Opinion
MARCH 12 - 25, 2008 TheTrumpet Page7
Talkactive
By:Uche Nworah (info@uchenworah.com)
In search of a true Igbo national attire
By Uche Nworah
brocade and akwete clothes. global village with its attendant influences
There is no doubt that the impact of and moved on. There are however certain
globalisation is upon the Igbo race, the confusion that has arisen in the process,
same way other races in Nigeria – Yoruba, that of truly identifying and preserving
Hausa, Efik, Ijaw are feeling the negative what is still truly Igbo. Were Chinua
and positive effects of this phenomenon. It Achebe’s Okonkwo in the classic novel
has brought with it change and some other Things Fall Apart still alive, it would be
influences that seem to conflict with some interesting to see how he would have
of the age-old customs and cultures of reacted or rather embraced the emerging
Ndigbo. While the traditionalists continue
to resist such influences, the modernists
have since integrated themselves into the
Continued on Page 8 >
A couple surrounded by men wearing Isi-agu dresses
C
ulture, they say, is the sum total struggling somewhat in clearly identifying
of a people’s way of life, in this what truly could be regarded as a true Igbo
regard the culture of a people national dress, and consequently
could be evidenced in the people’s attempting to export such to the other
language, native customs, food, music, Nigerian tribes just like the Ijaws are
dance, occupation and skills set, dress etc. attempting at the moment to do with their
In Nigeria, there is no better way to distinctive dress which comprises of a
identify people from the different ethnic flowing robe, a wrapper tied around the
regions than through their dress. Some of waist, this is completed with a walking
these dresses have since been elevated to stick which is then topped up with a hat –
the status of national dresses and are worn also known as the South South hat.
by members of other ethnic groups at Perhaps the Niger Delta struggle which
weddings and other public functions, for has birthed Pan Ijaw socio-political
example the Babanriga dress also known associations such as The South-South
as Shagari dress or One thousand five Peoples Assemble (SSPA) could be
hundred which was made popular by credited with popularising the Ijaw
politicians during the Second Republic national dress and driving it further into
has crept its way up there as one of the the consciousness of Nigerians - as these
most widely accepted Nigerian national days, Nigerians regularly see Ijaw sons
dresses, complete with matching Shagari and daughters on TV deck out in their
cap. The Babanriga dress is traditionally national dress attending one function or
associated with the Hausa – Fulani stock the other.
in Northern Nigeria but it has managed to Ndigbo are known to be very cultural
achieve the cross-over winning wide and traditional people. Aspects of Igbo
appeal in the process from other Nigerians culture are usually on display for all to see
who have come to associate the dress as a during certain ceremonies in Igbo land
sign of status symbol, many therefore such as Igba Nkwu (traditional marriage
aspire to own a piece to add to their ceremony), Ichi echi chi (title taking) and
wardrobe collections. others. At these ceremonies, Ndigbo try as
In the same vein, the long flowing much as possible to showcase their music,
dress made of brocade materials popularly dance and food. There is also a bit of
known in Nigeria as Senegalese is also fashion on display at such events but any
heavily associated with the Hausa – casual observer will easily notice the lack
Fulani stock, but it does appear though of cohesion in the choice of dresses in
that the Yorubas, the Igbos and some of terms of projecting what truly may be
the other ethnic groups despite having regarded as the Igbo dress. Perhaps, this
what could be regarded as their own may be because this generation of Ndigbo
indigenous dresses have embraced it. do not have any such understanding, or
Perhaps not to be seen to be losing out in they may not have been told any better by
the race for inter-cultural assimilation, the their parents and members of the old
Yorubas it could be argued have generation, thus it is common to see
successfully exported their taste for exotic young men and women parading
lace materials also called Agbada (the themselves in multi-cultural attires.
type worn by men) to the other Nigerian While the men regale in their red-capped
tribes, particularly to the Igbos who seem outfits, the women adorn themselves
to be caught in the middle of the emerging elegantly in beautifully patterned attires
cultural revolution, and who seem to be which could be made of lace, jacquard,
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