I’ve been waiting for an event like this to remind us why African fashion is a movement, because what? I have been struggling to catch my breath. It’s the AMVCA 2025 Cultural Night and AMVCA coordinators said the theme this year is ‘African Heritage’ and these overly talented Nigerian stylists said, ‘hold my beer’.
I mean, listen… it wasn’t just any AMVCA red carpet. It was a cultural revival wrapped in silk, beads, and ancestral elegance. From the minute the stars started arriving, I could tell that this night wasn’t about playing safe, it was about playing heritage, and playing it LOUD.
Could we start with the AMVCA hostess of the evening, the one and only original ‘Achalugo’, Bamike “BamBam” Olawunmi-Adenibuyan. And oh my God, did she understand the assignment. BamBam didn’t just host, she curated the entire ambience with her presence. Styled by @styledbyseun in a custom look from @shapes_by_nelson, she wore this regal outfit that danced between royalty and rooted tradition.
BamBam came dripping in a beaded Kente top and shirt that poured into layers at the bottom. The makeup? Immaculate. The posture? Ethereal. The way she carried herself through the night made it feel like we were watching a queen welcome her tribe home.
And the stakes were high, baby. This wasn’t a regular shindig. This was million-naira fashion runway, literally. The AMVCA cultural night comes with a serious incentive: ₦1 million each for Best Dressed Male and Female. And this year, the winners didn’t just win, they made a statement for the archives.
When Liquorose walked into the AMVCA Cultural Night, it was like the ancestors paused to admire their handiwork. I gasped. Everyone gasped. Styled by Prudential Atelier, she donned a breathtaking blue outfit that seamlessly blended traditional African elements with contemporary flair.
The outfit featured a structured corset bodice adorned with intricate beadwork, paying homage to her heritage while embracing modern design. Her matching orange color gele and statement jewelry added a regal touch, completing a look that was both powerful and graceful. Every detail, from the silhouette to the accessories, spoke volumes about the artistry and cultural pride infused into this masterpiece for AMVCA.The texture, the silhouette, the confidence? Chef’s kiss. It was giving royal. It was giving cultural priestess. It was giving, “I came here to win and preserve the legacy.” And dear did she win for the second time in a row. Prudential Atelier is definitely on her A-Game. Everything from her neckline to her waistline screamed art. You could tell hours of craftsmanship went into it. This wasn’t a dress, it was a story. And I’m so glad the judges got it right by awarding her Best Dressed Female. She earned every single naira.
Then there was Prince Nelson Enwerem. My goodness. He wasn’t just dressed; he was appointed. You know when someone walks into a room and you instinctively rise because royalty just entered? That’s what Prince did. Wearing a Benin-inspired traditional look, layered with coral beads and deep-toned embroidery, he brought ancestral finesse and modern polish into one outfit. The stance? Regal. His stylist, @princessdaprada and @houseofvieve, delivered a masterpiece that paid homage to the richness of the Benin Kingdom. There was a visible weight to what he wore, not just in fabric, but in history. He looked like he’d been styled by the gods and tailored by history. So yes, when they handed him that ₦1 million Best Dressed Male prize, I clapped like I was at a coronation. Because truly, he dressed not just to impress, but to represent, and represent he did!
And let me just say, this AMVCA red carpet? Honestly, I could’ve written an entire thesis on each outfit, but some looks really made me pause, rewind, and screenshot. Uche Jombo showed us what grace looks like in traditional fabric. You could tell this wasn’t just a fashion moment for her, it was cultural expression. The 2 step ballons at the base of this artful sculpturing was nothing short of breathtaking. And the beads and corals? Just the right amount. There’s something deeply powerful about seeing an actress of her status wear her heritage with pride and not water it down for glam. She wore it like legacy.
Stan Nze, host of the most. This man made the Igbo culture all the more appealing. An ‘Odogwu’ through and true. With his beautiful Igbo regalia, Stan looked like he walked straight out of a lineage of kings, while gracefully keeping it together as the host of the night. The red cap, the lion-head embroidery, the lion head staff, the confident energy, it all tied together to create this “I’m the heir and the moment” vibe. The tailoring was so precise, I wanted to zoom in and study every stitch. But his second outfit to AMVCA Cultural Night was what blew me away. It was the way the top of his attire exuded royalty. I screamed! The black beading and the yellow mustard? Perfection! @p.ariesofficial really did an amaing work, I have to give him his flowers.
And Chimezie Imo was another one who honoured his Igbo roots with class during the AMVCA Cultural Night. He wore a statement-worthy wrapper, but it was the top that perfected the Igbo signatory, accentuated with coral beads, and that statement fur placed over his shoulder, epic and class. Chimezie is really stepping in his regal moment and I loved it.
The Yoruba men came correct this year. Saga Adeolu pulled up looking like the head of the elders’ council, as per usual. I know @amdiddyy is a master in statement pieces but you see this Saga’s agbada? This gave 10 over 10 over 10, equals ate, minus nothing. The fur, the hanging frills, the play on color keeping it neutral but majestic, Saga came to the AMVCA Cultural Day ready for battle because what? There’s just something about seeing a man wear agbada with grace and strength, it’s like the fabric carries memory. On his Instagram page he quipped “Emi ni. Okurin meta ati abo”,interpreted to mean, “A Man And More”. There could be no better befitting title.
Olivia Okoro, my BBTitans fave, was not here to blend in. She showed up in an ensemble that belonged in a fashion museum. Layers of velvet, beads, and structure, it gave me modern-day Hausa princess energy. Her makeup was soft glam with tribal marks carefully drawn in, and I genuinely felt like I was looking at a modern African heroine from a novel.
Uriel was a walking masterpiece. She had this masterpiece, draped in purple and gold ensemble layered with intricate embroidery and dramatic layers of flare on both sides, from her thigh down, that made her look like she was sculpted out of elegance. There’s always a certain softness she brings to her fashion moments, and I was into it
Let me just say this; if love was an outfit, Adedimeji Lateef and Adebimpe Oyebade wore it. Their coordination was flawless. They wore royal blue and gold traditional Hausa attire that was so lush, it shimmered in every camera flash. I’ve never seen the Hausa culture in Nigeria be so regally represented, Amy Aghomi out-did herself with these pieces.The matching coral beads, the synchronized stance, the unspoken “we’re both the moment” energy, it was wedding-vow-worthy. Sometimes, two people just step out and remind you why fashion isn’t just about fabric, it’s about synergy. They didn’t just wear their culture. They wore each other’s pride.
Mercy Aigbe, ever the fashion icon, graced AMVCA Cultural Night event in a stunning red gown and regal beads that made homage to the Benin culture. The intricate patterns and rich colors of her attire were complemented by a white beaded shekere, which she carried gracefully, traditional beads, making her look like a queen straight out of a Benin empire. Her presence was both commanding and graceful, a true testament to her status in the industry.
Whitemoney gave us a bold Igbo vibe. @surebossclothin did a number with this ethereal white ensemble, but it was the way he blended it perfectly with the black royal drape on his shoulder and black coral beads that brought this piece to life.The outfit screamed tradition, and the way he carried himself made it even more impactful. You could feel the pride in his stride.
The AMVCA 2025 Cultural Night wasn’t just a fashion show. It was a revival. It was a call to remember that our culture isn’t just in museums, it’s in our closets, our creativity, our confidence. Every gele tied, every wrapper folded, every bead strung, was an act of remembrance. It reminded me that our stories aren’t lost. They’ve just evolved. And when we show up in our culture like this, with elegance, with pride, with fashion, we’re saying; “we remember who we are”. And we slay while doing it.
So yes, while some people might’ve tuned in for the celebrity looks or to see who won what, I watched for the heartbeat of it all. The fashion. The pride. The bold declaration that we’re not just stylish, we are rooted. And if this is what the AMVCA Cultural Night gave us this year, then I already can’t wait for the AMVCA Award show tonight.
