Byredo explores Bal d’Afrique – A Scent in Motion

Bal d’Afrique unfolds as a celebration of the dances of Africa. Rooted in distinct traditions, shaped by many voices, and bound by a shared power to bring people together.

Shot in Accra, Ghana, the campaign brings together a diverse cast of dancers and models from West Africa, each carrying their own cultural roots, styles, and personal narratives. Their movement is shaped by the creative vision of Burkina Faso–born choreographer Ladji Koné, whose work for Bal d’Afrique merges traditional West African dances, viral street styles, and contemporary techniques into a singular, expressive journey through dance.

The choreography unfolds in three acts. The first draws from traditional dances from Burkina Faso, Mali, Guinea, and Senegal, moves through contemporary and viral forms including Wala Wala, Azonto, Coupé-Décalé, Soukous, and Legwork, and culminates in a more experimental language inspired by techniques from École des Sables. Distilled and recomposed, these elements form a choreography that reflects both the history and the evolution of the continent, brought to life by a collective of dancers and performers from across West Africa.

Central to the cast are Reina, Lisa Quama, De Goddd, and Trickmang, members of Accra-based Dance With Purpose Academy (DWP Academy), joined by Belgique (Khadija Cissé), a Senegalese dancer trained at École des Sables; Anique Ayiboe, a Togolese dancer and École des Sables graduate; Élysée Ewce and Élie Lee Ewce, the Togolese twin dancers performing as Les Ewce; Jean-Désiré Augnet (Ya-Kôh), a dancer and model born in Ivory Coast and raised in France; AmakaOkafor, a Nigerian model and street dancer; and Ottawa Kwami, a Ghanaian model and emerging face of Accra’s creative scene. Together, their movements form a shared language shaped by individual stories and disciplines.

Captured by photographer Philip-Daniel Ducasse, the campaign is approached with intimacy and restraint. His lens reveals not only the dancers, but also the spaces they inhabit,uncovering the subtle connections between body, environment, and memory. Allowing movement to dictate rhythm, his imagery explores identity, presence, and place with quiet intensity. The campaign film is directed by Ghanaian filmmaker Nuotama Bodomo, whose work is recognized for its layered storytelling and exploration of cultural memory, Afrofuturism, and identity. Her direction brings a cinematic depth that allows movement, history, and imagination to exist in dialogue.

Styling is led by Nigerian-born stylist Raphael Hirsch, whose concept-driven approach centers individuality within collective expression. Featuring designs by African fashion labels such as Eleven Sixteen, alongside suiting crafted by Accra-based local tailors, each dancer is styled individually to preserve personality while enabling motion. The wardrobe becomes an extension of choreography acting as a conversation between fashion, movement, and self-expression.

In quiet parallel, Bal d’Afrique has been reinterpreted as Bal d’Afrique Absolu de Parfum, a more concentrated expression of the original composition. The fragrance deepens its signature — floral lightness, warm woods, and citrus accents — revealing greater depth and intensity while remaining true to its character. Presented in a redesigned bottle with a textured cap inspired by the art of charring wood, it embodies the craftsmanship and the transformation that mirrors the essence of the Absolu.

Bal d’Afrique reflects creativity and the living history of dance, told by a collective of voices. An authentic and collaborative celebration of movement and identity.

The Olfactive Composition:

Top: Bergamot, Lemon, Blackcurrant

Heart: Violet, Musks, Praline

Base: Cedarwood, Veitver, Black Amber

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