The MET Gala has established itself as fashion’s biggest night. The event, which takes place on the first Monday of May, while functionally a fundraiser for the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City has also become a night where the ‘who’s who’ of the world, from Beyoncé to Bad Bunny, go to display some of glitziest, and most fashion forward outfits in existence. The MET Gala has earned it’s position as a truly global event thanks to the internet and the institute’s inclusion of global stars which have helped widen its reach and influence. Today, the MET Gala feels like a star marker event as being invited to fashion’s biggest night feels like the ultimate sign of ‘making it’ as a celebrity.
However, while the MET’s inclusion of global stars throughout the 2020s has been one of the highlights for many, this year it seems like some of that development was absent and so were the African stars with the exception of a few. But rather than hammer on this strange absence, we want to look back at the African stars, designers and creatives who truly made the MET Gala matter as a way to remind us all of what African stars bring to every event they show up at. From iconic debuts and history-making appearances to unforgettable red carpet looks and African work displayed inside the MET itself, these are the best MET Gala moments featuring Africans.
South African Pop Star Tyla’s MET Gala Debut in 2024
For her MET Gala debut, Tyla stepped out in a custom Balmain look designed by Olivier Rousteing for the 2024 theme, The Garden of Time.
It was on-theme, gorgeous, extra, and dramatic, which is exactly what a MET Gala outfit should be. And the fact that it was her debut look? Incredible. Inspired by the sands of an hourglass, the Balmain dress looked almost sculpted onto her body, like a sandcastle turned couture. Instantly iconic and easily one of the standout looks of the 2024 MET Gala.
Nigerian Singer-Songwriter Tems in Robert Wun (2023)
Tems made her MET Gala debut in 2023 for the Karl Lagerfeld: A Line of Beauty exhibition, wearing a custom black-and-white gown by London-based designer Robert Wun, truly she was a line of beauty!
It is important to rememer that Tems was on a particularly stellar fashion run in 2023. Every appearance felt dramatic, intentional, and cinematic, so it felt fitting when she arrived at the MET Gala looking exactly like a star should. The silhouette felt distinctly like her, while the structure and exaggerated sleeves brought an old-school fashion drama in the best possible way.
South African Designer Thebe Magugu’s Girl Seeks Girl (2021)
In 2021, South African designer Thebe Magugu created a piece titled Girl Seeks Girl, which was exhibited at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. It was one of those moments that maybe wasn’t the loudest, but it was a truly meaningful inclusion and collaboration.
Thebe remains one of the most important contemporary African designers working today, especially after becoming the first South African winner of the prestigious LVMH Prize in 2019.
Sudanese-American Anok Yai in Oscar de la Renta (2021)
One thing about Anok Yai is that she is going to look stunning at the MET Gala every single time.
Take her recent Black Madonna-inspired look from the 2026 MET Gala, which was absolutely breathtaking and one of the best interpretations of the theme this year. But let’s take it back to her 2021 appearance, where she stunned everyone in a gorgeous Oscar de la Renta look.
Many people remember that outfit going viral online at the time, and it still holds up beautifully five years later. The gown, the styling, the way she carried it — everything about it felt cinematic.
What a look. What a model. What a moment.
Nigerian Novelist Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s Co-Host Moment In Prabal Gurung (2025)
When Nigerian author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie made her MET Gala debut as a member of the 2025 host committee, she clearly understood the assignment.
Being an author, especially in the 2020s, is not typically considered the chicest or most fashionable profession. But Chimamanda reminded everyone of an older era when writers were glamorous, intellectual, and stylish public figures.
She wore a structured crimson gown by Nepalese-American designer Prabal Gurung for the Superfine: Tailoring Black Style theme. The gown featured bows and bow ties as a nod to the menswear-inspired dress code of the evening. Elegant, dramatic, and incredibly fitting for someone whose work has shaped contemporary African storytelling globally.
