Check Out The Exciting Details About Shaboozey’s B.E.T. Awards Afro-Cowboy Outfit

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Custom 1116 by Ugo Muzi Blends West African Heritage with Western Swagger

Singer and style icon Shaboozey turned heads at the just-ended BET Awards with a fashion-forward look that was anything but ordinary. Fusing his now-signature cowboy aesthetic with unmistakable West African symbolism, the multi-talented artist stepped onto the red carpet in a bespoke outfit crafted by Nigerian designer Ugo Muzi of the rising fashion label 1116 — and the result was nothing short of a cultural fashion triumph.

Cowrie Shells, Royal Icons & Divine Power

What immediately caught the eye was the carefully arranged cowrie shells adorning the lapel of Shaboozey’s jet-black double-breasted suit. Long revered across African cultures as symbols of wealth, femininity, and spirituality, the cowries added a regal shimmer to the otherwise sharp cowboy tailoring — a perfect interplay between tradition and edge.

The pièce de résistance? The ornate statement belt. Front and center sits the Royal Ivory Mask of Queen Idia, a symbol of the ancient Benin Kingdom and one of the most iconic emblems in Nigerian cultural history. Often associated with FESTAC ’77 — the Second World Black and African Festival of Arts and Culture held in Lagos — the mask was a deliberate nod to legacy and Black global pride.

Embedded within the belt’s design is also the Gye Nyame Adinkra symbol from the Akan people of Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire. Translated as “Except for God” or “Supremacy of God,” the symbol quietly asserts spiritual sovereignty — a profound touch embedded in the outfit’s already powerful message.

From Lagos to Nashville: African Elegance Meets Cowboy Realness

Shaboozey stayed true to his cowboy roots, pairing the look with a wide-brimmed black hat and slicked-back locs — a striking silhouette that channeled Black western flair with precision. But the commitment to African craftsmanship didn’t stop there: his shoes, also designed by 1116, featured motifs of Benin bronzes and cowrie shells, subtly tying the full look together with artful consistency.

Ugo Muzi’s creative genius in weaving heritage into every seam cannot go unpraised. The entire ensemble spoke volumes without saying a word — a sartorial salute to ancestral pride, diasporic power, and the limitless possibilities of fashion when it tells a deeper story.

In an era where red carpet moments are often defined by fleeting trends, Shaboozey’s look at the BET Awards stood as a reminder: African fashion doesn’t chase — it commands.

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