Africa Fashion Futures is a brand-new podcast that discusses knowledge and expertise on African fashion, the creations of African designers, and chances and developments in the sector. The series, which is hosted by Dr. Lauren England, Professor Roberta Comunian, and Dr. Eka Ikpe (African Leadership Centre), examines fashion as both a sector of the global economy and a lens through which to examine cultural expression, memory politics, the creation of traditions, as well as the broader economic and social impact of the creative economy.
We’re excited to introduce this new podcast to the world and highlight African design. It’s a fantastic approach to demonstrate the overlaps and differences between creative and cultural values, as well as the possibilities for the growth of the creative economy in Africa.
Dr. Eka Ikpe, African Leadership Center Director and co-host of the podcast Intellectual property rights in the design industry are the main topic of the first episode. The emergence of small businesses and (isi) Shweshwe in South Africa are discussed by Professor Jen Snowball (Rhodes University), who also touches on the true effects of property rights on the lives of microenterprises.
Professor Snowball was a guest at King’s University at the time of the podcast’s recording as part of the Global Visiting Fellows program, a project that aims to expand opportunities for cooperation, promote reciprocal learning, advance equality, diversity, and inclusion, support excellent research that has an impact, share educational innovation, and advance the sharing of best practices.
Ken Kweku Nimo, a brand strategist and the author of “Africa in Fashion,” joins the second episode to discuss his research into African luxury fashion firms and the concept of luxury. Additionally, Ken’s work and the notion of Lead Firms from Below in African Fashion are connected in some ways by the conversation.
In episode three, Queen Ronke Ademiluyi-Ogunwusi, the creator of Africa Fashion Week London, discusses the festival’s development as well as her views on leadership, women’s empowerment, and sustainable fashion.
The African Leadership Centre and the Department of Culture, Media & Creative Industries collaborated on the podcast, which is edited by Cristina Cabral, with funding from the King’s Global Engagement Partnership Fund.
It is a component of the King’s Together Project – African Fashion Futures, which examines fashion in general and the work of fashion designers in particular. Employing Kenya and Nigeria as case studies provides the chance to set up a study framework, methodology, and network of academic and outside collaborators to provide a thorough grasp of the intricate and dynamic nature of the African fashion ecology.
Content courtesy of India Education Diary & NFH