TRADITIONAL GHANAIAN FASHIONS - OFTEN REVEALING MODERN INFLUENCES - WENT ON DISPLAY IN ACCRA RECENTLY. THE YOUNG WOMEN'S CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATION ORGANISED A "FASHION EXTRAVAGANZA" IN AN ACCRA HOTEL.

THE FIRST OF ITS KIND TO BE ORGANISED BY THE YWCA IN GHANA, THE SHOW WAS ATTENDED BY LOCAL BUSINESS, CIVIC AND DIPLOMATIC LEADERS.

DRUMMERS AND DANCERS FROM DIFFERENT REGIONS OF THE COUNTRY LENT A TRADITIONAL ATMOSPHERE TO THE DISPLAY. THE "TIPARI" DRESS FROM THE NORTHERN REGION WAS THE FIRST TO GO ON SHOW.

IN MANY CASES THE FASHIONS WERE MODERN ADAPTATIONS FROM TRADITIONAL DRESS. BUT OTHERS WERE DIRECTLY IN THE MAINSTREAM - CULOTTE DRESSES AND SAFARI SUITS THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN AS MUCH AT HOME IN LONDON OR PARIS AS THEY WERE IN ACCRA.

BUT THE EMPHASIS WAS PRIMARILY ON FASHIONS THAT LINK GHANA'S PAST WITH ITS PRESENT. TWO GIRLS WORE OUTFITS DESIGNED FOR USE DURING PUBERTY RITES. ANOTHER WAS DRESSED TO REPRESENT AN EWE BRIDE WITH HER DOWRY, A STYLE IN VOGUE FOR THE PAST 300 YEARS.

HAIRSTYLES - WITH NAMES LIKE "GRAZIELLA", "RESEDA", AND "CHARME" - WERE ALSO IN DISPLAY.