The Founder’s Story

A lifelong connection to textiles. A commitment to cultural knowledge.

I am Ann-Aniedi Asikpo, a creative practitioner and communications professional with a growing focus on African textile heritage, sustainability, cultural documentation and education.

My journey began with making. As a child, I was drawn to the possibilities of fabric, clothing and design. Over time, this interest developed into practical experience in sewing and garment-making, alongside my professional career in public relations and marketing.

My academic journey strengthened another part of my practice: the power of communication to help people discover, understand and engage with culture.

I completed a BSc in Public Relations and Advertising at Lagos State University and an MA in Multimedia Public Relations at Teesside University in the United Kingdom. I am also a member of the Chartered Institute of Public Relations.

Bringing these experiences together has shaped my current direction.

I want to explore how African textile knowledge can be documented, communicated and passed on; how the people and communities connected to textile traditions can be recognised; and how this knowledge can contribute to contemporary conversations about sustainability, identity, design and cultural preservation.

This is the purpose behind Ann-Aniedi Asikpo Studio and the development of DECODE Africa.

Why DECODE Africa?

African textiles are widely encountered across fashion, design and visual culture. Yet the stories behind individual traditions, their makers, techniques and cultural contexts are not always communicated with the depth they deserve.

I want to help address that gap through careful research, visual storytelling, education and collaboration.

DECODE Africa is a developing initiative with a long-term ambition to document and share knowledge about textile traditions across Africa’s 54 countries. It is a journey of learning, listening and building a body of work with appropriate research, attribution and respect for the communities whose knowledge is being explored.

My aim is not simply to showcase fabrics, but to help audiences understand the cultural knowledge they carry.

Looking Ahead

I am building connections across the creative, educational and cultural sectors, with an interest in partnerships that bring textile heritage into museums, universities, community settings, exhibitions and wider international conversations.

I believe that documenting cultural knowledge today can help make it more accessible tomorrow.

What we document can help preserve. What we learn can shape what comes next.

Welcome to Ann-Aniedi Asikpo Studio and the evolving work of DECODE Africa.

Ann-Aniedi Asikpo Studio

African textile heritage | Research and documentation | Sustainability | Education | Consultancy | Cultural storytelling

Based in North East England, United Kingdom. Working to connect African textile knowledge with wider audiences.

What we document can help preserve