NAN-ELS-1
Tradition
By Vezi Isike
Lagos, Jan. 10, 2018 (NAN) Nigerians must take pride in projecting traditional attires by wearing them regularly to restore the African identity and dignity.
Austin Ekezie, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of VillageBoi Apparel, a clothing outfit, gave the advice on Wednesday in Lagos.
Ekezie told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos that sustaining the traditional style of dressing would create an avenue for international image building, cultural diplomacy and promote the spirit of nationalism among Africans.
According to him, the infusion of foreign culture has changed and affected most African ways of life in all spheres.
He said that the fizzling out of the original African religion instigated the aberration of the people’s tradition and originality.
“We have lost so much than we should as a people because we allowed and imbibed the deceit melted on our belief system by the westerners.
“A look at the likes of the iconic Fela and his contemporaries will give you clues on why sustenance of our tradition in style and attire sold them to the rest of the world.
“Our musicians today have had reorientation of religiosity and are beginning to lack respect in the global scene owing to the disregard for what our fathers lived for.
“They rather had found solace in hip-hop or jazz genre and dress to suite rather than tag along with the Juju, Fuji and Afrobeats genres and dress alike to follow the part our fathers toed,” he said.
Ekezie said that Nigerians indirectly placed premium on western culture especially by their choice of clothing rather than patronise clothing’s that depicted our values and struggles as a people.
“Africans have suddenly become ignorant of how the western world revered our culture.
“In time past, westerners had great respect for what we stood for as a people because our attires were distinctive features that gave clue to the descendants of whom we were.
“Traditional clothing was a strict show-off of what we truly stood for as defendants of noble warriors and were made to dress in that regard.
“Our dress sense was not just a mere charade of style but was influenced by supreme beings, “he said.
He said that the society should promote values and norms which would accord them the respect they deserved.
“It is high time we stood up, go back to the roots and correct the ills that have befallen us because we adhered to the ways and culture of foreigners.
“When we trace our steps and live by what we are known for; we can confidently say we are Africans and are proud to forever be,” he said.(NAN)
VOI/PAD
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Edited by Peter Dada