Class, Colour and Culture at Ojude Oba, Tobe’s Mama Grills Paris: Nobody Dey Gree Again
Let’s talk about fashion. Especially the Nigerian version of fashion. The type of fashion that features culture in a classy, composed and colourful way with plenty character and kàrámò (show-off).
Ojude-Oba is not a new festival. It’s been in existence for decades but with its new reputation, thanks to photos, videos and confetti-style presences, it’s heading to the top. Where else will you have such festival of colours? Where people make make radiant hues from traditional clothings, dark shades and proud shoulders?
And art makes everything better. The extra bit that goes into colourful illustration and documentation of those scenes make memories worthy. At that point, everyone disregards their worries, they're there to eat the moment and drink from the big jars of attention. Become a part of history.
Mummies and aunties, daddies and uncles, brothers and sisters did not leave any stone unturned in making themselves the cynosure of all eyes, at least for that period.
Families, groups, locals and foreigners continue to make a great deal of the event and it’s worth its salt by every means. All it needs is now some intentionality from the government beyond flowery words. The roads that lead the fashionistas home matter too.
That said.
The videos and photos coming out of Ijebu Ode are eclectic yet pointed to the same cause and driven by the same commitment to style. It’s beautiful seeing local culture sell itself with the creative imagination of others and just when you think that’s all, Farook Oreagba adds some Western nuggets.
Gallantly sitting on a horse, coated with the strong yet sassy style of a tattooed skin, donning a royal regale and flashing a cigar to go, Farook Oreagba becomes the toast of the nation. He put everything aside to tell a tale. A rare Nigerian elder living on his own terms and in his own world. When you beat death, you usually befriend freedom.
When you see the NG Clearing boss in suit, that's probably even more soothing. Such understanding of moments. Play when you must and work when you should. With those moments of confidence and character, Mr. Oreagba has shown you can be one person, but of two worlds. And that's fashionable. Just so fashionable.
Tobe Nwigwe is a citizen of the world, thanks to his parents. The Texas-born American-Nigerian rapper hammers down heavily on his Igbo culture. You can tell he breathes through his family’s nostrils from his words. He devices Igbo, his mother tongue in his rap sometimes. What nobody saw coming is how he's grilled his mother's teeth.
When Louis Vuitton and Pharrell came together to give the world a taste of fashion in Paris, Mrs. Nwigwe, Tobe’s mum gave one of the most fashionable cities in the world a run for its money. That's not something everyone can manage to do in Paris, but Mama Tobe took an entire city on the run.
With her teeth in grills, Tobe’s mum grilled the walkways with her presence and eminence. She espoused the Nigerian woman’s special character with her Gèlè seeking eyes and camera and she didn't look a tad disturbed by the attention. Those dark shades? Such brightness! What’s attention to a Nigerian woman?
What have we learnt? Fashion is always fashionable. It’s all about maintaining style and composure. Some steeze.
Those were two culturally competent Nigerians showing how to be young, free and living. They must have enjoyed every moment spent with cameras flashing and being the centre of attraction.
It’s just the joy of living without holdbacks sometimes. The happiness of freedom is invigorating and what’s a better way to show it than putting culture to work?
Good Read as always Rilwan!
Looking forward to your next Article