PRESS RELEASE 001
COURTESY VISIT ON UNIC ACCRA WITH A CAP 300ft LONG TO HIGHLIGHT INTERNATIONAL DECADE FOR PEOPLE OF AFRICAN DESCENT
Accra, 3 March 2017 – An indigenous Nigerian artist, Femi Coker, today paid a courtesy call on UNIC Accra to underline the important contribution made by people of African descent to our societies as part of a project to promote the International Decade for People of African Descent (IDPAD).
The United Nations General Assembly declared1 January 2015 –31 December 2024 as the IDPAD to recognize that people of African descent represent a distinct group whose human rights must be promoted and protected. It also means that afro-centric ideals, values, ideas and strategies, inventions, innovations, creative ingenuity, advancement, development and excellence would be the focus of the international community.
“In line with this noble declaration and in alignment with our vision and objectives, to consistently showcase the best of Africa, we were inspired and challenged to create a unique symbol for the IDPAD” says Femi Coker, founder of Femi Art Warehouse based in Nigeria.
Mr. Coker is visiting Ghana wearing the world's longest cap which is 300ft long and 9inches in diameter under his Renaissance Expedition to 1000 Cities project.
“The cap is a symbol for IDPAD to draw attention to Africa’s contributions to global advancement, development and civilization and serves as a catalyst for transformation of the African continent” adds Mr. Coker.
The cap is modelled after the traditional hunter's cap of the Yoruba people of south western Nigeria. It is made of textiles and fabrics from different locations visited under the project. By sourcing and collecting their traditional textiles/fabrics and adding to the cap, the team pays tribute to the rich textile heritage of the African people. It also highlights diversity, identifies and celebrates excellence, innovations, great ideas, inventions and strategies that are driving the continent’s leading industrial, technological and economic development.
“The cap is a very unique symbol of directing attention to what the continent represents and reverberating the essence of the IDPAD” says the National Information Officer of UNIC Accra, Ms. Cynthia Prah.
The cap is projected to be over 1000ft long in the course of the expedition. Among dignitaries to whom this cap has been presented is Nigeria’s renowned writer, Prof. Wole Soyinka.
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UN Information Centre in Accra | P. O. Box GP 2339, Accra| Tel: 0302 665511, E-mail: ; accra.unic.org