Nike and the Parisian creative collective Air Afrique unveil a unique design, conceived as a bridge between history, craftsmanship, and Afro-diasporic culture.
New collaboration, same ambition: to explore history and culture through design. For the first time, Nike partners with the Air Afrique collective to bring to life the Air Max RK61, a silhouette designed as a journey through time and cultural memory. Inspired by the airline's flight code and its year of foundation (1961), the RK61 pays tribute to a unique heritage while fully integrating into the Swoosh's footwear universe. Every line, every material, every stitch has been designed to merge modern comfort with historical memory.
But to understand this pair, one must understand those who wear it beyond the design. Because behind this creation lies a collective ambition: to extend the story of Air Afrique and give it contemporary resonance. The Parisian collective, composed of Lamine Diaoune, Djiby Kebe, Jeremy Konko, and Ahmadou-Bamba Thiam, reinvents the legacy of the former airline into a multidisciplinary creative platform. Photography, cinema, visual arts: everything becomes a means to connect communities through shared memory, cultural expression, and Afro-diasporic creativity. Thanks to its alliance with Nike, Air Afrique expands its reach and positions its narrative as a global dimension. The pair becomes a vector of culture and transmission.
A silhouette that hovers between heritage and innovation
Designed as a bridge between past and present, the Air Max RK61 blends heritage and innovation. Its silhouette draws inspiration from both the classic lines of the Air Max SNDR and the timeless elegance of loafers. Every detail of the design recalls the history of aviation and the richness of Air Afrique's past: the Air Max unit evokes a jet engine, while the outsole translates “Air Afrique” in Morse code. On the branding side, the original logo of the company is added via a zipper while the jacquard lining evokes the airplane seats of the time.
"The notion of Air is deeply linked to our history, Air Afrique took flight to transcend cultures and newly independent African peoples. We also speak of Air as a symbolic and metaphorical elevation through culture and humanity. It is this idea that guided every step of the design of the Air Max RK61."
Ahmadou-Bamba Thiam
Member of the collective
The Swoosh, for its part, brings its technical mastery and expertise in functional design with two colorways: one black and the other white. Every material, every stitch, and every technology serves a dual purpose: to honor history and provide a modern experience. The result? Two hybrid silhouettes that combine craftsmanship, performance, and contemporary aesthetics.
First Class: the campaign that takes you on a journey
To accompany this launch, Nike and Air Afrique unveil the First Class campaign, which extends the metaphor of travel. Air becomes a symbol of movement, transmission, and elevation. Afro-diasporic icons embody this vision: Didier Drogba, Oumou Sangaré, Marie-Josée Ta Lou-Smith, and Mrs. Daba Traoré, a former employee of the airline. Together, they illustrate intergenerational excellence, at the crossroads of history and the present.
The message is clear: the Air Max RK61 is not just a pair, it is a symbol of culture, heritage, and openness. After notable collaborations with Bottega Veneta and Louis Vuitton, the Air Afrique collective takes flight in this new partnership, co-piloted by Nike. The Air Max RK61 will be available worldwide on October 9, on SNKRS and at a selection of retailers.
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