What Is Igbo Traditional Wears?
Igbo traditional wears are some of the most diverse and beautiful in the whole of Africa.
These traditional outfits were worn by men and women both before and after colonization.
They were also worn by royalty, commoners, and people of all ages.
Igbo traditional dresses are not only beautiful but they also show off the wearer’s personality, family background, and social status.
The clothes are often brightly colored with geometric shapes, symbols, and drawings sewn onto them. The colors can range from browns to reds to yellows.
Igbo traditional wears come in three types: the “Ozo” (for kings), “Ndi-Ozo” (for subjects) and “Emir” (for travellers).
The outfit for kings is made up of garments like aprons or cloth for easy movement during ceremonies; a wrapper called “Ezi-Okpu” which is sewn together at the waist; and headgear like turbans or hats to make them look taller.
The clothing for subjects consists of one cloth wrap which is wrapped around their body in many different ways. Their headgear includes caps or turbans called “Akpakpava.” And for travellers there are just dresses that they wear on their journey to work.
Here is a list of the top seven Igbo traditional dresses for men and women.
List of Top Seven Igbo Traditional Dresses
1. Ozo
The ozo is a traditional Igbo dress usually worn by men. It is made of a variety of materials, but usually cotton or silk.
The ozo is wrapped around the body with the waistband positioned in front and the wide part at the back.
2. Ugba
The ugba is an Igbo traditional dress that was traditionally worn by women, but it can be worn by either sex today.
It has a loose top and a close-fitting skirt gathered under the breasts with fabric pleats to create fullness in the skirt.
The ugba’s fabric shapes itself to fit any size person due to its use of an elasticized waistband which makes it easy to wear regardless of weight fluctuation (Wikipedia).
3. Anamu
The anamu is an Igbo traditional dress that can be worn by both men and women in Nigeria today, in addition to being historically worn only by royalty.
It has elaborate embroidery which often includes beads, sequins, and ribbons (Wikipedia).
4. Iga Adi Kpekpe
The igba adi kpekpe is an Igbo traditional dress for women that can still be seen today.
5. Aso ebi
Aso-ebi is a popular Igbo traditional dress for women that can be classified as an outfit. It has different sections, including the blouse, the bolero jacket, and the skirt.
The blouse is either made of natural fabric or lace, the shirt is usually long sleeved, and the skirt comes in various lengths.
6. Agbada
Agbada is a traditional Igbo dress worn by men with numerous variations.
This type of outfit may have slightly different styles depending on where it is worn but it’s traditionally long with buttons on the front and back of the garment for easy dressing.
7. Agbada coat
An agbada coat is a variation that was created by Queen Nzinga who added sleeves to her husbands’s blouse to keep him warm during their time spent away from home during warring times with Portuguese colonizers in Angola.
This variation is also known as an Okpara Coat because of its connection to Queen Okpara who used this style of coat to smuggle messages back home when she was being held captive by her brother-in-law at Udenu War camp in 1939.
Best Season to Wear Igbo Traditional Dresses
Igbo traditional dresses are typically worn during the major festivals in Igboland, which is usually in December.
The best seasons to wear Igbo traditional dresses are during the cool months of the year, which is December-February.
How to Dress Properly to an Igbo Event
It is very important to know how to dress properly for an Igbo event. You never want to show up in a traditional outfit without the proper traditional attire.
Here are some guidelines on how to dress for different types of Igbo events:
*If you are attending the ceremony of the naming ceremony, wear clothing that is light and made of cotton or linen fabric.
You can also wear formal western clothes if necessary. Remember that the ceremony will take place outdoors so dress appropriately for the weather.
*For your daughter’s coming-of-age ceremony, wear a white blouse with a wrap skirt, anklets, wrist cuffs, and head tie.
It is recommended that only women attend this event as it would be inappropriate for men to do so.
*If you are attending a funeral, always wear black clothing which includes black shoes, gloves, hat, socks, tie, jacket, shirt, and pants.
Men should also have their hair slicked back into a ponytail or bun with no facial hair showing.
Women should have long hair braided into two plaits or cornrows with no makeup showing on their faces and wear flat shoes.>>END>
Conclution
Igbo traditional wears are not only beautiful but they also show off the wearer’s personality, family background, and social status.
There is something for everyone: from children to adults and royals to commoners. This list is a great place to start when you’re looking for the perfect dress.
