Growing popularity of Idoma cultural attire

The Idoma people of Benue State are uniquely identified by their red and black native attire which they proudly adorn.
Though, its definite emergence could not be properly ascertained, history however showed that the traditional fabric known as ‘lli K’ Idoma’ which boldly distinguishes the Idoma ethnic tribe in Benue dates back to the reign of the second paramount ruler of the Idoma kingdom, late Och’ Idoma, His Royal Majesty, Abraham Ajene Okpabi.
In fact, some argued that the heritage was as old as the existence of the people themselves who are believed to be migrants of the famous Kwararafa kingdom centuries ago. Precisely, at a time when Idu, the progenitor of present day Idoma people found in nine local government areas located in south senatorial district of the state with minority of them spread across Nasarawa and Cross Rivers states engaged in hand weaving clothing and when blacksmith trade bloomed around the borders of Igala, Ebira and Igbo speaking neigbouring natives.
But, the Secretary-General of “Opiatoha K’ Idoma” a socio-cultural umbrella body for the Idoma nation, Adoka Adaji traced the origin of the fabric to over thirty years ago when the then Idoma Traditional Council under the leadership of Okpabi approved the red and black as the official dressing colour of unity and identification for the tribe.
According to Adaji, the red stands for the strength of the people and also as a symbol that no power or might of another empire can take away the Idoma from their present settlement while he postulated that the black referred to the agrarian nature of the people who interact with the earth for many other purposes.
“For us as a people, the earth holds lot of power and that is why we celebrate ‘Ej’ Ajaje’ -a ceremony to appease the earth/land. We also place emphasis on ‘Oka’-royal bead and ‘Okwute’ which means the royal scepter,” Adaji narrated.
Today, the traditional heritage has been preserved by all well-meaning sons and daughters of Idoma extraction to make a fashion statement. It has become very popular and gaining more relevance among the elite and young people of the tribe.
Outlining the significance of the attire, the paramount ruler of Otukpo kingdom, Och’Otukpo, Chief John Eyimonye explained that the red colour implied kingship while the black represents the race as a people and a reminder of the mother earth to which all mortals shall return to.
The traditional head also said that the black colour depicts the fact that the dead are buried using black materials, stressing that though white is used in some ethos, the ritual had become famous among the Idoma who celebrated the culture as the existing pattern of the peoples’ way of dressing.
He added further that the attire has become very popular now because it gives an Idoma person an identity.
The royal father pointed out that the apparel which comes in different pieces such as muffler, cap, caftan, headgear, handbags, wrappers, shoes among others gives an identity to the user.
Interestingly, the outfit nowadays is not limited to only Idoma people, it has further spread to other tribes alien to the culture but who love to be identified with the Idoma origin.
A Makurdi-based weaver and trader in the fabrics, Cletus Bom says he makes a lot of money between December and May when sales and demand for the fabric is usually high as a result of many events holding within the period.
Bom said that the popularity of the clothing has continued to advance in recent times more than when he started trading in the attire 10 years ago because people from all walks of life such as the Hausas, Igbos, Efik among others now patronize him.
He noted that the material which are in two designs of red and black or Ox-blood and black are used in many occasions emphasizing that it has become more common amongst the younger people than in the past when it was like limited to the elderly.
Corroborating Bom, Barrister George Abah simply puts it this way: “The Idoma culture also referred to as Opa K’ Idoma has become popular among young people of my age because of pride. It goes with the slogan-Proudly Idoma. We wear it for identification.”
Similarly, an Idoma lady, Onyeje Abutu who dressed in the attire during her recent traditional marriage said she wore it to showcase the richness of her culture before visitors that graced the occasion.
Onyeje added: “I’m proud of my tribe. I wore the Idoma culture during my traditional marriage as an expression of identity before my husband’s people who are of Igala descent in Kogi State.”
In the same vein, Mrs. Rose Ejembi, a Yoruba woman married to an Idoma man said she decided for her kids to use the unique costume for their birthday as a way of inculcating their cultural root and the need for them to love their heritage.
No doubt, the ‘lli K’ Idoma’ in the estimation of Adaji has come to stay because the Idoma people, old or young have embrace it whole heartedly such that in all their gatherings, traditional palaces and buildings are decorated with the red and black colours even to the extent that some Christian clerics now make their cassocks with the traditional attire.
For, veteran journalist and national Public Relations Officer of the Idoma National Forum, (INF), Daniel Ekah, the red and black colours was adopted in 1983 by the then Ochi’ Idoma, Agabaidu Okpabi as a modern conception for the Idoma people’s identity, arguing however that the original traditional colour of the Idoma were Indigo, yellow, and green.
“Our traditional clothing which cuts across all parts of Idoma-Otukpo, Igumale, Agila, Edumoga, Ochekwu, Agatu and Igede was indigo-coloured linen which was woven from white cotton and then dyed into indigo to produce between dark blue and purple,” Ekah said.
He explained further that as a matter of fact, the clothing cut across the Kwararafa fraternity comprising of today’s Alago, Jukun, Idoma, Etulo and Igala, adding that until date, the Jukun, Alago and Etulo women, especially in the rural setting are mostly clad in the indigo-coloured linen.
Ekah also maintained that the ‘Opa’ which is today used for burial in the Idoma setting is made of indigo coloured linen with its quality, length and size measured as signs of wealth and divinity, especially as practice by the Otukpo people.
According to him, the body of the deceased is either wrapped in the Opa or the Opa is used as coverlet over the body in a casket before burial and if that was not done, one’s family would bear the brunt of public criticism which could be worst in Otukpo custom if the dead was an elderly person.
He said that the attires were usually brought in from Ebira land in Okene and its environ that shares common ancestry with the Idoma people.
The veteran journalist noted that the linen is popularly used by most masquerades in Idoma land to show the uniqueness of its tradition, stressing that it is the main linen for ‘Alekwu’ (spirits) in Otukpo, Ugboju, Ochobo, Orokam and other areas where the Alekwu masquerade still exist.