Berlin: Residence of Rwanda’s ambassador hosts pan-African celebration of women’s economic leadership

Rwanda played a central role in the celebrations on May 28, hosting a special event at the residence of its ambassador to Germany.

The gathering brought together spouses of African ambassadors accredited to Berlin and showcased a shared pan-African vision that places innovation, creativity, and the economic empowerment of women at the forefront of Africa’s development agenda.

Through the promotion of BIWEISS, a brand created by Franco-Ivorian entrepreneur Bienvenue Angui, participants sought to demonstrate the potential of African cooperation and the growing role of women in transforming the continent’s economies.

The event brought together visionary leaders, designers, trend specialists, and fashion industry professionals who, beyond anticipating emerging trends, are helping redefine the relationship between design, technology, culture, and sustainability.

More than a product showcase, the gathering highlighted the journeys of African women entrepreneurs who are turning ideas into businesses and transforming local craftsmanship and expertise into products capable of reaching both continental and global markets.

In her remarks, Mrs. Jeanne Adili Ndatirwa, President of the Group of Spouses of African Ambassadors in Berlin, recalled the official theme of Africa Day 2026: “Ensuring sustainable water and safe sanitation systems to achieve the goals of Agenda 2063.”

However, the organizers chose to celebrate Africa Day through their support for BIWEISS, an initiative that embodies several key ambitions of the African Union’s Agenda 2063, particularly economic transformation through innovation, industrialization, and value creation.

From calf leather sourced in Morocco to Ivorian craftsmanship and a design process spanning Abidjan, Berlin, and Paris, BIWEISS represents a tangible example of Pan-African cooperation and the promotion of African expertise.

Rwanda as a symbol of women’s leadership in Africa

The choice of the Residence of the Rwandan Ambassador as the venue for the event was no coincidence. Widely recognized for its achievements in promoting women’s leadership and participation in economic and political life, Rwanda has become one of the continent’s most remarkable examples of inclusion and women’s empowerment.

Ndatirwa noted that women account for 58 percent of Africa’s self-employed population and contribute approximately 13 percent of the continent’s Gross Domestic Product.

She also emphasized that Rwanda’s experience demonstrates how investment in women serves as a powerful catalyst for development, innovation, and social transformation.

“BIWEISS is much more than a product. It is a story of creativity, innovation, and transnational collaboration. It demonstrates how African talent can create value together and compete on a global scale,” she said.

At a time when the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) is opening new opportunities for intra-African trade and cooperation, participants stressed the importance of supporting initiatives that encourage the emergence of products conceived, manufactured, and promoted across the continent.

The event was conceived and coordinated by Mrs. Waridi Schrobsdorff-Pabst and her platform FA 2-54. A former Kenyan-born model, she is now recognized as a creative strategist, contributor to Vogue Germany and Vogue Italy, and an active figure in Berlin Fashion Week since 2009.

The discussions were moderated by Ms. ShaNon Bobinger, a Berlin-based moderator and systemic coach of Rwandan and Ugandan heritage who works with numerous international organizations and leading brands.

Mrs. Mayouri Sengchahn of the Berlin-based trend forecasting agency Exalis GmbH also contributed her expertise and support to the initiative.

An Africa writing its own future

In closing the event, Ndatirwa emphasized that Africa Day is above all a celebration of unity, pride, and the continent’s shared ambitions. She noted that Africa’s story continues to be written every day, increasingly by a new generation of women entrepreneurs in Abidjan, Conakry, Djibouti, Dodoma, Kigali, Niamey, and Windhoek.

By hosting this Africa Day 2026 celebration, the Residence of the Rwandan Ambassador in Berlin reaffirmed its role as a space for dialogue, inspiration, and Pan-African cooperation.

Bridging heritage and innovation, the event reflected a shared conviction: Africa’s future development will also depend on the ability of African women to create, innovate, and build the continent of tomorrow together.