TRADOCULTURAL

Aso oke fabric , (Yoruba: Așǫ oke, pronounced   ah-SHAW-okay ) is a hand-loomed cloth woven by the   Yoruba people   of west   Africa .   Aso oke  means "top cloth" in the   English language , denoting cloth of high status.   Usually woven by men, the fabric is used to make men's gowns, called   Agbada , women's   wrappers , called iro, and men's hats, called   fila . Aso oke  is from the Yoruba culture in  Ondo ,  Oyo ,  Ogun ,  Ekiti ,  Lagos , and  Osun States  in southwestern Nigeria and  Ajase  in southeastern  Benin Republic The way of making the cloth has remained the same for centuries, however new techniques and production methods have been looked into to eliminate the weight and thickness of the Aso oke cloth, and to make it more accessible for casual wear. Types of aso oke Edit Other ways that designers have made this old traditional cloth be...

The New Yam Festival is an annual festival observed mostly by the people of the Middle belt ,South and East of Nigeria. It is held at the end of the rainy season  which is different times in different communities starting from early August to  October . The festival also known as Iwa Ji ,Iri Ji or Ike ji (meaning eating yam), is observed throughout West Africa , Especially in Nigeria .It symbolises the conclusion of a harvest and the beginning of the next work cycle . In Igbo land , it ties the Igbo communities together .Yam are the first crop to be harvested and it is the most important crop. The evening before the New yam Festival ,old Yam must be consumed or discarded and on the day of the festival only dishes made out of yam is  served. Palm oil is used to  eat the yam .The oldest Man in the community eats the first yam offering the yam and prayers to the gods, deities and ancestors . The harves...

A Zulu wedding, like most African weddings, is vibrant with colors, music, dancing, and then some. There are other traditions when it comes to South African weddings but Zulu weddings are among the most popular because of the vast population of members of Zululand. When a Zulu girl is ready for marriage, her father will arrange a coming-out ceremony to introduce her to society and formally make her availability for marriage known. Nowadays, I don’t know how close to the historical Zulu traditions a Zulu wedding is but it is still fascinating to learn about how their ancestors did it. Among the Zulus, the bride has the upper hand. The bride goes and gets her groom. Once she gives her consent, the number of cattle that will be given to her father in exchange for her is negotiated. Beaded jewelry is the language of love in Zulu weddings. Brides-to-be will typically make two sets of bead necklaces in matching colors – one for herself and one for her groom-to-be. Their matchi...

In Nigeria, Cowry shell is believed to be the most-widely known pre-coinage currency. There are of course two species of Cowry shell that were used as currency, and their acceptability varied from one area of the country to another. A species of the large type called “Cypraea annulus” was preferred in the West of Niger whereas in the East of Niger the smaller type “Cypraea moneta” was in common use. Cowrie is known by different names in Nigeria. In Igbo-land, the large Cowry shells are known among the people as “Mbudambu” or “Nwefe” or “Okpokpo” which cost one-third of the small ones known as “Ayola”In Nigeria, Cowry shell is believed to be the most-widely known pre-coinage  Besides the Igbo people, Cowry shell is also known by different names among people of other ethnic groups of Nigeria: Among the Fulani, it is known as Sedere ; owoeye in Yoruba; Igvo or Bosjes or “Bossies in  Bini.

The history of bartering dates all the way back to 6000 BC. Introduced by Mesopotamia tribes, bartering was adopted by Phoenicians. Phoenicians bartered goods to those located in various other cities across oceans. Babylonian's also developed an improved bartering system. Goods were exchanged for food, tea, weapons, and spices. At times, human skulls were used as well. Salt was another popular item exchanged. Salt was so valuable that Roman soldiers' salaries were paid with it. In the Middle Ages, Europeans traveled around the globe to barter crafts and furs in exchange for silks and perfumes. Colonial Americans exchanged musket balls, deer skins, and wheat. When money was invented, bartering did not end, it become more organized. Due to lack of money, bartering became popular in the 1930s during the Great Depression. It was used to obtain food and various other services. It was done through groups or between people who acted similar to banks. If any items ...

In African folklore,  Amadioha  and  Sango  are gods of thunder to the Igbos and Yorubas respectively. There are many difference between them but many similarities too. They are both associated with aggression and serve as agents of justice. People who have been accused of crimes go to their shrines to declare their innocence, less they be struck by lightning. Their common colour representation is Red and white, and the white ram. The ram is sacred to alot of the African thunder and lightning gods, both as a sacrifice and as a symbol. Sango Sango is one of the ancestral fathers and  Orishas of the Yoruba, Caribbean and certain Latin American  people. He is the highly reverenced god of Thunder, Lightning, and Electricity who was also the third Alaafin of Oyo. He was a powerful ruler who brought prosperity to his land. He gained his powers from a babalawo (herbalist) when he sought more power to destroy his enemies. He gained the powers to c...

Nearly every part of the illegal journey a migrant makes from West Africa to Europe across the Sahara desert and the Mediterranean is filled with peril. But even a routine roll call, innocuous as it may seem, can turn into a recurring nightmare. Believe me! African hell is far better than European's Paradise. These touching images back-up my argument.............. But there is more to life than forcefully living abroad. No other Nation can love you as your dear country. Just be be patient for a while, its gonna better soon. What a glory loss! No!noo!no!no!noo!noooooooo!!!!!! Over what????? Mutchhhhhhh Am I not taking it too personal? Over to you please!

Saki was once a Yoruba refugee settlement after the destruction in 1835 of old Oyo.  Ogun (god of Iron) was from this town. Traditionally, the work of inhabitants in the olden days of Saki were hunting, farming, blacksmith, goldsmith and clay pot mouldering  According to Omoba Olawuyi Maranroola, one of the princes in the royal family of Iji-ojiele, Iganran area of Saki town who made it known that in the ancient time, the first king that reigned in Saki was Akebekun meaning someone that shouts like tiger. He was a powerful king that married two wives. There was also a powerful woman who lived in Saki at this time whose name was Omujelewu, Ekunsumi meaning her breast was so big to the extent of falling out of her clothing. This prevented men from approaching her for marriage. Her parents tried all what they could do to get her problem solved, they tried all what they could, going from one herbalist to another but to no avail. Not until her father’s friend took her to an he...