FCTA CALLS FOR STRONGER PUBLIC – PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP AND DEEPENED COLLABORATION AT THE 3RD EDITION OF AFRICAN WEAVING FESTIVAL (AWeF), 2025.
By: Shaka Sunday and Umoru Blessing Ojone
The Permanent Secretary, FCT Social Development Secretariat, Olubunmi Olowookere, has called for stronger Public-Private partnership and collaboration to scale the production and global reach of indigenous fabrics, noting that weaving, a major component of our tradition, is not just an Art, but a strategic economic asset that, when properly supported and developed, can drive social development.
Speaking at the 3rd Edition of the African Weaving Festival (AWeF), held at the community hall of Cyprian Ekwensi Centre for Arts and Culture, Ms. Olubunmi observed that weaving is linked to culture diplomacy, explaining how indigenous fabrics can bridge cultural divides and foster unity across African nations, thus urging Nigerians to intensify indigenous weaving heritage on the global stage, using same as a tool for diplomacy, unity, and economic transformation.
In her words, “Across Africa and beyond, every society has developed a unique dress culture that reflects its tastes, styles, and demands. These fabrics and garments offer valuable insights into our identities, values, aspirations, and our journey toward the future. Over time, these indigenous fabrics have become powerful symbols of cultural expression and markers of our identity, reflecting the pride of our people and our rich cultural heritage”.
Speaking on the theme for this Year’s Festival, “African Indigenous Fabrics – A Tool for Cultural Diplomacy and Unity,” she observed that the theme captures our essence, as the threads not only showcase our commonalities but also highlight the beauty found in our diversities. These garments serve as nonverbal vehicles that transmit cultural knowledge and expressions; these fabrics and garments serve as powerful tools of diplomacy and unity”.
The Permanent Secretary positioned the festival as more than a celebration of textile heritage; she says it is an economic and diplomatic tool, and aligning weaving with public and private sector investments can contribute to continental economic development and unity.
Traditional attire is more than just clothing; our traditional fabrics feature motifs, symbols, colors, and patterns that embody the spirit of our ancestors. from the Jesunda of the Gbagyi people, the Godo of the Koro people, and the Ivav Ityô of the Tiv people, to the Aso-Oke of the Yoruba people in Nigeria, the Kente of Ghana, the Shweshwe of South Africa, and the Toghu of Cameroon. They depict our history, enhance ceremonies, and represent social status and beliefs.
She commended the organizers for creating a platform that not only spotlights Africa’s unique weaving traditions but also empowers the artisans, especially women, who are at the heart of this craft. She described the festival as an event that celebrates not only the threads and weaves that connect us as a continent and as a people, but it also highlights various aspects of our rich and diverse heritage.
She further appreciated the Department of Arts and Culture of the Social Development Secretariat for its ongoing efforts to deepen collaborations that help fulfill the mandate of cultural promotion, preservation, and presentation.
Speaking earlier in her welcome remarks, the Director Arts and Culture Department, Ngozi Ogugua, said, AWeF is designed to celebrate Africa’s rich textile legacy while promoting heritage preservation and craft entrepreneurship, stating that it has created a milestone in uniting Africa through threads and weaves.
According to Ngozi, “beyond celebration of the arts, creatives must be enlightened on actionable steps to take and to protect their innovations, to ensure that they can migrate and make a living through it at the global stage”.
She further stated that AWeF is one of the most effective means to attempt to sustain and prevent the African culture from extinction and position it as a veritable tool to project African cultural values globally. The 3rd edition of the festival aims to position Nigeria’s rich weaving heritage on the global stage, showcasing its cultural depth, creativity, and economic potential.
Speaking earlier, the Executive Director, Media and Publicity Africa Wing (AWeF), Tijjani Sheidu, stated that by promoting these fabrics internationally, governments and private actors can unlock new economic opportunities for artisans and communities.
According to Tijjani, AWeF 2025 aims to promote locally woven fabrics as instruments of national pride, global competitiveness, and social empowerment while strengthening the continent’s creative economy.
He said this year’s edition, themed “African Indigenous Fabrics: A Tool for Culture Diplomacy and Unity,” reflects the festival’s growing impact since inception and its commitment to redefining African textile identity in a modern world.
He noted that AWeF 2025 will catalyze tourism and economic development by attracting investors, exhibitors, and cultural enthusiasts from across Africa and the diaspora. “The festival creates a vibrant platform for showcasing Nigeria’s cultural tourism potential, encouraging heritage preservation, entrepreneurship, and cross-border cultural exchange”.
The three-day festival, brought together artisans and stakeholders from across Africa, including Botswana, Burkina Faso, and Ghana.
