What To Look Out For When Choosing Your 'Aso-Ebi'

oke efagene

July 16, 2014 4:32 PM

Aso-ebi is a common phenomenon in Nigerian traditional weddings, and it requires careful coordination of colours and fabrics.

For those who do not already know, 'Aso-ebi' means "cloth of the family" and it is a phrase derived from the Yoruba language in western Nigeria.

It simply has to do with fabrics of identical colour or design which families (and sometimes close friends) of the couple are expected to wear on the day of their wedding, either to identify who belongs to which family or group, or just for the sake of uniformity.

Fabrics used for aso-ebi can range from Ankara, to lace or velvet, or any other material of your choice.

However, this phenomenon is not exclusive to the Yorubas alone or Nigerians, for that matter. It is a cultural practice that is also common in other African countries.

The aso-ebi is usually shared or sold by either the parents of the couple or their friends.

When choosing your aso-ebi, you have to consider whether it will be complementary or contrasting.

Complementary aso-ebi matches the couple’s colour. The nice thing about this is that it’s pretty much risk free. The only downside is that the bride/groom may not really stand out.

On the other hand, contrasting aso-ebi is different from the couple’s colour and is much trickier.

There are many hits and misses, but when gotten right, it looks absolutely fabulous as you will see in the photos below.

oke efagene