I’ve had this burden to showcase one of Nigeria’s beauties (Adire) as a driver of tourism for a while, because I believe it is a beauty that the entire world can enjoy. For those who may not know, adire (literally translated as “tie and dye”) is a resist-dyed cloth primarily produced by the people of Egbaland in Abeokuta, Ogun State (Southwestern Nigeria). What started off with white resist patterns against typically indigo cotton backgrounds, has quickly evolved into a myriad of colors and patterns uniquely created by local craftswomen. As the world continues to discover Africa’s many treasures, adire has grown in popularity among fashionable men and women all over the world.

I believe Adire is a national treasure that holds immense potential and needs to be positioned for maximum impact and optimization. Popular Hollywood movies like The Woman King adorned this beautiful fabric as it told the story of Dahomey’s female warriors, Agojie, and I’m sure there will be many more. For Africans in diaspora, it’s a piece of home they can carry with them all the time; remembering their roots as they go about their day.

As adire grows in popularity and demand, it is critical that the local craftswomen of Egbaland and its surroundings continue to benefit from its bloom. The skills and heritage that have been preserved and passed down through generations, improved upon, and served for us all to enjoy should ideally benefit them as well as the Nigerian economy. Just like the Indian sari and Japanese kimono have grown in reputation and acceptance, soon enough no wardrobe will be complete without an item made from this indigenous African fabric. In a bid to do my part, I adorn my versatile adire clothing during my wandering escapades. in what I’ve dubbed “Colours of Lagos.”