Discover the African art of Adire dressmaking when traveling to Nigeria
Lagos is considered the commercial hub of Nigeria. It is known for its hustle and bustle, as well as an intricate mix of cultures, both local and foreign. In fact, many residents refer to it as no man’s land because indigenous people from all over the country (and abroad) have come home.
The result is an impressive kaleidoscope of cultures evidenced, in part, by the regular display of different outfits by each cultural unit. One of the most prominent cultures in Lagos is the Yoruba tribe. They can boast of being children of the land in Lagos, but they indulge outsiders.
As a key component of southwestern Nigeria, Lagos also shares cultural and fashion trends with the contiguous regional states. And one of the most distinctive facets of Yoruba culture is the Adire art form. Since the first days of the arrival of foreigners in Nigeria, history has shown that one of the greatest attractions that tourists and visitors found in Nigeria, has been the Adire.
Adire is a unique traditional fabric made by the Yorubas, using hand-knotted fabrics that have been dyed in indigo. The art of making this patterned fabric has been passed down from generation to generation, although at one time, it suffered a decline in popularity among practitioners and their patrons.
However, the efforts of some celebrated practitioners of this elegant ancient art form have helped launch a recent renaissance in this field. Most prominent among those involved in this resurgence of interest in Adire, locally and internationally, has been Nike Davies Okundaye, a staunch advocate of African arts, with a mission to export it to the rest of the world.
He has achieved worldwide recognition for his exceptional art in making Adire fabrics over a period of three decades and to date. His website http://www.nikeart.com provides extensive resources offering information about his work, including providing links to other websites that reflect the international appeal he enjoys. This exceptional lady appeared on the cover of The African Courier magazine, in its February / March 2010 issue, with six pages devoted to a review of her work, including excerpts from an exclusive interview she gave.
Today, 21st century Nigerian fashion designers are also creatively employing the Adire to develop a unique range of very trendy and trendy African designs, regularly showcased on fashion show catwalks in Africa and even beyond. This is one of the great benefits that Adire offers: it is highly adaptable for use in various forms, for various purposes, decorative or otherwise..
If you are a lover of African art, you should definitely explore Adire’s dress making process. More importantly, especially if you feel like you can’t waste time visiting a place where these unique creations are made, look out for the many shops where beautiful Adire fabrics are on sale. Make sure you get an informed opinion on how to buy the types that are durable and won’t fade when washed, at reasonable prices.
You’d be interested to know that quite a few good hotels in Lagos and other western states often have gift shops with sections dedicated to selling artwork, including Adire. However, keep in mind that these stores can be a bit pricey and that you can get better bargains by shopping directly from the less pretty stalls of locals or residents, some of whom actually do it themselves. It is well known that the best places to buy well-made Adire dresses include Abeokuta in Ogun State and Osogbo in Osun State, where Nike Davies Okundaye runs one of their galleries in the country.
So don’t forget, when you visit Nigeria, make time to explore the world of Adire fabric making and buy some souvenirs to take home. If the news we’ve heard from other visitors to Nigeria is anything to go by, you and those with whom you share your artistic flair will be excited and showing off with pride!