Ace Journalist, Gender Advocate and TV Host, Oheneyere Gifty Anti has opened about the ridicule she faced wearing African print as a young news anchor some 22 years ago.
According to the Host of the Standpoint Show, wearing African print exposed her to much ridicule because most people TV would rather opt for western clothing but she however stuck to her guns.
Oheneyere Gifty Anti who shared her story on Instagram, was honored with 6 other public figures for helping to promote Ghanaian clothing by Tex styles Ghana Ltd, GTP and the National Commission on Culture as part of the Wear Ghana Fashion Festival Show which took place on Saturday at the National Theater.
Read full post below:
WHEN GOD LAUGHS – By Gifty Anti (Oheneyere)
I wanted to start with the laughing emoji, but let us hold on for now.
Last night, i became one of the first 7 Ghanaians, to be honoured by the National Commission on Culture, NCC, National Theatre and GTP for promoting Made in Ghana Wear, during the fashion show that climaxed the Wear Ghana Festival.
😀😀😀😀 Yes, i can now laugh…. I remember, this same Gifty Anti, was ridiculed, when i started wearing ‘ntama’ and tye and dye (adjoa yankee) dresses on tv, 22 years ago. During those days it was only the news readers who wore slit and kaba on tv and i wasn’t a news reader then.
You see, i had been wearing dresses made with cloth long before i came on tv. But wearing them on tv as a presenter, exposed me to greater ridicucle.
Growing up, it was only children from poor homes who wore such clothes. The rich kids wore ‘already made’. Never mind even if some of them were second hand. 😎
I must admit, i started wearing ‘made in Ghana clothes’ and beads, especially, out of necessity. But i fell in love with it and even when i started wearing suits i would still have my beads on.
Ironically, i actually believed that moving from second hand clothing (which my mother sold) to the dresses made with cloth, was a huge upgrade. But yet, i was laughed at 😀😀😀. Well, who is laughing now? I am now in the history book of ‘Promoting made in Ghana wear’ as one of the first 7 Ghanaians (5 men and two women, including President Akuffo Addo and Hon. Alan Kyeremanteng) to be honoured…. Ye, the same Gifty Anti.
And oh yes, this particular honour, means alot to me.
But this write up is not just to announce the honour 😀.. It is also to encourage anyone who feels ridiculed, insulted, stigmatized or isolated, all because of choices/decisions they have made or are pursuing.
Never, think about the NOW. Close your mind to the noises. If you believe in it, if you are passionate about it… don’t give up. Your day of ‘honour’ will definitely come.
Like my Father, (may he rest in peace) taught me, The best form of revenge is to succeed.
You have the power to stay focused….
You have the power to overcome…
You will succeed.
The maiden Wear Ghana Fashion Show Festival is an event by the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture in collaboration with GTP and the National Commission on Culture to celebrate Ghana-made goods as part of activities to climax Made in Ghana month.
It was attended by Barbara Oteng Gyasi, the new Minister for Tourism, Deputy Minister for Information, Ama Dokuaa Asiamah Agyei , reps from GTP, and other renowned members of the public.