Nike debuts Air Force 1 sneakers to celebrate Ghana
KOFI AYIM
Nike, the king of sneakers, celebrated the 40th anniversary of its popular Air Force 1 sneakers in New York City honoring Ghana and the Ghanaian community in the Bronx. The launch, held on August 12, 2022, unveiled a new variation of Air Force 1 (AF1) sneakers affectionately called “Little Accra.” The Bronx hosts more Ghanaian community than any other city in the U.S. according to population census. Consequently, the largest number of Ghanaian businesses in New York, especially grocery and produce stores are in the Bronx. It is not uncommon to encounter Ghanaian languages on the streets of this community. Unsurprisingly, the area in and around 167th Street is dubbed “Little Accra” by both Ghanaians and other Africans. “The beauty of the community in the Bronx is that people have brought their homes way from home to New York,” Abdul Karim Abdullah, CEO & Co-Founder of Afrochella told Travel Noire. Mr. Abdullah opined that the Bronx is the next closest home of Ghanaians living abroad. The outdooring of Air Force 1 sneakers was a collaborative effort with Abdul Karim Abdullah and his sociocultural organization, Afrochella Festival.
Afrochella in its 6th year, is an annual cultural and music festival held every December in Ghana that attracts mainly Africans across the diaspora. About 20,000 revelers are expected to take part in this year’s event. Nike would not be left out of it. The sneakers’ conglomerate has come out with a comfortable and unique signature footwear suitable for the terrain and environment that characterize the festival, complete with Afrochella’s signature wings included in the design. The sneakers also feature, “a mix of real and synthetic leather, satin overlays, and premium embroidery combine to celebrate the people and culture of New York City’s Ghanaian community. While embroidered backtabs honor Little Accra, a heavily Ghanaian enclave in the Bronx, metallic dubraes and graphics on the insoles encourage sharing stories and building community,” according to Nike.
Observers and critics believe that Ghana’s vibrant culture, conspicuous in the Bronx, especially during warm weathers precipitated Nike to manufacture the special footwear. Little Accra anniversary edition retails for $140.00.
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on Sep 26 2022. Filed under top stories.
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