By Olawunmi Ashafa
Mr Anil Padia, Programme Director, ORUN X Designers, an initiative of Africa Forex Community, says the platform is empowering African artisans to drive manufacturing, innovation and international market entry.
Padia disclosed this to the Information Company of Nigeria (NAN) on the sidelines of the Heirs of Greatness Day in Casablanca, Morocco, on Thursday.
The occasion marked the formal launch of ORUN X Designers, which focuses on strengthening Africa’s cultural and inventive industries.
Padia mentioned the initiative, drawn from Africa’s cultural origins, goals to construct sustainable inventive ecosystems, restore the dignity of artisans and join heritage-driven craftsmanship to worldwide demand by people-focused, long-term worth creation.
He mentioned the platform derived its title from “ORUN”, an idea rooted in Yoruba mythology, which implies “origin”.
The event director added that the idea is basic to the initiative’s philosophy.
“It is necessary for us to have a look at our roots, to know what now we have and the way we are able to innovate from there.
“Every thing we want is already on this continent,” Padia mentioned.
In keeping with him, the initiative is designed to appropriate long-standing imbalances in inventive provide chains by elevating artisans from the margins to the inspiration of worth creation.
“Artisans shouldn’t stay on the backside of the provision chain. They have to be the foundations of all the pieces we’re doing,” he added.
Heirs of Greatness Day, he added, was conceived as a celebration of Africa’s range of craft, information methods and the folks behind them, with human dignity positioned on the core of the programme.
Padia mentioned ORUN X Designers additionally seeks to revive the social and financial worth traditionally connected to artists and artisans earlier than the rise of mass industrialisation.
“Creation with the palms carries reminiscence, not simply particular person reminiscence, however generational reminiscence,” he mentioned, noting that artisanal methods transmit information embedded in lived human expertise.
In keeping with him, trendy provide chains typically disconnect the maker from the product, a niche the initiative goals to shut by recognising the artisan, the method and the ultimate creation as a single ecosystem.
On considerations in regards to the inventive sector’s restricted contribution to Africa’s Gross Home Product (GDP), Padia mentioned international client traits favour authenticity over mass-produced items, creating alternatives for African craftsmanship.
“Worldwide and area of interest shoppers are uninterested in standardised merchandise.
“They’re looking for authenticity,” the director mentioned.
He, nevertheless, cautioned towards viewing GDP as the only measure of success.
“GDP doesn’t totally seize human worth or high quality of life.
“The actual query is whether or not financial development advantages the folks creating the merchandise,” Padia mentioned.
He mentioned ORUN X Designers adopts people-focused affect metrics somewhat than numerical targets.
Wanting forward, Padia mentioned the initiative plans to onboard a minimum of 50 designers and artisans by 2030, by a number of engagement fashions.
These embody supporting impartial inventive enterprises, forming manufacturing partnerships and growing merchandise inside the ORUN ecosystem for its market.
The choice, he mentioned, can be primarily based on the designers’ financial, historic and environmental affect inside their communities.
“Our strategy is holistic. We have a look at how creators have an effect on their environment and the way their work sustains worth over time,” Padia mentioned.
Padia mentioned ORUN X Designers represents a long-term effort to construct a sustainable inventive economic system that connects African heritage to worldwide markets with out compromising dignity or identification.
“That is about constructing worth that lasts; culturally, economically and humanly,” he mentioned.
Edited by Buhari Bolaji
