The wrong and right concept of ‘Asoebi’

Last week, a friend of mine told me how she had to take some money from the house rent she had saved up to pay for asoebi, which cost a sum of N50,000.

“The deadline was fast approaching, and I just needed to buy the asoebi desperately. I called on my close friends to help lend me money but no one wanted to spare the sum, especially after I told them I needed the money to get Asoebi for my friend’s wedding.

“So, I had no other option but to take N50,000 from the N250,000 I had saved up for my house rent to pay for the asoebi. Two weeks down the line, I now regret my actions. My landlord is on my neck and is threatening to kick me out of the house. I have to wait another two to three weeks for another salary before I can complete the rent and my landlord says he can’t wait till then” Cynthia Ordia had lamented to me.

While Ordia’s story may be new to many, her story is similar to many others who would go out of their way, no matter the cost and inconvenience to buy Asoebi for an occasion that would last for just one day.

Aso ebi (Yoruba), sometimes spelled as asoebi in Nigeria is a uniform dress or dressing code/style that was traditionally worn by the Yoruba People and acculturized by some other cultures as an indicator of cooperation, camaraderie and solidarity during ceremonies, events and festive periods.

Over time, wearing of Asoebi has become popular in wedding ceremonies, funerals and even birthday parties. Hardly would you go to a wedding without seeing the same materials sawn by a couple of people.

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The initial purpose of wearing the dress can be to serve as self-identification with agemates, relatives, or friends during social occasions or funerals.

Nobody seems to know where the concept of asoebi started. Some say the tradition is rooted in the issuance of uniforms—school uniforms, army uniforms, prison uniforms, even religious uniforms—during colonial times. Some others say this custom evolved in parts of Africa where cultural dress played significant roles, especially among the highly-placed members of society’s hierarchy who were often recognised by their attire, which was usually not imitated by someone of another class.

Whatever the case, our tribal ancestors adopted this custom of aso-ebi, and since then, it has become a cultural mainstay that has only continued to gain popularity.

While the initial concept of introducing asoebi was for solidarity and support for a family member, friend, or associate hosting an occasion, this concept is gradually being eroded by the quest to belong to a certain class, feel among, and be given special treatment on an occasion, amongst others.

Here are some wrong consequences of asoebi:

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Dishonesty

Sandra Manjie in an article on Slice by Sandi, explains that the rise in popularity of asoebi has led to higher demand and price hikes of materials.

This leads to a slow, winding path to the potential exclusion of family and friends who may not be able to afford to wear aso-ebi, yet still feel compelled to do so due to society’s standards and expectations.

There have been reports of sneaky brides and family members who purposely increase the price of the aso-ebi fabric to contribute to their wedding costs. Many people who know the market price will be aware of this but may feel uncomfortable broaching the topic with their family member or friend and may just acquiesce. While some may be bold enough to decline the offer, some people are not given the choice to accept or refuse.

Special Treatment

Sandra Manjie also explains that another problem associated with asoebi is the preferential treatment asoebi wearers seem to receive on occasion. Guests not in aso-ebi may feel slighted, envious and out of place if they are made to feel unimportant and if their presence is hardly acknowledged.

It was for some of these reasons the Redeem Christian Church of God in 2017 banned ‘Asoebi’ for church programs. While some accepted it’s a right step in the right direction, the majority believed the church has nothing to do with it as it’s purely traditional.

Foluke Adenike Adeboye, the wife of the general overseer of the church said it was ungodly acts for some church leaders to compel their members to buy and wear a particular uniform during church events.

She said “There have been reports that some members of some parishes in the church that cannot afford to buy some of these Aso Ebi’s have been exempted from some church functions.

“Such un-Christianly act of keeping church members out of programmes because of Aso ebi must never be heard of again among the women in the church.”

She added that those caught would be severely sanctioned.

While there are aspects of Nigerian wedding culture to scrap, many feel Asoebi is surely not one. Many people think the idea is a brilliant, resplendent practice passed down from several generations of Nigerians and should be preserved. They say the concept itself is not fundamentally repulsive or bad, and therefore should not be jettisoned.

However, doing too much to partake in that culture is what needs to be checked. Sure, it looks great to see amazing women in lace, George and other fabulous asoebi outfits, but it is not necessary.

When the money is there in abundance, you can go for it. But considering the current economic realities in Nigeria, aso-ebi has become luxuries that have become unaffordable for some people — and no one has to go all out to get asoebi by all means.