Overstayed its welcome?

extended family and so on. Is this a fad worth continuing? LifeXtra spoke to people who expressed divergent opinions. A radio journalist, Aderohunmu-Alli Folashade Temitope, said that it is a “wasteful life style” as she doesn’t see the benefits it adds to ones’ party. Temitope believes that the purpose over time, has been for the sake of uniformity “but when we critically look at it, only a few can afford this luxury.” She added that it is just a wasteful habit that is uncalled for. “Let people share in your joy without having to place a burden on them.”

A young mother, Seriki Sinota Yetunde Aro, feels that the advantages of Aso ebi outweighs it disadvantages. She enumerated several reasons why the fad should continue among which she said it closes the social economic gap. She said: “It will unite everyone in the party, no one needs to know who is richer or not” as all garbed in the same fabric.

She added that it gives the event “a cool boisterous rhythm in addition Aso ebi makes locating destination easier, as you can easily ask people ‘I am going to the party tiwon wo iru aso yi’ [I am going to a party where people wore this type of clothing]. She also said it gives the wearers a certain psychological level of affinity. The downside, according to her, is that celebrants often extort guests by selling the clothing at exorbitant prices and also by “making it unnecessarily necessary.” Nwakaego Chukwufumnaya Ordiah opined that culturally “it is a beautiful symbolism that expresses subtly the brother’s keeper nature of Nigeria and Africa at large.” She said “It adds to the boisterous nature of African ceremonies with its popping colour and how dramatic it turns out.” Like Yetunde, Nwakaego laments the outrageous prices they are usually sold, but still feels that the fad should continue “because culture remains beautiful.” Expressing a contrary view, A life style blogger, Esther Adeniyi said “It’s a fad I wish would fade away completely.” She joked that “Let’s take this Aso ebi menace as serious as feminism” because according to her, people especially women are “harassed” and pressurised to purchase these clothes. “Careless women have one more extra rubbish to waste the family finance on. No advantage. All disadvantages,” Esther laments.