The Ogun State Solidarity Movement (OSM) on Saturday insisted that Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, remain the original birthplace of Adire fabrics.
The President, Ogun State Solidarity Movement (OSM), Lekan Shobo Shobowale stated this while featuring on a Saturday radio breakfast programme in Abeokuta.
Shobowale, while responding to a question on the comments by Osun State Governor Senator Ademola Adeleke and later the governor spokesperson, Mallam Olawale Rasheed, he stated that Abeokuta must be given its place of recognition when talking about Adire.
He said the word ‘Adire’ was from the Yoruba words ‘adi’, which means to tie and ‘re’ meaning to dye is common among the Egba people of Ogun State.
“In the early decades of the 20th century came new access to large quantities of imported shirting material through the spread of European textile merchants in Abeokuta and other Yoruba towns.
“This eventually cause a boom in these women’s entrepreneurial and artistic efforts, making Adire a major local craft in Abeokuta and Ibadan that attracted buyers from all over West Africa.
“Abeokuta is then considered to be the capital of Adire making in Nigeria.”
Shobowale then pointed out that , though Osogbo and Ibadan may also be considered in adire making business because Adire dyeing began in Abeokuta when Egba women from Ibadan returned with the knowledge.
“Yes, there is nothing so special if Ogun and Osun are laying claim to how Adire began . The joy in there is that it all began in Yorubalnd, whether Ogun or Osun.”