Iya Tower was born in the confluence state, formally called Kogi (the same place where Flora Louisa Shaw, future wife of Lord F. D. Lugard gazed upon the flowing rivers and got inspired to give our beloved country its name – Nigeria).
As a child, Iya Tower learned the art of cloth weaving which is the norm for the females of the Ebira women of Okene.
The young daughter is taught how to weave by her mother who was trained by her mother before her. It is the duty of the young child to learn the art and pass on the knowledge.
As a rite of passage of sorts, to be confirmed a woman, an Ebira woman must be able to weave with dexterity different patterns and lengths of cloth.
Times were hard and business was slow. Due to insufficient support from the government, it became hard for people to survive on the land and cloth making. With a young family to care for, Iya Tower decided she was not going to die of starvation, packed up her family and migrated to Ìlú Ẹ̀bá-Ọ̀dàn (Ìbàdàn); “the city at the junction of the savannah and the forest” founded by Lagelu, Oro a pata maja, on his arrival from Ile ife. This city thrice destroyed by anger, jealousy and greed in its early days, was able to each time rise up from its ashes rebuild itself and prosper. What better place than this to rise above poverty and excel?
Starting up was hard for Iya Tower.
Having no other skill but weaving, her options were few.
Rather than give into despair and flee, she sat pensively in front of her faithful loom and slowly began to weave.
She eventually picked up speed and has been at it for the past 18 years.
Aso oke, short for Aso ilu Oke (also known as Aso – ofi ) means clothes from the up country.
Although no one can tell me where this “up country” is located, the name remains.
The cloth is made with a weaving apparatus called the loom.
The loom is made of about 6 to 7 wooden sticks which serve different functions in the weaving of clothes.
The integral part of cloth weaving is the rolling of thread “a woman that cannot roll thread cannot call herself a weaver”.
I asked Iya Tower what she liked about her job.
With a smile, she said she liked it because it was fashion.
She created beauty.
“Beauty never goes out of fashion”.
Aso oke’s find use in wedding ceremonies, naming ceremonies, celebration of promotions, even burial ceremonies!
She admitted that although Aso Oke weaving was also done in Ghana, Illorin and Iseyin, it is only a Kogi woman that can weave the full aso oke.
These are commonly used as bedding, cover-cloths and in making clothes for men.
Displaying the different types of Aso Oke for me:
super net/ *Alawe,
damask,
embroidery, cone – *Etu/Sonju,
silk and *Jaowu she warned that weaving of the cloth was not for lazy people.
"It takes patience, persistence and diligence".
Still in awe of the lovely designs she created for me on request (at an affordable price), I wonder if and when the time comes, I would be able to hand them over to the real owner.
* native names might not be spelled correctly
