture here in Goma. Senegalese culture is unique to us. The same is true for Burundi and Rwanda. I believe that if we unify our cultures, there would be peace throughout Africa,” he stated.