Department of Anthropology

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    Contribution of Indigenous knowledge to economic development of Creative Industries in Tigray: Case Studies of Basketry and Embroidery in Adi-haqi Market, Mekelle, Tigray, Ethiopia
    (Mekelle University, 2025-02-25) Tsigab Berihu Beyene
    the creative industries employ mainly culture, creativity and economy and one of its sectors is the handicrafts which is a big potential for economic development in countries with diverse natural resource, culture and heritages. This study, therefore, attempts to investigate the economic contribution of the indigenous knowledge in basketry and embroidery products sold in Adi Haqi market of Mekelle city, Tigray region, Ethiopia. It also explores indigenous knowledge’s role in adding multiple values to the crafts and the challenges and opportunities the two creative industries encounter. Primary data were collected from artisans, handicraft merchants in the micro and small enterprises (MSEs), fashion designers, office of MSEs development of tabia Selam and Tigray bureau of culture and tourism using in-depth interview, key informant interview, focus group discussion (FGD), case studies and observation. findings show that most of the knowledge, materials, process and techniques of the handicrafts are local and they add values including aesthetic, expressive, functional, religious, social, national and historical, political values to the products that increase their importance and price and provide financial gain. Both handicrafts enable craft makers and handicraft merchants become economically self-sufficient and support their household. Although basketry does not generate much revenue to governmental income and has little contribution in job creation in urban environment, the Alaba Adi business, which is based on the art of embroidery, has very high job creation and tax income generation capacity. Although they are 6.3% of the total MSEs in Adi Haqi market, the Aleba Adi shops contribute 70-80% of tax revenue. They have also a high job creation capacity. in the year of 2024/25, out of the people who started MSEs businesses in 14 sectors, 39 (32%) of them were in the Aleba Adi sector. sight problems, back aches, financial shortages costly cross-border transportation fee are challenges in the realm of basketmaking while Aleba Adi sector has shortage of electricity, incapability of accessing new fabrics as challenges. Opportunities in both sectors include cultural and religious holidays and social events, social media, the public acceptance cultural costume, government’s encouragement through skill trainings and loan arrangements. Besides, the ongoing efforts of Tigray culture and tourism bureau to integrate handicrafts with tourism and the Home Grown Economic Reform (HGER) ten years development plan 2021-2030 can be additional opportunities if applied properly. The study, then, recommends a proper application of the current national developmental plan in Tigray Region, an organized effort of supporting artisans and further ethnographical research on the indigenous knowledge of these handicrafts in their place of origin.