CONTENTS | ANB-BIA HOMEPAGE | WEEKLY NEWS
by Joseph Seydou Allakaye, Niger, April 1998
THEME = SOCIAL CONDIT.)
An original and exciting idea in a country of unexpected touristic resources
Situated between Arab Africa and Black Africa, Niger is a kind of "half-way" house between these two very different parts of Africa. It possesses hitherto unsuspected tourist resources. As the world moves towards global unity, it's high time to familiarise oneself with other countries. Niger's picturesque landscapes are in sharp contrast - sometimes vast with a rough terrain, in other places lush and green.
You'd hardly expect such a country to put on a fashion show - certainly an exciting and original idea! So why go ahead? Well, first of all, it's not such a bad idea to take a look at how other people live and in this context, to compare and contrast the different styles of African and European fashions. So, an international show, full of colour and splendour will be organised from 11-13 September 1998.
Alphadi is a Nigérien fashion designer and is also president of the African Federation of Fashion Designers. He's had the brilliant idea of organising this International Festival of African Fashion in Niger (FIMA). His early years were spent in the desert regions, but now he's one of the best known African consultants on fashion. He goes all over the world, armed with his charm and in his luggage, the latest fashion creations using only African material: leather, silver, bronze and embroidery intertwined in unbleached cotton and linen fabrics.
After the death of his fellow-designer, Chris Seydou (a well-known Malian designer), he took over the responsibility of promoting African colours in the world of fashion. For four years, as founder and president of the Federation of African Fashion Designers, Alphadi has been endeavouring to make business people, financiers and decision-making Africans aware of the importance of the fashion industry from the point of view of economic, social and cultural development.
Some would consider the possibility of staging a fashion show in Niger to be but a dream. Alphadi has enabled a dream to become a reality - thanks to the support of President Maïnassara Baré and Niger's Ministry of Tourism and Crafts, and especially to the show's organisers and the products they have to offer - the beauty of African fashion. It's a project which can have far-reaching consequences beyond Western European and West African fashion houses and find its full development in meeting other designers in other countries such as Japan, USA, Russia...
According to Alphadi, culture, art and fashion can help the development of the African continent. Our continent can find a new approach to development through different forms of creativity such as dance, music and fashion. The fashion industry brings millions of dollars to the developed countries. So, why not in Africa? This first big appointment with African fashion in the beautifully situated Nigérien Ténéré Desert, will be an outstanding example of what Africa has to offer...an Africa always looking for ways and means to develop itself.
It's nigh on ten years since Alphadi first conceived this dream. In the best informed circles of the fashion world, it's estimated that the fashion show could cost as much as three billion CFA francs. However, Alphadi says it won't exceed one billion, and, he adds: "Funds are available". However, there's the thorny problem of security and at the time of writing, it's far from being solved. There's still a certain amount of insecurity in the Ténéré Desert - in spite of the peace treaty signed with the rebels on 24 April 1995. However, the Niger government has given strong security guarantees for all participants.
Because of its outstanding venue, the International Festival of African Fashion in Niger hopes to provide a wonderful possibility for cultural exchange. It will take place every two years in different countries. Fashion designers, musicians, singers, craftsmen and representatives from the world of economy will meet for three days. The finale will be a grand fashion show in which twenty African singers of international repute and about thirty fashion designers will take part.
The show's main aims are:
To give African designers and stylists a chance to communicate their own ideas and to promote their commodities and exchange ideas with their counterparts from other continents; to establish an inter-cultural dialogue between Africa and the West and to enhance the value of African fashion; to spread messages of peace and hope; to stress the boundless potentialities Africa has to offer and the stupendous dynamism of certain of its fashion designers; to establish an organisation against the spreading of AIDS and to help young people in difficulty.
Agadez-Tiguidit is the place chosen for the event: a desert village will be constructed on the spot. In the evenings, the visitor will be able to look out from the top of the Agadez and Tiguidit hills, to nature's panorama - rocks which seem to be fashioned in a thousand different ways interspersed with green bushes. At that time of the day, there's a fresh soft breeze blowing over the fine gravel of the desert, giving rise to the murmuring of nature's lullaby in a sensitive ear. You'll be able to see the fashion show from far away and then Alphadi's dream of a "fashion oasis in the desert" will in truth be a reality. The desert "village" will be constructed of tents, because after all, we shall be in a nomadic environment. The tents will be designed after those found in the various countries having extensive deserts and nomadic populations. The village will reflect the different desert cultures (crafts, habitat, cookery, music, etc)
For three days, the festival will be livened up by groups of artistes from all over Niger (from the towns and from the desert) composed of Arabs, Haoussas, Gourmantchis, Zarmas, Peuls, Songhais, Tuaregs and Toubous. There will be a desert opera with about twenty African internationally-known musicians. Each singer will expressing in his or her own language a message of peace and hope, which will be taken up by the chorus under the direction of the Senegalese singer, Youssou N'Dour.
Among those who have already promised to be present are: Aïcha Koné, Nayanka Bell, Meiway, Manu Dibango, Na Awa Doumbia and Oumou Sangaré.
Thirty or so fashion designers have been booked for the event: six Europeans, twenty Africans, two Americans, one Japanese and one Chinese. During the festival, African and Western Trade representatives will have the opportunity to meet fashion designers, artists and artistes, politicians, businessmen. This will take place during the course of seminars and colloquia. Visitors and spectators coming from afar will have the opportunity of visiting the Tenéré Desert, plus the beautifully preserved caravan trading city of Agadez and the Air Massif north of Agadez.
The whole idea is to bring art to the forefront and let the visitors have an unforgettable evening. To commemorate the event, there will be a book, a video and a CD. In this way visitors will be able to look back at a fashion parade during which 60 female models (European, African, Asian) will parade, as well as 10 male models and twenty-five dancers.
The festival has received tremendous sponsorship from the Presidents of Algeria, Mali, Senegal, Niger, Côte d'Ivoire and Gabon; from the Director-General of UNESCO, from the Agency for Cultural and Technical Cooperation (ACCT), from the President of the French Federation of Design and Ready-Made Garments, from couturiers, fashion designers as well as from many sponsors and associates in the project, such as Air Afrique, Chinese Cooperation, French Cooperation, and the European Union. It's clear that many people and institutions are convinced there is nothing unusual in having a fashion show in the middle of the desert!
To have Africa, Europe, America and the rest of the world meet together in such a place seems quite a reasonable dream - especially when one is imbued with love for one's own country, is an artist, is internationally acclaimed, is well-known, and when one's name is Alphadi. Alphadi's dream has become Niger's dream. Our country is honoured to be able to welcome such special people who are coming for the sole purpose of looking for ways and means of bringing peoples and nations together, and sharing their common ideals and ideas.
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CONTENTS | ANB-BIA HOMEPAGE | WEEKLY NEWS
PeaceLink 1998 - Reproduction authorised, with usual acknowledgement