Another legacy project of Oba Ghandi completed - Fedegbo Mega Aso-Ofi Weaving Centre, 'Our products now sold online'

Another legacy project of Oba Ghandi completed – Fedegbo Mega Aso-Ofi Weaving Centre, ‘Our products now sold online’

Femi OGUNLANA

Within a month, in record time, the construction of the Fedegbo Mega Aso-Ofi Weaving Centre has been completed. It is presently waiting for commissioning at a date soon to be announced.

The project is another legacy project inspired by the vision of His Imperial Majesty Oba Ghandi Afolabi Olaoye Orumogege III the Soun of Ogbomosoland, birthed in his fecund mind after he learnt there used to be a thriving Aso-Ofi weaving industry in Ogbomoso. This was sequel to the staging of the maiden Ogbomoso Cradles Carnival last December, which copiously embraced the use and bountiful display of Aso-Ofi attires.

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Oba Ghandi riding on the crest of the knowledge of a community weaving centre at Fedegbo area, Takie/Osupa quarter of the city connected the traditional ruler of Fedegbo, Onifedegbo HRM Oba Gbolagunte Olaosebikan Takutanpa 1. Thus, a visit to the Fedegbo weaving centre was scheduled to assess what is on ground.

The Soun accompanied by his cabinet chiefs, other traditional rulers, sectional chiefs and a retinue of aides, was impressed, and there and then made a promise to help rebuild and upgrade the centre.

It was a robust engagement and was fruitful. He stressed Aso-Ofi already had a ready-made market, the Cradles Carnival, which will be annual. Aso-Ofi will be the major pillar of dress for the occasion and “so why not re-develop Ogbomoso moribund Aso-Oke industry instead of buying from outside the city,” the Oba stated.

Fedegbo ancestral weaving centre

Fedegbo Mega Aso-Ofi Weaving Centre at the Ogbomoso International Market inspired by the vision of the Soun

Few weeks after the visit and subsequent promise, a chance swiftly unfurled. A naval officer of Ogbomoso origin who had attained the rank of Rear Admiral, Sunday Oyegade, approached the monarch that he had been awarded a developmental project to be funded by the Nigerian Navy in commemoration of his attainment of the prestigious rank of rear admiral (2-star general).

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He could have decided what project to execute himself without really consulting with the traditional ruler but seeing the strides of the monarch and motivated by the masterful coordination of the course of development plans and actions routed it through the palace.

It is a Special Intervention Civil-Military Cooperation Projects of the Navy, instituted to give succour to the communities of the Nigerian Navy officers, who, through their dedicated service to the nation, have risen to the prestigious rank of 2-star general.

Soun with Onifedegbo of Fedegbo Oba Gbolagunte Olaosebikan Takutanpa 1 during the visit to the ancestral weaving centre at Fedegbo in April this year

Vision meets action. The Soun put before the naval officer, the reviltalization of Fedegbo weaving centre via provision of a modern facility. No hassles, the place was inspected, the weavers discussed with and it was agreed pronto. While their traditional weaving centre would be rebuilt but in view of the scale of the project approved for Admiral Oyegade, another site would be chosen for it. After a search, a location was found at the Oyo State Ultra Modern Market, LAUTECH area. And after necessary approval was sought from the state government, the construction swiftly began and within a month, it was completed. Now, it is waiting for inauguration, which palace sources say will be in October.

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That is the power of vision and creativity. The second phase will encompass the overhaul of the Fedegbo ancestral weaving centre. Naming the new weaving centre after the Fedegbo weaving centre is a fitting recognition of the Fedegbo people’s contributions to the economic prosperity of Ogbomoso from time immemorial. To have a quarter at the sprawling market is a testament to their mastery of Aso-Oke production. It’s noteworthy.

The new centre has spacious loom section, store, exhibition room, toilet facilities, water supply points and so on. The whole arena is covered with zinc thus rain or sunshine, weaving will progress. Nearby, a row of stalls within the central market has been earmarked for sellers of the products.

Some of the artisans at Fedegbo heaped commendations on the Soun for the development though expressing hope and appealing for the rejuvenation of their ancestral centre at Fedegbo. It is not a place they are disposed to abandoning.

“We are happy for this major breakthrough. Our Oba has done marvelously well. Long may his reign be. The prosperity he seeks for Ogbomosoland will be achieved by the grace of God,” one of the artisans, Adegboyega Bashiru, told ogbomosoinsightonline.com during a visit to Fedegbo.

The artisans assured they have enough people to occupy the two centres disclosing more people are learning the trade “especially since the Cradles Carnival and because the Oyo state government mandated the wearing of clothes with ‘a touch of Aso-Oke’ for civil servants on Thursdays.”

“Only this morning, a child was brought to learn the skill. We are also having students from LAUTECH coming to us, bringing designs which we produce for them, which they sell online. We are confident the good old days will return,” Bashiru added.

He praised the Soun for his foresight while expressing hope that the Fedegbo ancestral weaving centre will be rebuilt in earnest. “Aso-Ofi industry will contribute significantly to boosting the economy of Ogbomoso and Oyo state in general. We have capable hands, we have the mastery, its market is coming up. We hope to sell beyond the town. The prospect is good. We also receive apprentices from Ilorin. I encourage our youths in Ogbomoso to take to the craft.”

Fedegbo is so named because of this ancient craft. Weaving clothes involves an intricate process which will culminate in a complex procedure that seems to put pressure on the stomach region hence the generic “Fi edo gbo” (press with liver), edo (liver) being a major organ in the stomach, it was therefore singled out to generate the name. Thus, this family of Aso-Oke weavers have in all ages been known and called “Fedegbo,” an elision of “Fi-edo-gbo.”