Over 300 VIP guests, including NBA legends, global stars, international investors and cultural tastemakers, gathered at Lucia LA for Africa Courtside Holding’s annual Africa All-Star Soirée, a private, invite-only event celebrating Africa’s growing dominance on the global basketball stage. The gathering convened investors, high-level stakeholders of the international live-entertainment ecosystem and celebrities for a dynamic evening highlighting the continent’s expanding influence across the NBA ecosystem.
Notable attendees included Tyla, Wale,Wizkid, Damson Idris, Zara Larsson, MNEK, Serge Ibaka, Tracy McGrady, Chiney Ogwumike, Speedy Morman, Festus Ezeli, Joy Taylor, AJ Calloway, Garcelle Beauvais, Holly Robinson Peete, Michael Jai White, Merle Dandridge, Jamad Fiin, Bien-Aime Baraza and Chris Spencerand more.
Hosted by actor, producer, and entrepreneur Boris Kodjoe & Eliot Dupuis on behalf of Africa Courtside Holding, a vocal advocate for African excellence in global sports and culture and a key spokesperson for ACH, the evening underscored the continent’s rapidly growing role within the NBA landscape. Beyond his work in film and television, Kodjoe continues to shape critical conversations around African investment, ownership, and the future of basketball, using the All-Star platform to spotlight the unprecedented momentum building across the continent.
Led by the NBA Africa Investors, alongside Basketball Africa League (BAL) President Amadou Gallo, the soirée marked a pivotal moment for basketball both on and off the African continent. The event highlighted the BAL’s upcoming sixth season and formally introduced its groundbreaking new franchising model, opening team ownership to investors for the first time. This historic evolution is poised to accelerate growth, sustainable investments, and long-term value creation across Africa’s premier professional basketball league.
Blending sport, music, fashion, lifestyle and community, the Africa All-Star Soirée delivered a vibrant cultural experience reflective of the continent’s creative power. High-energy music filled the night, hosted by DJ Tunez and featuring sets from DJ Lavish, DJ Bobby Trends, Jae Murphy, and Juls, while a fashion presentation led by renowned Senegalese designer Adama Paris showcased contemporary African fashion on a global stage. Guests also experienced an exclusive installation of custom basketballs created by celebrated New York-based artist Kehinde Wiley, including The Earl of Wochester and Morpheus Basketball, a striking fusion of heritage, craftsmanship, and sport.
The event was presented in collaboration with the Basketball Africa League, Hot 97, Trace+, Seed Project, Full Circle Africa, Amplify Africa, and Bacardi, reinforcing a shared commitment to elevating African culture while expanding global pathways for investment and ownership in sport and live entertainment.
