Igbo Traditional Attire: Then and Now

Igbo Traditional Attire: Then and Now

In the past, the traditional attire of the Igbo people was minimal, primarily serving the purpose of modesty. While elders were fully clothed, children would typically be nude until they reached puberty. However, they would sometimes wear waist beads for spiritual reasons. Both men and women would adorn their bodies with Uli body art, consisting of lines forming various patterns and shapes.

Traditionally, Igbo women would carry their babies on their backs, using a strip of clothing to bind them together with a knot on the chest. This practice has evolved into the modern child carrier. However, women did not cover their breast areas. Unmarried women would usually wear a short wrapper with waist beads, necklaces, and other decorative pieces.

Both men and women would wear wrappers. Men would wear loin cloths wrapped around their waist and between their legs, fastened at the back. This clothing was suitable for the hot climate and for tasks such as farming.

With the influence of colonialism, the Igbo people began adapting their dress customs. The clothing worn before colonialism became known as “traditional attire” and was reserved for cultural occasions. Present-day Igbo traditional attire for men typically includes the Isiagu top. Decorated with embroidered lions’ heads, the Isiagu can be a solid color. It is worn with trousers and can be paired with a ceremonial hat or the striped men’s hat called Okpu Agwu. Women, on the other hand, wear a blouse with puffed sleeves, two wrappers, and a head tie.