STATE OF TRADITIONAL ATTIRES USAGE AMONG THE CONTEMPORARY SOCIETY IN SOUTH-WEST NIGERIA

Abstract

Adire and Aso-oke are important dress-items in many traditional ceremonies and social events amongst the Yoruba people.  There is a noticeable decline in the use of Yoruba cultural dresses such as aran, etc during outing.  This is aside from aso-oke and adire. A lot of factors are responsible for this.  This study is aimed at creating awareness on the use of the adire and aso-oke among youth.  The study was carried out in both Lagos and Abeokuta.  At Mainland local government area in Lagos, a total of 70 youths were randomly selected and four elderly men and women were purposely selected to know the elderly peoples view of aso-oke and adire usage in the recent times and in the past. Both interview and questionnaire methods were used to collect data: interview guide were used to collect information in order to achieve a better objective, while other means such as visuals and fabric materials are also employed to gather pieces of information on the current use of adire and aso-oke among the youths.  Results indicate that the usage of adire and aso-oke among the youth is limited to ceremonial occasion only.  The paper also reveals that aso-oke is not popularly used among the youth in both Abeokuta and Lagos, but adire is faintly given prominence.  Both adire and aso-oke are old standing craft that have more than a century of longstanding tradition in Yorubaland.  There is a probability that if both attires can be redesigned with price reduction, public enlightenment and encouragement from parents and guardians will make the youth of today would a second thought in reconsidering adire and aso-oke as their best attire for fashion