The 2024 Quilt Africa International Summit was an unforgettable event that celebrated Creativity in Community through the rich tapestry of African quilting traditions while fostering a spirit of innovation and cultural exchange. It was held last July 11-13, 2024 with over 200 quilting enthusiasts, textile artists, and cultural ambassadors from around the world.
Hands-On Demonstration
One of the highlights of the summit was the varied range of hands-on demonstrations. These sessions, conducted by renowned quilters and textile artists - Casandra Allen, Luke Haynes, and Cristina Arcenegui-Bono, provided participants with tell-all instructions and techniques ranging from fabric auditioning to use of technology in modern quilting. Speakers also elaborated the skills, including appliqué, piecing, and fabric dyeing, catering to both beginners and seasoned quilters.
Cristina Arcenegui-Bono detailed on how fabric prints, colours, andpre-planning using Procreatecan help create an eye-catching improv.
The energetic duo, Luke Haynesand his lovely wife Nicole,caught everyone's attentionwith their generousdiscussion on fabric auditioning.
Casandra Allen dived into detailson how to modify and personalize elements in a pattern.
Cultural Exchange and Collaboration
The summit served as a melting pot of cultures, showcasing quilting styles and cultures of our esteemed guests and featured guilds. Quilters from Needles and Threads Quilt Guild of Chicago and our very own Quilt Africa Tribe shared their unique techniques and stories behind their quilts. We also featured panel discussions on cultural appropriation and appreciation and engaged our speakers in a live roundtable discussion on collaboration. These cultural exchanges not only enriched participants' understanding of African quilting traditions but also sparked future projects and new creative ideas.
Georgia Williamsgavenumerous tips on how to join and champion in exhibitions.
Lisa Spain-Moore put herjoy into a showcase ofinspiring quilts and crafts.
OV Brantley spotlighted her pursuit of building a community that supports and nourishes local artistry.
Virtual Exhibitions
Our showcase sessions were filled with stunning displays of quilts and textile art, each piece telling a story of its cultural origins and artistic journey. All showcased exceptional craftsmanship and creativity.
Networking and Community Building
The summit provided ample opportunities for networking and community building. Attendees had the chance to connect, exchange ideas, and forge new partnerships through the Summit Portal. The sense of camaraderie and shared passion for quilting was palpable throughout the event.
Future Prospects
As the summit drew to a close, there was expectant excitement about the future of quilting and textile arts with African fabrics. The event underscored the importance of mentorship, collaboration, and finding new ways of sharing with the wider world. Many participants left with a renewed sense of inspiration and a wealth of new skills and connections.
Looking Ahead
Plans for the next Quilt Africa International Summit are already underway, promising to build on the success of this year’s event. Stay tuned for updates on dates, locations, and themes for the 2025 summit.
For those who missed this year’s event, you can still view the recordings. CLICK HERE to find out more.
The 2024 Quilt Africa International Summit was more than just a gathering of quilt enthusiasts; it was a celebration of the rich cultural heritage of Africa and the creative spirit inspired by the fabrics and traditions of Africa.
We look forward to seeing how the connections made and the ideas exchanged will shape the future of quilting around the world.
As an African who was not familiar with the process of modern day quilting, Miriam was fascinated with photos of the beautiful quilts displayed in Pinterest. This led her to take the plunge and create her first quilt in 2016, using online resources as there are no quilt shops in her country. As an architect, the creative process of quilting was familiar and she loved the fact that she could incorporate her culture. The process of creating that first quilt using the fabrics of her heritage led to the start of her business, Quilt Africa Fabrics. The scarcity of resources on quilting with African Fabrics was the deciding factor in birthing the African Fabrics Movement and launching the annual Quilt Africa Fabrics Online Show and the virtual Quilt Africa Fabrics Guild/BOM.She considers herself honored and blessed to be accepted by the quilting community.She views her business as a vehicle for introducing and supplying the beautiful, bold and exciting fabrics of Africa to quilters and textile artists the world over. Miriam lives in Abuja, the capital city of Nigeria in Western Africa with her husband and 3 children who are very much a part of the African Fabrics Movement.
