EKWE JONAL

This research explores the dynamic interplay between Igbo women of Nigeria and African waxprinted textiles during the 20th century, focusing on the social narratives and interactions embodied through these vibrant fabrics which have not been given adequate attention by Igbo scholars. African wax prints served not only as decorative attire but also as potent symbols of identity, status, and communication within Igbo communities. This is a qualitative research. Through interviews, oral histories, participant observation, archival materials, and visual analysis, this study examines how women used textiles to express personal and collective narratives, negotiate social roles, and assert agency in both private and public spheres. The research finds out the multifaceted meanings embedded in patterns, colours, and motifs, which facilitated nuanced social exchanges and reinforced communal bonds. By centering the lived experiences of Igbo women, the research also reveals how textiles functioned as active agents in shaping cultural memory, social hierarchies, and gender relations in 20th-century Nigeria. In conclusion, they were highly revered by the women in that era, and still cherished till date, therefore the messages and untold stories of the cloth should be sufficiently relayed so as to teach and enlighten the younger ones who might be ignorant of those exciting stories. 

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