Spotify and Severe Nature Bring Afrobeats Culture to Life Through Fashion
Last week in Lagos, the lines between music and fashion blurred in electrifying new ways. Afrobeats: Culture in Motion—a bold collaboration between Lagos-based streetwear brand Severe Nature and Spotify—transformed the Greasy Tunes Cafe into a multisensory celebration of African creativity. The immersive showcase brought together sound, style, and storytelling, spotlighting how Afrobeats continues to fuel cultural innovation far beyond the studio.
At the heart of the evening were four Nigerian fashion designers—Móye Africa, I.N Official, KADIJU, and Pièce Et Patch—each unveiling capsule collections that visually interpreted Afrobeats’ rhythmic complexity, raw energy, and communal roots. More than a runway, the event unfolded as a living installation. Spotify’s curated soundscape set the tone, while silhouettes, textiles, and craftsmanship danced to the pulse of genres from alte and highlife to streethop and the big three.
“Partnering with Spotify was essential,” said Severe Nature’s Art Director, Christopher Afolabi. “They are the sonic architects of the Afrobeats movement globally. This showcase wasn’t just inspired by the music, it embodied it.”
The event marks a continuation of Spotify’s investment in the wider creative ecosystem surrounding African music, championing culture as a holistic expression.
“Afrobeats is a culture, not just a genre,” said Phiona Okumu, Spotify’s Head of Music for Sub-Saharan Africa. “We’re proud to amplify the vision of creators like Severe Nature, who are pushing boundaries and redefining what global African culture looks and feels like.”
The Designers in Motion
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- Móye Africa: Translated Yoruba storytelling into unisex silhouettes using hand-dyed adire and vintage Aso Oke in a bridge between memory and modernity.
- I.N Official: Merged music and tailoring with architectural silhouettes and tech fabrics, nodding to collaborations with icons like Tems and Burna Boy.
- KADIJU: Made a maximalist statement on sustainability with voluminous, zero-waste designs that channeled bold femininity.
- Pièce Et Patch: Wove history into avant-garde forms using deconstructed denim and upcycled materials, treating fabric as archive.
Afrobeats: Culture in Motion reaffirmed Lagos not only as a source of global cultural influence, but as the stage where future-facing creative conversations unfold, powered by platforms committed to amplifying every facet of the movement.
