The Lagos State Government will host the maiden ‘Ankara’ carnival in September as parts of efforts to resuscitate the moribund textile industry and create job opportunities for the unemployed.
Mr. Olawale Oladunjoye who addressed a news conference in Lagos said that the carnival would hold between Sept. 2, 2017, and Sept. 9, 2017, at the Teslim Balogun Stadium, Surulere in Lagos State.
He said that the aim of the event tagged “Lagos Ankara’’ carnival was to give a facelift to the “Ankara’’ fabric, which had gained popularity in the global fashion scene.
Ankara, formerly known as Dutch wax print, was originally manufactured by the Dutch for the Indonesian textile market.
But by design, the prints garnered more interest in West Africa than in Indonesia and this led to the birth of African print.
Oladunjoye said that the “Lagos Ankara’’ Carnival 2017 would be an avenue to facilitate the exposure of Nigerian designers to the world.
He said that it would also be an annual event with the capacity to establish many profitable companies and provide jobs to millions of Nigerians.
“We are confident that the advent of the “Lagos Ankara’’ carnival will strengthen the “Ankara’’ local market and open Lagos up to the world fashion stage,” he said.
He said that the carnival would not be limited to Lagos alone, but would be taking to other parts of the country and the West African sub-region.
Oladunjoye said, “Ankara fabric is popular in Nigeria and in its neighbouring countries such as Ghana, Cote d’Ivoire, Cameroon, Benin and Senegal.
“Its history dates back to the 17th Century before the coming of the colonial masters when the fabric was known as wax,’’ he said.
The carnival would feature Ankara exhibition, an award presentation to the ‘Omidan Ankara’ and a carnival night.
Its high point will be the emergence of “The face of Ankara Lagos”.
The winner of the `The face of Ankara Lagos’ will initiate Ankara-related-pet projects aimed at skills development, cultural re-orientation and learning.
It would also include the empowerment of youths and producing entrepreneurs in Ankara fashion industry.
(Punch)
