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Aareonakakanfo of Yoruba land, Iba Gani Adams, has said that Yoruba attires are the true definition of identity anywhere in the world, noting that the race is blessed with various attires that can compete with that of the global community.
The Yoruba generalissimo made this assertion while speaking at the Fashion Show held at Oodua House, Ikeja, Lagos, as part of the programs for the ongoing Olokun Festival, saying that the event was to showcase the beauty inherent in Yoruba attires as a global tool for identification.
Adams, who is also the Chief Promoter of the Olokun Festival Foundation (OFF), said the foremost socio-cultural organisation had been promoting cultural events for the past 22 years, advocating for community engagement and investment in cultural initiatives to cultivate a deeper appreciation for heritage.
According to him, doing this can ultimately strengthen social cohesion and resilience, urging for collaborative efforts to ensure that cultural values are preserved and passed down to future generations.
“The first means of identification for a race is the clothing and the attire. One’s dressing shows the best of our culture. In Yoruba land, we have Aso oke, Ofi, Adire, Sanyan, Alaari, and many others.
“The people of Iseyin in Oyo State are major producers of Aso Oke, while Abeokuta remains the hub for Adire and Kampala.
“I am happy that producers of Adire, Kampala, and Aso Oke are doing well in promoting their products to the global market, which is a major advantage for us as culture promoters.
“I am also using this opportunity to tell all sons and daughters of our race to display the beauty of Yoruba culture through their attire. It is the best and the true definition of our identity,” Adams stated.
Chairman of the 2024 Edition of Olokun Festival, Barrister Yinka Oguntimehin, who is also the Asoju Aareonakakanfo of Yoruba Land, in his remark, said the Fashion Show was the 3rd program of the week-long annual fiesta.
Oguntimehin stated further that this year’s edition of the Olokun Festival was loaded with various cultural and spiritual activities that would climax with the grand finale on Tuesday, October 22 at the Suntan Beach Badagry.
Oguntimehin emphasised the spiritual gains of the fiesta, insisting that participants would be blessed by the Olokun deity.
“We are using this opportunity to tell the world that the spiritual contents of this year’s edition of the Olokun Festival will bring forth the best of rewards for all participants.
“And we are expecting traditional rulers from Benin Republic, Ajase, as well as tourists and participants from all over the world.
Also speaking, the Organiser of the Fashion Show, Ambassador Ibrahim Lawal, also known as Agbara Asa, expressed appreciation to the Aareonakakanfo of Yorubaland, Iba Adams, for the opportunity given to him to organise the event, just as he affirmed that fashion plays a significant part in the way the world is shaped
“We are truly a reflection of the clothes we wear and the attire we adorn. So the event is not an anathema,” Lawal said.
The event climaxed with the display of different cultural and traditional attires as contestants were decked to the admiration of the guests.
President, National Union of Textile Garment Tailoring Workers of Nigeria, Comrade Peter Godonu, was represented by a top official of the union.
The event also witnessed the attendance of members of the Lagos State Artisans and members of the National Executive Council (NEC) and the National Coordinating Council ( NCC) of OFF, among others.
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