Textile and Fashion Designs as tools for Personality Cult in Nigeria: Issues and Problems

Abstract

The modern mechanized textile industry in Nigeria is in very poor condition. Most of the fabrics in Nigerian markets today are smuggled into the country creating serious competition between the local textile industries in Nigeria and their foreign counterparts. The foreign fabrics smuggled into the country outnumber those locally produced. Most of Nigerian indigenes prefer the foreign fabrics to the locally woven fabrics. The result is that Nigerian textile industries lose patronage. The patrons that modern mechanized textile industry in Nigeria rely on to remain in business include politicians and religious associations. Images of politicians and designs relating to religious associations are printed for them on fabrics by local textile industries that they commissioned to do so. Party supporters wear the fabrics as campaign strategy for the politicians. This can result to creating cult of personality out of some political figures in the society. The religious organisations dress in their customized designs to project their models, associations and events. This can also create personality cult of religious figures and events. Against this background, this study moved to discuss textile and fashion designs as media capable of building personality cult in the society. It advises that the Nigerian society should be careful not to become victims of the mishaps which could emanate from the present Nigerian society that is very conscious of featuring in uniforms. The study also disclosed personality cult as means capable of developing and generating business for the textile and fashion design industry in Nigeria.