Click the star to add/remove an item to/from your individual schedule.
You need to be logged in to avail of this functionality,
and to see the links to virtual rooms.
Log in
Accepted Paper:
"Wearing Isi-Agu is just Fashion": Renaissance and Cross-Gender Fusion in Apparels among Modern Nigerian Women
Ihuoma Okorie
(Bayero University Kano, Nigeria)
Isi-Agu is a cloth traditionally worn by men conferred with chieftaincy titles. It was a symbol of tradition and identity. However, with modernization, there has been a gender fusion in the use of this apparel originally meant for men. Following this new trend, what is the implication for the woman?
Paper long abstract:
Ancient Igbo traditional costume and attire reflect the rich cultural heritage of the Igbo people from from Nigeria. Each garment and accessory told a story, representing the wearer's heritage, status and role in the society. Isi-Agu is traditionally worn by Igbo men and royals conferred with a chieftaincy title. This makes it a heritage inspired attire. The dominant motif in the apparel is the head of a lion or the head of a roaring lion. This depicts the strength of the Igbo man. The wearing was restricted to only males; no woman dared to wear Isi-Agu. However, with modernization which led to the fizzling off of a deep cultural traditions of the past, the limitations put in place have gradually faded away. Thus, in a bid to change with the new trend, women have begun to wear Isi-Agu. This has led to a gender fusion in the use of this apparel originally meant for men. Women have become the main curators, having seen men hang in to the exclusivity for long. Following this new trend, are there implications associated with this fad?This paper shall be approached from the view point of gender renaissance in modern societies.