Princeton's "Sankofa" Show Puts African Fashion and Identity Centre Stage

Princeton University's annual African fashion show "Sankofa" — a Ghanaian word meaning "go back and get it" — took over the university's art museum in April, blending runway fashion with cultural storytelling.

The student-organized event featured designs from African and diaspora designers alongside performances, spoken word, and visual art installations exploring themes of identity, heritage, and belonging.

"Sankofa is not just a fashion show," said one of the student organizers. "It's a conversation about who we are, where we come from, and what we carry forward."

The show is part of a broader wave of African fashion events taking place across the United States this spring. In Clark County, Washington, a series of events in April and May spotlights Black and African culture through fashion, with organizers framing fashion as a "cultural voice."

Meanwhile, Afro Fashion Week LA is scheduled for May 2 at the Alkebulan Cultural Center in Pasadena, honoring African culture, fashion, and creativity through a vibrant runway celebrating the continent's global influence.