Hello Hive Communities,
Cultural heritage we all know, is the way of life of a particular tribe of people in a certain geographic location that has a name, beliefs, language, dialects,
history, dance steps, occupation, attire, colour of their skin food and behavior. These and more are related to the cultural heritage of a certain people.
Cultural heritage in essence is the totality of the history about the birth place of a particular tribe of people, that has been tracending from their great great ancestors to the present time as well as to the present generation and their unborn generations
Today I want to talk about a particular attire won by the Igbos in the south Eastern region of my country, Nigeria. The Igbos are a determined people that have their own authentic and legitimate way of life. They are very tenacious, equivocal, prestigious, significant in all they do. They also present themselves in royalty and elegance everywhere they are found, home and abroad.
**The Isi enyi, (Elephant'shead) Isi agu (Lion's head) or ( the Leopard's skin) print materials are the prestigious fabrics won specifically by the Igbos of the south Eastern region of Nigeria. These gorgeously designed materials come in different colours qualities and elegant designs to suit every occasion it's meant for. It's not an everyday's wear.
These royalty and exotic quality velvet or sometimes damask fabrics, are sewn by male taloirs for mostly the male folk though women can wear them, but the authentic and legendary purpose is for men of honourable positions in Igbo land.
During coronations, chieftancy titles, the Ozo title celebrations, the worriors titles, age grade retirement ceremony of the Ohafia people in Abia State also in the south Eastern State of Nigeria. It's also a prestigious fabrics won during coronations of Ndi Ezes, Igwes, Omenala title holders, Nze na Ozo titles, wedding ceremonies by choice and much more.
Accessories combinations to showcase the elegance of this occasional cultural stylish attire of the Igbos
There are the particular accessories to combine with it to bring out the expensive quality the clothes are made to represent, it's not a daily wear or anyhow wears.
These are the red cap, the worriors cap (okpu aha)(okpu agu). The black rounded mens' Cap, the one sided fitted Caps also for men.
You know, in Igboland, we also have the red cap chiefs. Some of them are prime Ministers to the kings of their particular villages or communities, representing the people in kingdom affairs.
They dress like these with their walking sticks, coral beads and the caps of their choice depending on their titles in the land.
They are really beautiful to behold. These regalias are also won during the New yam festivals. This is a time designated to welcome the new yam from the farms before everyone can boldly eat yam tubers every year. It's a beautiful and big celebration on its own, a culture of the Igbos!
The Igbo cultural representation can be seen playing out everywhere the Igbos are found. Most times, you see the events of the Igbos in the diaspora having their Igbo day all will appear in this form too, with their Isi Agu wears either with George wrapper tied on their waste, or with a pair of black trouser or white trousers. Often too, in weddings, it's the Igbos identity, and our cultural background.
Our children are not left out in this fabulous and fantastic occasions. They are as well decorated to represent the cultural heritage of the Igbos as the legitimate up coming generation that will represent the cultural background of their tribe....
"THE IGBOS"
. It's so beautiful and mind blowing to see and watch almost everyone dressed in this exotic attires on such ceremonies and on specific times of social gatherings.
ENYOY THIS ONE AMONG THE NUMEROUS BEAUTIFUL CULTURAL HERITAGE OF THIS SET OF PEOPLE CALLED, "THE IGBOS".
Thank you for being a part of this joyous moments of my people, the Igbos! Let's keep engaging with one another that's the way up.
All pictures are mine.
@ijebest