African Weaving Festival seeks global spotlight for indigenous fabrics, unity, creative economy growth
By Haggai Daniel
Nigerians have been encouraged to elevate indigenous weaving traditions to the global stage, using culture as a bridge for diplomacy, unity, and economic advancement.
The organisers of the 3rd African Weaving Festival (AWeF 2025) described the event as a vital platform for preserving Africa’s textile heritage and positioning it as a global symbol of creativity, identity, and innovation.
According to Tijani Sheidu, AWeF’s Executive Director of Media and Publicity, the festival aims to showcase Nigeria’s rich weaving culture as a source of pride, global competitiveness, and social empowerment, while strengthening Africa’s creative economy.
He said this year’s theme, ‘African Indigenous Fabrics: A Tool for Culture Diplomacy and Unity’,reflects the growing recognition of traditional craftsmanship as a driver of cultural connection and modern relevance.
Scheduled to begin Friday at the Cyprian Ekwensi Cultural Centre in Abuja, the festival will celebrate Africa’s textile legacy through exhibitions, workshops, and fashion showcases that promote cultural exchange and creativity.
Beyond cultural celebration, Sheidu said AWeF 2025 will boost tourism and investment by attracting exhibitors, artisans, and enthusiasts from across Africa and the diaspora.
“The festival creates a dynamic platform for promoting Nigeria’s cultural tourism potential, encouraging entrepreneurship, and expanding cross-border collaboration,” he stated.
He explained that AWeF brings together a diverse network of artists, designers, and institutions to highlight the economic potential of indigenous fabrics, offering artisans greater exposure and income opportunities.
According to him, this year’s edition is expected to draw more than 500,000 participants, including investors, researchers, and creatives, while noting that the 2024 edition recorded over 100 exhibitors from embassies, states, academic institutions, and independent creators, earning widespread acclaim.
Sheidu noted that the 2025 festival will feature a wide range of attractions, including fabric exhibitions, interior décor displays, loom demonstrations, skill acquisition workshops, wellness fairs, local fabric markets, a fashion runway, and a symposium on fabric diplomacy.
He also commended the support of government and institutional partners while calling for stronger collaboration to sustain the festival’s growth and enhance Nigeria’s visibility on the global creative stage.
“The African Weaving Festival and the FCT Department of Culture remain committed to promoting peace, unity, and economic development through culture. By celebrating our crafts and empowering artisans, we preserve heritage while advancing the nation’s creative economy,” Sheidu added.
