₦airaland Forum

On Tuesday, former presidential aide Reno Omokri stirred online controversy when he claimed that an attire commonly associated with the Igbo ethnic group and minorities in the Niger Delta does not originate from them.

Omokri was referring to the Okpu Agu cap, Etibo shirt, and wrapper worn by podcaster Ezugwu Chukwudi, popularly known as Husband Material, during his appearance on the Honest Bunch podcast aired Tuesday night, sparking intense debate among Nigerians.

When asked why he frequently wears Yoruba Aso Oke attire, which he also promotes on his social media pages, Omokri explained his preference, then turned to critique the hosts for wearing Western clothing. He also pointed at Husband Material, who was dressed in traditional attire.

Pointing to Husband Material, he said, “Nothing he’s wearing is of Nigerian origin.”

“That is not of Nigerian origin,” Omokri said, referring to the Okpu Agu hat. “That is a colonial winter cap that the colonialists were using. It is the truth. It is not of Igbo origin.”

He then pointed to the presenter’s shirt: “The reason why they call it Etibo—even my people, the Itsekiri, wear it. I don’t wear it because it is actually a sailor’s uniform.

The reason why they call it Etibo is because it was sewn for ‘Eight Bols’, which is an old currency. They couldn’t pronounce ‘Eight Bols’, so they called it Etibo. It is not of Nigerian origin. The studs are not of Nigerian origin.”

Regarding the wrapper, Omokri said: “And this wrapper—they call them George—comes from Holland. During the coronation of King George, the colonial government gave Nigerian women George, and that’s why they decided to wear it. It comes from Holland, and the cheaper ones come from India. They just make you think that it is Nigerian. It is not made in Nigeria.”

Omokri continued: “Aso Oke has been made in Nigeria for over 800 years. If you go to the British Museum, you will see the Ooni of Ife… The reason you don’t recognise it as Aso Oke is because you’re used to seeing it sewn differently. That cloth the Ooni wrapped around himself, tied over his shoulder—that’s Aso Oke. That’s why I choose to wear only authentic Nigerian materials.”

However, Okwu ID, a UK-based organisation promoting African and Igbo culture, described Okpu Agu as a knitted woollen hat—somewhat cone-shaped with a bob at the end—traditionally worn by warriors in Igbo land.

According to its website, these warriors were part of the Aro Confederacy, a powerful political and economic alliance that emerged in southeastern Nigeria around Arochukwu during the 18th and 19th centuries.

That said, the Okpu Agu does closely resemble the winter cap worn by Westerners, known as a beanie. According to Zaini, a UK store specialising in knitted hats, the beanie originated in 12th-century Wales, where it was called the Monmouth Cap. Other sources affirm that Americans later gave the cap the name Beanie when it arrived in the US in the 20th century.

Verdicts

Okpu Agu:
If beanie caps existed in the West as far back as the 12th century, and the Aro Confederacy emerged in the 18th and 19th centuries, it is plausible that the Okpu Agu was inspired by Western designs during colonial contact. Since there are no historical records of Okpu Agu predating colonialism, Omokri’s claim that it was introduced by colonialists appears credible.
Score: 90%

Etibo:
Omokri’s claim that the Etibo shirt resembles a sailor’s uniform is also reasonable. The shirt, particularly when studded, bears similarities to colonial naval attire. Additionally, there is no evidence of a similar style being used by Nigerians before colonial contact.
Score: 70%

George Wrapper:
Omokri’s claim about the George wrapper has significant historical support. According to the Textile Research Centre (TRC), in 1611, the British East India Company established a factory near Madraspatnam (now Chennai), an area renowned for its textile production. British merchants promoted the export of this cloth, now widely known as Madras or George cloth. The Dutch imported versions were known as Madras doek. Thus, the George wrapper has clear colonial and foreign roots.
Score: 80%

Nlfpmod

https://guardian.ng/news/fact-check-records-back-omokris-claim-linking-okpu-agu-to-colonialists/

He may right but And so?
Does it mean they shouldn't wear it because it has colonial origin? That's if both assertions are even correct. I know they are not correct. That there's no records about it doesn't mean it must be from colonial origin.
Anything to denigrate the south east . Anyway this time it includes some Niger delta states.

Even the red cap originated from Europe. The British gave it to them to distinguish their chiefs from their commoners.

This mumukiri just want to be in the news always, you will noticed he doesn't have much to say just to raise dust and make people talk about him
What is the relevance of his nonsense talk about igbo atire now
He wants to divert attention from Benue killings, but Nigerians have already moved on ,he arrived a little too late

My ancestors have been weaving Aso Oke, dying adire and making damask long before a white man ever visited Africa. Isi-Agu and those red and colored winter caps were all gifted to the Ibos by Europeans and they simply adopted it as their cultural attires in the absence of any one before.

People who are wearing suit, jeans, sneakers are doing fact check. Stupidity is dangerous

nedu666:
People who are wearing suit, jeans, sneakers are doing fact check. Stupidity is dangerous

This is not the point. Those who wear "suit, jeans and sneakers" already know that the attire is not "native" and they do not present it as such unlike the people who would wear "Ankara" and say they are wearing native attires.

No, they style might be native but the fabric is not and that is the point. There is no difference between an Ijaw man wearing so-called traditional wear hats and you wearing a suit but you wearing a suit don't say you are wearing your cultural attire

Who cares about this story, Nairaland gives so much airtime to this guy against more important issues.
Cultural evolution is a part of life, people evolve.

shortgun:
It doesn't make any sense. How will Europeans wear winter caps in hot Africa

How will Africans wear chair covers (aka Apoche) under hot sun?

According to radio carbon dating by the British professor of archeology Thurstan Shaw in 1958 of ancient relics discovered at the compound of Isaiah Anozie in present day Igboukwu, Anambra state , Igbos had been living in present location and same culture since 7th century AD. At that time there was no British empire but Roman , Vikings and few other empires . British came into existence around 12th century AD so between Igbos and British who copied themselves?

Reno the rabblerouser is right and he is wrong

The igbo cultural attire before colonialism is similar to that of the Benins. It was mostly a single wrapper tied round the waist with the chest left bare. The elders in Igboland usually tie the wrappers across their left shoulders in toga style. Wearing of wrappers made of raffia palm was also part of the cultural dressing then
The Yoruba on the other hand learn the art of weaving and yarning and also dyeing and tieing of clothes and thus had distinct forms of dressing from all other tribes that make up Nigeria today
Even the Hausa dressing of today is influenced from the Islamic mode of dressing that was obtained from the Malian and Shonghai empire
Thus, in terms of acceptable modern dressing, the Yoruba takes the crown among all tribes in Ngera

So he is saying Igbos do not have native or traditional attire?

Tjra:
How will Africans wear chair covers (aka Apoche) under hot sun?

Lol..you are right about that chair fabric. I saw it somewhere on Twitter and I laughed so hard.

Kukutente23:
Reno is right and he is wrong

The igbo cultural attire before colonialism is similar to that of the Benins. It was mostly a single wrapper tied round the waist with the chest left bare. The elders in Igboland usually tie the wrappers across their left shoulders in toga style. Wearing of wrappers made of raffia palm was also part of the cultural dressing then
The Yoruba on the other hand learn the art of weaving and yarning and also dyeing and tieing of clothes and thus had distinct forms of dressing from all other tribes that make up Nigeria today
Even the Hausa dressing of today is influenced from the Islamic mode of dressing that was obtained from the Malian and Shonghai empire
Thus, in terms of acceptable modern dressing, the Yoruba takes the crown among all tribes in Ngera

Ethnic groups, not tribes.

A tribe is Ijesha, Ijebus, Owan, Etsako, Edo, Esan, Okrika, Abriba, Nnewi, Ikwere etc, while the ethnic group is called Yoruba, Igbo, Edo, Hausa etc

still doesn't make it less of an igbo attire, cultures usually influence each other. Both spaghetti and tomato didn't originate from Italy, but they have captured it as their own with a little bit of Italian touches. It is still an igbo attire

Procashtips:
Ethnic groups, not tribes.

A tribe is Ijesha, Ijebus, Owan, Etsako, Edo, Esan, Okrika, Abriba, Nnewi, Ikwere etc, while the ethnic group is called Yoruba, Igbo, Edo, Hausa etc

Where did you get this from?
Ijesha is a dialect of the Yoruba tribe. Tribe and ethnic group basically mean the same thing

seunmsg:
My ancestors have been weaving Aso Oke, dying adire and making damask long before a white man ever visited Africa. Isi-Agu and those red and colored winter caps were all gifted to the Ibos by Europeans and they simply adopted it as their cultural attires in the absence of any one before.

Ok, as they now adopted it. What wrong have they done?

Kukutente23:
Where did you get this from?
Ijesha is a dialect of the Yoruba tribe. Tribe and ethnic group basically mean the same thing

Please, make your research before countering me.

Ijesha is both a tribe and a dialect of Yoruba just as Egba is a tribe belonging to the Yoruba ethnic group.

All these people used to wage wars against eachother in the south west before they became one less than 200 years ago.

Tribe and ethnic group aren't same.

The former is a sub-group of the latter.

No be this one they do nigeria now azanomo . Una just they open thread upon thread and una azanomo mod just they push am to front page .. propaganda ain't working this time una hear ..

Reno Reno, the kain enemy you no Wan get if you no clean.

I dont even want to know about the origin of the attire, now that the Igbos have adopted it, Reno can you pls tell us the crime they have committed?
I'm waiting to hear o!

Reno u no go kill person


Though what u said is right but no b Everything person dey talk

Go check it history, in 1903, yorubas are not known to wear their regalia... They dnt even wear clothes..

So do hausa, tiv , Noni etc.. no one in Africa created the clothes they now call culture clothes.. everyone got it from Somewhere, so if Reno keeps fooling himself with senseless tweet because he knows that slaves will always click, they I dnt blame Reno, instead I blame his slave followers...

The way non Igbos carry igbo people matter for head eh...

seunmsg:
My ancestors have been weaving Aso Oke, dying adire and making damask long before a white man ever visited Africa. Isi-Agu and those red and colored winter caps were all gifted to the Ibos by Europeans and they simply adopted it as their cultural attires in the absence of any one before.

The suit and jeans that you wear were also given to you by your drunken master ancestors too right ?

Patriottt:
The way non Igbos carry igbo people matter for head eh...

Igbo is the greatest tribe in earth .. that's the reason some south westerners like to measure dicckk with the great Igbos

Of Nigerian origin? Does this fooool know that Igbo, Yoruba, Hausa etc predate Nigeria?