Agitation Against China-Made Adire Intensifies

By Akinwale Kasali

For Centuries, Adire Craft has been the identity of the Egbas in Ogun State. Sadly, this identity is gradually going into extinction following the invasion of the Adire Market with substandard and adulterated Chinese-made Adire Fabrics.

This has led to loss of jobs for genuine makers of the Adire Fabrics whose only source of livelihood is in Tie and Dye.

It has now led to agitation from all quarters, especially from those who see Adire Craft as an inheritance and wouldn’t stand aloof to see their inheritance, culture, heritage and identity taken away by invaders and intruders  bent on making illicit wealth to the detriment of the aforementioned.

Princess Adejoke Shomoye, a direct descendant of Shodeke, the Great Man who led the Egba people from Igbo Egba into Abeokuta in 1830 has lamented the invasion by the China made Adire in the market, stressing that it has saturated the market, killing the indigenous Adire brands, and taking foods away from the table of genuine Adire Fabrics people.

Shomoye added that these have further killed a lot of dreams and visions, which has in turn led to frustration, as passions and hopes are lost.

She is cautioning those who are involved in this illicit act to have a rethink and save the Adire Craft Heritage from destruction.

In her words, “The rich and the influential whose names are connected to this act, please permit me to appeal to your conscience, that before you take that decision, I need you to consider that very old woman, whose only means of survival is to tie fabrics for Adire fabrics; that young widow, who does not have any other job other than tie and dye; that father who is either an ironer or textile artiste. Most of these peoples are the breadwinner of their family.

“The Craft of Adire making is a chain of activities and every actor involved is affected by your decision. Adire Craft is an inheritance passed unto us by our forefathers and mothers. Today the China made Adire is saturating our market killing our indigenous Adire brands, taking foods away from the table of our people, killing dreams and visions, Frustrating passions and hopes”.

Shomoye furthermore stressed that the reason why she is agitating is for posterity’s sake, and that Adire is not about her alone, but “for future, our culture, our heritage and our identity as Egba.”

She added that genuine Adire Fabrics makers are losing their jobs on a daily basis, which is of a major concern to her despite the fact that they are not related by blood, but are bonded by our genuine love for Adire.