Demand for Asọ-Ẹbi among Formal Sector Workers in Ogun State: An Examination of Altruistic and Reciprocal Motivations
Main Article Content
Abstract
In Nigeria, the Aso-ebi tradition serves as a powerful symbol of social cohesion, cultural heritage, and collective identity, highlighting the importance of communal bonding and shared values. While Aso-ebi is recognized for fostering communal bonds, its significant economic implications have largely been overlooked. Thus, this study investigated the demand for Aso-ebi among formal sector workers in Ogun State, with special interest on the altruistic and reciprocal motivations. Data was collected using structured questionnaire administered to randomly select formal sector workers in Ogun State, Nigeria. The demand model was estimated using Probit Regression. The study revealed that the economics of Aso-ebi in Nigeria is driven by a complex interplay of both altruistic and reciprocal motivations. The reciprocity motive was found to be more prevalent than the altruism reason in determining the demand for Aso-ebi. Further, the study found that higher income, education level and profit expectations significantly increase the likelihood of formal sector workers purchasing Aso-ebi in Ogun State. Considering the widespread adoption and cultural significance of Aso-ebi in Nigeria, it is suggested that individuals and families prioritize inclusivity by allocating a portion of Aso-ebi to less privileged family members, thereby promoting altruism and social cohesion.
Downloads
Article Details
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
How to Cite
References
Adeoti, A. A. (2024). Fashion Dynamics of Aso-ebi with the Use of Ankara and Lace Fabrics among the Yoruba of South-western Nigeria. International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science, 8(5), 1395-1410.
Adesoji, A. O., & Olaniyi, O. O. (2023). Aso Ebi: Appraising the changing nature of the culture and practice of uniform social clothing for celebrations among the Yoruba of southwestern Nigeria. In The Palgrave Handbook of Global Social Change (pp. 1-15). Cham: Springer International Publishing.
Ajani, O. A. (2012). Aso-ebi: The dynamics of fashion and cultural commodification in Nigeria. The Journal of Pan African Studies, 5(6), 108-118.
Akanle, O. (2020). Formal Employment and Youth Entrepreneurship: Exploring the Challenges and Prospects in Nigeria. Journal of African Development, 45(2), 29-49.
Akpunne, B. C. (2019). Imaging and De-Imaging Aesthetics of Aso-ebi in Yoruba Socio-Cultural Settings: Psychological Implications.
Anyanwu, M. N. (2018). Entrepreneurial Practice of Aso-ebi Cloth Retailers in Lagos Metropolis, Nigeria. International Journal of Scientific and Research Publications, 8(9), 281-285.
Babasehinde, A. (2015). Aso oke and its social and economic significance among the Yoruba of Southwest Nigeria. Journal of Culture, Society and Development, 14, 17-21.
Badeji, S. (2021). Aso-ebi custom among the Yoruba people of Southwest Nigeria: An assessment of trend, challenges and prospects. Journal of Education, Society and Behavioural Science, 34(5), 14-22. https://doi.org/10.9734/jesbs/ 2021/v34i530326
Falola, T., & Genova, A. A. (2019). Culture and Customs of Nigeria. Greenwood Publishing Group.
Familusi, O. (2010). The Yoruba culture of Aso-ebi (group uniform) in socio-ethical context. Lumina, 21(2). http://lumina.hnu.edu.ph/past_issues/articles/ familusiOct10.pdf
Familusi, O. (2010). The Yoruba Culture of Aso-ebi (Group Uniform) in Socio-Ethical Context. Lumina. 9. 263-276.
Golman, R. (2020). Behavioral game theory. In The Palgrave Encyclopedia of Strategic Management (pp. 1-6). Palgrave Macmillan. https://doi.org/10.1007/ 978-3-030-02006-7_1004-1
Hibdon, J. E. (1968). Microeconomic analysis. Review of Financial Economics, 3(2), 119.
Lamela, D., Figueiredo, B., & Rodrigues, T. F. (2019). Marriage trends in Portugal: A focus on changes since the 2008 economic crisis. Journal of Comparative Family Studies, 50(1), 47-68.
Muharam, F. (2019). Altruism Avoidance under Risk and Ambiguity. https://thesis.eur.nl/pub/48657/Bachelor-Thesis-Fadhil-Nadhif-Muharam-Final-Version.pdf
Nwafor, C. E. (2013). Aso-ebi and the politics of dressing in Nigeria. Journal of Arts and Contemporary Society, 5(1), 1-10.
Nwafor, O. C. (2021). Aso-ebi: Dress, Fashion, Visual Culture, and Urban Cosmopolitanism in West Africa. In Google Books. University of Michigan Press.https://books.google.com.ng/books?id=E84qEAAAQBAJ&pg=PA112&lpg=PA112&dq=Most+Nigerians+believe+they+exhibit+altruism+by+extending+a+gesture+of+gift+to+those+who+wear+Aso+Ebi
Odebiyi, O. O., & Oni, I. O. (2018). Aso-ebi Consumption: An Exploration of the Factors Influencing Attitude and Purchase Intentions. Journal of Consumer Marketing, 35(7), 881-891.
Ogbechie, R., & Anetor, F.O. (2015). The Ethics of Aso-ebi Culture in Nigeria. Journal of Culture, Society and Development, 8, 27-34.
Olajire, O. O. (2023). Consensus and Contentions Around “Aso-ebi” Usage among Nigeria’s Yoruba People. Redeemer’s University Journal of Management and Social Sciences, 6(1).
Olaniyan, O., (2018) Mothers and fathers, daughters and sons: The peculiar and awkward economics of the family. An inaugural lecture delivered at the University of Ibadan on Thursday, 9 August 2018. Ibadan: University Press (Publishing House) Ibadan, University of Ibadan
Omole, F. K., Ojo, A., & Eniola, A. (2021). Event Tourism, Altruism and Socio-Cultural Sustainability in a Developing Nation. Journal of Heritage Tourism, 16(4), 422-438.
Orimolade, O. (2014). Aso-ebi: impact of the social uniform in Nigerian caucuses, Yoruba culture and contemporary trends. https://www.semanticscholar. org/paper/Aso-ebi-%3A-impact-of-the-social-uniform-in-Nigerian-Orimolade/
Oyewole, P. (2019). Cultural Appropriation: A Study of African Traditional Dress and Western Fashion. International Journal of Fashion Studies, 6(1), 63-84.
Sowemimo, B. O., Folarin, K. T., & Amubode, A. A. (2019). Use of Locally Dyed Fabric (Adire) as Ceremonial Group Attire (Aso Ebi) in Lagos, Nigeria. Journal of Home Economics Research, 26(2).
Shokoya, O. A. (2023). The social construction of the usage of Aso-ebi in the southwest Nigeria: A sociological investigation. Babcock University Journal of Education, 9(1), 1-14.
Tade, O. and Aiyebo, O. E. (2014) ‘Commodifying the fabric of solidarity: Aso-ebi and dynamics of social relations in Ibadan’, South African Review of Sociology, 45(1), pp. 66–82. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1080/ 21528586.2014.887915.