Aso ebi

In Nigeria, during parties you see people wearing the same material. It is called aso ebi. Aso Ebi translated to English means family cloth. It is usually worn in ceremonies such as weddings and burials as a uniform or identification that you belong to a certain family. Now aso ebi is worn by nearly every Tom, Dick and Harry whenever there is a case for celebration and in Nigeria we know how to celebrate. We have parties for everything; birthday, naming ceremony, weddings (all religions and culture included) graduation, any form of achievement, shop launching and housewarming just to mention a few. Having fun is not bad but the key is moderation.

          A typical example is a child’s birthday, there are usually two stages; the early part of the day is dedicated to the child, do there is kiddy related entertainment, candy floss and the likes. Then there is the night party, that is the real grove where you see all the adults coming out to bubble in their 9 inch killer heels with matching designer bags and you said it aso ebi? Yes people can buy aso ebi for a one year old’s birthday party.

          These are hard times whatever happened to people calling colors just like it on the invitation card and ending it there? But no! Aso Ebi is for the select not just family but anyone who can afford to buy it. Now you can only buy the particular lace or damask or ankara from the designated person who I trust is making a kill. Stories have been said about people funding their weddings through aso ebi. Personally sourcing for aso ebi usually proves to be a futile exercise; imagine spending your Saturday morning combing through the market, your chances of finding it are quite slim but you are most likely going to find something close to it, which is just as bad as wearing your own outfit. Most of the time you are cajoled, coerced, coaxed and even blackmailed into buying form the source as credit is offered ironically even during the credit crunch.

          It does not end there. In fact the competition has just begun. The next step is to sew the most innovative creative and drop-dead-in-your-track outfit. Just have a look at any of the local weekly fashion soft sell magazines. The sewing does not come cheap either. There is always this tailor or seamstress or designer that is well known and hence comes with a ridiculously inflated price. If it was me, I would give the road side tailors, but how many people will have faith in that? They are thinking that all their aso ebi with more than all their share put together, would be ruined and all that go down the drain. So they go with the tried and tested and make all the preparations to be set for the d-day, some even go as far as making the outfit smaller than incentive to lose weight.

          The aso ebi has its advantage, you automatically become the cynosure if all eyes depending on how daring you couture is and the bling to accessorize it. But really the celebrant should be the centre of attention. Then of course you are entitled to the special goody bag of souvenirs. Your aso ebi is like a VIP ticket throughout the day and indeed you are treated like family. Unfortunately, that is where it all ends except of course you still owe. Then the calls start coming, texts, emails…in short anything for them to get their money even after the wedding is long gone and concluded.

          So I think I would rather be indebted to my bride-to-be friend by not buying aso ebi and make it up with a nice thoughtful present than be in debt… at least not for aso ebi may be for meaningful things like a house or car at least I can use long after the wedding. Thereby in my own little way preserving the sanctity of aso ebi to be strictly an expression of family pride and not a commercial gimmick.