SLC-S25/W4 | Community World Tour: Folk Costumes and Arts

Igbo kwenu
Igbo kwenu

This is what the Igbos are known for. You get to see a red cap chief as titled man which doesn't exempt the ladies. Cultural display in my country is taken personally and displayed in schools almost every term to show they value and respect their culture. It reminds people of their origin and cultural heritage. It differentiate a true tribal man from another. It speaks and informs as well.

When last did you wear your traditional wear? It could be months or years. Let me tell you about this cultural fuse I want to do for this particular challenge. It's quite fortunate to know I'm a born and brought up Ibibio girl but I can actually transit to another tribe. Women fits into every dress of any cultural heritage. The first picture tells you I'm igbo right? But I'm not purely igbo. I'm a born Ibibio girl. I just wore these costumes to speak for the igbo tribe.

Create a cross-cultural costume concept by mixing traditional elements from two or more cultures. You can illustrate it, wear it, or describe it visually. Explain your creative choices.

The Igbos are known to be one of the most industrious in Nigeria. There's no state you'll go to without seeing one or two igbo person doing business. They are business minded and values their culture and tradition to the core. They can even vouch for it at the expense of their lives. To be an igbo girl comes with responsibilities because you must always take yourself up high to avoid being looked down by other Tribes.

In most Nigerian movies where the Igbos are featured, you get to see them display royalty or act local movies. You get to see them with red beads especially which signifies or stand for protection. Any royalty that's not on a red bead can't be a royalty. We do call her Lolo while maids dress in the costume I dress. They tie short wrappers around their waists and a small cotton material to cover their breasts. Then they wear these royal red beads around their waist and neck.

As if that's not enough, they tie it wear it on their legs and also paint their face with tribal marks on black paint. These paintings have meanings and it's mostly marks of the clans in the village and their significance.

To the royalties, they wear it as a long garment while the maid of honour wear a short wrapper to signify their place in a traditional event. An igbo women don't joke with her head bead because it means royalty and if taken off from her can lead to disgrace of the entire clan. She can only take it off on personal dates but on official dates, it must be worn. You can't marry traditionally without the head beads. You mustn't be royalty before this is done.

These are the igbo traditional costumes worn during cultural events or in marriages. Have you seen the tido in my picture? In most Nigerian movies, igbo maids and priestess are seen with these black marks as if it's tribal. This is what they use in making this mark perfect. Let's go to the next tribe and check out their cultural and traditional costumes.

IBIBIO

Sad to say I don't have individual pictures of these costumes on my phone. The Ibibios never joke with cultural day. They always ensure their tribe is reminded of the beauty and pride that comes from representing an Ibibio girl. You're expected to be dressed in a classical manner and in the village if you want to do a traditional marriage. You won't be allowed to wear all these costumes in town where you're not from because it's a taboo to the whole tribe.

Our costumes is made of of a significant gele, umbrella, handkerchief, neck beads and three in one wrapper. This wrapper tied around the waist explains the traditional and local costumes of the villagers. Without wrapper in Ibibio land, there's no culture. This wrapper stands for the diversity of our culture and how large our land and mineral resources are. You don't joke with a typical Ibibio girl when you see one.

The Igbos and Ibibio reside in my state and are also seen in other states as we have cross division where they are predominantly seen. States like Abia, Imo, port Harcourt etc are states you can predominantly find Igbos with their cultural display and tradition.

It's quite funny to know that the ibibios take this traditional and cultural displays personal than other tribes in my country. We have the best costumes drawn from beads, cowries, wrappers, baboon wrap and masks. Have you ever seen the tallest masquerade on shows? Those masquerades are Ibibio made and have Ibibio blood.

All these costumes are customary costumes that all tribe member must value and wear during special traditional occasions. In Uyo primarily, schools do cultural week every academic session to remind their students and teachers that this tribe exist and that they should always value their culture and costumes.

I can remember when a traditional cultural display was held in my school. We were all expected to choose the tribe we represent and wear the costume of our tribe. I choose Ibibio culture and the man you're seeing beside me was my husband did that day. We demonstrated cultural dances as of we were doing a traditional marriage and goats and other items were brought for presentation.

Masquerades wore their costumes to signify the Ibibio rich and spiritistic culture. I'm a proud Ibibio girl and I can shake my waist for you very well. With the aid of the wrapper, your butt would become visible and you can break that waist.

My mother calls me a true Ibibio girl if only I can break my waist. Igbo girls can't do that because they can also shake their legs thunderously to intimidate the Ibibios.

I invite @mkgirl77, @artist1111 and @ukpono