The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

COSTUMES IN LAGOS, NIGERIA

GOING TO THE MARKET IN LAGOS IS MUCH LIKE GOING TO THE
EASTERN MARKET. A FOREIGNER CAN BE RECOGNIZED BY MANY MEANS, BUT
NOTHING GIVES HER AWAY MORE THAN HER DRESS CODE.
NIGERIAN WOMEN DO NOT WEAR PANTS MORE THAN TWICE A YEAR. THEY WEAR
WRAPS OF VARIOUS COLORS, DESIGNS AND SIZES. THESE PIECES OF
MATERIAL ARE WRAPPED ABOUT THE WAIST, SOME LONGER THAN OTHERS AND
SOMETIMES AS MANY AS THREE. SOMETIMES THE MATERIAL IS TAKEN TO A
DRESS MAKER TO BE SEWN INTO A SIMPLE JUMPER. THE FINER THE
MATERIAL, THE RICHER THE PERSON. THE BLOUSES THEY WEAR WITH
THESE ARE OF EYELIT MATERIAL

Where learned: NIGERIA ; LAGOS

Date learned: 10-00-1979