Adire, the cultural identity of the Egba's

Right in the heart of Abeokuta is the Kemta Adire Market which is very popular in Nigeria and around the World. The market is known for its famous product Adire which has been in existence for over a hundred years. The market has the historical background of been an hereditary market which is passed on to generation from generation. The distinct nature of the Adire Market is the fact that virtually all the traders in the market are descendants of the their families who have live and passed to the grave beyond bequeathing the potion of the market that is theirs to their descendants and Austin Jacobson in this trip to the market chronicle the history of Adire, the market and how it became the identity of the Ogun people and its cultural heritage. Excerpts ----

Adire the cultural identity of the Egba’s

Nigeria is a country that consist of different tribes and culture and even before we got our independent from Great Britain, the cultural aspect of Nigeria has been carefully crafted even to the extent of been a means of identifying which tribe a Nigerian comes from.

Each and every state in Nigeria has its own culture and a form or means of identification and immediately this unique point is sighted it is very easy to know which culture or tribe a Nigeria belongs to.

Starting from the North to the South, from the West to the East all these parts of Nigeria has their cultural attires and form of dressing which makes the cultural aspect of the Nigeria Nation a unique one.

As a distinctive textile type, Adire first emerged in the city of Abeokuta, a centre for cotton production, weaving, and indigo-dyeing in the nineteenth century. The prototype was tie-dyed kijipa, a hand woven cloth dyed with indigo for use as wrappers and covering cloths. Female specialists dyed yarns and cloth and also refurbished faded clothing by re-dyeing the cloth with tie-dyed patterns.

The Egba’s are a tribe from Abeokuta, the southern part of Nigeria and they are part of the Yoruba’s but despite that they still have their own cultural inheritance which they inherited from their fore fathers and this aspect of that culture that has stand them out and also use to identify with the Egba’s and people of Ogun state in general is the creation of Adire Clothing.

According to the Iyaloja of Kemta Alhaja Somodale  Akamo, Kemta is the main Adire market which is located in Abeokuta, the nerve centre of the state,  not only is Adire the sole cultural identity of the Ogun people, it is has also made state popular both local and internationally and the market is passed on from generation to generation.

She also said the former president Chief Olusegun Obasanjo and former governor of the state Chief Olusegun Osoba has been of tremendous help to Abeokuta be always putting on the Adire attire in different colours making them good ambassador of the people of Ogun State

Entering into Abeokuta from the Sango axis of the state you will in a short distance get to the Kemta Adire Market which is reputed to be one of the oldest markets in the world. The market is adorned with different beautiful Adire attire that is so good to put on. Speaking with National Daily, the Iyaloja of Kemta Alhaja Somodale Akamo who is over seventy years old said that she grew up to know the Kemta Adire Market.

She said this work of Adire is an hereditary profession, it is what we inherited, we can not say how it started. Adire is a resist-dyed cloth produced and worn by the Yoruba people of south-western Nigeria in West Africa.

We the Yoruba label Adire, which means “tied and dyed,” was first applied to indigo-dyed cloth decorated with, resist patterns around the turn of the twentieth century. With the introduction of a broader color palette of imported synthetic dyes in the second half of the twentieth century, the label “Adire” was expanded to include a variety of hand-dyed textiles using wax resist batik methods to produce patterned cloth in a dazzling array of dye tints and hues.

Alhaja Akamo emphasied that Adire is like the beautiful Peacock bird which when it spreads its wings you see different beautiful colours which makes it the most beautiful bird in the word that’s how best to describe Adire. During those early days we usually make Adire for special occasion most especially for a girl that is getting married and the girl must have been a very obedient girl which is well known by the whole family. The family will have been preparing the Adire for up to three years and any girl that goes to her husbands house with the Adire then is well respected and seen as a girl well brought up girl by her parents because it is a thing of honour to get married with Adire and that tells the importance of Adire in the culture of the Yoruba’s.

Speaking further she said apart from going to your husband’s house if we want to tie and soak for sale it would take two weeks and even Kampala is also Adire. But the one we tie and soak for one month or two is the Alaro dudu but for Kampala you can tie and soak today and use tomorrow. The Adire market is a family market she said and it also hereditary, the Senegalese and other traders from the west coast come here to buy and also from all over the world.

Also speaking to National Daily on Adire is the president of the Adire Carnival Festival Chief Micheal Ogunfidodo who said that  since the beginning of the year business has not been rosy due to the poor situation of the economy and also the raw materials used in the production of the Adire are had to come by.

Basically he stated that in  Kemta “we no nothing else apart from the Adire and in other to celebrate our culture and do other things we decided to introduce the Adire Carnival and also a cultural fashion festival through which we intend to sell this clothing  to the rest of the world.

The carnival is to give thanks to God and we invite people to come and celebrate with us and we usually celebrate it during the festive season.

 Jonathan spends working holiday at Obudu

Nigeria is endowed with massive tourism potentials, both natural and man-made. Each state of the federation has its own tourism potentials that could be developed to improve the tourism industry, turning it into revenue generating venture for the local communities and the nation as a whole.

However, out of these hundreds of tourism endowments, there are places that can be likened to paradise were nature abounds. The Obudu Mountain Resort (Formerly Obudu Cattle Ranch) is one of the tourist sites in Cross River State which offers the leisure seeker and the conference goer a complete contrast. Not only in its temperate climate but also it’s exciting and different location.

Nestling at the top of the mountain, the Obudu Mountain Resort is situated on a plateau at 1576 metres above sea level on the Oshie Ridge of the Sankwala Mountains. The temperate climate offers a total contrast and welcome respite from Africa’s tropical heat. Idyllic tranquillity, beautiful scenery and breathtaking views make it ideal for the lone adventurer, families on reunion, young couple or holiday group.

For this reason and after a long period of political campaign that spans through out the nation and a exhausted election calendar, the President of Nigeria Good Luck Ebele Jonathan, instead of going abroad which is the norm among Nigerian leaders, decided to spend the holiday at the Obudu Mountain Resort not only to relax and take time out but also to strategies for the task ahead of him most especially as he is about to start another four year term.

It was therefore not a surprise that the President decided to go to Obudu Mountain Resort with the retinue of his aids, senior government officials and ministers for a one week holiday retreat because the resort is well equipped with all the equipment and facilities that will make the stay of a special guest like the president a pleasant one.

The Presidential Villa which is the highest point on the ranch is built at a view point for the President to see as far as he could up to Cameroon. The villa has eight chalets for presidential aides being constructed with 100 percent seasoned wood from Finland. The Presidential Villa has a helipad.

 The resort also provides accommodation in the form of African round huts and chalets on stilts maximising the breathtaking views. Obudu Mountain Resort offers self-contained suites varying in size from the 2-bedroom Governor’s Lodge with its own lounge and dining room and kitchenette to the 20 Mountain Villas, each with three bedrooms, lounge, dining room, kitchenette and balcony.

 The place have been carefully put in place to meet up with international standard, and  the food and beverage offering is found in the Terrace Restaurant and Bar with a cosy and relaxing atmosphere made complete by the blazing log fire. National and international cuisine is guaranteed to suit all tastes and the healthy appetites from a day’s nature walk or round of golf.

The former Obudu Cattle Ranch offers a fully-equipped gym, two floodlit tennis courts, a squash court and a natural swimming pool. Keen golfers can show their prowess on the hotel’s 9-hole golf course the major talking point of guests is Africa’s longest cable car system.

 At 4 kilometres, Obudu Mountain Resort cable car gently transfers guests (and their bags) from the tropical climate at the base of the mountain right to the hotel’s reception area on the mountainside which is often in the clouds and is accompanied by an invigorating drop in temperature. Admirers of eco-tourism and adventure, bored by comfort of the hotel accommodations could easily get busy with a ride down the hill on the cable car and indulge in some water sports.

The tourist will have the opportunity to view the magnificent scenery and spectacular birdlife which are a must for the visitors who come to this part of the world and these tourists can be taken on foot or on bicycle. For those who forgot to pack binoculars, the Canopy Walkway which is situated in the trees allows visitors thrilling close-ups of the birds in their natural habitat high above the ground.

The Resort in the past had hosted prominent event such as 'Gulder Ultimate Search', also plays host to the world's most enduring and famous 'Mountain Race' (Obudu Mountain Race) that has brought prominent runners from around the world to Nigeria.

It is quite possible that in the near future, arrivals may double with plans being worked out by the African Sun Hotels, not only for local, but also for the increasing tourists from abroad to enjoy the fascinating aura, serenity and tranquillity of the surrounding beautiful hills that seem more ideal for the strong and fit alone.

One of the greatest assets of the resort is its sustainable tourism practice that gives priority to the interest of its host communities. For instance, the local communities that are largely farmers and cattle rearers supply some of the ingredients used at the resort. This guarantees steady income for those that are not fully employed by the resort.

 Jonathan spends working holiday at Obudu

Nigeria is endowed with massive tourism potentials, both natural and man-made. Each state of the federation has its own tourism potentials that could be developed to improve the tourism industry, turning it into revenue generating venture for the local communities and the nation as a whole.

However, out of these hundreds of tourism endowments, there are places that can be likened to paradise were nature abounds. The Obudu Mountain Resort (Formerly Obudu Cattle Ranch) is one of the tourist sites in Cross River State which offers the leisure seeker and the conference goer a complete contrast. Not only in its temperate climate but also it’s exciting and different location.

Nestling at the top of the mountain, the Obudu Mountain Resort is situated on a plateau at 1576 metres above sea level on the Oshie Ridge of the Sankwala Mountains. The temperate climate offers a total contrast and welcome respite from Africa’s tropical heat. Idyllic tranquillity, beautiful scenery and breathtaking views make it ideal for the lone adventurer, families on reunion, young couple or holiday group.

For this reason and after a long period of political campaign that spans through out the nation and a exhausted election calendar, the President of Nigeria Good Luck Ebele Jonathan, instead of going abroad which is the norm among Nigerian leaders, decided to spend the holiday at the Obudu Mountain Resort not only to relax and take time out but also to strategies for the task ahead of him most especially as he is about to start another four year term.

It was therefore not a surprise that the President decided to go to Obudu Mountain Resort with the retinue of his aids, senior government officials and ministers for a one week holiday retreat because the resort is well equipped with all the equipment and facilities that will make the stay of a special guest like the president a pleasant one.

The Presidential Villa which is the highest point on the ranch is built at a view point for the President to see as far as he could up to Cameroon. The villa has eight chalets for presidential aides being constructed with 100 percent seasoned wood from Finland. The Presidential Villa has a helipad.

 The resort also provides accommodation in the form of African round huts and chalets on stilts maximising the breathtaking views. Obudu Mountain Resort offers self-contained suites varying in size from the 2-bedroom Governor’s Lodge with its own lounge and dining room and kitchenette to the 20 Mountain Villas, each with three bedrooms, lounge, dining room, kitchenette and balcony.

 The place have been carefully put in place to meet up with international standard, and  the food and beverage offering is found in the Terrace Restaurant and Bar with a cosy and relaxing atmosphere made complete by the blazing log fire. National and international cuisine is guaranteed to suit all tastes and the healthy appetites from a day’s nature walk or round of golf.

Lagos Carnival 2011

Lagos Carnival 2011: Lagosians celebrate in style

The impact and momentum tourism is gaining in the city of Lagos can be liken to the way the Brazilians crave for their yearly Globe Brazilian Carnival which is one of the most populous carnivals in the world. The preparation and amount of money invested into the staging of The Lagos Carnival by the state government sends the signal that the state is ready to compete favorably with the already established carnivals in the country such as the yearly Carnival Calabar and Abuja Carnival.

The Lagos carnival which is the second in the series in the administration of Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola is one of the various cultural festivities in the state which the government hopes to use in selling the tourism and cultural potentials of the state to the outside world.

Realizing the fact that tourism is fast becoming the highest revenue earner of many countries and also the highest employer of labour around the world, Lagos State government intends to use the yearly Lagos Carnival to create employment for Lagosians and also use it as a tool to draw potential foreign tourists to the state there by increasing its revenue generation base.

It was therefore a scene of creativity, glamour and passion last week Saturday when Lagosians in their thousands took the centre stage as the Lagos Carnival 2011 which took place at the Tafawa Balewa Square.  A mamount crowd of excited Lagosians and foreign tourists including Governor Babatunde Fashola, his wife, Dame Emmanuella Abimbola Fashola and Deputy Governor, Princess Sarah Adebisi Sosan witnessed the beautiful display and scintillating performances by various colorfully attired Fancy groups representing different areas and localities in the state as the 2011 Lagos Carnival comes to and end which was started a week ago.

The festivity which was christened Heritage Week 2011 also featured Boat Regatta, Beauty Contest and many other cultural activities which was not only to celebrate the Easter season but also the victory of Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola at the just concluded governorship and state house of assembly elections.    

Speaking at the occasion, Governor Babatunde Fashola use the opportunity once again to thank Lagosians for voting for the Action Congress of Nigeria at the just concluded governorship and state assembly elections given them the mandate to steer the ship of the state for another four years.

He again gave his commitment not to let the people of Lagos down adding that it was part of the benefits of the mandate given to him by the people that brought about the celebration of the heritage week which is meant to celebrate Easter and promote opportunities in the State

The Governor added that all the costumes adorned by the participants at the carnival were made in Lagos and a proof of the people oriented programmes of the present administration to give jobs to Lagosians.

He said with the successful organization of the festival, Lagos State has taken leadership position in many ways with the image of the state growing in leaps and bounds. The Governor emphasized that the administration will use the carnival to expand the economic sector towards providing more jobs for the people.

The various contingents that participated had earlier gone in a procession through different routes like Falomo, Obalende, National Museum, and Onikan to the Tafawa Balewa Square in a road show which was characterized by beautiful leg works and display.

All the six educational districts in Lagos were represented at the parade which also featured areas like, Ikeja, Ketu, Agege, Ifako- Ijaiye, Ikorodu Ogba, Isolo, Surulere, Odi- Olowo, Mushin, Ilasamaja, Oworonshoki Awoyaya, Addo Langbasa, Epe and Badagry which all joined the traditional Fanti groups of Campos Lafiaji, Epetedo and Oko Faji in the beautiful display.