Néné Yaya

Dakar, Senegal · Founded in 2013

Néné Yaya

Luxury with a soul

Histoire

Marième and Néné Gaye grew up with a shared passion: luxury leather goods. One collected designer brands, the other studied marketing. In 2013, they decided to fill a glaring gap: luxury accessories rooted in African identity, made in Senegal.

Néné Yaya was born in Dakar — not as a copy of European houses, but as a proud and original response. Each piece bears a unique name — La Linguère, Rama Flap, Nefertiti, Signares — all figures that tell the story of the African woman. Today, the brand shines in Africa, Europe, and the United States.

We wanted to prove that African luxury is not an oxymoron — it is a given.

— Marième & Néné Gaye, Co-Founders

Savoir-Faire

01

Fine leathers

Raw materials carefully selected for their quality and durability, crafted with respect for Senegalese artisan traditions. Each piece is designed to last—the antithesis of fast fashion.

02

Hand shaping

Each bag is hand-cut and assembled in workshops in Dakar, perpetuating traditional craftsmanship passed down from generation to generation.

03

Named design

Each model is named after an African female figure — La Linguère, Nefertiti, Signares. Not a reference number. An identity.

Néné Yaya
La Sélection Kente & Gold

At Kente & Gold, we don't just distribute bags. We choose stories. Néné Yaya is one of the rare African houses to have built a vision of authentic luxury — without compromising on quality, without copying European codes. Marième and Néné Gaye prove that African luxury is not an oxymoron. This is precisely why they belong in our selection.

Kente & Gold — Curateurs