On Sunday, July 25, the Egbira speaking ethnic group across the nation converged at the palace of the Ohimegye of Igu-Koton Karfe, His Royal Majesty (HRM), Alhaji Abdulrazak Sani Isa Koto, to launch their redesigned traditional attire.
The Igu-kotokarfe kingdom, one of the administrative centres of Egbira tribe, is located in Kogi Local Government Area of Kogi State.
The occasion, which was heralded with cultural display by local hunters, musicians, masquerade and fashion parade, was attended by Egbira sons and daughters from Edo, Nasarawa, Niger, FCT, Kogi State and in the diaspora.
Speaking at the event, the Ohimegye of Igu-Kotonkarfe kingdom said the Egbira cultural and traditional attire has been existing for decades, but was only redesigned with a better quality and befitting colours and to showcase it as a symbol of unity among all the Egbira-speaking ethnic group across the world.
He said the redesigned Egbira cultural and traditional attire is a symbol of the identity of all the Egbira’s, saying the white among the colors stand for peace, red for the struggle the Egbira made to have their way; black, which he said stands for heritage while yellow depict abundant natural resources in the kingdom.
The National President of Ohikwu Egbira Descendants Union (OEDU), Alhaji Musa Ibrahim Ahmadu, who was the chairman of the occasion, said one of the ways to showcase culture and tradition by a tribe with a historical background was through the wearing of attire.
“And that is why when you come across the Tiv people, you will discover that the colour of their attire is black and white, while Idoma people also have their colour too.
“And any part of the world you come across, you will know immediately that this person is a Tiv or Idoma by tribe,” he said.
He said the Egbira natives in Edo State and Okene in Kogi State, also have their own colour of attire, which he said became necessary for all the Egbira-speaking ethnic group to also have a single traditional/cultural attire across the world to serve as a symbol of unity among all the Egbira’s.
Also speaking, the National Chairperson of the Trade Union Congress (TUC), Comrade Hafsat Shuaibu, said the showcasing of the Egbira cultural and traditional attire was a welcome development, saying the generations unborn will be happy and celebrate the showcasing of the Egbira cultural and traditional attire.
She said since the youth are involved in showcasing the Egbira attire, it will encourage the leaders and Egbira traditional leaders to come together to celebrate Egbira’s special day, through the wearing of the attire.
“I am very confident that the showcasing of this Egbira cultural and traditional attire will not phase out since the youth and our leaders are involved,” she said.
A House of Representatives member for Kogi-Kotonkarfe-Lokoja federal constituency, Barrister Ibrahim Shaba, said sustaining a culture should be seen as paramount adding that people without an identity are lost people.
He said the Egbira’s are among the largest ethnic groups in Nigeria but are marginalised geographically, adding that “But we have been segmented into bits and pieces all over the place, as I wouldn’t know where that administrative conspiracy came from,” he said.
He said the showcasing of the Egbira cultural and traditional attire has brought all the Egbira speaking ethnic groups under one roof like other tribes in the country.
Finally, the Ohimegye of Igu-Kotonkarfe kingdom, appreciated members of the organising committee and his traditional council for ensuring the event was successful.
