Textile printed using the adinkra technique.
In this conference video from TED.com, Saki Mafundikwa, founder of the Zimbabwe Institute of Digital Design, discusses the need of African graphic designers to rely more often on local tradition for inspiration in their design work. Mafundikwa argues that instead of looking away from African heritage for ideas, native designers should learn to appreciate the creative output of their ancestors. He cites ancient African alphabets above all, such as Adinkra symbols (from Ghana) and Nsibidi (southern Nigeria), as a significant example of what African designers are capable of accomplishing.