I am a collector of many interesting things including but not limited to paintings, crockery, home decor pieces and believe it or not hand fans. Yes, those cute Chinese hand fans that have come to define a woman’s wardrobe at all times and more so in these heated times. I find them pretty unique in their various colours and artistry. I have one that has a dragon on it. It is wooden and wide and can literally cover my face. Then I have others that are delicate, made of lace and just ethereal. Others have floral images and I have the ones that are plain, made for those weddings where the Aso-ebi is some impossibly divine colour. I collect hand fans from all over the world. They are a must at our very colourful weddings, good to take a picture with and I have been known to hang one or two at an interior decoration project. They are very ubiquitous.
Lately I have invested in a few feathered ones. Those ones are made in Nigeria by our ingenious merchants in wedding paraphernalia. Is your Aso-ebi ice blue? Tomato red or Cockroach brown? Nigerians have outdone themselves in the ever-innovative Aso-ebi business and style. Our weddings are so colourful that we have exported this communal cloth-wearing to identify with the wedding party, some sort of friendship and family rite of passage. It is also used to support the families of the wedding twosome. For most Aso-ebis, there is a tucked in charge which when put together assists the families in settling some wedding bills no matter how small and helps with purchasing favours and gifts for the wedding guests.
We are exporting our very rich culture. Something worthy of celebration amidst the pain and tears that seems to have become our lot in these trying times
And those “Geles” in all their glory, always changing with the times, new names, new styles. These unique Nigerian headdresses are seen these days on Fashion International run-ways. We are exporting our very rich culture. Something worthy of celebration amidst the pain and tears that seems to have become our lot in these trying times. We even have TV shows to show for our wedding savvy. The whole of Africa is struggling to wear our headdress and the women are making friends with Nigerians off shore to guaranty as colourful a wedding aswe offer. In fact, there are thriving offshore businesses concerned with Aso-oke, our unique hand and loom woven headdress and sash material. Check out a Nigerian wedding in New York or London and see for yourself how international our styles have become. From the rich to the lowly, we create our very own sense of style and every Aso-ebi is measured to budget. Whatever your budget, some smart merchant will deliver or you can shop for them yourself scouring the various markets where they are stockpiled according to colours. And if you are low on budget, you can choose a colour, indicate it on your invitation and most of your guests will be obliged to turn up accordingly to create the electric, colourful atmosphere of a Nigerian wedding. While it is voluntary, more often than not we show up in solidarity. Tomorrow it will be your turn.
In planning for these weddings, we worry about catering, music, sitting arrangements and event décor. As we modernised, we handed these co-ordinating assignments to Event planners. They worry on your behalf and charge you appropriately. Some of the costs though can be pretty insane. But again, the budgets are fit to measure. I have been to some gorgeous weddings and I have been to pretty blasé ones. The event planner can mar or make your wedding. Choose a planner carefully or do it yourself if you have the wherewithal. The ultimate aim is to give your guests a good time and for the bride and groom to pick, choose and arrive at their unforgettable moments. A day to remember forever.
Lately however these event planners or whoever is co-ordinating the weddings have been forgetting a small detail. The hand fan for the nervous blushing bride. Sweating comes with the territory. I am aghast when I see the gorgeous bride fanning herself in exasperation with the programme of events. Merde! So how much money did the event planner get that a fan becomes difficult to attain for our lovely bride? I often turn up at these weddings dressed to the nines myself, a matching hand fan as part of my accessory. But I have been giving them out. I am fast losing my bespoke hand fans to gorgeous brides. Event planners please do something. Thank you very much.
