Long before the Portuguese began sailing along the West African coast in the 15th century, the kingdoms of western Sudan were sources of gold that formed the basis for extensive trade routes across the Sahara, throughout north Africa, and even linking Africa
It is well known that many acclaimed designers and artists worldwide are inspired by the exotic African art and the mixture of natural materials and vibrant colours used for traditional events. While these non-African designers and artists have profited and attained recognition in the professional arena, most African designers and artists are struggling to survive. The situation is much so for African fashion designers. But an African lady, Oumou Sy, is making a big impact on the fashion scene. She presented a fantastic show of her artistic fashion designs at the documenta 12 in Kassel, Germany.