Best Igbo traditional wedding attire. A concise guide.

The Igbos ( those who speak the Igbo language as their mother tongue) are the third-largest ethnic group in Nigeria. They occupy the South-Eastern region of Nigeria and part of the South-south region. Similar to the Hausas and the Yorubas, Igbos have a rich cultural heritage.

They are natives to Enugu, Imo, Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, and part of Cross River and Rivers state. One thing the Igbos are known for is hosting colourful events. From new yam festivals to chieftaincy events, you will enjoy an event hosted by Igbos irrespective of your tribe.

The respect they have for their culture is seen in the dressing and celebration of major festivals in their homes. One of the major ways the Igbos showcase their culture is seen in traditional marriages involving the natives. Both the bride-to-be and the groom spend lots of time trying to find the perfect traditional attire for the event.

Sometimes, it can take months for both of them to get the right attire and a costume for the event. Hence, some start to consider different colour combinations before they start planning to get married.

Also, traditional wedding attires are not the only thing to consider. You have to think about shoes, hair-tie, and jewellery. In this post, you will learn about different traditional wedding attire used by the Igbos and the best combinations that can go with them.

This will help both the bride and groom have an unforgettable traditional wedding day.

What is traditional marriage, and why is it important

Traditional marriage is a rite performed in the bride’s home to bring the groom and the bride together. In Nigeria, traditional marriages involve not only the bride and groom but their families as well.

It is an important ceremony because it preserves the culture of the people. Also, it helps the transmission of culture from one generation to the next. Finally, it makes the union of both the groom and bride legitimate before the people and God.

Color combination for traditional wedding attire and costumes for you

The colour you decide to wear on that day will play an important role in how the environment of the event celebration will look. Hence, you have to be careful in selecting the best colour. Also, remember that whatever colour either of you chooses must match with the other person.

Recently, most grooms go for white colour attire and a touch of the colour chosen by their bride while the ladies go for their choice in colour. For the D-Day, you are supposed to appear in two attires. The first one is used to welcome guests.

The second attire is the one you will use for the traditional weddings proper. We shall look at both attire below.

First traditional wedding outfit

As the name suggests, this is the first attire you will wear for your event. A bride can choose a sew skirt and blouse, gown, or a wrapper at the chest with lace material, George, or any other wax print. The bride needs to adore her neck, hand, and hair with traditional beads of her choice and hold a traditional horse-tail.

On the other hand, the groom can select a piece of wrapper made either of George material or lace. He has to adore his neck, hands with traditional coral beads, and hold a walking stick. He also needs to wear a cap that matches his outfit.

Second traditional wedding outfit

Here, it would help if you spent more time looking good for your event. The obvious choice here is for the bride to opt for two pieces of wrapper made with either George material, lace, or wax print. You are allowed to chose whatever material you want.

It would be best to select a sharp colour and choose a style that fits it perfectly. In other words, the best thing for you is to seek perfection on this day.

Abbey

Abbey Johnson has a Masters degree as an engineer and has over 3 years of teaching and research experience. He is happiest when on a bike and is also interested in electric energy and computer Science.