About 1,000 designers, models and celebrities were due to attend the FIMA festival in Niger
AFRICA’S PRIME fashion event, the two-yearly FIMA festival in Niger, was called off yesterday (Nov 24) on the eve of its launch over fears of terror attacks, the organiser has announced.
“The Niger government has decided to postpone this 10th edition of FIMA due to events in Diffa (southeast Niger), Mali, Chad, Cameroon, France,” said Alphadi, a prominent couturier.
Due to have gathered some 1,000 designers, models and fashion types from 40 nations for Africa’s November 25-29 fashion week, the festival will take place “very soon”, he added without giving a date.
The cancellation follows the recent attacks in Paris and also in Mali, where 22 people were killed in a raid on a luxury hotel last week.
The last Fima show in 2013 was held under tight security amid fears of an attack by al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM).
Apart from musicians and designers, footballers Samuel Eto’o of Cameroon and Ivorian Yaya Toure were expected for this year’s launch which was due to take place at Niger’s biggest stadium, the AFP news agency reported.
First held in 1998, the Niger fashion get-together gathers buyers and stylists as well as showcasing the latest creations in African sculpture, art and jewellery.
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