Observably, events particularly frivolous ones, in any other case known as “Owambes” on this a part of the world, stay incomplete with out attendees adorning, a minimum of one uniformed sort of attire which usually, comes within the in style Ankara cloth. This type of clothes which has an apparent origin within the Yoruba tradition is called “Aso-ebi” in in style Nigerian parlance.
Even supposing rather a lot goes into the strategy planning stage of any occasion or merry event in our society, no different merchandise, within the up to date Nigerian social setting, represent as a lot significance as the topic of Aso-ebi. Infact, in most situations, it’s often mentioned earlier than the topic of meals is taken into account in any respect. A lot premium is positioned on the choice technique of ‘ this factor’ such that extra session is completed in its regards than the difficulty of choosing a college for a kid!
Gone are the times when this apply was confined to the circles of the unsophisticated and unlearned folks, lately the reverse is the case as Aso-ebi has compelled its methods into the company and enlightened world.
Simply final two weeks, the ruling occasion, Individuals’s Democratic Celebration (PDP) held a nationwide occasion throughout which the who-is-who within the Nigerian political terrain, the delicate and supposedly discovered leaders of this nation had been sighted in a fantastic inexperienced Ankara Aso-ebi. With none extra situations, the PDP occasion was a very good attestation to the truth that Aso-ebi has come to be entrenched, not solely among the many Yorubas however as a Nationwide tradition.
Many causes have been put ahead on a number of events because the rationale behind this apply. To some folks, Aso-ebi is the one level one could make to register his/her assist and solidarity for any celebrant. They consider that one main means by way of which a person can guarantee a celebrant of his/her unflinching assist is to “assist” the celebrant by participating within the buy of a particular Aso-ebi cloth. The assist, to this college of thought, turns into extra demonstrated when such a person attends the occasion or event, proudly within the Aso-ebi.
As a lot as this symbolic solidarity makes some senses, particularly when thought-about from the African communal, close-knitted giant household tradition perspective, one can simply make an argument that merely shopping for and showing in a specific outfit throughout occasions doesn’t point out that one shouldn’t be wishing the celebrant the worst of evils. Or what can one say a couple of employed murderer who appeared within the chosen Aso-ebi cloth for a specific celebration so as to acquire entrance into the occasion floor and presumably wade off all manners of suspicion as to his mission of eliminating the celebrant, in a secluded place (say, the bathroom) on the occasion venue earlier than the expiration of the occasion? Therefore, the difficulty of Aso-ebi being a approach of demonstrating assist and solidarity could not maintain an excessive amount of logic.
One more college of thought, actually a professional Aso-ebi college, declare that the apply helps the celebrant to cushion the results which his/her bills for the occasion will need to have wrought on his/her pockets. It’s believed that by inflating the price of the material, the celebrant, who extra typically is liable for the choice and distribution of the material, would have the ability to recoup most of his/her bills on the occasion, particularly on the availability of meals and drinks.
The customized is that this. A celebrant combs the marketplace for an affordable however deceptively expensive-looking cloth; sells to buddies and well-wishers with, say 50% inflation; within the title of eager to share “items of appreciation” to those that share within the buy of the material. Just for him/her to distribute low-cost match-boxes (with matches inside in fact), plastic hand-fans, bathroom soaps, noodles packs and others of such articles, the prices of which is on no account near the “income” created from the sale of the cloths.
Now, that precisely accounts for the additional entrenchment of this apply amongst Nigerians. Having understood the sport completely, one (particularly those that had been victims) wouldn’t wish to be full losers. They, due to this fact in return look (and create, the place there’s none) for each alternative to host events and promote Aso-ebi so as to recoup earlier “investments”. In spite of everything, One good Flip, deserves one other!
A good friend, Ayodeji Olaifa believes there are three cardinal explanation why the thing of Aso-ebi has come to be a effectively grounded norm within the nation. The primary, he says is because of the tendencies of Nigerians eager to at all times show class and affluence at each given alternative.
Mentioned he: “Aside from eager to separate the boys from the lads, folks additionally get pleasure from this apply due to their perception that it provides color and pageantry to events”. Ayo explains that when a crowd of individuals seem in a uniformed method, one can’t however count on to behold a carnival of magnificence and a picturesque celebration. The yearning for this, he mentioned is what often encourage Nigerians to consider {that a} occasion with out Aso-ebi is way from being full and vibrant.
“The third cause for this tradition is simply the craze to affix the group”. Ayo mentioned merely as a result of some folks wouldn’t wish to be unnoticed of a specific pattern, the concept of choosing Aso-ebi for events would nonetheless stay amongst Nigerians. Most Nigerians, who should not blessed with a thoughts of their very own, would proceed to embrace this tradition for so long as the pattern setters in our society nonetheless regard it as wise and fascinating.
Whereas one shouldn’t be condemning the apply outrightly, the necessity to apply some sanity into it can’t be neglected. Though the rightfulness or in any other case of the pattern might not be ascertained but it surely mustn’t represent an all-in-all aspect of events or celebrations within the society. The premium significance to Aso-ebi ought to be downplayed greater than it presently is, in our society. This fashion, the craziness that often comes with it, will get lessened.
One in every of such craziness is the aspersions which individuals readily go on people who refuse to partake within the buy and sporting of Aso-ebi. Below no sane situation ought to individuals who don’t purchase Aso-ebi could also be as a consequence of private conviction, philosophy, precept or monetary incapability be seen or considered delinquent or enemies of progress. These people shouldn’t be misunderstood as being ones who don’t give “assist or solidarity” to the celebrants.
Instances abound the place individuals who don’t seem in an “and co” attire are handled in a different way by occasion organizers. They aren’t often served the identical meals as individuals who purchased Aso-ebi, in so many situations, which clearly gave delivery to the slang that “if you happen to didn’t seem in Aso-ebi Ankara, you aren’t entitled to eat semovita” (o o w’Ankara, o o je semo)!
If celebrants and occasion organizers insist on including shade and pageantry to their occasions simply as Ayo noticed earlier, they’ll nonetheless obtain identical goal with out essentially ramming Aso-ebi down the throat of the folks. A specific color or mixture of colours (of cloths) might be chosen and communicated to invitees.
The case of my lecturer-friend involves thoughts right here. Based on him, he could not should proceed to “assist” anyone purchase any Aso-oke cap for any event within the subsequent couple of years. Purpose: He had already acquired a wardrobe of greater than 100 Aso-oke caps of varied designs and colors.
“If there’s any want for me to attend any occasion in a specific cap color, I am going to solely have to look by way of my wardrobe; and that is all I could should do, reasonably than purchase new ones, all within the title of frivolities!” He mentioned.
Extra sensibly, the cash which individuals are compelled to spend on Aso-ebi which extra typically unfastened relevance instantly after a single event, may effectively be expended on extra significant causes that will nonetheless make events memorable.
For an occasion, such financial sources might be pooled collectively (in a fund elevating occasion, for an occasion) to start out, say a basis, college, or vocational coaching centres within the title of a deceased whose funeral is being celebrated or in commemoration of any celebrated occasion for that matter.
Individuals who have the wherewithal could even go forward to order for a specific personalized design of cloth after which distribute it, await this, FREE-OF-CHARGE! to invitees if it turns into a should that Aso-Ebi be used as an alternative of hiding underneath it to deceive and defraud each other. God assist us!