Sheila Afari

Sheila Afari (born May 26, 1986) is Ghanaian businesswoman and philanthropist. She is the owner of the Sheila Afari Group which has the following subsidiaires, Sheila Afari Public Relations, Sheila Afari Business Development, Sheila Afari Property Development, Lavish Industries, Miss Ghana South Africa, Cafe Kwame and Sheila Afari Foundation. Afari has also worked as the assistant producer of the morning show on Metro FM.

Afari was born in Ghana and moved to Eastern Cape, South Africa, at the age of 2. She grew up in the Eastern Cape where she attended school, from primary to high school. Afari then attended the University of Cape Town where she obtained a Bachelor of Science degree in English and psychology and has a certificate in public relations. She also has an honours degree in psychology through the University of South Africa.

In 2008, as a student in Cape Town, she founded her first company called Lavish Industries, which is a lifestyle and events company. It has now grown to include decor and interior design as well as an online lifestyle store. Her career started in 2008, when she attended entrepreneurship seminars on campus at the University of Cape Town, where she learnt the basics of business. During the seminars she met a businessman who afforded her the opportunity to organise an event he was hosting. That was the official start of her career.

Afari founded Lavish Industries in 2008, which is a boutique lifestyle company that specialises in weddings and interiors.

In 2010, she co-founded DFS, which offers up-and-coming fashion designers the opportunity to enter the fashion industry through fashion shows and management of the retail of their collections. She resigned as CEO in 2014 but continues to support young designers.

Founded in 2012, the group is the holding company for the following subsidiaries: Lavish Industries, Sheila Afari Public Relations, Sheila Afari Business Development, Sheila Afari Property Development, Miss Ghana South Africa, Cafe Kwame and Sheila Afari Foundation.

Sheila Afari PR was established in 2012 and is a subsidiary of the Sheila Afari Group. It specialises in promoting local brands. Her big breakthrough in public relations came when she presented the South African hip hop star AKA, also known as Kiernan Jarryd Forbes.

Sheila Afari PR works with:

• AKA (rapper)
• Kabelo Mabalane
• Khuli Chana
• Terry Pheto
• Gail Nkoane Mabalane
• Carol Tshabalala
• Mo Flava
• Tresor
• Relebogile Mabotja
• Ms Cosmo
• DJ Zan D
• Muzart
• Yanga
• Berita
• Gigi Lamayne

Cafe Kwame was founded in 2008 and rebranded in 2014 from Lavish Industries as a stand-alone company which works on events, campaigns, activations and music sampling to both radio and TV.

Formed in 2015, the foundation empowers women by addressing issues of sexual health and teaching self-worth and confidence.

• 2015 Ghana Awards SA - Best Business (small/medium): 2015