A recent study by Diyaolu et al., (2023) titled “Sustainability in Ojude-Oba Dress Tradition and Tourism” published in Cogent Arts & Humanities by Taylor and Francis Group shows that Ojude-Oba festival is a cultural and touristic event that showcases the dress tradition and fashion sense of the Ijebu people in Nigeria.
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The Ojude-Oba festival showcases sustainable, age-specific dress traditions, fostering cultural identity, economic growth, and tourism development in Ijebu-Ode, Nigeria. – Diyaolu et al., 2023
This article explores the Ojude-Oba festival, a cultural and touristic event celebrated by the Ijebu people in Nigeria. The article explores the origin and history of the festival, how it started as a homage to the Monarch of Ijebu-land in the nineteenth century, and how it has grown into a tourist attraction over the years. The study addresses the dress tradition and sustainability of the festival and how the different age groups compete in sustainable dresses designed in traditional styles called aso-egbe, made from eco-friendly local materials. In addition, the authors highlight the roles and impacts of the festival on the Ijebu people and Nigeria, including how the festival promotes culture, fashion, commerce, industry, and social cohesion among the Ijebu people and attracts visitors from home and abroad. The study, therefore, implies that the festival provides a platform for fashion innovation and expression, as well as a source of inspiration for other dress-related events.
How the study was conducted
The authors employed data from the Ojude-Oba festival held between 2015 and 2019 and used observation, interviews, and photography as data collection methods. The authors observed the dress items and styles of the different age groups during the festival and interviewed some of the participants and organizers of the event to obtain information on the origin, significance, and sustainability of the dress tradition. The authors employed descriptive and content analysis methods to describe the dress items and styles of the different age groups and their meanings. By examining the sustainability issues related to the dress items and styles, such as the materials, production, consumption, and disposal, the authors used the photographs as visual aids to support their analysis and interpretation. The authors presented the data using tables to show the classification and distribution of the dress items and styles among the different age groups, figures to illustrate the dress items and styles and their aesthetic features, and narratives to explain the findings and discuss the implications for tourism development and cultural preservation.
What the study found
The authors found that Ojude-Oba festival is a cultural and touristic event that showcases the dress tradition and fashion sense of the Ijebu people in Nigeria and the dress items used by the different age groups during the festival are made from eco-friendly local materials and reflect the class, status, age, prestige, beauty, and aesthetics of the participants. The study found that the festival has brought about tremendous development to Ijebu-Ode in trade, technology, commerce, and industry as well as building a strong patriotic spirit among the Ijebu populace. The festival has a strong potential to attract inbound tourists and enhance economic growth and development in Ogun State and Nigeria at large.
Implications of the Study
The study documents the dress items used by different age groups during the festival, which reflect their status, identity, and aesthetics. The dress items are made from eco-friendly local materials and designed in traditional styles. The study reveals that the festival attracts a large crowd of visitors from home and abroad who are interested in the fashion parade, the cultural shows, and the homage to the monarch. The festival also boosts the economic activities of the host community, such as trade, commerce, hospitality, and transportation. The study examines the role of art and technology in the aesthetic growth and development of the dress items used during the festival. The study notes that the dress items vary over time, depending on the creativity and innovation of the designers and the age groups.
Study Recommendations
- Sustaining and promoting traditional dress: The authors suggest that the government and other stakeholders should support the preservation and promotion of the traditional dress items used during the Ojude-Oba festival, as they reflect the cultural identity and heritage of the Ijebu people.
- Enhancing tourism development: The study also recommends that the government should give deserved attention to events with a strong potential of attracting inbound tourists, such as the Ojude-Oba festival, to enhance economic growth and development among Nigerians. The authors argue that the festival has brought about tremendous development to Ijebu-Ode in trade, technology, commerce, and industry, as well as building a strong patriotic spirit among the Ijebu populace.
- Documenting and disseminating dress items: The study further recommends that the dress items used by the age groups during the festival should be documented and disseminated for the interest of experts and non-specialist readers, as well as for the benefit of present and future generations. The authors note that the dress items play specific roles in the festival, such as communicating status, age, prestige, beauty, and aesthetics.
In conclusion, the Ojude-Oba festival stands as a vibrant testament to the rich cultural heritage of the Ijebu people in Nigeria. Through the lens of sustainability and tradition, this study has unveiled the festival’s profound impact on the community and its potential as a tourism powerhouse. From the eco-friendly materials used in the age-group-specific dress items to the economic and technological advancements witnessed in Ijebu-Ode, the festival not only preserves cultural identity but also fosters development. The recommendations for sustaining traditional dress, promoting tourism, and documenting these cultural artifacts underscore the significance of recognizing and cherishing such festivals as vital contributors to both local heritage and national prosperity. The Ojude-Oba festival emerges not just as a celebration of tradition but as a dynamic force for cultural preservation, economic growth, and aesthetic innovation.
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