I first met Zakaa’s founder, Deremi Ajidahun, in Neuchâtel in 2016, while he was having cigars at the hotel Palafitte with a dear friend of mine, Sandro Reginelli (Fluidic Creative Lab & Business Development Director of Preciflex, the sister company of HYT). While most conversations with watch industry figures mostly revolve around market trends, market performance, new timepieces and other related topics, my first conversation with Deremi delved into culture, social issues around the world, the rapid development of the African economies and evolution of the global consumer. The strange thing was, even by the end of our dialogue, I had no idea that he was the head of Nigeria’s premier retailer of luxury timepieces, and he had no idea that I was a watch journalist. We were introduced as friends and we have remained as such.
Later, when I got to know more about Zakaa and their role in promoting the values of fine mechanical watchmaking in one of the most dynamic cities in the entire continent, I knew it was mostly because of Deremi’s personal role as the company’s leader and his understanding of what really makes our world tick.
The watch brands that Zakaa offer to their clients — Bulgari, Hublot, TAG Heuer, Zenith, Ulysse Nardin, Louis Moinet, Rebellion, Bell & Ross, Cvstos, HYT, Breitling, Kerbedenz, De Bethune, SevenFriday, Louis Erard, Edox, Gorilla and GaGà Milano — provide a comprehensive profile of the modern watch buyer in Nigeria and the region. This profile is both served and shaped by Zakaa, in the dual role occupied by the world’s best retailers: simultaneously accommodating and formative. It is companies such as Zakaa, that occupy pivotal positions in the most exciting, high-potential markets today, which give us confidence that mechanical watches will continue to enjoy an appreciative audience who value creativity and craftsmanship.
All over the world, the retailer/distributor scope and scene is undergoing a paradigmatic change, and has been doing so for more than a decade. The 21st-century retailer is no longer just a commercial middleman between watchmaking brands and watch consumers. They provide essential links and relationship management at the local level, and, on a larger scale, ensure the international consistency of a brand’s reputation and message.
Zakaa boutiques are frequented by a mix of local and international visitors, and can be found in Maitama, an exclusive neighbourhood in Abuja, and the city’s best hotels. Although I’ve never yet had the opportunity to visit Nigeria, I already know what my first stop will be. WorldTempus is proud to have Zakaa amongst our fine watch boutique partners.
