Mar 24

Mar 24 One Month On: Los Angeles Lights Up As NBA Icons & Global Celebrities Attend The Africa All-Star Soirée

This article was drafted by Norman Busigu.

On 12th February 2026, Lucia LA opened its luxurious doors in Beverly Hills to welcome an exclusive VIP crowd of 300+ (inclusive of cultural tastemakers, NBA superstars and influential investors/stakeholders alike) for this year’s edition of the Africa All-Star Soirée. The Soirée was hosted by Africa Courtside Holding (ACH) - a strategic investment partner and co-owner of NBA Africa - and fronted by their representatives, acclaimed Actor/Entrepreneur Boris Kodjoe and Eliot Dupuis for the evening.

This fabulous and future-focused function fell during the NBA All-star Weekend, and was held in collaboration with an impressive roster of media powerhouses, businesses, and philanthropic ventures: the Basketball Africa League (BAL), Bacardi, Trace+, Hot 97, Seed Project, Amplify Africa and Full Circle Africa.

The Soirée provided a unique opportunity for various intersections of African culture, commerce and creativity to converge in celebration of the BAL’s sixth season (commencing on 27th March 2026), alongside Africa’s growing influence on the sport, globally. It also provided a platform to bring the best and brightest from the African, Caribbean, Diaspora and Black-American international communities under one roof, in spectacular style!

Pictured: President of the Basketball Africa League Amadou Gallo Fall

Of note, the Soirée - led by BAL President Amadou Gallo and various NBA Africa investors - provided a formal introduction to the BAL’s new franchising model, which will open team ownership to investors for the first time.

Speaking directly with Eliot one month after the Soirée for an interview with Postcards From The Diaspora, I had the opportunity to learn more about the objectives of this amazing affair, and his honest post-event reflections.

Africa Courtside Holding (ACH) hosted its annual Africa All-Star Soirée on 12th February 2026 in L.A. (California), at Lucia LA. What was the purpose and aim(s) of the Soirée?

The evening served as the flagship gathering for the continent and the diaspora, creating a focused space for investors, founders, athletes, and culture leaders to unwind, connect, and have real conversations away from the main All-Star chaos. It celebrated African excellence and entrepreneurship, positioned Africa Courtside Holding as a key convenor for strategic capital and long-term partnerships around NBA Africa and the BAL, and advanced the ongoing dialogue around future franchise opportunities on the continent.

A month has passed since the Soirée… Upon reflection, what were some of the biggest successes of the Soirée/what notable feedback have you received on the impact of the Soirée?

The night delivered major visibility for Africa Courtside Holding, NBA Africa, and the BAL, with coverage across top media outlets and over 240M total media impressions. This spotlight strengthens the platform we’re building for long‑term partnerships and future opportunities on the continent. This was the room where some of the most exciting conversations and connections of All‑Star Weekend were happening!

The event was able to create a powerful space for connection between investors, founders, athletes, and cultural leaders from across Africa and the diaspora.

Can you speak on any notable (A-list) names that were in attendance to this exclusive star-studded Soirée?

Tyla, Wale, Wizkid, Damson Idris, Zara Larsson, Rui Hachimura, Serge Ibaka, Chiney Ogwumike, Festus Ezeli, Masai Ujiri, Joy Taylor, Lexie Brown, Michael Jai White, Merle Dandridge, Boris Kodjoe, (and) Amadou Gallo Fall.

Pictured: Bien-Aime Baraza and Jamad Finn

Do you have any closing comments?

The team generally expressed a warm message of thanks to everyone involved: “We are especially grateful to our partners, hosts, and distinguished guests whose presence and support helped make this gathering a defining moment for Africa and its global diaspora”.

Image sourced via NBA Africa / the Basketball Africa League / Trace Africa

It is worth adding that the audiences were entertained throughout the night with dynamic DJ sets, from the likes of DJ Tunez, DJ Lavish, DJ Bobby Trends, Jae Murphy, and Juls.

The event also entailed a celebration of Senegalese designer Adama Paris’ work - this provided an opportunity also to showcase contemporary African fashion on a global stage. To compliment this, the venue included an exclusive installation of custom basketballs designed by renowned New York-based artist Kehinde Wiley.

Separately, the Soirée was met widely with positive review! Publications such as The Hype Magazine had the following to say about the star-studded affair: “The high-profile evening convened NBA legends, global music stars, international investors, and key stakeholders from the live entertainment ecosystem for a curated experience centered on ownership, investment, and cultural elevation. At its core, the gathering underscored Africa’s accelerating presence within the NBA ecosystem and the broader business of sport.”