Sjava Takes the Stage as MaXhosa Africa Makes Paris Fashion Week Debut

Last Updated: September 30, 2026By Viwe Ntlebi

Laduma Ngxokolo’s MaXhosa Africa brought a distinctly South African experience to Paris Fashion Week on 28 September, combining the luxury fashion house’s signature geometric knitwear with a live performance by multi-award-winning musician Sjava.

The Spring/Summer 2027 presentation marked a major milestone for MaXhosa Africa after the brand was officially approved by the Fédération de la Haute Couture et de la Mode (FHCM) to present a full runway show on the official Paris Fashion Week calendar.

The show featured 60 looks and marked MaXhosa Africa’s first full runway presentation on the official calendar, taking Ngxokolo’s distinctive approach to knitwear and African-inspired design to one of the world’s most prominent fashion platforms.

Sjava provided the soundtrack to the presentation, adding a live musical element to the showcase as the fashion house brought together South African fashion, music and culture in the French capital.

Ahead of the show, Sjava spoke about the significance of performing at the presentation, describing the opportunity as a historic moment for himself, South Africa and the continent.

“Thank you so much for having me be a part of an occasion like this; it’s history in the making for me, for our country, continent,” Sjava said at the MaXhosa Africa Paris Fashion Week SS26/27 press conference, according to IOL.

He also thanked Ngxokolo and the MaXhosa Africa team for creating an opportunity that he had once viewed as a distant dream.

“A big thank you to Laduma, MaXhosa Africa, for making sure that we get to experience things like this, things that we always looked at as a dream and would never happen, but today here we are,” he said.

The musician added: “We’re part of something so big, so thank you so much. Thank you so much, everyone who’s a friend of the brand, who supports the brand.”

The Paris presentation came after several attempts by MaXhosa Africa to secure a place on the official calendar, with the fashion house receiving approval from the FHCM in July.

MaXhosa Africa’s Paris Fashion Week debut ultimately brought Ngxokolo’s South African design language together with Sjava’s music, marking a significant international showcase for both creative disciplines.