A Nigerian designer is incorporating artefacts like the famous Benin Bronzes into fashion accessories, hoping to promote the country’s cultural heritage as well as make a profit.
Tosan Ideh said ITSK Gold, the company he co-founded with his friend Tuoyo Dudu, was motivated by Nigerian cultural symbols and artefacts to create jewellery like rings and bracelets as well as clothes.
At his shop in Lagos, each piece of gold, silver and brass-coated jewellery represents Nigerian tradition and culture.
“So people might really be able to speak their languages but symbols always resonate and its something we felt people can always resonate with like anywhere around the world,” Ideh, who has lived in Canada, told Reuters.
