Nigeria’s fast-rising visual storyteller, Kikelomo Solomon-Ayeni, has clinched the African Iconic Fine Art Photographer of the Year award at the African Fashion Designer Award (AFDA) 2025. The newly introduced category honours outstanding contributions to visual arts across the continent, extending AFDA’s influence beyond fashion design into broader cultural expression.

Solomon-Ayeni earned the prestigious recognition for her acclaimed photo series, “African Preggy Ready to Party,” a vibrant celebration of pregnancy, womanhood, and African identity. The collection merges fine art aesthetics with cultural symbolism, portraying the African pregnant woman as bold, joyful, regal, and unapologetically visible.

One AFDA team member praised the work, saying:
“Kikelomo’s work does more than capture maternity—it reframes it. She brings elegance, strength, and joy to a subject often approached with limitation. This is fine art with cultural memory and modern energy.”

This year’s AFDA selection process featured a blend of expert jury evaluation and public voting, giving the category both artistic authority and popular appeal.

Other nominees included Kester Kanayo Onyemaechi, Olamide Bakare, Tosin Bakre, and Edirin John Duvwiama.

Solomon-Ayeni’s win marks a significant moment not just for her career but for the AFDA platform itself, which is increasingly recognising diverse voices shaping Africa’s creative landscape. The inclusion of fine art photography underscores a growing appreciation for visual storytelling as a pillar of Africa’s cultural evolution.

The award adds to an impressive year for Kikelomo, who has recently showcased her work in London, Berlin, Venice, and Spain and advanced cross-cultural artistic collaborations through her organisation, Red19 Global.

Her celebrated series continues to fuel global conversations on identity, representation, family, and the shifting imagery surrounding African women. With this latest honour, Solomon-Ayeni cements her place among the continent’s leading artistic voices—illustrating once again that African creativity is not just thriving but setting global standards.