Wazi, the first prescription eyewear manufacturing company in Uganda on 1st March 2021launched an open call for creatives from across the continent to submit ideas for their new Afro-centric collection.
The Wazi team was looking for original, “Afro-centric” glasses designs, from any African artists, designers, and aspiring creatives.
The finalists were chosen from a pool of over 110 applications spanning all African nations like Kenya, Nigeria, Sudan and Uganda. Ten (10) finalists were selected to compete and stand a chance to win the grand cash prize of £1,500 ($2,000) and the opportunity to collaborate with Wazi.
The collaboration would see designers potentially earning a share of profits on any pair of their glasses designs sold via Wazi.
The ten finalists were; Jacob Aine, Keddi B Graham, Farida Nabulime, Martin Agaba, Eich Hubert, Temitayo Precious, Gloria Wavamuno, Paul Katumba, Sarah Ijangolet and Rukundo Emmannuel.
The winners were selected by an expert panel of judges and through a public vote on Wazi’s social media channels (@WaziGlasses on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter). The public vote constituted 40% while the expert judges 60%.
The winners
The open call grand finale held on 10th May 2021 saw three winners crowned Sarah Ijangolet the second runner-up bagged one million five hundred thousand shillings(Shs1,500,000),Eich Hubert Akankunda the first runner up took home two million five hundred thousand shillings (Shs 2,500,000) and the overall winner Jacob Mwesigwa who walked away with three million five hundred thousand shillings (Shs 3,500,000) and the opportunity to earn from every sale made off his winning design later this year when production starts.
