Mister Africa International Festival Heads to Nigeria for 2025 Edition

The prestigious Mister Africa International Festival is set to light up Nigeria this November, marking a significant return of Africa’s most influential male pageant to the continent’s creative capital.

For the 2025 edition, the top 10 countries will be selected through a series of online engagements and activities, determining who earns the right to attend the week-long festival in Nigeria from November 1st to 8th, 2025. The grand finale will be held on Friday, November 8th, in Lagos.

During the festival, contestants will embark on a cultural and creative tour across Lagos, Ibadan, and Ile-Ife, experiencing Nigeria’s dynamic blend of fashion, innovation, and heritage.

31 participating countries in the Mister Africa Festival include Angola, Congo, Togo, Gambia, Benin Republic, Tanzania, Liberia, South Africa, Ghana, Kenya, Mali, Ivory Coast, Cameroon, Mozambique, Nigeria, Chad, South Sudan, Uganda, Djibouti, Central African Republic, Rwanda, Burundi, Sierra Leone, Botswana, Zambia, Madagascar, Cape Verde, São Tomé and Príncipe, and Mauritania, alongside Mister Africa winners representing the UAE, France, and Italy.

Speaking about the upcoming edition, Queen Adakole, Executive Head of the Mister Africa International Festival, said:

“Africa’s fashion and technology industries are shaping the global narrative of creativity and innovation. Nigeria, being at the heart of that transformation, is the perfect place to host this year’s festival. The Mister Africa International brand has always celebrated not just beauty, but purpose , and hosting in Nigeria allows us to showcase Africa’s finest talent and ideas to the world.”

Since its inception in 2012 at the African Centre in Covent Garden, London, by Ayotunde Twitch, a renowned growth marketer and founder of House of Twitch, Mister Africa International has grown into one of the most respected male pageants in the world, promoting empowerment, leadership, and social impact across the continent.

Over the years, the platform has produced inspiring winners and ambassadors, including Akol Dok of South Sudan, who built a school in his home country, and Emmanuel Umoh of Nigeria, who sponsored over 1,000 disadvantaged children and has represented the brand in more than seven countries. The reigning Mister Africa, Stephen Sunday of Uganda, based in Germany, has graced major fashion weeks in Berlin, Paris, and Milan, while recent Big Brother Naija housemate Danboksid, who represented Nigeria last year in Sierra Leone through the Mr Ideal Nigeria platform, emerged as the first runner-up.

Interestingly, Angola holds the record for producing the highest number of Mister Africa winners in the pageant’s 13-year history , a testament to their dominance in African fashion and culture.

As the 2025 festival approaches, excitement is building for what promises to be a dynamic showcase of style, innovation, and African excellence, all hosted on Nigerian soil.