Showbiz
South African Fashion Expands into Eurasian, Russian Markets
By Kestér Kenn Klomegâh
Organized by the Fashion Foundation with the support of the Moscow Government, the second Moscow Fashion Week was held from March 2 to 7, 2024. As part of the bilateral cooperation agreements signed at the BRICS+ Fashion Summit, directors of fashion weeks and councils from Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa, and new members, including Ethiopia, Egypt and UAE, were represented.
Generally, most designers are keen on creating routes for new business and focusing on cultural exchanges a step forward in exporting brands beyond the United States and Europe.
The Moscow Fashion Week attracted designers from Brazil, China, India, Indonesia, Turkey, Serbia, South Africa and other foreign countries, who had an excellent opportunity to showcase world-class brands with premium quality and long history to a wide audience and attract new buyers and customers. Designers and brand specialists used the chance to gain exposure and network with industry professionals.
The South African designers participated and presented their unique collections at the Manege Central Exhibition Hall.
Stephen Manzini, the organizer of the South African group’s participation in this spectacular grandest business event, is the founder and CEO of Soweto Fashion Week.
In this interview, Stephen Manzini offers his assessment and the importance of the Moscow Fashion Week and further emphasizes diverse fashion trends in the global markets. Here are the interview excerpts.
As the founder of Soweto Fashion Week, is it interesting to know the common sentiments among fellow Russian participants and other foreign designers during the recently held Moscow Fashion Week?
The current Moscow Fashion Week has been rebranded due to cities becoming global trendsetters. You will notice that all the big fashion weeks around the world are named after cities or towns (Soweto Fashion Week), hence, the rebranding from the Russian Fashion Week to Moscow Fashion Week.
It is my understanding that the sentiments are similar, and these include production challenges, costs of production, understanding and cracking foreign markets and differentiating between cultural and propriety in materials, as well as meeting business overheads at the end of each month.
What are your corporate views about potentials in South Africa for Russia, and in Russia for the South African designer industry?
Russia and South Africa have an excellent relations. Based on the existing cordial relations, I truly believe there’s great potential for both countries. The potential for South Africa in Russia includes access to an open and curious market. We bring our rich cultural background to the table, cultural materials, design, print and overall make which is very colourful based on tribal colours and inspiration. It’s something different for the curious fashions in Russia. It may be a niche market today B2C until with time it is tapped into the B2B economy.
Russia for the South African designer industry. I truly view it as a much easier transition. Our mainstream wear in retail stores is very much inspired by European apparel, if they can match the final price tags in the market, they should be able to make way in a short space of time B2B.
Have you anything to say about setbacks, challenges and policy blocs in penetrating the Russian and Eurasian markets? What are the popular complaints in the fashion industry?
One of the most popular setbacks, challenges and policy blocs include financial backing for South African design houses to expand into Eurasian and Russian markets. It is not only that; if you pay attention to the import-export index, it is mostly about importing to South Africa rather than exporting. Sometimes, little or too much leads to product dumping and fast fashion. The BRICS bilateral political agreements have made it easier and simpler for the removal or reduction of policy blocs to Russia and Eurasia.
Do you consider market competition and the changing corporate realities as challenges?
Of course, every business has to consider these factors. There are always bigger and international brands with advanced access to information or sometimes absorbing a traditional South African designer to get inside trade secrets on cultural propriety. This squeezes the emerging designer’s niche marking and forces them to close or better yet adapt and reinvent themselves. I reckon it is the same in Russia and Eurasian markets.
Do you think the media as part of a decisive factor in building effective cultural ties, including the fashion business, with Russia and South Africa?
Media is one of the decisive factors in my point of view. The media drives the narrative and paints a picture that makes ties desirable, it carries a message that will attract newer ties and build stronger current ones. Even more so in the fashion business which is driven by visuals that the media projects across the globe giving evidence and a track record of the ties.
From the above narratives, what measures or steps do South African designers together with Russian counterparts suggest for unlocking and tapping for cooperation?
The necessity to establish continual exchange until tangible results are realized. The goals we seek to achieve will not happen after a once-off attempt of continual media coverage, exchange, learning and adapting to each country and consumer needs. South African designers are all emerging in Russia and Russian designers are emerging in South Africa, this narrative alone suggests that there is a lot of work to be done and we look to achieve solid cooperation.
What other areas have you already identified, besides fashion, to engage in as part of fostering the scope of people-to-people gathering (public outreach) between Russia and South Africa?
I have identified a unique water purification process that caters for self-service or an intimate community which could work well in South Africa. The business of purified water is the future gold business in my viewpoint as we already have a shortage of healthy clean water in certain parts of South Africa. That’s another industry that needs to engage as a matter of urgent necessity.
Any wider possibilities such as the BRICS platform, both Russia and South Africa are members of this association?
As you may be aware BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) platform is expanding. That is the main focus at the moment, and emerging global markets are coming together to build for each other industries outside of Western Europe and the United States. It doesn’t get wider than that, in my point of view, as that is the future of the world.
Heartbeat wasted no time turning up the heat in its premiere episode, kicking off with instant attraction, bold choices and dynamics that immediately set the tone for the season.
Ten singles, five men and five women, stepped into the Love Pad, but instead of long introductions, they were thrown into their first test. Each person had to make an initial choice based solely on photos, no conversations, no context, just instinct. Chidera, a 30-year-old who revealed she had been single for ten years, was the first to choose, picking Alvin, a 25-year-old actor. Alvin, however, followed his own instinct and selected Queen Latifa, a 26-year-old entrepreneur whose calm confidence stood out instantly.
As the house filled up, it became clear that some singles were already emerging as early favourites. Igwe, a 26-year-old oil and gas professional, quickly became one of the most sought-after men, attracting interest from more than one woman. On the other side, Hilda, a 28-year-old actress from Ghana, found herself drawing repeated attention, setting the stage for potential rivalry and connection.
The dynamics shifted again with the introduction of the Love Nest, a private room designed for two singles to spend the night away from the rest of the house. A hidden key added suspense, and when Kenna found it, he made a bold move by choosing Queen Latifa. The decision made them the first pair to share the Love Nest and instantly altered the energy in the house.
Next came the Love Dip game, where housemates picked numbers from a ballot box. Matching numbers meant becoming partners for the night, creating unexpected pairings and opening the door to fresh conversations. New combinations like Igwe and Hilda, Shekina and Alvin, Toria and Henry, and Chidera and Kenna sparked curiosity, chemistry, and a few raised eyebrows.
By the end of the episode, the singles had settled into the Love Pad, but emotionally, nothing was settled. The men openly discussed attraction and possibilities, while the women made it clear they were watching closely and not ready for half-hearted intentions or games.
Episode One didn’t give all the answers, but it asked the right questions. With overlapping interests, early connections, and choices already creating tension, Heartbeat is clearly gearing up for deeper emotions, surprises and evolving relationships.
Catch Heartbeat every Sunday at 9 pm on Africa Magic Showcase, GOtv Channel 8, and Showmax.
To upgrade, subscribe, or reconnect, download the MyGOtv App or dial *288#. For catch-up and on-the-go viewing, download the GOtv Stream App and enjoy your favourite shows anytime, anywhere.
The first episode of Africa Magic’s newest dating reality show, Heartbeat, premiered on Sunday night, January 11, 2026, and it is clear that Sunday nights are about to get a lot more fun. The singles came in and wasted no time in giving a show.
With Seyitan Atigarin at the helm and ten eclectic singles searching for a “Promise Lock,” the stage is set for a 12-week journey that promises to be more than just your average dating show.
Following an impressive first episode, here are five things we expect to see as the season unfolds.
1) Strong Personalities:
These singles came in with all confidence in who they are and what they represent. They have an idea of what they are looking for and seem like they will be going for it. Will there be a personality clash at some point or even ego bruises over partners? Time will definitely tell, and we’ll all be watching.
2) The Inevitable (and Messy) Love Triangle
If the First Glance reveal told us anything, it’s that tastes in the house are overlapping fast. We’ve already seen Henri and Ken eyeing the same ladies, while more than one woman seems intrigued by Igwe’s “cool and collected” energy. We expect a classic love triangle to form by the end of week two. There is nothing like a little competition to turn a “Love Pad” into a pressure cooker, and we are here for every bit of the “who-chose-who” drama.
3) Romance and Some “Heated” Tension:
If there is one thing that was obvious in the first episode, it is that the singles may have some physical attractions already. All thanks to the love pad, we got a first kiss from Ken and Queen Latifa, and one can only wonder what is to come in the following weeks.
4) High-Stakes “Compatibility” Challenges
Heartbeat isn’t just about sitting around and looking pretty. We expect to see weekly games and challenges specifically designed to test more than just physical attraction. From teamwork exercises that reveal who has a short fuse to “compatibility quizzes” that expose how well the pairs actually know each other, these tasks will likely be the catalyst for the season’s biggest arguments and its most romantic breakthroughs.
5) Intellectual Fireworks (The “Slumflower” Effect)
With Chidera Eggerue (The Slumflower) in the house, we aren’t just getting romance; we’re getting a masterclass in boundaries and emotional intelligence. Chidera has already made it clear she isn’t here for “bare minimum” energy. We expect her presence to challenge the men to step up their game, not just with flashy gifts, but with deep, intentional conversation. Expect some heated debates on feminism, dating standards, and “the patriarchy” over breakfast.
6) The “Promise Lock” Pressure Cooker
The show’s ultimate prize isn’t just a partner; it’s the Promise Lock. As the 12-week deadline approaches, the pressure to “lock it in” is going to turn friends into foes. We expect the final episodes to be a high-stakes showdown where couples have to decide if their “house romance” can survive a Lagos traffic jam or a Ghanaian family meeting. Who will commit, and who will leave their partner hanging at the gate?
Heartbeat Episode 1 successfully set the stage for a season of “romance, tension, and side-eyes.” If what we saw on the first episode is any indication, we’re in for a very messy, very entertaining three months. Catch the next episode on Africa Magic Showcase (DStv Channel 151 | GOtv Channel 8) at 9 pm on Sunday. You can also watch all the drama on the go via the DStv and GOtv Stream apps, available on the iOS and Play stores.
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
Love Nwantiti crooner, Chukwuka Chukwuma Ekweani, professionally known as Ckay, recently told CNN International on African Voices, which aired on January 10, 2026, the legacy he intends to leave behind.
Speaking in his home studio with the show anchor, Larry Madowo, the singer said, “I want my legacy to be that I innovated the sound, I advanced the culture, and I made the world a better place than I met it.”
Ckay, who also doubles as a songwriter and producer, further said, “I would say it’s definitely made its mark in the history books of Afrobeats, definitely, and I’m really proud to, you know, be a part of this whole culture.”
While explaining the rationale behind his biggest hit, Love Nwantiti, with over a billion streams on Spotify, said, “I was in between relationships at the time I wrote that song […]. I was making a beat, and I freestyled on the beats. I was just vibing my feelings straight from the heart. Like most times I don’t always take a pen and write songs. Sometimes I like to just pour it straight from the heart.”
With other popular releases such as Emiliana and Felony, Ckay spoke to his growth as an artist, saying, “As a person I’ve grown in love with each time I make a song. If you listen to the lyrics and what I’m saying, you can tell that I’ve grown in love […]. I’m a lot more mature now and my music has grown with it as well.”
Ckay broke out by going viral on TikTok and reflects on the phenomenon of social media trends and he said, “There was a time when in the early stages of this people would laugh that I was making TikToks for songs. People didn’t think it was cool to make TikToks. Fast forward now because people have seen the impact, everybody is making TikToks.”
He is carving his own path in the world of Afrobeats. His music comes under the subgenre of Emo Afrobeats. He tells Madowo how this sound came about, “Being a cancer, cancers are known to be emotional people. We’re known to be very like in touch with our feelings. As a creative, my essence, which is my feelings, just naturally comes through my music even without me really trying. Afrobeats being my cultural heritage, I just felt like for me to come into this space, it was very important that I brought a different perspective to the sound.”
Despite using the term ‘Afrobeats’, Ckay addresses the overgeneralisation of the style of music, saying, “Africa has over 50 countries, more than 50 cultures. Nigeria alone has over 36 ethnic groups with different languages, food, music, rhythm. With the music they also have their own instruments also not all of them play guitar and piano, there’s African instruments too. Coming to a whole continent and just calling everything Afrobeats, it’s not the most apt, but it’s a start, right? I think for the Western world, it’s a start to help them understand African music.”
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