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Traditional beads bestow honour and love
Chief (Mrs) Serifat Omonigbeyin is Ekerin Iyaloja of Oje Market, Ibadan, Oyo State. She believes strongly in destiny, culture, custom and tradition. She spoke with FEMI AKINSOLA, in Ibadan. Excerpts:
Background
I was born into the family of Alagbaa, in Alagbaa Compound, located at Oke Aare, Ibadan. I attended Islamic Mission School, Odoye, Ibadan. I also attended Erinwusi Community Modern School, Ede, Osun State, and Methodist Grammar School, Bodija, Ibadan. I was installed Ekerin Iyaloja of Oje Market in 2003.
I never thought I could be in this bead making and decoration. I had wanted to be a medical doctor or nurse. I like their mode of dressing and the way they attend to their patients. I had it in mind that I shall be of help to every patient I come by, especially the little ones and the aged.
Destiny
I so much believe in prayer. At the same time, one cannot rule out destiny. I struggle to make sure I achieve my goal because I have focus and I work towards it. But destiny too plays its role in my life. The sudden death of my father had a negative impact on my life. I was lured into this profession by my grandmother after the death of my father. That is the only job I new my mother with. But I never thought I would eventually venture into it.
Types, styles and identities
Beads are used to make different styles for different occasions. There is also the use of colour separation in bead making. The easiest way to identify beads is by colour. Okun or Akun, has the colour of earth or coffee mixed with milk. It is somehow brown, though, some are browner than others. Alaadun looks exactly like perched corn, ground and mixed with oil. Iyun is one of the ancient beads, common to monarchs and the high chiefs. It has various colours such as, white, pink, red and red. Ikan bead also has many colours.
Segi is a popular ancient bead. It is as popular as Iyun. Iyun and Segi beads are so popular that people bear their names. The major difference between the two is that Segi is ever blue in colour, while Iyun has colour variation.
I can tell a person’s state of origin by the beads he or she uses. Take for instance people from North, specifically the female Fulani. They always tie their beads so close to the neck. Apart from that, people nowadays use beads to make chairs, windows or door blinds. We also use them to make earrings, belts, wristwatches, shoes, bags and hair decorations.
Tools
Beads are our major tools. We also use threads or strings. In the olden days, they used rubber or raffia. We make use of needles for joining, fixing the beads. The size of the needle is determined by the size of the beads. If I were to make crown or sceptre for instance, the tiny needle is applicable because the beads to be used are also tiny. There are other materials to be added to it to make a crown but, the major material that will make it attractive is the bead. Crowns are of different colours and styles. White crowns are common among the traditional worshipers like Olosun,Yemoja, the goddess sea.
Our forefathers were very creative. The common method they used to determine the size and weight of their children, specifically babies is the use of tiny beads round their wrists and waists. When a child fell sick, they applied this method as their medical procedure. Besides, women use beads round their waists, to add to their beauty. Some ladies especially students from higher institutions come to me for waist design. I also enjoy the patronage of white ladies especially, those whose husbands are Nigerians, they appreciate waist beads. Some may come with measurement, for their waists while I determine the size of some without measurement.
Wrong perception
Most people do not value what they have, rather, they promote alien culture. These foreigners you are crazy about their cultures do come here to promote our culture. I made rump beads for most of these white ladies from U.K. Each time they come to Nigeria, they patronise us, they appreciate beads a lot. It is funny that we that are endowed with all these gifts shy away from them. We do not want to be identified with traditional materials.
When they see you with beads, they give you different names like Ologboni, Babalawo, Onisegun, to them you belong to a cult group, They even blackmail our young ones, who use beads round their necks and wrists as cultist. Whether they accept it or not, beads cannot be outdated.
Bead serves as a mark of honour for whoever uses it, man or woman. What readily comes to mind is that, such a person must be decent, responsible and lover of peace. You cannot see a person using beads causing trouble, the good spirit accords with beads will not allow him or her to do so. Have you ever seen a person with traditional beads engaging in street fight? Definitely no, once you are seen with traditional beads, you are accorded due respect.
Before I was installed a chief, people were already calling me Oloye (chief), due to the generous way I use beads. Bead, no its size or weight, once the user puts it on, it becomes light. Beads are for no all seasons. Sincerely Bead is still the only object that can communicate easily at all time between its users and the audience in terms of love, peace and humility.
School
I intend to set up a private school of art and culture, it will be first of its kind. Though, I am not rich but I believe in God it is possible. Most of us in art and culture have talents to display, but the financial constraint stands on our way. Similarly, I have it in mind to promote peace, love, unity and progress among bead dealers. I feel proud of my culture and tradition anywhere I go.
Oje market, Ibadan
If the story from my mother and some elders in the market are to reckon with, the market has been in existence for over two hundred years. This same market is in Ede, Osun State. Both Oje-Ibadan and Oje-Ede are held every ninth day. The one held at Oje-Ibadan every ninth day is meant for herbs sellers. The general one is held every 17th day.
Appeal
Government should make available programmes that will make life meaningful to the citizenry. Tangible programmes should be made for our youth, this will serve as a controlling method against the juvenile delinquency that is very rampart among the youth. Besides, government should be sincere in their policy making. Any policy that will add to the burden of the masses should be given a second thought, people are suffering.
Women empowerment programmes should not be restricted to the people in urban areas, let them reflect also in the lives of rural dwellers. Whoever takes a good care of a woman takes care of a nation.
Background
I was born into the family of Alagbaa, in Alagbaa Compound, located at Oke Aare, Ibadan. I attended Islamic Mission School, Odoye, Ibadan. I also attended Erinwusi Community Modern School, Ede, Osun State, and Methodist Grammar School, Bodija, Ibadan. I was installed Ekerin Iyaloja of Oje Market in 2003.
I never thought I could be in this bead making and decoration. I had wanted to be a medical doctor or nurse. I like their mode of dressing and the way they attend to their patients. I had it in mind that I shall be of help to every patient I come by, especially the little ones and the aged.
Destiny
I so much believe in prayer. At the same time, one cannot rule out destiny. I struggle to make sure I achieve my goal because I have focus and I work towards it. But destiny too plays its role in my life. The sudden death of my father had a negative impact on my life. I was lured into this profession by my grandmother after the death of my father. That is the only job I new my mother with. But I never thought I would eventually venture into it.
Types, styles and identities
Beads are used to make different styles for different occasions. There is also the use of colour separation in bead making. The easiest way to identify beads is by colour. Okun or Akun, has the colour of earth or coffee mixed with milk. It is somehow brown, though, some are browner than others. Alaadun looks exactly like perched corn, ground and mixed with oil. Iyun is one of the ancient beads, common to monarchs and the high chiefs. It has various colours such as, white, pink, red and red. Ikan bead also has many colours.
Segi is a popular ancient bead. It is as popular as Iyun. Iyun and Segi beads are so popular that people bear their names. The major difference between the two is that Segi is ever blue in colour, while Iyun has colour variation.
I can tell a person’s state of origin by the beads he or she uses. Take for instance people from North, specifically the female Fulani. They always tie their beads so close to the neck. Apart from that, people nowadays use beads to make chairs, windows or door blinds. We also use them to make earrings, belts, wristwatches, shoes, bags and hair decorations.
Tools
Beads are our major tools. We also use threads or strings. In the olden days, they used rubber or raffia. We make use of needles for joining, fixing the beads. The size of the needle is determined by the size of the beads. If I were to make crown or sceptre for instance, the tiny needle is applicable because the beads to be used are also tiny. There are other materials to be added to it to make a crown but, the major material that will make it attractive is the bead. Crowns are of different colours and styles. White crowns are common among the traditional worshipers like Olosun,Yemoja, the goddess sea.
Our forefathers were very creative. The common method they used to determine the size and weight of their children, specifically babies is the use of tiny beads round their wrists and waists. When a child fell sick, they applied this method as their medical procedure. Besides, women use beads round their waists, to add to their beauty. Some ladies especially students from higher institutions come to me for waist design. I also enjoy the patronage of white ladies especially, those whose husbands are Nigerians, they appreciate waist beads. Some may come with measurement, for their waists while I determine the size of some without measurement.
Wrong perception
Most people do not value what they have, rather, they promote alien culture. These foreigners you are crazy about their cultures do come here to promote our culture. I made rump beads for most of these white ladies from U.K. Each time they come to Nigeria, they patronise us, they appreciate beads a lot. It is funny that we that are endowed with all these gifts shy away from them. We do not want to be identified with traditional materials.
When they see you with beads, they give you different names like Ologboni, Babalawo, Onisegun, to them you belong to a cult group, They even blackmail our young ones, who use beads round their necks and wrists as cultist. Whether they accept it or not, beads cannot be outdated.
Bead serves as a mark of honour for whoever uses it, man or woman. What readily comes to mind is that, such a person must be decent, responsible and lover of peace. You cannot see a person using beads causing trouble, the good spirit accords with beads will not allow him or her to do so. Have you ever seen a person with traditional beads engaging in street fight? Definitely no, once you are seen with traditional beads, you are accorded due respect.
Before I was installed a chief, people were already calling me Oloye (chief), due to the generous way I use beads. Bead, no its size or weight, once the user puts it on, it becomes light. Beads are for no all seasons. Sincerely Bead is still the only object that can communicate easily at all time between its users and the audience in terms of love, peace and humility.
School
I intend to set up a private school of art and culture, it will be first of its kind. Though, I am not rich but I believe in God it is possible. Most of us in art and culture have talents to display, but the financial constraint stands on our way. Similarly, I have it in mind to promote peace, love, unity and progress among bead dealers. I feel proud of my culture and tradition anywhere I go.
Oje market, Ibadan
If the story from my mother and some elders in the market are to reckon with, the market has been in existence for over two hundred years. This same market is in Ede, Osun State. Both Oje-Ibadan and Oje-Ede are held every ninth day. The one held at Oje-Ibadan every ninth day is meant for herbs sellers. The general one is held every 17th day.
Appeal
Government should make available programmes that will make life meaningful to the citizenry. Tangible programmes should be made for our youth, this will serve as a controlling method against the juvenile delinquency that is very rampart among the youth. Besides, government should be sincere in their policy making. Any policy that will add to the burden of the masses should be given a second thought, people are suffering.
Women empowerment programmes should not be restricted to the people in urban areas, let them reflect also in the lives of rural dwellers. Whoever takes a good care of a woman takes care of a nation.
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