My housemate recently travelled for a wedding at Ikire Ekiti, Ekiti State. When she got back, she told me when I asked how the wedding went that although, she had a pleasurable time at the event, she found it quite odd that there had been no aso-ebi.

 I looked at her as she spoke and laughed a little.  "Why should that bother you?" I asked her. To which she replied, "It isn't a complete wedding without aso-ebi, is it? "

 The truth is that as the world revolves, so does trends around it. It is true that in Naija, it has become a trend to have aso-ebi at ones wedding and that, the more expensive your aso-ebi, the more prestige your ceremony is awarded.

 Aso-ebi (Family cloth) , simply defined, are the colourful materials often chosen by a celebrant, mostly brides and grooms for their guests as the attire they will wear to the event. Aso-ebi includes gele(head gear), and sometimes exact shoes and purses.

 While some people are of the opinion that Aso-ebi is unnecessary, wasteful and totally uncalled for, I'll give a few reasons why I think aso-ebi is really not a frivolity.

 1. Aso-ebi  gives your event order and makes it more manageable. You know who is for the groom and who is for the bride,  if there is any need to know. It also gives boisterous rhythm which aligns with whatever wedding theme you have chosen.

 2. Aso-ebi also gives an air of unity. That is why most people call aso-ebi "uniform" Whether rich, middle class or poor, aso-ebi enables people of different social classes to mingle and party.

 3. In addition, Aso ebi makes locating destination easier, as immediately you  ask for directions to the event, people are immediately able to direct you. Most times you hear people say "I am going to a party where people are wearing this type of cloth", and surprisingly, they get directed to their destination.

 4. Surprisingly, I think aso-ebi gives the wearers a certain kind of mental and psychological affinity. There is something about wearing a pretty dress made with an exquisite type of material that makes you feel on top of the world, especially if you have the right accessories and makeup (for females)

 5. Very importantly, Aso-ebi is culture personified.    This trend begun and has stayed quite among Nigerians. When John Mbiti said, "We are because you are... ", he meant that there is love in solidarity and unity.

Therefore, I think aso-ebi is a beautiful symbolism that expresses subtly the brother’s keeper nature of Nigeria and Africa at large.

 In essence, it can be said that not only does aso-ebi add to the boisterous nature of Nigerian ceremonies with its popping colour and how dramatic it turns an event, aso-ebi simply makes one feel beautiful.