Songs as Sources of Ijebu-Ode Fashion History

Abstract

This paper examines the relevance of certain songs as data in studying the fashion history of Ijebu-Ode community. The songs documented dress-fabrics once worn at certain events and times, showing their social ratings, such as velvet, a highly expensive material; nylon which was a body see-through material; and apola, a less popular stripe patterned fabric. One of the songs eulogized the role of one of the Ijebu textile merchants. In some cases, the song composers were the wearers of the dress-fabrics to which assumed or real qualities were given, thus showing glimpses of the state of the art of fabrics of those times. This espousal of textile technology is a significant aspect of costume history. On the whole, the paper has demonstrated the potential of the content of indigenous songs as sources of dress-fabric, fashion trends and event-dress in their wider socio-cultural contexts.