Brazzaville Fashion News: A Regional Distinction
Brazzaville, 20 January (ACI) — Congolese designer Christia Yoka, widely known under her brand identity “Mrs Ondè”, has expressed gratitude after being designated the best young fashion creator in Central Africa. The distinction was conferred during the 3rd edition of the “Ivoire Talent d’Or” prize, held on 19 December in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, according to the Congolese Information Agency (ACI).
In an interview granted to ACI on 18 January in Brazzaville, Christia Yoka framed the award as both a personal milestone and a collective achievement. “This prize is the result of constant efforts and a total commitment to promoting our brand internationally. It represents an important recognition for me and for my entire team,” she stated (ACI).
Ondè Brand Profile: Bridalwear and Ready-to-Wear
Driven by an enduring passion for fashion, Christia Yoka has presented clothing design as a language of expression and cultural affirmation. Under the Ondè label, her atelier specialises in wedding attire as well as ready-to-wear pieces, positioning craftsmanship and stylistic identity at the core of the brand’s offering (ACI).
ACI reports that the designer has produced more than 1,000 wedding dresses for the benefit of over 300 couples since 2025. The agency’s account portrays this volume of work as an indicator of sustained demand and a structured production capacity within the Ondè enterprise.
Pointe-Noire Workshop Plan: Serving a Growing Clientele
In response to what she described as increasing demand, Christia Yoka announced a project to open a new workshop in Pointe-Noire. The stated objective is to bring services closer to clients in the coastal city, a move that, as presented by ACI, reflects an ambition to consolidate the brand’s domestic footprint alongside its international aspirations.
Beyond her own trajectory, the designer addressed the broader question of youth participation in economic life. She encouraged young people to embrace entrepreneurship and to persevere in pursuing their projects, presenting such engagement as a pathway to contributing to social and economic development (ACI).
Bokitani Collection: Heritage Recast in Contemporary Form
At the Abidjan award ceremony in December, Christia Yoka received a trophy and a certificate of merit, with recognition linked to the presentation of her collection titled “Bokitani”, translated as “heritage”. ACI notes that the collection was praised for its creativity and its contemporary identity, suggesting a balance between cultural reference and modern aesthetics as a defining feature of her work.
The prize was presented by two structures, Owode Business and the General Commission of the Talents d’Or of Africa, represented respectively by Ahmed Medy A. Y and Mohamed Yessoufou. The ceremony took place in the presence of the president of the local organising committee for this edition, Daniel Sahinde (ACI).
Education and African Creative Economy: A Rising Figure
Christia Yoka is a graduate in economic sciences from Marien Ngouabi University. In ACI’s framing, this academic background coexists with a professional profile now increasingly visible in African fashion circles, where she is presented as one of the emerging figures of the sector.
Created to promote excellence and the commitment of young African talents, the Ivoire Talent d’Or prize recognises cultural and entrepreneurial actors whose career paths are considered inspiring at regional and international levels (ACI). In this sense, the recognition granted to Christia Yoka is portrayed not merely as an accolade for a single collection, but as an endorsement of sustained professional discipline and of the ambition to project Congolese creative capacity beyond national borders.