WEAR Ghana, Republic of Africa win CANEX Creative Pitch 2026 in Lagos

Ghanaian creative entrepreneur Awura Abena Agyeman has won the CANEX Creative Pitch 2026 in Lagos, Nigeria, with a presentation on the evolution of WEAR Ghana into the pan-African cultural enterprise, Republic of Africa.

The competition formed part of Creative Africa Nexus Weekend (CANEX WKND), organised by the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank).

The gathering brings together entrepreneurs, artists, investors, policymakers and other stakeholders to explore opportunities for financing, collaboration and growth across Africa’s creative industries.

Awura Abena Agyeman’s presentation traced the evolution of WEAR Ghana, established in 2013 to encourage greater appreciation for locally produced clothing, into a business that has combined contemporary fashion with African cultural identity.

Among its notable successes is GIGI, a collection incorporating African wax-print details, which became a signature product following its introduction in 2016 and continues to sell around the world, 10 years later.

The presentation also introduced the broader vision behind Republic of Africa, launched in May 2025 as a pan-African cultural initiative seeking to connect people across borders through fashion, creativity and shared identity.

Beyond the business journey, Awura Abena Agyeman highlighted the importance of employment, skills development and local production in creating opportunities within Africa’s creative economy.

Her recognition at CANEX comes amid growing conversations about the economic potential of African creativity and the need for stronger local participation in the industries built around the continent’s cultural influence.

The achievement also underscores the role of platforms such as CANEX in creating opportunities for African creative entrepreneurs to engage directly with potential investors and industry leaders.

For WEAR Ghana and Republic of Africa, the victory represents another chapter in a journey that began with a simple ambition to encourage Ghanaians to wear Ghanaian-made clothing and has since grown into a wider vision of African cultural connection and enterprise.