Sarah Diouf

In 2018, Beyoncé, whose outfits are closely scrutinised, introduced Tongoro to the world. Since then, the burgeoning Senegalese brand has continued to attract new ambassadors, from Alicia Keys to Naomi Campbell. The brand's founder, Sarah Diouf, has become a true symbol of the African continent's rise on the international fashion scene. Born in France to Senegalese, Congolese and Central African parents, she grew up in Côte d'Ivoire (until the Christmas 1999 coup d'état). After an accident that radically changed her outlook on life, she first made a name for herself in the media world with the founding of two magazines. In 2016, in Dakar, she launched Tongoro (which means ‘star’ in Sango), her own brand. With a bold and proud vision of women, she creates powerful designs with a strong identity. Her sense of community leads her to pursue a sincere social ambition by promoting craftspeople and offering meaningful fashion that is 100% made in Africa, part of a sustainable African fashion industry. In January 2024, she accused the Balmain brand of plagiarism. Most recently, the brand has expanded into menswear with the Môgô collection (meaning ‘guy’ in Ivorian Nouchi), which includes clothing for Burna Boy.