HISTORY OF COSTUME
OGUN STATE:
TOWN: IJEBU ODE
OGUN STATE
Ogun
State was created from the old western state of February 3, 1976 by the then
regime of General Muritala Mohammed. It has Abeokuta as its capital and largest
city.
Located
in South Western Nigeria, Ogun State covers 19,762 square Kilometers. It
borders Lagos state to the south, Oyo and Osun state to the north, ondo state to
the East and the Republic of Benin to the West.
Ogun
state thus has the highest number of registered universities in Nigeria (nine
in all) with five new private universities also in the state.
Sodeke
(Shodeke) a hunter and leader of the egba refugees who fled from the disintegrating
Oyo empire founded about 1830 a principality at Abeokuta in what is now the
central part of the state. Most of the Egba and Egbado subgroup of the Yoruba “people
and Culture”. Ogun state is made up of six ethnic groups Viz, the Egba, the
Ijebu, the Remo, the Egbado, the Awori and the Egun. The language of the
majority of the people of Ogun state is Yoruba but this is however broken into
source of dialects.
TOURISM:
Places
to visit in the state: Olumo Rock in Abeokuta, Birikisu Sugbo shrine at Oke
–Eri Yemoji Natural swimming pool at Ijebu –Ode, Oyan dam in Abeokuta north
iwopin boat regatta and ebute oni in Ogun waterside, Shrine – Ilaro Area j4
forest reserve – Tongeji Island, Ipokia, Old Manse at Ogbe, Abeokuta; St. James
Anglican School, Ota and Ijamideo River Shrine, Ota.
FACTS:
The
South Western state was created in 1976 by the military administration of
General Olusegun Obasanjo in 1976 and has Abeokuta as its capital. It borders
Lagos State to the south, Oyo and Osun states to the north, Ondo state to the
east and the Republic of Benin to the west. It has 20 local government areas
and west has important cities and towns such as Abeokuta, Ijebu – Ode, Sagamu,
Ikenne, Remo, Ilao, Ijebu Igbo, Aiyetoro etc.
Ogun
has one Federal University: the Federal university of Agriculture, Abeokuta; one
state government college of education Tai Solarin College of Education, Also Ma
Poly of Education.
Notable
people like Obafemi Awolowo, MKO Abiola, Mike Adenuga, Olusegun Obasanjo, Wole
Soyinka, Fela Kuti, Tunde Bakare and so on hails from the state.
The
Ijebu’s in the state were the first Yoruba speaking people to contact with the
Europeans in the early 14th Century. They were the first Yoruba to
have invented money made from cowry shells called “Owo Eyo” which was accepted throughout
the kingdom of Yoruba land and was later replaced by legal tender coin made
from silver materials called “Pandora” when the Europeans came.
Birikisu
Sungbo Shrine is a tourist centre in the state located at Oke – Eri Village
where, Muslims from all over the world converge for prayer, Birkisu in her
lifetime was a known to be a devoted Muslim who possessed supernatural powers.
It is claimed that she once dug a pit around the village with a needle. Even in
her grave, she is believed to still maintain her powers as no weed has ever
grown on her burial ground and the place where she was washed before she was
buried up till now.
Other
tourist places includes Olumo rock in Abeokuta, Yemoji Natural Swimming Pool at
Ijebu – Ode, Oyan Dam in Abeokuta North, Iwopin Boat Regatta and Ebutte Oni in
Ogun waterside.
The
Ogun state people are known for making batik known as “Adire”
HAIR ON YORUBA LAND
Hair
in many cultures plays a great role. There is a common rule that people who
don’t groom their hair shows disrespect to the society. The main peculiarity is
that Yoruba Hairstyles were not created just for beautification but as the
means of differentiation. They could be religious on the basis of gender,
marital status, Age mood, Political orientation etc.
At
the same time, single Yoruba ladies wear their hair flowing from the right to
the left.
It
is usually more beautiful when the girl has a lot of individual rows. From 8 to
14 the cornrows are weaves or braided.
These
are the most common Yoruba hairstyles chosen by girls and women.
·
Didi Hairstyles
·
Shuku Hairstyles
·
Sade Adu Hairstyles
·
Koroba Hairstyles
·
Irun Kiko
Shuku Hairstyles:
such types of hairstyle are made in basket form. It can be blended into Koroba
hairstyle. In ancient times only wives of very respectable rulers could have
such hairstyle. Now it’s quite common.
Sade Adu Hairstyles: These are hair in Yoruba word mean buck or
pail. Sometimes it can be combined with the shuku hairstyle.
Irun Kiko: This
hairstyle implies hair knotting with black Chinese.
“CLOTHS WORN BY YORUBA PEOPLE ARE:
In
different types: Traditional Clothes: The Yoruba have peculiar types of clothes
that make them distinct from other cultures. They have Aso Ibile, the
traditional clothes of various types and shades. Both male and female have
different types and it is an aberration then for a man to wear a woman’s
clothes and vice versa.
Before
the advent of the European to the Yoruba land, only hand woven clothes were
available. The Yoruba started from using Ibante (a piece if thick hand woven
cloth) it is only used for covering the private parts of both the male and
female.
Ibante
was made from a type of cloth called Kijipa. (It is a tarpaulin like cloth). It
is usually very thick and can withstand any stress. Later on people started
wearing normal cloth that is made from Aso- Oke.
Some
of these types of Aso - Oke materials include etu, petuje, San-an-yan, alaaari
and so on. For men’s wear they have buba, esiki and sapara which are regarded
as ewu awotele or underwear, while they also have dandogo agbada, gbariye, sulia
and oyala, which are also known as ewu awoleke or over wears.
They
also have various types of sokoto or native trousers that are sown alongside
the above mentioned dresses. Some of these are kembe, gbanu, soro, kamu, sokoto
elemu etc. A man’s dressing is incomplete without a cap. Some of these caps include,
but are not limited to Gobi, tinko, abeti-aje, akagbaa, oribi, bentigoo, oride
and labankada.
Women
also have different types of dresses. They most commonly found are Iro and buba
or wrapper with blouse, like loose top with the sleeve almost getting to wrist.
Women also have gele or head gear that must be put on whenever iro and buba is
on. Just as the cap is important to men, women’s dressing is incomplete if gele
is not put on.
“The Royal Garments of Ijebu-Ode and Yoruba
Land” during the years before the importations of fancy clothes from
Europe, an Oba wore a wrapper or kilt – like garment falling from the waist
with such a covering he wore the royal beads and other Insignia as well as “Schaba”
(deep leggings), made from large beads, most likely the old Red-Stone ones.
By
the 18th and 19th centuries the Oba’s costumes had become
much more ornate outside influences had come to bear upon its design, costly,
fashionable fabrics such as white line damask, velvet, brocade and figured
silks were being imported into Lagos from Europe. Only the very rich could
afford them. They made perfect fabrics for the royal gowns. Other influences
were infiltrating from the North: converts to Islam made use of the large gowns
worn in the North. Hand – Woven Silk Manufactured locally contributed another
costly cloth suitable for an Oba. Enormous “gbariyes” (gowns) of velvet were
lined with local hand – woven cotton cloth (Aso – Oke). The weight of these was
very great, under gowns were made from expensive white damask.
“Trousers”
an introduction from the North were also worn, these were of the typical Hausa
Style cut very voluminous and drawn – up to the waist with a draw – string.
Usually these matched the gown or were of brocade or silk. The Oba’s dress in
modern time has not changed basically, although many innovations have been
added. Greater use is now made use is now made of Aso – Oke, by reigning Oba’s.
ACCESSORIES AND BODY ADORNMENT
There
are many types of beads, hand, laces, necklaces bangles that are abandoned in
Yoruba land that both male and female put on. Chiefs, kings or people from the
royal family, especially use some of these beads, often once attached to
ceremonial regalia was measured by the number and size of the Coral and
Red-stone beads. The very oldest Red-Stone beads of great value, the earliest
in Benin, were reputed to have been brought from Ile-Ife by Prince Oranmiyan a
son of Oduduwa. The Red-stone beads have always been important as a part of the
official regalia of Nigeria rulers.
The costumes of the Yoruba rulers: Yoruba
robes and ceremonial paraphernalia of state are very rich and varied. There are
some items which are reputed to have had their origin in the days of Oduduwa,
the father of all the Yoruba people. By faithful transmission of these resource
from one generation to another as well as the addition of new elements through
various descendants, there is now a blending of traditional and modern, in the
regalia of the Oba.
The
Oba’s costume of centuries ago consisted mainly of an elaborate crown or tiara,
deep beaded – collar, a counter balanced pectoral kilt and beaded leggings and
other bead ornaments. The torso was bare. This is the costume which may be
observed worn by the figures of bronze which may be viewed in the museums of
Ife and Lagos. The feet will be seen to be bare, although toe-rings were occasionally
worn on the second toe of each foot.
“Crowns and Coroners”
Crowns
of various styles have long been an important part of the Oba’s costumes.
Beaded crowns and boots made usually by a bead-worker attached to a royal
palace. The Ijebu were formerly the ones who used these boots.
Bead Work (Ileke – Bead): Ijebu
– Ode has long been the centre where the finest beadwork has been made. The
responsibility for the work was entrusted to one family there, who most
jealously guarded their secret knowledge and expertise in his work. Either the
men worked in their homes, or in the Oba’s palace. Women were strictly
forbidden to undertake beadwork. It was feared that they might divulge the
secrets to outsiders. In Ijebu – Ode similar precautions were taken against
mass dissemination of such skilled work.
The
royal family kept of body of men known as Isonas, who were responsible for the
apparel of the Oba and his family, these men who make the beaded robes and
accessories, they are also the ones who make the royal staff, umbrellas crowns
and anything else required by the household.
“Festival in Ijebu – Ode and Yoruba
Land”
Yoruba
Festivals are numerous and multifarious. For this reasons some are of the view
that the Yoruba’s are deeply spiritual. In addition to the generally celebrated
festivals among the festival called “Ojude
Oba” festival is celebrated by the Ijebu’s who are renowned for both their
enterprise and affluence. This article examines the cultural and spiritual
signification of the Ojude Oba Festival. It analyzes the early beginnings of
the festival while providing insights into the epoch of the Ijebu’s. the
festival constitutes a major commercial integration and development to the Ijebu
community. This article argues that the Ojude Oba festival should not be seen
simply for its entertainment value, but as manifestation of Yoruba Cultural,
Socio – economic, and Spiritual values.
Yoruba
is the name given to represent the ethnic group and language of these living in
south-west Nigeria. The Yoruba’s have a very culture with a strong spiritual
background. These cultural wealth and spiritual beliefs are exhibited during
their festivals celebrated in all the Yoruba Communities; some are peculiar to
certain Yoruba communities. These festivals are often staged on an annual
basis. One of the most popular festivals peculiar to the Ijebu speaking
community. Subgroup of the Yoruba Ethnic group is the “Ojude Oba” (The frontage of the king).
Festival,
which is an annual event; The festival celebrates some of the unique features
of the community such as their aesthetic taste in “Clothe, music, costumes,
food, and so on people of all cultures celebrate festivals unique to their culture
and customs. Festivals serve as a means of community assembly and unity. They
are also a way of placing the people at the heart of their culture and social
environment. Owusu Frempong (2005) in
one of his articles noted that African Festivals are medium of cultural
education and intergeneration communication and play an important role in the
preservation.
IJEBU KINGDOM
Ijebu
(also known as Jebu or Geebu[1]) was a Yoruba kingdom in pre-colonial Nigeria.
It was formed around the fifteenth century.[2] According to legend, its ruling
dynasty was founded by Obanta of Ile-Ife.
The King of Ijebu (right)
The
kingdom was one of the most developed in the region with a complex and highly
organized government. The capital was at Ijebu Ode where the Awujale had his
palace. Counterbalancing the Awujale was the Osugbo (known as the Ogboni in
other parts of Nigeria), a council of all free born men that acted as the
kingdom's courts. The Osugbo was divided into six groups based on rank, the
highest being the iwarefa, whose head the Oliwa was the second most powerful
figure in the nation. Also powerful was the Olisa who could be described as the
mayor of Ijebu Ode.
Like
many African societies, Ijebu was also divided into three age ranks and these
groups each had their own leaders. The Kingdom is made up of several towns that
stretches to parts of Lagos State and borders Ondo State. These towns includes
Sagamu, Ijebu-Igbo, Imota, Ikorodu, Epe, Lagos,Ijebu-Isiwo (Pronounced as
Ijebu-Ishiwo), Ogun Waterside, Iwopin, Lekki in Lagos State, Ijebu-Imushin,
Ijebu-Ife, Apunren, Erunwon, Isonyin, Ososa, Odogbolu and Ago-Iwoye.
The state rose in power in the
eighteenth and nineteenth centuries mainly due to its important position on the
trade routes between Lagos and Ibadan. The kingdom imposed sharp limits on
trade insisting that all trade through the region be conducted by Ijebu
merchants. The monopoly brought great wealth to the kingdom, but also annoyed
Europeans.
