Since September 2024, I have been studying the Ebira weaving tradition in Abuja, Nigeria. Ebira is the name of the group who practice this tradition as well as the name of their language! The tradition involves using an Oguntoro (vertical single--heddle loom) to produce wide woven fabrics or ita (cloth). These types of looms are common across Sub--Saharan Africa. Each loom has its own special name based on the variation of tools that are used during the weaving process. The Ebira people have practiced this tradition for centuries in Ebiraland. Today, Ebiraland is primarily known as the city of Okene in Kogi State. Despite the tradition’s origins in Okene, the Ebira cloth has spread far beyond Nigeria due to the trading and migration of the Ebira people to new cities and states.
While some academic articles address the Ebira weaving tradition, very few document the actual weaving process and even fewer explain its larger significance. To understand the tradition’s evolution and role in Nigeria today, I work alongside weavers and businesses to learn more about the creation process and production of Ebira cloth.
Every Monday to Wednesday, I meet with Mrs. Ovavu at the National Council for Arts and Culture, a cultural center and art gallery in Abuja.
