By Chinazam Ikechi-Uko.
Black, red and green; these are the traditional pan-African colours popularized by Marcus Garvey and his Universal Negro Improvement Association (UNIA). Today, they are the colours featured in the football club, Arsenal FC’s new kit.
Red represents the blood shared by all people of African descent, as well as the struggles and sacrifices made for liberation. Black symbolises the people of African descent. Green is for the rich land of Africa and the hope for a prosperous future.
“These colours and cultural cues bind together to create a mural of our past and present connection to the African diaspora in London and beyond – championing the rich cultural heritage within the team and across our supporter base.” The Arsenal FC’s website states.
Arsenal FC teamed up with Adidas and British African heritage brand Labrum London for its away kit for the 2024-25 season. The capsule collection was created to celebrate the club’s connection to its African supporter base.
Foday Dumbuya and Bukayo Saka.
Labrum London is a British label founded by Foday Dumbuya, a Sierra Leonean-born, British-based designer, in 2014. In May of 2023, Dumbuya was awarded the Queen Elizabeth Award from His Majesty, King Charles III for British design. Now, his latest honour is creating Arsenal’s 2024/25 away kit. “Arsenal as a club has such a strong connection to this community, so it is an incredibly proud moment for me to have collaborated on this design with them.”
A key element of the kit is the striking zig-zag graphic, reminiscent of traditional African textiles and art. This pattern, combined with subtle details like the Cowries – a traditional symbol of wealth and prosperity in many African cultures – showcases the designers’ meticulous attention to authenticity.
The designs also have Labrum London’s signature symbol– the Nomoli. “In Sierra Leonean history, this is supposed to be like a lucky charm, it brings good luck to you.” As kids, we were often told “Don’t worry. When they turn the lights [and] we need to go to bed, they say to you Nomoli is in the room, you are safe and you will be happy, you are protected.”
Nomoli on T-shirt (Right).
Dumbuya wanted the designs to reflect home and what home feels like. In an Instagram post, he explained that he shot the kit’s advertisement in Freetown, Sierra Leone. “This one was very special, I had to take it back home to the source and create it with my family. Family is what built me. The spirit, the flair and the ambition. From the Cotton tree to the Emirates. When I move, my people move. Those that live beyond borders, those that celebrate the joy of life. Football was my first love and Arsenal is my club. Labrum London is my journey. One of hope and inclusivity for the love of people. But this isn’t my story, it’s our story. Africa to the world.”
The kit is available online.