Over 50 Women, leaders and changemakers from across fashion, diplomacy, business, finance, philanthropy, culture and community gathered in New York City on Saturday the 26th of September 2026 for yet another warm experience of the MÄFO Dress Brunch, held on the sidelines of the 81st United Nations General Assembly.
At the centre of the gathering was the MÄFO Dress, created by Cameroonian fashion designer and entrepreneur Kibonen Nfi, founder and Creative Director of KIBONEN.
Convened by Francine Mbvoumbо, founder of Mothers to Daughters and a strategic partnerships advisor, the gathering brought together an intentionally curated community around a shared celebration of women of global and lasting influence.
Hosted at The Crab House Times Square, the afternoon brought together women and men from different industries and backgrounds for an experience centered on fashion, culture, leadership, connection and collective impact.
A Celebration of Women of Global and Lasting Influence
A defining moment of the afternoon was the recognition of five women whose leadership and contributions continue to make an impact across Africa and the global community.
The women recognised were:
Mrs. Kanayo Awani, Executive Vice President, Intra-African Trade and Export Development at Afreximbank.
Ms. Sanda Ojiambo, Assistant Secretary-General of the United Nations and CEO and Executive Director of the United Nations Global Compact.
H.E. Amina J. Mohammed, Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations.
Dr. Anino Emuwa, Founder and CEO of 100 Women @ Davos and Managing Director of Avandis Consulting.
Liz Agbor-Tabi, Vice President, Global Policy at Global Citizen.
The recognition celebrated these women whose work spans international development, trade, diplomacy, sustainability, entrepreneurship, policy and social impact. The honorees represent different paths and professions, but the recognition reflected a common thread: the ability to use influence in ways that extend beyond individual achievement and contribute to communities, institutions and the wider world.
At the UNGA81 gathering, the MÄFO Dress once again became a point of connection between women from different backgrounds and sectors. The experience demonstrated how fashion can create an entry point into larger conversations about culture, leadership, heritage, women's empowerment and community. For KIBONEN, this is central to the evolution of MÄFO from a fashion experience into a growing cultural movement.
The gathering was supported by a host committee that brought together individuals and organisations across business, culture and community. The Host Committee included Bantu Arts Atelier, New York Chamber of Commerce, Busie Matsiko, Marianne Bena, Fadilah and Farai Gundan. The event also received support from Televase, Lea Spiezo, Inside The Diaspora, Eloria Michelle, Fashinnovation, BGR and Mothers to Daughters. Together, the partners and host committee helped create a gathering designed not simply as a brunch, but as a space for meaningful relationships and conversations.
The MÄFO Dress Brunch welcomed a diverse group of guests whose work spans fashion, business, diplomacy, media, healthcare, entrepreneurship, culture and social impact. Among those present were Angelle Brigitte Kwemo, international trade and investment executive and founder of A StrategiK Group and Believe in Africa; Queen Mother Dr. Delois Blakely, community leader, educator, author and international advocate for women, children and youth; Natu Camara, Guinean-American artist, entrepreneur and Madame Thérèse Tommo Monthé, President of the United Nations African Mothers Association. Edwina
The gathering also welcomed Fred Swaniker, Ghanaian entrepreneur and educator and founder of the African Leadership Group;
The room reflected the breath of the MÄFO vision, bringing together people whose work and experiences represent different parts of the African and global community.
Beyond the formal recognition, the brunch created space for conversations and relationships to develop organically. Guests gathered over brunch and cocktails, exchanged ideas and connected across sectors, while the MÄFO Dress provided a common thread throughout the experience. The event also featured a number of curated experiences and surprises designed to celebrate the women in the room and create opportunities for connection. The afternoon reinforced an idea at the heart of the MÄFO movement: meaningful change does not happen in isolation. It happens when people with different experiences, expertise and influence come together around a shared purpose.
For KIBONEN, the growth of MÄFO reflects a broader belief that African fashion can be a vehicle for culture, community, economic opportunity and global connection.
The MÄFO Dress Brunch on the sidelines of UNGA81 was a crucial meeting point for women and leaders whose work is shaping conversations across fashion, business, diplomacy, culture and social impact. It was also another step in a movement that continues to grow beyond the garment itself.
As the Road to 5,000 Women continues, MÄFO carries forward, it continues to rely on the idea that when people come together with intention, culture can become connection, fashion can become a platform, and one shared expression can open the door to something much bigger.