The activity needs incentives, motivation and financing to kick off.

One of the activities that have been going on silently but steadily, with a great potential for economic development, is serigraphy. Many a time, we put on T-shirts, polo shirts and other clothes beautifully designed with flowers or words inscribed on them by artists. Hardly would anyone imagine that these are also locally-made.

Julien Tchango has worked his way to a serigraph expert through years of designing on T-shirts from France-based company, Sol’s. He says the T-shirts he uses are usually those that are bare. “After, the clothes are quickly sold, depending on the designs on them. I inscribe names or pictures of pop stars, footballers and famous people, thereby making ordinary T-shirts fashionable,” Tchango explained.

Didier M.P., who owns ‘Deido Boy Institute’ in Douala highlights the challenge: “Some designs quickly fade out when washed because rudimentary tools are used. We need assistance to make more sophisticated and complicated designs that add quality to clothes. Often, we increase prices in order to have a little to keep going.” Though the activity’s potentials to create jobs, generate income and boost economic growth are not in dispute, challenges persist.

These include lack of State subsidies and the reluctance by banks to finance. “We do have very minimal financing from banks during Labour Day, Women’s Day and other such events. Sol’s proposes the modernisation and improvement of serigraph activities in Cameroon to enable artists to raise money to keep on,” said Kamgang Belinga Ediy. The distributor of Sol’s products in the country, spoke to serigraphers at a recent workshop at the Douala Sawa Hotel. At the end of the training, outstanding designers were offered financial support.