Who are the Igbo’s?
Igboland is used to describe where the Igbos reside in Nigeria west Africa. This is divided into two segments along the lower River Niger. They live in mostly in five states: Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu and Imo, including minor parts of Delta, Rivers and Benue states. Cameroon and Equatorial Guinea have small Igbo communities.
Due to the Transatlantic slave trade, Igbo’s migrated to other countries which include Jamaica, Cuba, Barbados, Belize, the United States plus others. Aspects of Igbo culture have been noticed in Jamaican patois – for instance, the Igbo word ‘unu’ which means ‘you’ is still used.
Clothing
The Igbos wear something called an Isiagu. The Isiagu which is also called ‘chieftaincy’ it is a pullover shirt like a dashiki which the Igbo people wear. The Isiagu expresses the Igbos peoples values of strength, courage and Nobility
The origins and history of the Isiagu is a testimony to the Igbo’s dynamic culture. The Igbo are very practical and therefore very open-minded and adaptable. The Concept of the Isiagu is lightly based on the English tunic shirt. The Europeans in 1880's wore the tunics along the coasts of Biafra and Bonny.
The Igbo wore the tunics with more swagger and esteem. The Igbos wore them in many vibrant colours and added the distinctive Leopard (Agu) head. The Leopard’s head has faded away over time in favour of Lion (Odum) head for a practical reason. The Igbos have a proverb that says, Odum na egbu agu (A lion kills a leopard). The Lion consequently (Odum) ranks higher than Leopard (Agu).
The Agu (leopard) was more appropriate as they can be found in the Igbo rain forest. While Lion (Odum) are found in the savannah of Northern Igbo lands which are rarer. The Igbo folklore have more leopard motifs than the lion and so it is Isiagu and not Isiodum.
The Isiagu is worn by everyone. From high achieving to a normal Igbo man. They are worn by Men, women and children in various colours.
Afrologi
Afrologi baby has created Isiagu style babywear to represent the Igbo culture. They come in 3 colours.
They are named after the colour they feature in the Igbo languageWhite is Ocha, Aja from the cream which translates as sand and Mmanya which is more of a wine colour. Mmanya in igbo can mean alcohol or wine.
Reference:
https://heritage54.com/blogs/news/isiagu-the-igbo-national-clothing
https://theculturetrip.com/africa/nigeria/articles/an-introduction-to-nigerias-igbo-people/