The Oluwo of Iwoland, Oba Abdulrosheed Adewale Akanbi, has called for stronger federal government support to revive Nigeria’s indigenous textile industry. He emphasized that aligning local fabrics with contemporary fashion trends could reduce reliance on imported clothing and create economic opportunities.
Oba Akanbi highlighted the need to modernize traditional fabrics like Aso Oke and Ofi. He suggested adapting them into suits, jeans, jackets, and other everyday attire to appeal to Nigerian youths, noting that “you must think like the children and the youths if you want to influence them.”
The monarch linked the revival of cultural fashion to job creation and economic growth. Expanding local textile production, he said, would generate employment for weavers and reduce foreign exchange spent on clothing imports. Previous discussions with the Bank of Industry on supporting indigenous textile manufacturing, however, had not yielded desired results, prompting him to seek broader government involvement.
Oba Akanbi also addressed cultural misconceptions affecting traditional attire. He warned that mislabeling Yoruba cultural symbols as religiously inappropriate had discouraged younger generations from embracing them. He stressed that Ofi and beads represent rich cultural heritage and luxury, not idolatry, and should be promoted widely.
The Oluwo urged traditional rulers to clarify the distinction between culture and religion. He noted that cultural attire is rarely worn in religious settings, questioning why Yoruba children only wear traditional clothing for weddings or naming ceremonies, and called for consistent promotion of Yoruba culture for future generations.
