Aso ebi culture among the Yoruba of Nigeria

The Yoruba social environment embodies rich cultural values, and one of these is the Aso ebi culture. Aso ebi is a cultural practice of the Yoruba that involves wearing a group uniform for ceremonies, showcasing the vibrant dress culture and altruistic values of the Yoruba. The Aso ebi cultural practice in recent times has, however, been marred by some unethical practices, which have called into question its relevance in contemporary Yoruba society. While studies have examined these inherent issues from the religious, ethical and socio-cultural angles, the historical perspective. This paper, therefore, attempts a historical analysis of the Aso ebi cultural practice by exploring its trajectory from pre-colonial to post-colonial times to assess its evolution, emerging trends, and impact on the socio-cultural landscape of the Yoruba. Using primary and secondary data, this paper established that, while the cultural practice emanated out of pure desire to appear in uniform dress to support celebrants, it has been ravaged by practices contrary to the values of the indigenous Yoruba society. This paper concludes that, regardless of these excesses, the cultural practice is widely accepted by ethnic groups beyond the Yoruba in Nigeria and even outside Nigeria, thus, its relevance cannot be overemphasised

Ethnic group · Modernity · Yoruba · African cultural and philosophical studies · Colonialism, slavery, and trade · Postcolonial and Cultural Literary Studies

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