Lagos’s National Theatre, now the Wole Soyinka Centre for Arts & Culture, a brutalist landmark whose shape mimics a general’s cap, from October 27-29, played host to a different kind of uniform.
The attendees at Moonshot by TechCabal were not, on the whole, wearing the hoodies, fleece vests, T-shirts, and jeans combinations that Silicon Valley has exported to the world. Most people were dressed to be seen.
There was a richness to the dressing that felt entirely at home in a West African fashion capital. Boldly patterned shirts, flowing matching sets and colourful fabrics brought texture and brightness to the various rooms and exhibition halls.
The appeal lay in the freedom with which guests put it all together. West African fashion influences sat comfortably alongside contemporary tailoring, sculptural dresses and easy separates. Styles could be practical, exuberant and polished within the same outfit.
More importantly, there was a sense of occasion. People dressed for the pleasure of gathering, making an entrance and meeting one another. In the pictures that follow, that pleasure is everywhere.
