First Lady, Chantal Biya, served as guest of honour at the 17th edition of the Fashion, Design and Crafts Forum, presiding over a distinguished grand catwalk on Friday, 29 May 2026, at the Hilton Hotel in Yaounde.

The ceremony began with a vibrant showcase by nine incubators, whose collections struck an accomplished note and underscored the Government’s enduring commitment to nurturing Cameroon’s creative industries.

Romeo Takeh Dinnyuh received the Talent Prize for Designers in recognition of his exceptional creativity and innovation.

Organisers conveyed profound gratitude to the First Lady for her sustained and invaluable support for the advancement of the national fashion sector.

Subsequent rounds featured creations by former incubators, while the concluding segment presented the work of established professionals from Cameroon, Spain, Algeria and France, highlighting the forum’s broadening international reach.

The gathering brought together prominent designers, investors, fashion houses and leading creative professionals, including the internationally renowned Cameroonian couturier Imane Ayissi, united by a common ambition: to elevate Cameroonian expertise and creativity onto the global stage.

As UNESCO's Goodwill Ambassador, Mrs Chantal Biya warmly commended the ingenuity and talent of Cameroonian youth, emphasising the strategic importance of fashion, design and craftsmanship as engines of economic growth, innovation and employment.

Under the direction of Yves Eya’a, head of the Cameroon Fashion Creators Center, the week-long forum comprises a rich programme of fashion shows, high-level strategic meetings, conferences and networking sessions.

These activities seek to spotlight local talent, strengthen the competitiveness of Cameroon’s creative industries and promote the "Made in Cameroon" label both across Africa and on the international scene.

Through this 17th edition, the grand catwalk has once again affirmed the forum’s status as a premier platform for African creativity and a powerful showcase of Cameroon’s rising influence in the global fashion arena.

It held under the theme: "Weaving Worlds: Roots and Innovation between Cameroon and the Rest of the World".