okene IS A “PRESTIGE” FABRIC WOVEN BY YORUBA WOMEN, WHO WEAVE ON WIDE STATIONERY LOOMS INSIDE THE HOUSE, AS OPPOSED TO YORUBA MEN WHO WEAVE ON NARROW HAND LOOMS OUTSIDE. MANY WOMEN’S WEAVES ARE NAMED AFTER THE VILLAGES OR AREA THE FABRIC COMES FROM SUCH AS “OKENE”, “AKWETE”, (WOVEN BY IBO WOMEN) OR “BIDA” (WOVEN BY NUPE WOMEN). MANY MODERN WEAVES INCORPORATE METALLIC GOLD OR SILVER THREADS GIVING THE CLOTH A GLORIOUS SHEEN. THESE CLOTHS GIVE PRESTIGE TO THE WEAVER AND DYER AS WELL AS THE WOMEN WHO WEAR THEM, OFTEN AS HEADTIES OR WRAPS.

okenewomen’s weaves nigeria

Splendid weaves by Nigerian women named after the villages from whence they come, like “Okene” or “Bida”, worn by Kenyan models from Kenya’s African Heritage Festival.

Photos from My Journey Through African Heritage by Alan Donovan available in the Nairobi Serena Hotel gift shop

Reprinted with permission from New African magazine Photo by David Beatty