Ghanaian weaver Alice Banaaza highlighted traditional Fugu weaving at the 2026 Chocolate Has a Name Festival (CHAN) in Halifax, West Yorkshire, United Kingdom. The festival, themed “The Untutored Mind: A Thing of Beauty,” opened on 27 August 2026 and ran through 31 August, with additional engagements from 2 to 6 September.
Banaaza’s live demonstrations took place at scheduled times during the exhibition, allowing visitors to see cloth emerging on the loom and to observe the interplay of hand, thread, rhythm, pattern, memory and accumulated knowledge. Her presence underscored the conversation between living craft knowledge and the objects displayed in collections.
In addition to weaving, the event featured artist conversations, workshops, public talks and educational sessions, and provided encounters with historic African textiles held by host institutions. The exhibition positioned Fugu—a narrow‑strip cotton textile traditionally woven in Ghana’s Northern, Upper East and Upper West regions—as a living practice rather than a static museum piece.
Fugu gained renewed national attention in 2026 when President John Dramani Mahama wore a Fugu garment during a state visit to Zambia, sparking social media debate that ultimately led to a Ghanaian defence of the garment. The Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts declared Wednesdays National Fugu Day, encouraging the wearing of Fugu in various forms to preserve and promote Ghanaian cultural heritage.
In May 2026, the Ministry named musician Noella Wiyaala Nwadei as Fugu Ambassador for her promotion of the smock through music and fashion.
CHAN is a cultural and heritage programme centred on Ghana’s cocoa story and its relationship with Britain. The 2026 edition continued the creative dialogue begun in 2024’s Kokoo 360 exhibition, which transformed discarded cocoa jute sacks into fashion pieces. The festival’s programming blends art, fashion, food, storytelling and performance to celebrate Ghanaian heritage.
Next steps for the festival include continued public engagement and the promotion of Ghanaian textile traditions abroad, with the hope of fostering greater appreciation and support for local weavers and artisans.
