Zambian leader backs traditional Ghanaian outfit after online trolling

Zambia’s president has weighed into a cultural debate that has erupted online after the president of Ghana arrived in Zambia wearing a traditional outfit called a fugu. Some Zambians mockingly called it a “blouse”. But Zambia’s leader hit back by sharing his love for the design, saying he would be “ordering more of that stuff” for himself, in a video posted on X from the Ghana–Zambia Business Forum held in Lusaka this week.

In Ghana itself, a move to encourage traditional outfits has led to “Fugu Friday”, which sees people wear African clothing. Following days of online back and forth between netizens of the two countries, President Hakainde Hichilema expressed his admiration for the Ghanaian outfit. When Ghana’s President John Dramani Mahama arrived for a three-day State Visit on Wednesday, he was proudly sporting a fugu – a traditional northern Ghanaian outfit made from hand‑woven, narrow strips of thick cotton fabric stitched together to form a structured, poncho‑style garment.

In contrast, his Zambian counterparts was wearing a suit and tie to welcome him at the airport. This elicited a strong reaction from some Zambians online, for example there were dozens of mocking comments on the Zambian Scorpion Facebook group. Malama Mulenga referred to the fugu as a ”maternity blouse”, Mwangala Imbula posted: ”Am coming to get that blouse”, while Master G wrote ”We love our blouse brothers”.