When Goldberg stoked up evolving culture with fashion trend at 2024 AMVCA

When Goldberg stoked up evolving culture with fashion trend at 2024 AMVCA

By Ajowale

tourismentertainment: LONG before Nigeria’s fashion pioneers began elevating traditional styles to new heights of global sophistication, the diverse people of Nigeria are proud of remarkable artistry in every stitch of their daily dress. From the gele (headscarves) delicately wrapped by Yoruba women to the indigo-dyed (adire) of the Egba; from the majestic ishemuagbada ensembles of the Benin court to the intricately strip-woven akwete cloth of Igboland, the nation’s fashion heritage runs glorious and deep.

Over the years, Nigerian designers have brought ancestral and ancient knowledge into the modern era by infusing vibrant patterns, meticulous craftsmanship and inspirations from diverse tribes into global trendsetting looks.

Even today, these rich traditions provide the tapestry from which modern designers emerge and ultimately put Nigerian fashion on the global runway. 

Fashion is a repetitive process and Nigerian fashion is not an exception to this rule. The “Senator as a fashion style” stands out in its cultural significance and functionality, varying in lengths from the regular Hausa Baban Riga to the Yoruba Buba ati Sokoto. This fitted and stylish robe is one of the ways Nigerian men express their cultural identity with a blend of western style.

Today, Senator and Agbada come in many exquisite styles and fancier fabrics and are worn by almost everybody irrespective of tribe, age or gender.

For the Isiagu, a cultural fabric which has metamorphosed into an emblem prided in by the Igbos, the same trajectory of evolution can be traced. The fabric often produced in red or black is patterned with motifs showing a fierce-looking lion’s head and mane and has over time been associated with the Igbos as tartan is to Scots or the yarmulke is to Jews. This ceremonial gear has gained international recognition outside the runway through the recent incorporation of the pattern into the flight outfit of a local airline.

Such daring invocations of heritage have made events like the AMVCAs crucial showcases for the growing national and global appreciation of Nigeria’s fashion. With its unique synthesis of ancestral influences and ultramodern edge, the nation’s design has undeniably taken its place among the world’s most distinctive and sought-after aesthetics.

At the forefront of championing and elevating contemporary Nigerian design has been Goldberg, the nation’s iconic lager with over a decade of heritage. The Goldberg brand prides itself in Nigeria’s artistry and tradition, proudly celebrating the breathtaking designs and visionary creativity of Nigerian designers. The brand took centre stage once again at the prestigious 2024 Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards (AMVCA) Cultural Day event in Lagos, rolling out the red carpet to honour Nigeria’s brightest fashion stars.

The “Best Dressed” male and female during the marquee event were awarded a sum of N1 million each in celebration of their fashion artistry and the vibrant spirit of Nigerian creativity. Leading the pack ahead of other celebrities were Neo and Venita Akpofure, ex-BBN Reality show stars and cousins who showed up to the event. Neo received the Best Dressed Male Award while Venita won the Best Dressed Female title for the second year in a row.

Venita draped her hourglass figure in a gorgeous Itshekiri-inspired bustier dress with a deep neckline. Her head, neck and shoulders also received the royal touch with exquisite beads. Neo on the other hand, showed up in a replica of the Itshekiri royal regalia of Agbada, giving the breathtaking aura of royalty. The duo were a 10/10 as they graced the cultural event with their masterpieces.

The Cultural Day event with the Goldberg brand as one of its credible sponsors celebrated the diversity of Nigerian culture. The event featured other head-turning looks like Tomike Adeoye in a beautiful mudukare Fulani attire, VJ Adams in an eye-catching embroidered and embellished green Yoruba outfit and Anita Akide (Tacha) in a show-stopping beaded green aso-oke dress designed like a petal to cover the top of the dress.