London Hosts Exhibition of African Textiles, Fashion, Art & Music

A three-day exhibition of African textiles, fashion, arts and music has been held in London as part of the Black History month celebration.

Opening the exhibition, Mr Kwabena Baah-Duodu, Ag. High Commissioner observed that the exhibition fell in line with the Ghana Government’s policy of expanding the country’s frontiers of trade both locally and externally.

He spoke about the President’s two special initiatives in garments and textiles; cassava starch production and indicated that the Mission’s support for the event underscored the determination of the Government of Ghana to support firms and individuals who are determined to succeed in enhancing the economic fortunes of Ghana and Africa as a whole.

He urged friends of Africa who attended the exhibition that they should not only continue to patronise African textile products, but spread and disseminate information about the quality of the products that they found there wherever they might find themselves.

The event featured a collection of the popular Yoruba Aso-Oke – Kente-Oke, rich Kente products of Ghana, sculptures and carvings, hand-made jewellery, contemporary paintings and drawings by some creative African artists.

The side attractions of the event organised by Mrs Adelaide Olagbaju’s African Majesty, the creator and exclusive dealer in Kente-Oke which combines the aesthetic excellence of the royal Ashanti Kente, were workshops by traditional Ghanaian Kente weavers, fashion shows, drumming and dancing.

The Pan African Dance Ensemble, the Abrempong Cultural Troupe, notable Ghanaian and South African musicians including Sonti Ndebele, Alfred Bannerman and Lord Eric entertained viewers with some vibrating music.

In all over 25 firms and individuals participated in the exhibition overwhelmingly described by those who patronised it as highly successful and encouraging.

Mrs Janet Boateng, wife of the Hon. Minister, Chief Secretary to the British Treasury described the exhibition as a wake-up call to the UK market that African textiles, fashion, drumming and dancing, arts and music have come of age and needed the financial patronage of Western countries.

Mrs Beatrice Kolade, wife of the Nigeria High Commissioner in the UK in an answer to a question said there was the need for African designers, artists and musicians to keep up the momentum and think of methods to mass produce their products which are in high demand world-wide.

Mrs Marian Osei, wife of Ghana’s High Commissioner to the UK commended the African Majesty for organising the exhibition and described it as a resounding success.

She appealed to the organisers to make the show an annual affair in order to consolidate the gains recorded during the exhibition.

In their contributions, the participating firms, companies and individuals endorsed the view of Mrs Osei and pleaded with the organisers to make it a “real big” African family affair for the benefit of the continent.

The Director of the exhibition, Mr Gabby Asare Otchere-Darku had comforting words for all the exhibitors. He urged them to learn from the new experience gained from the exhibition and think of ways of improving their products for the next fair.