Tie-Dye Attires Of Borno Kanuri People As Element of Cultural Identity In Postcolonial Nigeria

Abstract

The sustenance and continuity of indigenous cultural identity has been a major concern and pursuit for post-colonial Africa. Decolonization, revival, and sustenance of national and ethnic identities are explored through the components of culture. Africans, including Nigerians, are greatly influenced by culture in their daily living, especially costumes. Nigerian cultural attires vary among ethnic groups and the peculiarity is relevant in identification, communication and association. This study examined the indigenous attire of the Kanuri people of Borno State in Nigeria, to evaluate the function of cultural dress in the decolonization process and identification of peoples in a globalized world. Textiles made from the tie-dye resist technique, in specific colors, have been adopted by the Kanuri as their peculiar traditional dress. The study purposively selected the female Kanuri Dongashou, used for wedding eve celebrations (Wushe-Wushe). Observational schedule, photographic documentation, and non-formal structured interviews were the instruments used during fieldwork to collect primary data. From results, the Kanuri people have established an identity through their cultural attires not only in northern Nigeria but globally. The survival and acceptability of the attires as a cultural factor had been possible due to the simplicity of the tie-dye technique, availability of cost-efficient materials, general affordability of the attires, and skills-transfer through generations.

Keywords: Attire, Cultural Identity, Kanuri, Postcolonial Nigeria, Tie and Dye.