Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema has announced his intention to procure additional units of the traditional Ghanaian garment known as fugu, or smock, for personal use, following his admiration of Ghana’s Foreign Minister, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, wearing the attire.
President Hichilema made this statement during the Ghana-Zambia Business Forum on Friday, February 6, 2026, whilst President Mahama was on a three-day state visit.
The visit encompassed diplomatic engagements; however, comments made by Zambians on social media regarding President Mahama’s outfit, which they referred to as a blouse, sparked intense debate among citizens of both nations.
Addressing the issue in a light-hearted manner at the forum, President Hichilema welcomed the cultural exchange facilitated by the garment.
“I am very happy that the foreign minister is wearing that,” he said, in reference to Ghana’s Minister for Foreign Affairs, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa. “So I have asked my team to post on various platforms that the president of Zambia will be ordering more of that for himself.”
On his part, Mr Ablakwa, the Foreign Affairs Minister for Ghana, noted that the conversation around the fugu had sparked a deeper reflection on African identity and culture.
“This is my president’s favourite attire, the fugu,” he said. “We are all excited about the buzz that the president’s deliberate choice of apparel has created. It has triggered a renaissance in what Kwame Nkrumah described as the African personality.”
“That will reclaim the African identity, dignity, and culture. So, when we talk about restitution and reparation, it is not just about compensation for the transatlantic slave trade. It is a mental effort to go back to our roots and our identity,” the Foreign Minister said.
