FEATURE: ‘This is welcome development,’ Ofi weavers in Ogbomoso hail Oba Ghandi, Oyo govt
Femi OGUNLANA & Jeremiah OYELEKE
Two events have worked to stimulate the revival of the Aso Oke (otherwise known as Aso Ofi) industry in Ogbomoso and all Oyo state in recent months or so. The first of the epoch events is the debuting of the Ogbomoso Cradle Carnival in December 2024 and then a new Oyo state government’s policy mandating civil servants to put on attires “with a touch of Ofi” on Thursdays.
These two factors Ofi weavers in Ogbomoso told Ogbomoso Insight have started the rebirth of the once flourishing industry which vicissitudes of time caused to slump at some point.
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Ogbomoso Insight reports the historic visit of the Soun of Ogbomosoland His Imperial Majesty Oba Ghandi Afolabi Olaoye Orumogege III accompanied by his chiefs and the Onifedegbo of Fedegbo, HRH Oba Gbolagunte Olaosebikan Takutanpa 1, on Wednesday to Fedegbo, the hub of the industry in Ogbomoso, for an on-the-spot assessment and to charge the craftsmen on the need to rejig themselves and ramp up the stake.
The Oba told them his purpose was to make them key into his vision to develop the town, a plank of which is economic development. Describing the Ofi industry as a goldmine he urged them to rise to the occasion in meeting up with supply of the handwoven fabric for the next and subsequent Cradle Carnivals while promising to assist in rebuilding their workstations towards revamping the industry.
Enthusiastically, the craftsmen applauded him and their ebbulient chief, the Onifedegbo for the initiative.
Ogbomoso Insight later spoke with the artisans during which they reiterated their readiness for the challenge and expressed hope the promised assistance will come in time.
“This is a welcome development,” Alhaji Bashiru Adegboyega, a lead weaver at Fedegbo, enthused. “We have already keyed into the plan, it is to improve our wellbeing, the Oba loves progress and promotion of our culture and tradition, we will renew our commitment to the craft.”
Alhaji Adegboyega who said all children born into the Fedegbo family learn the trade from childhood, highlighted some of the challenges faced by the Industry which led to the slump.
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“The introduction of damasks and other modern fabric materials caused people to shift preference from Ofi. And because of low patronage many of our youths abandoned the business to learn other trades and some to riding Okada (commercial motorcycling).”
This position was corroborated by others who spoke with ogbomosoinsightonline.com including the Mogaji of Fedegbo compound, Mogaji Idowu Babarinde Ajibade, who called on the youths to return to the craft.
Adegboyega added, “Kabiyesi Oba Ghandi from what we have seen since he ascended the throne of his forefathers has vision for the growth of Ogbomoso and he has seen the revival of the Ofi industry is one area the economy of the town can be boosted. May God help him.”
Mogaji Ajibade as well as Adegboyega pointed out Ofi business has started picking up since the staging of the Cradle Carnival and the directive by the Governor Seyi Makinde – led administration to civil servants to start adorning native wears containing Ofi materials on Thursdays aside Fridays which was routine already.
“These two events have become game changers,” the Mogaji noted.
This is as Adegboyega maintained, “Since the carnival, business has been picking up, and the government’s policy on native wears on Thursdays have both sparked increase in patronage,” adding, “Moreover the fabric is now lighter, it is not as heavy as it used to be, what that means is that it can be worn with greater ease, and can be designed into various styles. People now sew trousers with it and wear other tops on it. Its acceptability is on the increase.”
That is why “We welcome Oba Ghandi’s initiative to revitalise the sector. It will be a rewriting of history. I have never witnessed such a move, for someone to consciously take step to build his people economically and l am extremely happy because it is happening in my tenure as Mogaji. We thank God, we thank Kabiyesi Onifedegbo and we thank Oba Ghandi,” Mogaji Ajibade added.
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The artisans were then asked to highlight the specific areas they are looking for assistance.
Alhaji Adegboyega Muhammed Taofeek, also a weaver at Fedegbo said, “You can see our workshop is in tatters and inadequate. You see this whole area (pointing) used to contain sheds where our fathers worked weaving Ofi but many weavers have abandoned the business, so, number one, we will appreciate it if we can receive assistance in building more sheds. Power, lighting of the place, water provision, more seats etc. We will also need more efficient loom (that is the machine used for weaving). We will as well be happy if we have sheds extending to cover the length of the loom because during rainy season we stop working when there is rainfall. Thus, a facelift will increase our productivity and convince customers something good is evolving.
“Also, this will encourage trainees to come, when they see well structured, neat workstations they will be willing to come for training. In addition, we have heard Kabiyesi engages in empowerment programmes from time to time and so we plead that he sponsors trainees to learn the craft as well as do empowerment for us too so we can give this place an overhaul towards modernisation and higher productivity.”
Meanwhile, the men, who said there are many women engaged in the craft, took time to debunk the notion that they do disappoint customers in terms of meeting delivery time.
Responding to this allegation, Alabi Ajibade Olatunde, corroborated by others, explained, “It is not so, and if it happens it is not usually our fault. Many customers will approach us when the time they want to use the fabric is close and they want us to meet the target. We often tell them so but they will be begging. Then, most of them will withhold money and that affects us. Someone will say l want twenty rolls or bundles and he will deposit for ten, this will definitely affect the delivery. Let me also tell you this, there are those who prefer to go outside Ogbomoso for the consignment because they will be able to rip people off, we experienced this towards the carnival last year, so, they speak ill of us and you can see how it played out again when Kabiyesi said some people claimed we do disappoint. It’s not so.”
Baale (sub-family head) Fedegbo, Mr. John Adetutu, asserted, “Bring your job in time and back it with appreciable deposit and you will see if our people will meet up or not, if they won’t they will tell you.”
In the light of this, the weavers make a passionate call to the youths indulging in hooliganism and others even those in schools to enrol for training in Aso Oke weaving. “Since business has started to pick up we have more works but the weavers are few. We are living fine now, we are making more money, there is prospect in it.”
Mogaji Ajibade gushed, “We are proud of this profession, it is inborn, what we produce symbolises status, wealth and respect,” as he said, “People come from Ilorin for training. There are graduates among our weavers, Oba Ghandi encouraged us to get educated along with this profession, but he also noted that every schooling child should learn a trade, weaving is a craft they can learn. Weaving training takes about six months and the work is easier now.”
Ogbomoso Insight discovered there are trainees from Ilorin capital of Kwara state at the location, including Zacchariyau, Adam and Tajudeen Gbadamosi, who incidentally are from Fedegbo compound in Ilorin.
“We encourage our people to start wearing Ofi, it is cute,” they concluded.
The name Fedegbo according to the account of Professor N.D. Oyerinde in his book “Iwe Itan Ogbomoso,” evolved from the people of the compound’s engagement in the profession. “Fi – edo – gbo,” (Use liver to rub it). It is a slang that emanated from the way the fabric is woven that involves the weaver seated on a low stool, bends a little forward to work the loom to interlace the silk or cotton threads into the fabric. It is believed the whole internal organs are activated during the process hence “Fi – edo – gbo.’ Why they singled out only edo (liver) we may not know but the people of the compounds which have become a community or quarter in Ogbomoso have been answering to that name ever since. It is however learnt there are few other compounds in Ogbomoso whose people also engage in the loom business such as Agbomojo and Okolu.
Conclusively, are we about to witness a boom in the Aso Oke industry in Ogbomoso? In 2022, according to Google, “The (Aso Oke) market was estimated at approximately $20 million.
“Exports to countries with significant Yoruba diaspora contribute to this figure.
“In 2023, Aso-Oke exports increased by 15% and generated approximately $120 million in foreign exchange revenue.
“The industry’s growth is being driven by increased demand in both domestic and international markets.”
This is a goldmine the people can tap into to stimulate prosperity, after all there is a ready-made market for it.
From the Ogbomoso Cradle Carnival of culture and tradition with colourful Aso Oke on Parade:
