St. Thomas the Apostle hosted Black History Month fashion show

St. Thomas the Apostle in Ottawa created and hosted a fashion show celebrating an array of style from a variety of African countries on Feb. 8. Parishioners from St. Mark’s and St. Thomas teamed up to model beautiful clothing from different regions in their home countries of Ghana, Nigeria, Liberia, and Reunion Island in the Mascarene Islands.

Dr. Joy Mighty, professor emerita from Carleton University and a St. Thomas parishioner, narrated the show and offered a brief introduction noting that African clothing and fashion provides a glimpse into diversity of different African cultures. Traditional clothing differs within each country from region to region, she said, adding that fashions may also vary considerably within a society according to age, social class, generation, occupation, and geography, and may change over time.

Mighty reminded the audience of ways in which fashion has been an important expression of politics and identity:  “During the rise of the civil rights and Black Power movements in the West in the late 1960s/1970s, the phrase ‘Black is beautiful’ became extremely popular. It transcended into fashion and into how Black people in the west wanted to dress and look. They wanted to show their pride in being Black, something that had previously been treated as inferior because of the history of slavery and colonization that Black people around the world had suffered. So, Blacks began wearing clothes and especially accessories with African themes, adapting the styles and bold colours of traditional African clothing, as if to say ‘see me, hear me. I am here. I am Black, and I am proud, and I am beautiful.’

There was also a rich display of African arts and crafts in the St. Thomas parish hall.

Fola Omotay models a a white blouse, a striped wrapper of A’nger fabric wrapper, which originated with the Tiv people of Nigeria, and a head tie known as gele.

Yassmina Premakanthan modelled a dress now associated with the Séga Maloya dance, which originated in the 18th century on the sugar plantations of Réunion during the time of slavery

Mayowa Ojo and his son modelled the blue Agbada, the flowing robe traditionally worn by the Yoruba in Southwestern Nigeria

Emele Awala modelled an elegant Ankara styled gown with head tie, which can be worn to parties and weddings.

Mayowa Ojo and his son wore the white buba, sokoto/iro and fila/gele set, which is the traditional costume of the Yoruba in Southwestern Nigeria

Nnamdi Chiboka wore ISI Agu Attire from Southeastern Nigeria. It is a traditional Igbo outfit featuring a richly embroidered tunic with a tiger motif.

Joseph Amauh modelled a shuka, commonly known as the Maasai regalia. It is made from red, blue, green, or yellow plain fabric, often with striped patterns. It’s a traditional Maasai blanket from Kenya worn by both men and women. It is draped over shoulders, with one end thrown over one shoulder.

Princess Taiye (left) is the granddaughter of the great Oba Eweka II, the king of the Benin Kingdom from 1914 to 1933. She wore a white dress and coral beads, which were worn by royalty. Right: Shallom Omofuma wears a traditional Nigerian caftan, known for intricate embroidery.

Black History Month banner.

Dr. Joseph Amuah modelled an outfit from Ghana. It is handwoven with thick threads. The smock was famously worn by Ghana’s founding fathers when they declared Ghana’s independence in 1957.N