In Ogun State, the centuries-old craft of adire fabric production, deeply rooted in the cultural heritage of Egbaland, faces a critical threat from imported Chinese imitations. Local artisans and traders, whose livelihoods depend on the authentic, handcrafted adire, are increasingly anxious about the proliferation of these inferior copies, reports BANKOLE TAIWO There is growing anxiety among the producers and traders of the age-long adire/kampala fabric in Ogun State, over the recent influx of the Nigerian market with an alleged fake or adulterated fabric from China. The production of the adire, also known as tie and dye, is a craft industry synonymous with the people of Egbaland in Ogun Central Senatorial District, where it all began over 200 years ago.
Aside from helping to preserve the distinctive and rich cultural heritage of the Nigerian people, it is one local industry that is providing jobs for thousands of people and putting food on their tables. This industry, with all its economic and tourism potential, is currently battling to stay afloat with the importation of the alleged imitation of adire fabric from China, which is said to be cheap but of inferior materials. The local producers of the fabrics had some time ago abandoned their shops and stormed Abeokuta Street in Ogun State, alleging imitation of their designs and adulteration of the products by the Chinese.
From the Itoku market, the hub of the business, they marched to the palace of the Alake, the Paramount R.