Forward Ever, Backward Never

Forward Ever, Backward Never (FEBN) is our final World Cup collection and completes the last phase of our African Unity design blueprint introduced in 2010. The blueprint, which is primarily inspired by Pan-African giants, Dr. Kwame Nkrumah and Marcus Garvey ― aims to give the continent a larger vision of itself via four main themes: Educate, Unite, Build and Progress. Each collection is tied to a theme dating back to Homecoming in 2010 (Educate), Score for Unity in 2014 (Unite), and Goal 54 in 2018 (Build). This creative journey started with inspiration from Dr. Nkrumah and ends with him. Hence, a collection paying homage to one of his profound statements, "Forward Ever, Backward Never"

"We face neither East nor West; We face forward" -- Dr. Kwame Nkrumah

In the Progress phase, the Forward Ever, Backward Never design seeks to echo Nkrumah’s larger vision of a united and developed Africa free of any form of colonial rule. However, ‘Forward Ever, Backward Never’ also means Africa shouldn’t bemoan its past misdeeds all the time; we should forge ahead, but when a similar challenge resurfaces, we look back and remind ourselves that we shouldn’t make the same mistake again. Forward Ever, Backward Never also serves as a reminder to Africa’s representatives at the 2022 World Cup tournament in Qatar to push forward even when it seems impossible, and never look back!

Bearing alternates of the Pan-African colors (Red, Black, and Green), the front design display black and white soccer balls used as background aesthetics to highlight the arch from the Moses Mabhida Stadium in South Africa; paying homage to South Africa as the first African country to ever host the FIFA World Cup in 2010. Embroidered on the left chest is the famous Nkrumah statue of him pointing forward to emphasize our Forward Ever, Backward Never message, while the right chest highlights flags of the five (V) countries (Cameroon, Ghana, Morocco, Senegal and Tunisia) representing Africa at the tournament and, through whom we’re pushing the #FEBN agenda. 

The back design is a current snapshot of the modern road and adjacent streets on Azikiwe street, which Nkrumah's motorcade drove down in 1959 during his Eastern Nigeria tour and visit to the Eastern House of Assembly at Enugu, where he was received and honored by Nnamdi Azikiwe. This roadmap creates a connection between the past and present through Forward Ever, Backward Never, which is also a reflection of Nkrumah's legacy!