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| Aso Ofi Credit: Gbolade Akeem |
By: Shittu Barakat Adeyemi and Faleti Oluwabukola Adunni
We all belive culture is the way of life and the factors used in promoting or celebrating our culture are: Language, Music, Attire, Dressing, and greeting.
Our attire is one In a million and there is no how we discuss the yoruba attire we won't discuss Adire, Ankara, Aso Ofi/Aso Oke Kampala, and So on.
Aso-ofi is a special hand-woven cloth and over centuries it has been one of a kind style marker of the Yoruba tribe. It was said to have been created in Yorubaland around the 15th century and since then it has been spread around Yorubaland and its environment.
The weaving of Aso-ofi started centuries ago in Yorubaland, particularly in Iseyin, (Oyo-State), Ede (Osun State),Okene (Kogi State) and Partially in Ijebu Ode, Ogun State.
It is an all-season attire that comes in different shades and colors.
Also, Aso ofi serves as a means of reinforcing social identity and solidarity among group members. The culture has gained acceptance and spread across other ethnic groups in Nigeria.
The way of making the cloth has remained the same for centuries, however, new techniques and production methods have been looked into to eliminate the weight and thickness of the Aso Ofi cloth, and to make it more accessible for casual wear.
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| Source: Gbolade Akeem |
Aso Ofi is the traditional wear of the Yoruba ethnic group in southwest Nigeria. It is a cloth that is worn on special occasions such as chieftaincy, festivals, engagements, naming ceremonies, burial and other important events. One of the most glamorous events that Aso Ofi/Aso Oke has ever promoted in West Africa is the OJUDE ODE festival in Ijebu Ode, Ogun State.
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| Women wearing Aso-ofi for the celebration of Ojude Oba Festival. Credit: Gbolade Akeem |
There is no doubt that the elevation of Aso Ofi as the symbol of Yoruba national identity has been a strong factor in the sustenance of its usage, thus, making it essential to the social, political, economic, and cultural life of the people.
Editor: Gbolade Akeem Adefolarinwa.
Published by: Durowoju Mujeeb Tunde