Africa Appearance Summit (AAS)

WHAT IS AAS?

The Africa Appearance Summit (AAS) is the intellectual and ethical core of ASWALK Festival.

AAS convenes people with lived experience, advocates, researchers, health professionals, policymakers, and cultural leaders to explore appearance as a psychosocial, cultural, and justice issue, not merely a medical one.

It is a policy-aware, community-led convening where lived experience shapes:

• Research priorities
  
  

• Healthcare conversations
  
  

• Ethical representation
  
  

• Systems change
  
  

AAS exists within ASWALK—grounded in appearances, stories, and presence.

AAS at the Maiden Edition (2026)

For 2026, AAS will be a one-day, high-impact convening focused on:

• Psychosocial well-being (social, emotional, mental)
  
  

• Ethics of visibility and representation
  
  

• African appearance realities
  
  

• What must change first — in schools, healthcare, media, and work
  
  

From 2027 onward, AAS expands into a two-day summit within the full ASWALK Festival week.

AAS 2026

For the Maiden Edition, AAS will be a one-day summit, establishing foundational conversations and ethical frameworks.

AAS FROM 2027 ONWARDS

From 2027, AAS expands into a two-day convening within the multi-day ASWALK Festival, deepening dialogue while remaining accountable to lived experience.

WHO AAS IS FOR

• People with lived experience
  
  

• Researchers and academics
  
  

• Healthcare professionals
  
  

• Policymakers
  
  

• Advocates and cultural workers
  
  

All participation is governed by ASWALK’s ethics and consent framework.

Africa Appearance Summit (AAS)

Structured conversations, panel discussions, and focused workshops exploring how appearance, skin conditions, and visible differences affect psychosocial well-being (social, emotional, and mental health), healthcare experiences, and everyday life.

These sessions bring together people with lived experience, health professionals, advocates, researchers, and policymakers to discuss challenges, share insights, and explore African-led approaches to change.

House-Based Workshops

Small, community-led group sessions organised by Appearance Republic Houses. Participants gather with others who share similar appearance experiences to engage in storytelling, identity conversations, peer support, and collective care.

These workshops are designed to foster belonging, understanding, and confidence in a safe and respectful environment.

Cultural Exchange

An evening of creative expression through music, spoken word, performance, and conversation. Stories are shared through African cultural forms, led by people with lived experience, creating space for reflection, connection, and celebration.

Day Two: Participate & Celebrate