British Council Awards £5000 Grant To AduAmani & Ese Ne Tekyrema
UK based company Ese ne Tekyrema CIC and Ghanaian circular designer Vera Adu Amaning, popularly known as Adu Amani have been awarded the prestigious British Council Biennales and Festival Grant to support their joint project dubbed Kokoo ( Cocoa) 360 Circularity Exhibition.
The grant worth £5,000 was awarded on September 1, 2024 under the British Council’s Architecture Design Fashion (ADF) programme which offers support to UK based designers and architects who participate international biennales and festivals.
‘Kokoo (Cocoa) 360 Exhibition’, programme scheduled for October 25, 2024 will crown the Chocolate Has a Name Festival which will take place as part of the Calderdale Year of Culture 2024 in Halifax
The exhibition will have fashion works made from cocoa jute sacks: materials commonly used to export cocoa. These sacks will be metamorphose into bags, shoes, clothing, and jewellery
This is to emphasize how waste materials can be turned into high-quality fashion products that promote sustainability and circular economies
. At the heart of this initiative are two visionaries: Adelle A’asante, Artistic and Creative Director of Ese ne Tekyerema CIC, and Vera Adu-Amaning, CEO of AduAmani. Together, they have brought to life a bold vision that merges storytelling, sustainability, and African craftsmanship.
“This exhibition is a statement,” says Adelle A’asante.
“We are challenging the throwaway culture that has become all too common in fashion. Through the lens of circularity, we’re reminding people that the materials we discard can be reimagined into something that transcends waste and becomes a symbol of resilience.”
According to Vera Adu-Amaning. “The cocoa sacks represent a deeper history of exploitation in the cocoa trade, “But through design, we can rewrite the narrative. We are giving these materials new life and, in doing so, creating a new dialogue about the future of fashion.”
AduAmani’s team in Ghana has masterfully crafted each piece in the exhibition, showcasing not only the talents of local artisans but also the beauty of African fashion innovation.
The collaboration speaks to a larger conversation about global partnerships and sustainable practices that honour the planet and its people.
Running throughout the CHAN festival in October, the Kokoo 360 Circularity Exhibition will stand as a testament to the power of circular fashion and a celebration of African craftsmanship. The CHAN festival itself is a platform for artistic exchange, featuring creators from Africa and the diaspora alongside local talents.
With the generous support of Calderdale Council, British Council and Together housing in partnership with key organizations such as The Racial Justice Network, Lancashire Fair Trade Campaigners Committee , Moms On A Mission and Halifax Unity. The festival will amplify the narratives of cocoa farmers and push for more ethical practices in the cocoa and chocolate industries as well supporting the life affirming work of it’s Legacy project; CHOCOLATE HAS A NAME currently piloting at Tarkwa Bremen in Ghana.
About Ese ne Tekyerema CIC
Ese ne Tekyerema CIC is a UK-based organization dedicated to promoting African arts, culture, and sustainability through innovative projects that connect communities and push the boundaries of creativity.
About AduAmani
AduAmani is a leading Ghanaian circular fashion brand focused on repurposing waste materials into high-quality, sustainable fashion items that celebrate African heritage and craftsmanship.
