LAGOS/ABUJA, Feb 15 (Reuters) – Far from decked out in political party t-shirts and hats, some of Nigeria’s fashionistas are wearing the colors and faces of this month’s presidential election on designer clothes.
Ahead of the Feb. 25 vote, political rallies and campaign events have become avenues for selling colorful fabrics twisted into elaborate dresses, tunics, and headscarves.
For many, it’s a great opportunity to wear a stylish spin on traditional clothing rather than the western clothing that most urbanites use for work and everyday life.
Opposition Labor Party (LPP) youth leader Kennedy Ahanotu attended an event in Lagos wearing white tunics known as “bababan riga”, which means flowing dress in local Hausa.
Labeled with an LP, he wore a green, red and white traditional hat and carried a wooden walking stick often used as an accessory among Hausen men.
Ahanotu said, “Because of this campaign in Lagos, I am a complete Lagosian. You can see the stick here.”
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At a rally of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) party in the capital, Abuja, women wearing black sunglasses and green headdresses beat the heat with APC colored silk cloth draped over supporters.
Fatima Suleiman, a personal assistant to the minister of the Federal Capital Territory of Nigeria, wears a black hat, part of the traditional costume worn by the Bagi ethnic group.
The hat is marked with a broken chain, representing Suleiman’s Yoruba motto “Asiwaju” which has become the nickname of the APC candidate, Bola Tinubu.
“This is our official regalia for the APC Presidential Campaign Council,” she explained. “That’s why I saw this in color.”
Reporting by Abraham Achirga in Vining Ogu in Abuja and Lagos; Writing by Sophia Christensen; Editing by Sandra Mahler
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