CHINESE FAKES STEALING NIGERIAN FABRICS MARKET

Nigeria’s ancient tradition of making Adire textiles is being threatened by cheap Chinese-made imitations of the colourful fabric.

The popular indigo design is made primarily by Yoruba women using passed-down techniques. They are being hit hard as Nigerians, struggling with high inflation, opt for cheaper Chinese imports.

A year after President Bola Ahmed Tinubu came to power, inflation has risen to a 30-year high of 33%. The naira has lost 60% of its value against the dollar after two devaluations aimed at attracting foreign capital by allowing it to float more freely in Forex markets. The IMF estimates the size of the Nigerian economy to be $253 billion in 2024, a steep decline from over $470 billion in 2022, pushing Nigeria down two places to 4th on the ranking of Africa’s largest economies.

It’s a sorry state of affairs when Nigerians dress up in foreign-made textiles, killing a proud tradition - wouldn’t you say?