ADIRE HERITAGE FESTIVAL 2016

WHAT IS ADIRE?

Adire is the name given to indigo dyed cloth produced by Yoruba women of south western Nigeria using a variety of resist dye techniques. Adire translates as tie and dye, and the earliest cloths were probably simple tied designs on locally-woven hand-spun cotton cloth much like those still produced in Mali. In the early decades of the twentieth century however, the new access to large quantities of imported shirting material made possible by the spread European textiles merchants in certain Yoruba towns, notably Abeokuta, enabled women dyers to become both artist and entrepreneurs in a booming new medium. New techniques of resist dyeing were developed, most notably the practice of hand painting designs on the cloth with a cassava starch paste prior to dyeing. This was known as Adire Eleko.

Alongside these a new a new style was soon developed that speeded up decoration by using metal stencil cut from the sheets of tin that lined tea-chest. Another method was to use sewn raffia, sometimes in combination with tied sections, while other clothes were simply folded repeatedly and tied or stitched in a place.

ADIRE HERITAGE FESTIVAL

Culture is essentially the way of life of a people, which generates asset such as skills, product, expression and insight that contributes to the social economic well being of the community. This can be seen in the people predominating attitudes, norms, fashion, behaviors, belief, value, art, craft, heritage and creative activities that characterize the functioning of a people, with respect to their inherent power to generate value by leveraging other production variables for creating incremental wealth through the use of the resource at hand, which later translate into a cultural heritage that is passed from generation to generation.

 BACKGROUND INFORMATION

The Egba nation its capital city as Abeokuta, which is also the capital of today’s Ogun state, south west Nigeria, Western Africa. It is strategically located on the Ogun River, 78km north of Lagos and 70km from the ancient city of Ibadan. Abeokuta is an agro-based market with small and middle level agro industries; it also serves as an exporting point for coco, palm products and kolanuts. Although cotton was introduced by the missionaries in the 1850’s, cotton weaving, pottery and tie dye (Adire) are all traditional craft of the Abeokuta people.

Nigerian multi ethnic and diverse culture, gives a lot of value to its art, which primarily includes ivory carving, grass weaving, wood carving, leather and calabash pottery, painting, cloth weaving, glass and metal works. Perhaps more than any form of art, the art of clothes (Adire) making reflects the culture from which they come. The art value of Adire making has been developed over a period of time, only time make it stronger as it passes from generation to generation. Adire textile which is the indigo dyed cloth is a resisted dyed cloth produced and worn by the Yoruba people of Nigeria and it’s an integral part of the culture and cultural heritage of the West African people.

THE FESTIVAL

The Adire heritage festival is a festival of fashion. A festival of heritage which first saw the light of day in 2009 and has been growing in size and popularity turning the cities of Austria into a Mecca for European based Africans and for fashion and culture loving young men and women. The festivals is an historic practice which it fashion originates and entwines cultural significance in African traditional activities, each session of the festival attempts to tell the African story in music, fashion, dance, and art designs. Furthermore, telling our African stories, myths and tales; telling our story in the African talking drums, and in expressing the African beauty and elegant nature in our highly colorful and vibrantly designed Adire textile. There will be an organized series of performance in regards to African origin and cultural heritage. Blended in the event will be exhibitions, designers showcasing gorgeous dresses, maxi skirts, jewelries, handbags, shoes, swim wears for both men and women, interior materials made from our Adire textile and other African print.

Join us as we celebrate Adire Heritage Festival in Lagos. For more info contact 08035785067