When Oyo branded Aso Ofi for tourism

The annual celebration of World Tourism Day was observed in Oyo State with the celebration of Aso Ofi, a Yourba traditional clothing material by the state government in collaboration with Weavers Association in the town of Iseyin recently.

Unlike in the previous editions, the celebration of the indigenous fabric is a conscious effort to showcase the quality and uniqueness of the weaved materials and how they add value to the culture and tradition of Yoruba people. Apart from being a special fabric for the king and wealthy people in the society, it is also believed to be a material meant for special occasions.

The colourful celebration of the local fabrics which aimed at exposing the potential economic benefit of engaging in weaving and marketing of the material was graced by the wife of Oyo State governor, Mrs Florence Ajimobi; wife of the deputy governor, Mrs Janet Adeyemo; the Aseyin of Iseyin, Oba AbdulGaniyn Salau; the Eleruusa of Eruwa, Oba Samuel Adegbola; the Onjo of Okeho, Oba Rafiu Osuolale Mustapha, Onitede of Tede, Oba Rauf Adebimpe the Oladoyin, Olugbo of Igbojaye, Oba Oladimeji Olatunji and other Oke-Ogun traditional rulers.

Others in attendance were, House of Representatives and House of Assembly members from Oke-Ogun area, Commissioners from the state, all caretaker chairmen from Oke-Ogun area, the cultural ambassador to the Alaafin of Oyo, Dr Gomes Paul, as well as other dignitaries and traditional rulers.

The beauty of the material was on display as majority of the participants including tourists and the Commissioner for Information, Culture and Tourism, Mr Toye Arulogun and his entourage were clad in ofi sewn into Agbada and cap to match while some had Buba and Sokoto, Esiki, while women in their natural form tied their wrapper and buba.

But the appearance of Kolawole Akeem Balogun popularly called Osama and Waheed Sakiru Taiwo attracted virtually everybody at the event as the duo displayed creativity by designing suites and ties with Aso Ofi.