Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema has expressed admiration for Ghanaian traditional attire and announced that he will be ordering more fugu, the iconic Ghanaian smock, for himself after seeing Ghana’s Foreign Minister, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, don the outfit. The remarks came amid a lively social media conversation about the attire sparked during President John Dramani Mahama’s recent state visit to Zambia.

“I’m very happy that a foreign minister, you dressed like that. I asked my team to post on various platforms that were associated with that. The President of Zambia will be ordering more of that stuff for himself,” President Hichilema said during the Ghana–Zambia Business Dialogue on February 6 in Lusaka.

The exchange follows days of online discussion that began when President Mahama arrived in Zambia wearing a fugu—also referred to as a smock or batakari, a traditional garment from northern Ghana with deep cultural roots. Some social media users in Zambia mockingly described the attire as a “blouse”, a comment that quickly went viral and drew a spirited response from Ghanaians defending the garment’s heritage and significance.

In Ghana, the fugu is more than fashion—it carries historical and cultural meaning, worn for ceremonial occasions, celebrations and by leaders as a symbol of identity and pride. It has been worn by Ghana’s founding fathers, including at independence, and features prominently in national dress traditions.

Reacting to the social media buzz, Ghana’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, said the cultural conversation sparked by the attire has deeper implications.

“This is my President’s favourite attire, the fugu. 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,” Mr Ablakwa said, referring to the broader symbolic message of reclaiming African identity and dignity.

He added that the attire’s prominence on social platforms has opened up discussion about African cultural heritage and identity, and urged leaders and business communities to support this cultural renaissance.

“For the young ones on social media who want to know more about the attire…this is the attire that the founder of Ghana, Osagyefo Kwame Nkrumah, wore when he declared independence on the 6th of March 1957 in Ghana,” Mr Ablakwa said.

The online debate has since inspired initiatives such as “Fugu Friday,” intended to encourage Ghanaians—and others—to proudly wear the traditional smock and educate wider audiences about its history and meaning.

What began as a viral fashion moment has now evolved into a broader cultural conversation, turning international attention on Ghana’s heritage and creating unexpected opportunities for cultural diplomacy and economic interest.