The Yoruba Traditional Dress and Contemporary Issues, 1900–1960

The main argument of this paper emerges from the submission that the advent of globalization resulted in the dynamics that influenced the Nigerian dress culture, particularly among Lagos residents. While insisting that with the aid of globalization through mass media, internet and education, the western dress culture (and civilization) has precariously affected and impacted the traditional dress culture of Nigerians, the paper also points to the fact that the people of Lagos had established, well before the advent of colonial rule, a clothing pattern which included clothing materials and designs (weaving and tie and dye), and clothing styles which was generally accepted and does not go against the Yoruba taboos. The paper further submits that while changes have occurred, the dress culture of the Yoruba people have, through the process of globalization, found its way to other parts of the world, although not at the same pace with the western dress. The paper adopts historical narrative and descriptive analysis to drive home its points. It relies also on primary and secondary data to prove the effects of globalization on the dress culture of the people. It concludes by critically analysing and stating the contributory effect such complex and multifaceted phenomenon have had on Nigerian peoples and their culture