Grace Ladoja: Meet the first African woman to design a signature Nike sneaker  

British-Nigerian music executive and cultural curator Grace Ladoja has become the first African woman to design a signature sneaker for Nike.  

The landmark collaboration, the Homecoming Air Max Plus, also known as the TN or “Cobra,” was unveiled during the 2026 edition of her annual Homecoming Festival in Lagos.  

The design fuses Ladoja’s dual London-Lagos identity. It reimagines the iconic silhouette with cultural details inspired by Nigerian household items, Pan-African colors, cowrie shells, and symbols of heritage.  

Ladoja founded Homecoming, a three-day festival launched in 2018 that celebrates Nigerian and African creativity through music, fashion, art, and sport.

Here are 10 key things to know about Grace Ladoja:

1. British-Nigerian heritage roots: Born and raised in London to Nigerian parents, Ladoja holds dual nationality. Her late mother arrived in the UK in 1985 as an asylum seeker while pregnant with her; her father is Rashidi Adewolu Ladoja, a prominent Nigerian politician, businessman, and former Governor of Oyo State, now the Olubadan of Ibadan. She first visited Nigeria in 2013, sparking a profound reconnection with her identity and the continent.

2. Music industry powerhouse and Skepta’s manager: Ladoja rose through the UK grime scene, managing grime superstar Skepta during the breakthrough campaign for his 2016 Mercury Prize-winning album Konnichiwa. She has also supported Afrobeats producer Sarz and directed early video work for artists like FKA Twigs, helping elevate African and diaspora sounds globally.

3. Founder of Metallic Inc: In 2017, she co-founded Metallic Inc (initially Metallic Entertainment), a London-based global culture studio and creative agency that connects brands (Nike, Supreme, Fenty, Levi’s) with artists and youth culture across music, fashion, and film. The agency has distributed over £150,000 in grants to emerging talents and expanded to include a permanent retail store.

4. Creator of the Homecoming Festival: In 2018, Ladoja launched Our Homecoming, a three-day annual festival in Lagos during Easter weekend that celebrates Nigerian and African creativity through music, fashion, art, sport, and cultural exchange. It has become a major platform for emerging talent, featuring early breakout moments for artists like Rema, diaspora connections, mentoring, and community infrastructure support, including international editions such as the one at Art Basel Miami.

5. Historic Nike collaboration: In April 2026, Ladoja made history as the first African woman to design a signature Nike shoe: the Homecoming Air Max Plus (TN), rooted in her dual London-Lagos identity. The design reflects cultural fusion, and she has long been immersed in sneaker culture, once walking to school for 60 days to afford a similar pair.

6. Award-winning recognition: She received the Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in 2018 from Queen Elizabeth II, formally presented by then-Prince Charles, for services to music. Additional honors include Music Week’s Rising Star (2017) and Entrepreneur (2021) awards, plus features on influential lists like the BoF 500.

7. Cultural connector and community builder: Described as a “cultural curator” and “ambassador of music, community, arts and culture,” Ladoja focuses on empowering the next generation of African creatives, especially women in male-dominated spaces. She emphasises education as the foundation for Africa’s creative future and builds platforms that foster ownership, amplification, and sustainable impact.

8. Filmmaker and early creative roots: Before her management and agency work, she studied sociology and worked as a filmmaker and intern for brands like Nike, Swatch, Crooked Tongues, Vans, and others. Her storytelling instinct drives her cross-industry projects.

9. Family and personal life: Partnered with Nigerian rapper TeeZee; the couple welcomed their first child in 2021. Ladoja often describes herself as a “mother to many” and balances her high-profile career with family, recently sharing moments of her child’s life in Lagos.

10: Bridge between continents: Splitting time between London and Lagos, Ladoja challenges notions of identity and “home.” Her work asks questions like “If I were born in Nigeria, could I be me?” and creates ecosystems Metallic and Homecoming that amplify African talent globally while investing locally and turning personal heritage into platforms for lasting cultural and economic exchange.

Grace Ladoja exemplifies the power of diaspora creativity, using her London base and Nigerian heart to build inclusive spaces that celebrate and elevate African innovation on the world stage. Her influence continues to grow through ongoing festivals, brand partnerships, and mentorship.