Christopher Amwelima

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I am a designer of African print motifs. I was born in 1982 in northern Ghana. My friends say I am God-fearing, kind and an outgoing type. Art is my hobby and also a family trade. I was taught by my grandma and uncle, and mastered this craft because it's a family thing. I use African prints for most of my designs.

Starting on my own wasn't difficult because I was so passionate about this. When I was six, I used to help my grandma make handbags and helped my uncle with the making of smocks. The textile arts run in our family's blood.

"When I was a child, I couldn't get things I needed because my parents couldn't afford to buy them. In junior high when my school held a competition, I crafted some bags to enter and they won! But I had to drop out of senior high because of financial difficulty. I turned to my art and here I am.

"As I grew up and started on my own, my mum helped me with some money to buy fabrics which I used to create samples. I came to sell them in Accra, after which I went back to northern Ghana. I did this for a while until I settled permanently in Accra in 2004. I use traditional ways in sewing my dresses and smocks. With clothing, I use a sewing machine while I sew by hand if its leather.

"It can be challenging to come out with a very unique design and then you find it soon after in the market because everyone is copying your work. But it feels good to be able to show my designs and see that others admire them.

"The doors of my workshop are open for everyone. I teach others who want to learn this art and, so far, I have trained four people.

"My work benefits my community because some of the youth work with me, for which I pay them.

"And thanks to my skills, today I am able to buy the things I need."