| Observably, parties especially frivolous ones, | | | | A friend, Ayodeji Olaifa believes there are three |
| otherwise referred to as "Owambes" in this part | | | | cardinal reasons why the object of Aso-ebi has |
| of the world, remain incomplete without | | | | come to be a well grounded norm in the country. |
| attendees adorning, at least one uniformed type | | | | The first, he says is due to the tendencies of |
| of apparel which in most cases, comes in the | | | | Nigerians wanting to always display class and |
| popular Ankara fabric. This kind of clothing which | | | | affluence at every given opportunity. |
| has an obvious origin in the Yoruba culture is | | | | Said he: "Apart from wanting to separate the |
| known as "Aso-ebi" in popular Nigerian parlance. | | | | boys from the men, people also enjoy this |
| Despite the fact that quite a lot goes into the | | | | practice because of their belief that it adds colour |
| planning stage of any party or merry occasion in | | | | and pageantry to occasions". Ayo explains that |
| our society, no other item, in the contemporary | | | | when a crowd of people appear in a uniformed |
| Nigerian social setting, constitute as much | | | | manner, one cannot but expect to behold a |
| importance as the subject of Aso-ebi. Infact, in | | | | carnival of beauty and a picturesque celebration. |
| most instances, it is usually discussed before the | | | | The craving for this, he said is what usually |
| subject of food is considered at all. So much | | | | motivate Nigerians to believe that a party without |
| premium is placed on the selection process of ' | | | | Aso-ebi is far from being complete and colourful. |
| this thing' such that more consultation is done in | | | | "The third reason for this culture is just the craze |
| its regards than the issue of selecting a school for | | | | to join the crowd". Ayo said merely because |
| a child! | | | | some people would not want to be left out of a |
| Gone are the days when this practice was | | | | particular trend, the idea of selecting Aso-ebi for |
| confined to the circles of the unsophisticated and | | | | parties would still remain among Nigerians. Most |
| unlearned people, these days the reverse is the | | | | Nigerians, who are not blessed with a mind of |
| case as Aso-ebi has forced its ways into the | | | | their own, would continue to embrace this culture |
| corporate and enlightened world. | | | | for as long as the trend setters in our society still |
| Just last two weeks, the ruling party, People's | | | | regard it as sensible and desirable. |
| Democratic Party (PDP) held a national event | | | | While one is not condemning the practice |
| during which the who-is-who in the Nigerian political | | | | outrightly, the need to apply some sanity into it |
| terrain, the sophisticated and supposedly learned | | | | cannot be overlooked. Although the rightfulness or |
| leaders of this country were sighted in a beautiful | | | | otherwise of the trend may not be ascertained |
| green Ankara Aso-ebi. Without any more | | | | but it should not constitute an all-in-all element of |
| instances, the PDP event was a good attestation | | | | parties or celebrations in the society. The |
| to the fact that Aso-ebi has come to be | | | | premium importance to Aso-ebi should be |
| entrenched, not only among the Yorubas but as a | | | | downplayed more than it presently is, in our |
| National culture. | | | | society. This way, the craziness that usually |
| Many reasons have been put forward on several | | | | comes with it, gets lessened. |
| occasions as the rationale behind this practice. To | | | | One of such craziness is the aspersions which |
| some people, Aso-ebi is the only point one can | | | | people readily pass on individuals who refuse to |
| make to register his/her support and solidarity for | | | | partake in the purchase and wearing of Aso-ebi. |
| any celebrant. They believe that one major | | | | Under no sane condition should people who do not |
| means through which an individual can assure a | | | | buy Aso-ebi may be due to personal conviction, |
| celebrant of his/her unflinching support is to "help" | | | | philosophy, principle or financial inability be seen or |
| the celebrant by taking part in the purchase of a | | | | regarded as antisocial or enemies of progress. |
| selected Aso-ebi fabric. The support, to this | | | | These individuals should not be misunderstood as |
| school of thought, becomes more demonstrated | | | | being ones who do not give "support or solidarity" |
| when such an individual attends the party or | | | | to the celebrants. |
| occasion, proudly in the Aso-ebi. | | | | Cases abound where people who do not appear in |
| As much as this symbolic solidarity makes some | | | | an "and co" apparel are treated differently by |
| senses, especially when considered from the | | | | party organizers. They are not usually served the |
| African communal, close-knitted large family | | | | same food as people who bought Aso-ebi, in so |
| culture perspective, one can easily make an | | | | many instances, which obviously gave birth to the |
| argument that merely buying and appearing in a | | | | slang that "if you did not appear in Aso-ebi |
| particular outfit during events does not indicate | | | | Ankara, you are not entitled to eat semovita" (o |
| that one is not wishing the celebrant the worst of | | | | o w'Ankara, o o je semo)! |
| evils. Or what can one say about a hired assassin | | | | If celebrants and party organizers insist on adding |
| who appeared in the chosen Aso-ebi fabric for a | | | | color and pageantry to their events just as Ayo |
| particular celebration in order to gain entrance into | | | | observed earlier, they can still achieve same |
| the party ground and possibly wade off all | | | | objective without necessarily ramming Aso-ebi |
| manners of suspicion as to his mission of | | | | down the throat of the people. A particular colour |
| eliminating the celebrant, in a secluded place (say, | | | | or combination of colors (of cloths) could be |
| the toilet) at the party venue before the | | | | chosen and communicated to invitees. |
| expiration of the party? Hence, the issue of | | | | The case of my lecturer-friend comes to mind |
| Aso-ebi being a way of demonstrating support | | | | here. According to him, he may not have to |
| and solidarity may not hold too much logic. | | | | continue to "help" anybody buy any Aso-oke cap |
| Yet another school of thought, really a pro | | | | for any occasion in the next couple of years. |
| Aso-ebi school, claim that the practice helps the | | | | Reason: He had already acquired a wardrobe of |
| celebrant to cushion the effects which his/her | | | | more than a hundred Aso-oke caps of various |
| expenses for the party must have wrought on | | | | designs and colours. |
| his/her wallet. It is believed that by inflating the | | | | "If there is any need for me to attend any party |
| cost of the fabric, the celebrant, who more often | | | | in a particular cap colour, I'll only have to search |
| is responsible for the selection and distribution of | | | | through my wardrobe; and that's all I may have |
| the cloth, would be able to recoup most of his | | | | to do, rather than buy new ones, all in the name |
| her expenses on the party, especially on the | | | | of frivolities!" He said. |
| provision of food and drinks. | | | | More sensibly, the money which people are |
| The custom is this. A celebrant combs the | | | | compelled to spend on Aso-ebi which more often |
| market for a cheap but deceptively | | | | loose relevance immediately after a single |
| expensive-looking fabric; sells to friends and | | | | occasion, could well be expended on more |
| well-wishers with, say 50% inflation; in the name | | | | meaningful causes that would still make occasions |
| of wanting to share "gifts of appreciation" to | | | | memorable. |
| those who share in the purchase of the fabric. | | | | For an instance, such monetary resources could |
| Only for him/her to distribute cheap match-boxes | | | | be pooled together (in a fund raising event, for an |
| (with matches inside of course), plastic hand-fans, | | | | instance) to start, say a foundation, school, or |
| toilet soaps, noodles packs and others of such | | | | vocational training centres in the name of a |
| articles, the costs of which is in no way close to | | | | deceased whose funeral is being celebrated or in |
| the "profits" made from the sale of the cloths. | | | | commemoration of any celebrated event for that |
| Now, that exactly accounts for the further | | | | matter. |
| entrenchment of this practice among Nigerians. | | | | People who have the wherewithal may even go |
| Having understood the game thoroughly, one | | | | ahead to order for a particular customized design |
| (especially those who had been victims) would not | | | | of fabric and then distribute it, wait for this, |
| want to be complete losers. They, therefore in | | | | FREE-OF-CHARGE! to invitees if it becomes a |
| return look (and create, where there is none) for | | | | must that Aso-Ebi be used instead of hiding under |
| every opportunity to host parties and sell Aso-ebi | | | | it to deceive and defraud one another. God help |
| in order to recoup earlier "investments". After all, | | | | us! |
| One good Turn, deserves another! | | | | |