History of Fashion in Nigeria – JSS1 Fashion and Garment Making Lesson Note (First Term)

The history of fashion in Nigeria is the story of how Nigerians have dressed from early times to today, shaped by culture, trade, religion and colonial rule.

Behavioural objectives

1. Define fashion and attire.
2. State the materials early Nigerians used to make clothing.
3. Name the traditional attire of the Yoruba, Igbo and Hausa/Fulani.
4. List four influences on Nigerian fashion.
5. Give three reasons for valuing traditional fashion.

What is fashion?

Fashion is the style of clothing, hair and accessories that people wear at a particular time or place.

• Attire: the clothes a person wears, for example Agbada or Isi-Agu.
• Textile: any cloth made by weaving, knitting or printing, for example Aso-Oke.
• Traditional attire: clothing that belongs to the culture of an ethnic group.

In Nigeria, clothing does more than cover the body. It can show:

• Origin: the town or ethnic group a person comes from.
• Age: young and old people may dress differently.
• Wealth: costly cloth and many beads show a person’s wealth.
• Marital status: some styles show that a person is married.

What did early Nigerians wear?

Early Nigerians made clothing from natural materials found around them.

• Animal skins: used as wraps and coverings.
• Feathers: used to decorate caps and dresses.
• Raffia: fibre from the raffia palm, used for woven clothing and decoration.
• Cotton: spun into thread and woven into cloth by hand.
• Beads: worn on the neck, wrists and waist.

As time went on, each ethnic group developed its own styles, many of which are still worn today.

What are the traditional attires of the major ethnic groups?

Nigeria has over 250 ethnic groups, and the three largest are the Yoruba, the Igbo and the Hausa/Fulani.

The Yoruba (South-West)

The Yoruba are known for Aso-Ebi, which is a uniform cloth worn by family and friends at a ceremony.

• Aso-Oke: hand-woven cloth.
• Adire: tie-dye cloth.
• Men: Agbada (large flowing robe), Buba (top) and Sokoto (trousers), with a cap called Fila.
• Women: Iro (wrapper), Buba (blouse) and Gele (headgear).

The Igbo (South-East)

Igbo fashion is colourful and often uses beads and symbolic fans.

• Men: Isi-Agu (a shirt with lion head patterns) and a red cap or black hat.
• Women: wrappers (often two layers), a blouse, and beads around the neck and wrists.

The Hausa/Fulani (North)

Northern fashion focuses on modesty and comfort because of the hot weather and religious beliefs.

• Men: Baban Riga (a very large robe) and a small decorated cap called Zanna.
• Women: Abaya or Atampa, with a veil or scarf such as the Hijab or Mudukare to cover the head.

Summary table

What are the influences on Nigerian fashion?

Four main influences have shaped Nigerian fashion: trade, religion, colonialism and modern technology.

• Trade: traders brought fabrics such as silk, lace and “George” to Nigeria. This changed how people dressed for ceremonies.
• Religion: Islam introduced more flowing, modest robes in the North. Christianity influenced the use of Western-style suits and white wedding gowns.
• Colonialism: the British introduced suits, shirts and ties. Many people now wear “English wear” to the office and traditional wear to parties.
• Modern technology: designers use sewing machines and digital printing to make fabrics such as Ankara look modern and trendy.

Why should we value our traditional fashion?

We should value traditional fashion because it shows who we are and keeps our culture alive.

1. Identity: it shows our pride in being Nigerian.
2. Unity: dressing in traditional attire at festivals and weddings brings people together.
3. Creativity: Nigerian designers mix old traditions with new styles, called “Afrocentric” fashion.

Evaluation

1. Define fashion.
2. What is the name of the traditional cap worn by Yoruba men?
3. Match each attire to its group (Hausa, Igbo or Yoruba): (a) Isi-Agu, (b) Aso-Oke, (c) Baban Riga.
4. State two ways in which colonialism changed the way Nigerians dress.
5. Give two reasons why we should value traditional fashion.

Assignment

Ask a parent, guardian or elder about the traditional attire of your village or town. Write down the materials it is made from and the names of at least three items worn by men and women.