IRO AND BUBA or, something else.

Let me tell you a story…….

I can say that in this young and by God’s grace long life of mine, I have worn my fair share of Iro and Buba (a predominant African attire in South Western Nigeria and some parts of Republique du Benin, it is a free short or long sleeve blouse coupled with a knee or ankle length wrapper).
When I was much younger, it would be sewn as either a Christmas or birthday attire. It later became my style for every African fabric sewn because of inadequate tailors. But now that I can sew, the story is not so different. Lol

Over the years I have had my Iro and Buba sewn in “oleku” (late 80's), later the blouse had buttons on the shoulder, my wrapper had ropes to tie them with, I graduated to the longer sleeves with no ropes sewn to the wrapper, during my finals in the university I wore it as oleku again, and recently I wore the Buba with a velvet wrapper like it was done in the early and mid 20^th century.

With all this analysis, have been thinking, do I want to wear this attire for my African traditional wedding? NO!! I would definitely wear “something else”.

“Something else would be: check the pictures below:

To most people this looks like Bendel (Bendel here is used as an acronym for the words Benin and Delta area of Nigeria) bridal attire, but I will gladly tell you it’s not!

This attire is worn by the Owo princesses and brides from pre-colonial times. This picture is not however pre-colonial in any sense, it is very modern. Owo is a town in South Eastern, Nigeria, and Ondo State precisely. It is a town known for its richness in cultural, arts and architectural antecedent.

So I would rather wear this than rock Iro and Buba for my traditional wedding.

Do you agree with me or, you have other ideas. I will welcome any suggestion. 

Shalom.

Photo credit: bankemeshidalawal.blogspot.com
These pictures are not mine.