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Nike is coming home. In collaboration with Grace Ladoja, founder of the HOMECOMING Festival, the Swoosh is returning to Lagos for Ladoja’s annual HOMECOMING Festival. 

This annual event is a full-on celebration of Nigerian youth culture and creativity within the space of local fashion, music, sport, and beyond. And this is not just a weekend turn up.

HOMECOMING Festival is a diasporic exploration of homecomings as cultural institutions, places to connect and build through community-driven events. And yes, fun is a big part of the homecoming festivities but it's not the only thing to expect.

Homecomings have also become an increasingly important part of Nike's brand identity, as evidenced by initiatives like Yardrunners, a celebration of HBCUs (Historically Black Colleges and Universities) where homecomings reign as cultural behemoths. 

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Similar to American HBCU homecomings, HOMECOMING Lagos is a multi-day extravaganza featuring various inclusive events that include a wine and music event opener, a run club with Patta, and a day of artistic activations with EbonyLife Cinemas and Victoria Island.

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Panels will cover everything from African streetwear to the modern evolution of Nigerian art, all made possible by institutional partners like the Virgil Abloh Foundation, L'Oréal, Meiji Meji, LVRN, and more.

And in place of the American football games that anchor traditional homecomings, the Nike HOMECOMING Festival is bringing back its signature fútbol game, which takes place on a bespoke playing surface designed by London-based Nigerian artist Slawn.

The tournament will be played by teams from Patta, Street Souk, and Motherlan which all have roots in Lagos, adding another personal layer to the homecoming aspect of the event.

All of these homecoming events culminate with the release of a fire new Air Max sneaker just in time for the warmer months. Talk about bringing the heat.

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The Nike x HOMECOMING Air Max TN in "African Sunrise" features a paint-dipped toe box, an orange mesh upper and ombré-style caging that rounds out the citrus charm of this signature sneaker. As such, the HOMECOMING Air Max TN looks like it was dipped in a bucket of orange paint. Talk about some literal drip.

Things get really fun at the laces, where the HOMECOMING Air Max TN sneaker sports three pairs including an exaggeratedly large rope-style lace system that gives the classic runner some chunky charm. 

As for real charms, though, the Air Max TN has plenty, including a Homecoming Nike pendant and a little black ball. At the rear, the Nike x HOMECOMING Air Max wears two signature air bubbles and a small orange Swoosh, placed to contrast the blacked-out heel.

Beyond just being a fire sneaker, the HOMECOMING Air Max TN, available exclusively at the festival for $190, is also a piece of Swoosh history — is the first signature Nike shoe designed by a Nigerian woman. 

What better way to honor the Swoosh's iconic Homecoming event than with the Mother of all Nike icons?

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