Before Akano Diamonds became one of Lagos‘ most compelling names in high jewellery, its founder, Akunna Nwala-Akano, learnt that value lives in how we hold what is precious, not merely in what it costs. Her designs are sculpted from memory: the gold of her grandmother’s earrings, the blue calm of a turquoise stone named after her daughter, and the poise of a woman carving a place for Africa in the vocabulary of global luxury.
When Nwala-Akano speaks of jewellery, she does so with the ease of someone describing emotion rather than industry. “The first thing that draws me to jewellery is my emotions,” she tells me. “It makes me feel taller, it gives me confidence. It’s spiritual, almost like a rite of passage where I come from.” For her, jewels have always been an inheritance of meaning. As a child, she recalls her mother’s gentle scolding when an earring went missing: “You don’t understand the value if you don’t take care of it.” Those early lessons became the foundation of a worldview where luxury is learned through care and continuity.
Years later, when she could finally buy her first pair of earrings, something stirred. “That was when I understood that this is something that moves me. I must be emotionally attached to a piece.” That emotional connection would evolve into Akano Diamonds, a brand born from business strategy as well as the need to create something beautiful in a moment of global uncertainty.
The year was 2020. Whilst the world stood still, she found herself sketching jewellery designs during the dark hours of lockdown. Her first pieces were meant for herself, but soon friends began asking for designs of their own. One collector rang days later to say she could not stop thinking about her piece, describing it as hauntingly beautiful. Nwala-Akano knew something real had begun.
Her path to this moment had been winding. Trained in law and finance, she had spent years moving between banking halls and beauty businesses. “People think I’ve reinvented myself so many times, but really, I’ve just revealed different parts of who I am. Everything I’ve done, from beauty to jewellery, revolves around transformation. It’s about how a woman feels when she leaves a space or wears a piece. Jewellery is simply the most permanent form of that feeling.”
Among the many jewels she has created, one carries the weight of a prayer answered. After years of longing for a daughter, she designed a turquoise and gold necklace for her baby girl’s christening. “I called it Chikaodili,” she says. “It means it’s all left to God. The turquoise reminded me of calm and renewal, like looking into my daughter’s eyes.” The piece features a small cross at its centre, a symbol of new beginnings, yet remains utterly glamorous, reflecting her ability to merge sentiment with sophistication. “That necklace changed something in me. It became the first piece I created that felt like an autobiography.”
Each Akano collection carries a coded language. Nwale gives her collections Igbo names that reflect growth, grace and intention. “I wanted my collections to speak my language. These words hold power, they carry stories and prayers.” One line, Mkpulu, meaning seeds, celebrates emergence and new beginnings. Its design echoes the sprouting forms of diamond-set branches and soft green emeralds. Another, Mkpo, meaning potion, is more sensual, built around deep rubellites and fluid curves that suggest transformation. There is also Adaeze, translating to princess or daughter of royalty, a collection of luminous mother-of-pearl and white gold that captures the elegance and poise of African womanhood. And Chikaodili, which means God remains, brings together strength and serenity, its stones chosen for depth rather than spectacle. For Nwala-Akano, these names are declarations of identity. Each word connects her to lineage, each gemstone to memory.
Her designs are often described as rebellious, something she welcomes. “I like that. I design the way I feel. If I’m feeling nostalgic, you’ll see that. If I’m feeling bold, you’ll see that too. My emotions are always in the metal.” She finds resonance in women like Rihanna, whose fluid reinvention mirrors her own creative freedom. “Rihanna doesn’t conform. She just owns it and makes it beautiful. That’s courage, to create from your truth, not from expectation.” Luxury, for her, is less about grandeur and more about grace. “You can buy luxury and still look cheap if the delivery is wrong. For me, it’s authenticity, knowing who you are and being confident in that. Grace and truth must accompany beauty.” Her own expressions of elegance are often unseen: an evening skincare ritual, silk pyjamas, and a tennis bracelet worn to bed. “It’s what makes me feel beautiful. No one needs to notice. It’s for me.”
Living and building a brand in Nigeria has given her both grit and perspective. “Nigeria tests you. It throws everything at you, but we are resilient people. You learn to thrive in the midst of chaos.” Her resilience finds power in prayer, a discipline that steadies her. “It’s what keeps me grounded. Everything beautiful happens in its time.”
Akano Diamonds continues to carry the essence of its origin: emotion, excellence and endurance. Every gemstone is a small act of storytelling, every client a custodian of that story. When she considers the next decade, Nwala-Akano sees her pieces on women across continents, each one a reflection of confidence and grace. “One day, every woman who understands jewellery will own a piece of Akano.” This feels less like a prediction and more like a promise.
Monalisa Molefe is an artrepreneur with a distinguished leading voice in art, business, and culture. A modern purveyor of contemporary African luxury. Her work reflects a refined understanding of how creativity, commerce, and culture converge to shape new expressions of Pan-African excellence. As a cultural strategist, commentator and media contributor, she offers a discerning lens on the people, brands, and movements defining Africa’s creative future, capturing their stories with sophistication and depth. Recognised among the global Top 40 Most Influential People of African Descent, Monalisa continues to elevate the narrative of global African luxury, curating conversations that honour the continent’s artistry and intellect with timeless elegance and grace.
