Around African countries, there are common conversations like these that goes thus:
In Ghana;
KOFI (admires): Hey brother you look good! I love your shoes, are they Italian?
MENSAH : Oh no. It’s my close friend who made this. He’s a shoemaker
KOFI: You mean it’s made here in Ghana?
MENSAH: Yeah, it is.
KOFI (frowns): Oh. I don’t wear Ghanaian stuff. It’s too local.
In South Africa;
ZOLA: Hey sis. You going somewhere?
IMANI: Oh yes! I have a wedding to attend.
ZOLA (compliments): Oh you look nice and your bag is giving the vibes? Is it Givenchy or Prada?
IMANI: Not at all dear. I got it at a store somewhere in Cape Town. This is from Themba. He’s so good at designing great bags to match any outfit.
ZOLA (rolls her eyes in disappointment): I don’t like anything from South Africans. I’m sure this product won’t last.
In Nigeria;
BIMBO (expresses admiration): Babe, you look so good! I love this fabric and the design just suits you perfectly. What designer are you wearing?
NKECHI: Thanks for the compliment. I have this fashion designer at Ibadan. She’s the one who designs all my unique outfit. Her name is Funke Ojo. I can give you her complimentary card so you visit her office or place an order.
BIMBO (looks surprised): You mean this was designed by a Nigerian?
NKECHI: Yes it is. And so are my other outfits you admire.
BIMBO : Ibadan here? That’s just at my backyard?
NKECHI: Yes. Funke is so good. She’s one of the best we have around.
BIMBO (shakes her head disapprovingly): I don’t trust any Nigerian made product. Any Nigerian is definitely not for me. If it’s not Turkey wears, I don’t get involved at all. It’s just not my thing.
Daily, conversations like these as expressed above are very rampant on the lips of most Africans. Once an African entrepreneur introduces a product that was made, created or designed in Africa and by an African. Fellow Africans tend to disapprove or reject these products even before trying it out.
If we want to boost our economy and plan for a bright future as Africans, we must try to embrace, encourage and explore African made products and entrepreneurs. By doing so, we cut down on exorbitant expenses and also promote our talents and culture to the rest of the world. Africa is a great continent with diverse creative minds and intellectuals. All we need do is to encourage these people to do more by patronizing them, helping them bring their ideas and aspirations to reality, advertise their products to foreigners of other continents. Alot of foreigners are interested in trying out products from Africa, but they find it quite difficult to explore our products because we as Africans are either not interested or encouraged to advertise our own products to them.
On this note, I beseech Africans to start uniting and teaming up to promote African products to people from other continents. Taking this amazing step would definitely move Africa from a consuming continent to a producing continent.
Embrace, Encourage and Explore Africa today!
Leave a comment