Reni Folawiyo
Reni Folawiyo is the Founder and CEO of Alara, a unique African design concept located in Victoria Island, Lagos, Nigeria. Born in London to academic parents, Reni’s early education was in Nigeria before moving to further her education at the University of Warwick, England, where she graduated from Law in 1986. As a lawyer, she practised commercial law for 10 years before pursuing her passion for creative expression. Founded in 2015 as a culmination of Reni’s personal journey, Alara, meaning ‘a wondrous performer’ or ‘one who thrills endlessly’ in Yoruba, is dedicated to showcasing contemporary art, fashion, design, cuisine and culture. A luxury destination from an African perspective, Alara was designed by renowned architect Sir David Adjaye. In the same year, Nok by Alara was launched, a contemporary restaurant that specialises in reinventing classic African dishes. Through Alara, Reni is fulfilling her life’s dream to redefine African Luxury to Africans and the rest of the world.
