Prince Obeng in Rick’s Room

In this episode of Rick’s Room, Rick Grant sits down with Prince Obeng, founder of Afrodin, a global African fashion marketplace built to connect the African diaspora with authentic designers and artisans across the continent.

Prince shares his journey from studying in Missouri to becoming an entrepreneur. Prince noticed that many platforms claiming to sell African fashion offered products that were neither original nor rooted in African craftsmanship. Afrodin solves this by sourcing directly from the regions where garments are traditionally made.

Together they discuss:

• Why Afrodin customers seek products like Fugu.
• How partnerships brought the company to life.
• The drive that gave Prince the courage to start.
• Upcoming holiday initiatives.

Show Highlights

Rick: We built this podcast because life—especially business life—moves fast. At conferences and trade shows, we talk to hundreds of people, yet somehow never quite get to the conversations we really want. Those usually happen late in the day, sitting in a lounge, when things finally slow down.

That’s what this show is about.

Today, I’m excited to introduce someone I haven’t known very long, but who has already made a strong impression on me. He studied at the University of Missouri and, instead of taking the safe route, chose entrepreneurship—one of the hardest paths there is.

Please welcome Prince Obeng.

Prince: Thank you, Rick. It’s great to be here.

Rick: A mutual friend, Dan Garrison, introduced us. He told me, “This guy is young, but he’s got vision—and he’s doing something really interesting.” After talking with you, I couldn’t agree more. Where did this idea come from? Why fashion, and why now?

Prince: My interest in business started early, during my first degree. I tried a few ventures—food businesses, small projects—just experimenting.

While doing my master’s degree in kinesiology at Missouri State University, I shifted into fashion. I began selling suits, African wear, shoes—mostly through WhatsApp and social media.

At some point, I asked myself a bigger question: How do I scale this? Was I just going to sell clothes, or could this become something larger?

That’s when I decided to focus specifically on African fashion. I’m African, and back in Missouri, I attended an African church where people love dressing well—colorful, elegant designs. I realized there was real demand.

I also noticed something else. On popular platforms here in the U.S., authentic African fashion is hard to find. When you look closely, many products aren’t original. The materials aren’t authentic.

That’s where Afroin was born—to bring African fashion directly from the source.

Rick: Two things stand out to me. First, you were thinking about scale early on. Second, what you’ve built has appeal far beyond your immediate community. Some of the pieces are stunning—and rare.

Walk me through how you actually built this.

Prince: I studied marketplace models like Uber—not their business specifically, but how they connect people. Uber doesn’t own cars; it connects drivers and riders.

I applied that thinking to fashion. African fashion is hard to find in the U.S., so why not create a platform that connects people in the diaspora directly with vendors in Africa?

I’m not a software engineer, so I called a close friend, Isaac Ajin, and later another friend in the UK. They’re both engineers. I couldn’t pay them upfront, so I offered a partnership instead.

With one partner in Ghana, one in the UK, and me in the U.S., it made sense. We could truly serve the diaspora.

Everything we source comes from the roots. For example, this fabric—called Fugu in Ghana—is hand-woven without machines. It’s made in northern Ghana using traditional methods.

That’s what Afroin represents: authenticity, culture, and pride.

Rick: This is a global company. That takes confidence. Where does that come from?

Prince: I love challenges. I like putting myself in uncomfortable situations and finding my way out. I set goals and do everything I can to reach them. It doesn’t always work, but I believe it’s better to try and fail than never try at all. That mindset keeps me moving forward.

Rick: That’s leadership—and we need more of it. For people listening, how can they find Afroin?

Prince: You can visit afrodin.com. We have new collections coming for the holidays, plus special offers for first-time customers, including free shipping and a $20 gift card. We’re also launching a referral program that rewards both existing customers and their friends.

Rick: That’s a smart way to grow within diaspora communities. Before we wrap up, what’s the long-term vision?

Prince: Our vision is simple: to become the global destination for African fashion.

We want to represent quality, culture, and contemporary elegance—connecting customers with their favorite African designers worldwide.

Rick: We’ve been talking with Prince Obeng, founder of Afrodin. Prince, thank you for being with us.

Prince: Thank you, Rick. I really appreciate it.