Afrikrea is returning as the consumer-facing marketplace for African and diaspora fashion, art and crafts, while parent company ANKA focuses its other products on business-to-business commerce services.
The move marks the 10th anniversary of Afrikrea, which was founded in 2016 to connect independent creators across Africa and the diaspora with customers around the world.
Under the new structure, Afrikrea will be the platform where consumers shop, while ANKA Pay and ANKA Ship will serve as B2B software products. The company said the relaunch restores the original brand as it renews its focus on its founding mission.
“Fashion is where culture, craft, and commerce meet. Throughout my career, I have seen that the strongest businesses begin with a distinct creative point of view,” said Matilda Ceesay, CEO. “Afrikrea is returning to the name that carries that point of view: a home for African and diaspora creators whose work deserves to be seen, valued, and built into enduring businesses.”
Since its launch, Afrikrea has generated more than $30 million in sales for creators, giving the marketplace a decade-long track record in connecting African and diaspora businesses with international consumers.
The platform now connects creators in 94 countries, including 39 African countries, with buyers across 185 markets. More than 74% of its creators are women-led businesses, with consumers concentrated primarily in Europe and North America.
Afrikrea has also built a sizeable audience around its marketplace, with more than 700,000 community followers and 49,000 newsletter subscribers. Its physical pop-up events have generated hundreds of thousands of dollars in sales in less than a week, while the platform has recorded more than 125,000 five-star orders.
The restructuring separates Afrikrea’s consumer marketplace from the technology infrastructure built around it under ANKA. That allows the original Afrikrea identity to focus on shoppers and creators, while ANKA Pay and ANKA Ship remain positioned as tools for businesses handling payments and shipping.
The relaunch comes as African creators and small businesses increasingly use digital commerce and cross-border platforms to reach customers outside their domestic markets. For Afrikrea, that international connection has been central to its business since its founding.
The company said the next phase of Afrikrea will remain focused on helping independent creators reach global consumers, with the belief that where a creator starts should not determine how far their business can go.