The ninth edition of the African Arts and Crafts Expo (AFAC) opened penultimate Thursday in Abuja at the Arts and Crafts Village with the theme, ‘African Arts and Craft: A Catalyst for Investment in the Nigerian Creative Industries’ – “a reflection of the past glory and dignity of the creative industries,” NCAC boss, Mrs. Dayo Keshi, said.
Welcoming participants to the event, Keshi said, the growing recognition of the role of culture in the socio-economic development of any nation has influenced the need to mainstream cultural industries into national economic policy of the nation was influenced.
“The African Arts and Crafts Expo is an initiatives that provides a platform for artistry, craftsmanship and entrepreneurial skills in the areas of our cultural industry to be discovered, developed and showcased with a view to exploring the investment opportunities and economic potentials that abound in the sector,” she said.
On the potentials of AFAC to drive the economic diversification efforts of government, Keshi said, “This year’s AFAC is emphatic about showcasing elements of good product design, perfect finishing as well as standard packaging and presentation aimed at global market standard.
“It is through product improvement that we can actually raise the value of the arts and crafts industry to becoming attractive source of job creation and wealth creation.”
Encouraging the collective resourcefulness of arts and crafts promoters, vendors as well as investors to take advantage of the potentials to invest in the sector, she said: “the creative industry, in spite of its funding challenges, has remained a significant player in revenue generation.”
States including Katsina, Lagos, Jigawa, and countries like China, Cameroun, Burkina Faso, Ghana, Mali, Niger, Gambia, Senegal and Sudan are in attendance. There are also private businesses, non-governmental organisations, tertiary institutions as well as individual exhibitors participating at the event.
Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, who declared the two-week expo open, said AFAC was initiated to highlight the economic opportunities that abound in the creative industries.
He said one of the most remarkable indices of development since the middle of the 20th Century has been the mobilization of culture and tourism as a preferred form of economic development at local, regional and national levels.
He said: “Indeed, many Governments of the world have integrated culture and tourism firmly into their economic development strategies in recognition of their potentials and as response to particular economic situations, such as ours.
“It is against this backdrop that this administration will be delighted to see this Fair fully developed to exploit the innate capacity of our people, particularly those living in rural areas.”
He said, Nigeria has demonstrated her leadership role in the process of realizing the goals of the New Partnership for African Development (NEPAD) as well as the African Growth and Opportunities Act (AGOA), through her hosting AFAC.
Speaking on the theme and how it translates into his work, James Shuaibu and artist, said: “this is already an industry and the idea from the FG encouraging us to promote our indigenous arts and crafts has also forced us to look inward, promote it and make it very well-known while also passing the knowledge on to the younger generations. The young have no jobs and these are things they can do to empower themselves. However, we still need support from the government.”
Grace Mensah has participated at AFAC before and said: “Last year’s exhibition was very good, I prefer last year’s own but this year has not ended so let’s see how it goes.
“People are not coming, they said they don’t know it is going on because it was postponed, no one is aware of this present date, they don’t know it is going on. That’s why people are not many but last year there were more customers.”At the arena, craftsmen were fabricating new products for display.
One of those was Ismaila Danladi from Katsina who said over time he has learnt of the specific items to come along with to trade at the expo.
He said: “This is the third time I am attending AFAC and experience has now taught me what items to bring along.
“The fastest selling items are the leather mats and puffs. Also the hanging raffia baskets sell off very fast.”
On how much money he realizes from the expo sales, he said: “I can’t say. My first outing was better than the second one and I am hoping that this one would be better than all of them. But one thing I can say is that, even though I may not sell so much here, people have placed orders for me to make things for them, even after the expo. So that is another benefit.
Participants also showed off the innovative ways of repurposing some of Nigeria’s famous traditional products.
CEO of Vikafriq based in Lagos had a colorful display of bath mats, toilet lid covers and bedside mats, which she made using adire fabrics and quilts.
An Investment Forum, the intellectual segment of AFAC held on Thursday with a focus on igniting the creative industries for sustainable investment.
AFAC began in 2008, as a platform to market indigenous products. It has also served as a forum for producers of arts and crafts, financial sector operators as well as relevant government agencies to brainstorm on growing and promoting the sector.
Participants who distinguished themselves with their various displays will receive awards next Tuesday at the closing ceremony.
