Zambia’s President Hakainde Hichilema has stepped into an online cultural debate after Ghana’s President John Dramani Mahama arrived in Lusaka wearing a traditional northern Ghanaian outfit known as fugu, which some social media users in Zambia mockingly described as a “blouse.”
Rather than joining the ridicule, President Hichilema publicly embraced the attire, expressing admiration for the design and announcing plans to order more of it himself.
Speaking in a video shared on X (formerly Twitter) from the Ghana–Zambia Business Forum held in Lusaka, the Zambian leader said the online exchanges had only increased his interest in the outfit.
“We’ll be ordering more fugu from Ghana following the social media conversations,” Hichilema said.
The Fugu Debate Between Ghanaians and Zambians Online
President Mahama arrived in Zambia on Wednesday for a three-day State Visit, dressed in the fugu — a handwoven traditional garment made from narrow strips of thick cotton fabric stitched together into a structured, poncho-style outfit widely associated with northern Ghana.
While the Ghanaian leader wore traditional attire, his Zambian hosts received him in Western-style suits, a contrast that quickly sparked commentary online. Some Zambian social media users, particularly on Facebook groups, referred to the outfit in mocking terms, with comments such as “maternity blouse” and “we love our blouse brothers.”
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Ghanaian officials at the business forum responded firmly but calmly, using the moment to educate rather than escalate.
Ghana’s Minister for Foreign Affairs, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, described the fugu as far more than clothing, calling it a symbol of African identity, dignity, and cultural pride.
In a video shared on Facebook, Ablakwa said the online buzz reflected a deeper cultural awakening among young Africans and welcomed the renewed curiosity.
“For the young ones on social media who want to know more about the attire, this is the same outfit worn by Osagyefo Dr Kwame Nkrumah when he declared Ghana’s independence on 6 March 1957,” he explained.
He added that the conversation had sparked what he described as a revival of the African personality, encouraging Africans to reconnect with their heritage in an era dominated by Western fashion norms.
In Ghana, similar cultural advocacy has led to initiatives such as “Fugu Friday,” where citizens are encouraged to wear traditional African clothing to work and public events.
President Hichilema’s public endorsement helped shift the tone of the debate, turning what began as online mockery into a broader conversation about African identity, respect, and cultural exchange between sister nations.
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