Silverbacks Holdings, a private investment firm focused on African markets and high‑growth industries, has announced a joint strategic investment with ImpactHER in two fashion companies, Vanhu Vamwe and The Rad Black Kids. The investment follows Silverbacks’ participation in Afreximbank’s Creative Africa Nexus (CANEX) platform, which aims to finance and showcase Africa’s creative economy.
Vanhu Vamwe is a sustainable luxury brand co‑founded by Pam Samasuwo‑Nyawiri and Simba Nyawiri. It merges traditional craftsmanship with bold storytelling, engaging over 150 artisans and retailing through 48 stockists across Africa, the United States, the United Kingdom and Asia, including platforms such as Net‑A‑Porter and Neiman Marcus. Operating entirely in euros and dollars, Vanhu Vamwe has achieved profitability, demonstrating how African heritage can anchor modern luxury markets.
The Rad Black Kids, founded by Thulani Ngazimbi, channels Zimbabwean street culture into lifestyle fashion. The brand partners with global retailers like Amazon subsidiary BOP LLC and has retailed in Nordstrom, Macy’s and PACSUN, earning revenue in US dollars and establishing itself as a profitable business.
Both brands excelled at CANEX 2024, with Vanhu Vamwe winning first place and The Rad Black Kids placing third. The visibility and investor traction gained from the platform will be amplified by the new investment. Vanhu Vamwe plans to expand into new markets while staying true to its story and values, whereas The Rad Black Kids will use the funding to prove that African creativity and diaspora narratives can drive powerful, profitable fashion brands.
Efe Ukala, President and Founder of ImpactHER, said the brands embody the ingenuity and global excellence of African fashion, and the investment will help turn Africa’s creative brilliance into global business power. Ibrahim Sagna, Executive Chairman of Silverbacks Holdings, added that the firm is proud to partner with ImpactHER and CANEX to back formidable founders like Dr. Pam and Thulani, whose labels reinforce the conviction that African creativity is ready to deliver high‑quality products and profitable businesses.
This investment marks Silverbacks’ second and third forays into the fashion sector, building on a prior investment in Armando Cabral. The firm continues to focus on globally competitive African companies that prioritize scalable growth. Recent investments have demonstrated strong returns, and Silverbacks has executed a partial‑exit program with notable successes in Nigeria and Egypt. Capital has been deployed across various industries, including sports‑tech and fintech, using a data‑driven portfolio construction model that targets 3× to 5× returns and focuses on export‑oriented, tech‑enabled businesses expanding from Africa to the rest of the world.
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