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The African Fashion Ambassador, Lexy Mojo-Eyes was one of the speakers at the just concluded 4th Pan African Congress hosted by the Government of South Africa through the department of Arts and Culture. He was invited by the African Union to address the Congress on the economic value the fashion industry can bring to the African continent through the various fashion vocations using the Africa Fashion Reception as a platform.
The audience was made of opinion leaders, policy decision makers which includes Ministers of Culture & Tourism, the creative industry from all over the African continent and beyond. The theme of the 4th Pan African Congress is ‘Unity in Cultural Diversity for Africa’s Development’
The delegates were welcomed by His Excellency, Dr Mustapha Sididki Laloko, Commissioner for Social Affairs of the African Union. The keynote address was given by the South African Honorable Minister for Arts & Culture, Nathi Mthethwa. Some of the speakers at the congress were Dr Mohammed Salem Soufi, Director General Afro Arab Institute, Damir Dijakovic, Programme Specialist, UNESCO, Anita Diop, Executive Director, African Roots Heritage Foundation, Prof Wolfgang Scheiden, University of Hildesheim, Germany, Kodjo Cyriaque Noussouglo, Vice President of International Federation of Coalition for Cultural Diversity, Dr Webber Ndoro, African World Heritage Fund, Alboni Jopela, Vice President Pan African Archaelogical Association, Hon Josephine Napwon Cosmos, South Sudan Deputy Minister of Culture, Youth & Sports, Hon Tabetha Kanengoni-Malinga, Zimbabwe Deputy Minister of Sport, Arts & Culture etc
In his power point presentation, Lexy Mojo-Eyes explained how the fashion industry can be properly harnessed to bring economic value to the African continent. He said for this to happen, designers from across the continent must look inward for inspiration by researching into their various ethnic cultural backgrounds and come up with African inspired garments that can appeal to the global market. This they can do by sourcing fabrics and accessories locally for their production.
To complete the circle, he advised citizens of the African continent to patronize only clothes and fashion accessories made locally by African designers. If we successfully do this, we will be creating so much wealth in our continent because the process will have a multiplying effect. This will include empowering and creating jobs for women and youths from across the continent.
Lexy Mojo-Eyes is the President/CEO OF Legendary Gold Limited, organizers and owners of Nigeria Fashion Week, Nigeria Fashion Show, Nigeria Fashion Awards, Nigeria Model Awards and the Africa Fashion Reception. www.legendarygold.tv
The Africa Fashion Reception is put together in collaboration with the African Union. The Africa Fashion Reception is a Pan African initiative. The 2015 edition will bring together fashion designers, fashion Icons, First Ladies, Ambassadors, Ministers and media from over 30 African countries in a celebration of cultural diversity expressed through the artistic fashion discipline with the proud theme ‘Africa is the new inspiration of global fashion’. It will be held in Paris and later at the African Union headquarters in Addis Ababa as one of the side events during the Heads of State Summit.
The Africa Fashion Reception is aimed at achieving the following objectives using the creative industry of fashion as a vehicle:
- To build bridges by creating free trade and partnerships among fashion practitioners throughout the African continent
- To attract global attention to Africa’s very rich and diversified dress culture which can be explored as a catalyst for the social economic growth of the continent’s garment/textile industry.
- To expand the potential power of fashion as a tool of fighting poverty in Africa by creating wealth through the empowerment of women in the various fashion vocations. We intend to achieve this through training, capacity building schemes, workshops and setting up of medium/small scale businesses for these.
- To bring about self reliance as this initiative will create millions of jobs across the continent for Tailors, Creative Directors, Textile designers, Models, Cutters, Pressers, Fashion Photographers & Writers, Hair Stylists, Make-up Artists etc
- To contribute in bringing the much desired peace and stability to our continent by positively engaging the youths as stated above.
- And to further develop African economies by creating the biggest and most profitable African fashion and lifestyle trade and investment initiative for global patronage
For participation and partnership, log on to www.africafashionreception.com .
