During the recent Creative Africa Nexus Weekend summit in Algiers, Algeria, Minister of Art, Culture, Tourism, and Creative Economy, Hannatu Musa Musawa, underscored the critical need to empower Africa’s fashion and textile ecosystem.
In her keynote address, Musawa celebrated Africa’s rich textile heritage, referencing renowned fabrics like Adire, Kente, Bogolan, and Ankara, which reflect the history, identity, and pride of the African people.
Her Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Nneka Ikem Anibeze, shared her statement, in which Musawa pointed out the irony that many beloved fabrics, like Ankara, are largely produced outside of Africa. “Currently, nearly 90 percent of the Ankara consumed in our continent is imported,” she noted. “This results in an annual loss of around $3 billion to foreign manufacturers. We need to change this dynamic. It’s essential that we reclaim our fashion narrative by enhancing local production capacities and ensuring that the benefits of this vibrant industry stay within our borders.”
